Northwest Fishing Reports

Hey,

Anybody know any hot lures and hot spots on Long Lake for bass? I dont care if it is LM or SMB, just bass. I only did well on SMB's last year, and I really didn't do very well, so I really want to improve my catch record there. Just wanted sone advice! thanks! :brilsmurf

i dont know that lake at all but a little bit of advice. learn the fish you are fishing for and what they should be doing this time of year. knowing the water temp is pretty important on where to locate fish. right now i would fish the northwest corner of any lake and the deeper side of any cove if there is one. look for the warmest water, the clearest wouldnt hurt either.

Are you talking now, or for the spring and summer?

To be honest, the lake is a bit different then most "Bass" Lakes in my opinion. It tends to be very clear, the shores are more sand then having normal cover, and there are lots and lots of weed beds to learn.

Having said that, there are some great LMB and SMB in there, so be patient and keep trying.

I can't and won't give you specific spots, but I can say that I find that the upper part of the lake is somewhat better then the lower part of the lake, for both species. I suggest that you fish the weed lines, and any stumps and rock you find.

Lures? I suggest spinner baits early in the year with Crank baits picking up later in the summer. Rubber/Plastic worms will of course work well, so don't be afraid of trying them in certain spots.

Start off with this, and expand every trip by trying something different. I have lures that I consider better there, but my friends claim it is how I fish them, not what I am fishing with.

Swimtail Senko's.....

I switched up to swimtails for the bulk of my plastic work in pre/post spawn periods, and it made a big difference in catch rates. Tourney guys still swear by stickbaits and standard senko worms, but I like a senko with a tail, rigged inline on a weighted hook. I have had more success getting bucketmouths on wacky rigged worms, but the numbers slough off considerably because it seems to target larger fish, and missed strikes can be an issue.

One of the biggest pieces to Lake Spokane's fishery is time on the water. Because Avista alters flow rates and the fact that we have several seasonally changing small creek and river inlets, the fish can literally move from day to day. Most tournament bass guys will change spots based on subtle water temp differences, and time of day can be a key role. In certain places you can find pads on both sides, with one side going off and the other completely dead. Remember smallies like a shady place, regardless of water temp (strangely enough).

Another factor to keep in the front of your mind is tournaments. Usually the lake will turn off pretty badly on a tournament weekend because the competitors seem to sore lip every damn fish in the entire body. Too many of them prospect (my opinion is if they would sack that giant gas guzzling motor and slap a 50hp on their boat, they would catch more fish) and scare the very sensitive smallies back into cover, where they will be very boat/noise/leader shy for what Ive noticed to be 2-3 days.

Midweek is best, ideally the week before a tournament. They can't prefish within 7 days, and by about wednesday they seem to be ripe for the picking. Try to hook up in schools, and don't forget to remind the fish that there is a competition to catch him later in the week, so be careful what he eats, and don't get caught (until you catch him again)

AA is spot on with spinners early in the year and cranks later. Perch print is pretty gravy. You will get more Pikeminnow with white and perch than other colors. Kill them as soon as you can, they are a voracious eater and decimate the bass population. Spinnerbaits worked in sandy shallows will occasionally pop up with a Northern Pike, so be forewarned. The state record came out of these waters 3 consecutive times, the last being 37 lbs. You MUST have a wire or very very tough mono leader for these fish.

Keep your eyes peeled for a beat up old hewescraft river runner from the 70s with a newer yamaha 50 4 stroke. I hear that guy fishes out there all the time....

E

Ive had great luck with Smallies at Long, never missed a limit yet have never kept a fish. If i find a rock i fish it, simple as that.

I fish long regularly and like gisteppo I use senkos. My favorite is the double hula grub. I have my favorite colors but they will all work. There might be one time where I got skunked and that was during the carp spawn. Fish the shady shores with soft plastics and you should do better. Good Luck