Northwest Fishing Reports

I'm not giving up on jigs and plastics...not even close but I seem to have decent success
with cranks and jerkbaits. Is it to early to be tossing these yet? Should I just stick to the jigs and
plastics for now?

I think its getting there, especially for largies. These next few days will warm up the shallows they should be there basking in the sun. If theres no wind, I'd stick to plastic or a shallow running with a slow retrieve. If theres some wind cranks and traps are the best thing to use.

kzoo wrote:I think its getting there, especially for largies. These next few days will warm up the shallows they should be there basking in the sun. If theres no wind, I'd stick to plastic or a shallow running with a slow retrieve. If theres some wind cranks and traps are the best thing to use.

Thanks kzoo...I'll stick with the plastics but have some cranks as backup today.

Kevin, if you go the crank route, use a suspending crank with a natural presentation (SLOW!). Give it slow, twitchy motion, with retrieves just long enough to get action on the lure.

Depending on what lake you are in, you might consider some big leader. Here at our place, we get a fair number of pike working the shallows, and will CLOBBER these slow baits.
E

To clarify the answer, you are on the West side, and your lakes are warmer. On the East side, it is probably way to early for cranks yet.

I usually don't mess with cranks until the water is about 45+, and the lake I was on today was only 39 at sunrise.

I'll be fishing Lake Tapps tomorrow...I think I'll be lucky if the water temps are around 43,doubt I'll see 45...
So I'll be bringing everything(plastics and some cranks,mostly large cranks for the tigers)

E You might be on to something with the pike,I often hear that pike in Long Lake are not worth targeting(usually
stating low numbers) but I would think with such a large body of water and plenty of forage,pike would do
very well. Since you live on the lake and know it well,whats your take on that...just curious.
I'll be fishing the Pend Oreille a few times this year...is Long Lake worth a pitstop?
Oh yeah..when's the BBQ?

If the water is below 52-55 degrees, a suspending crank in a natural presentation (like perch or bluegill) is what I'd use. Crank it down to the level you want and let it sit for a few minutes suspended. Then 1-3 VERY slow turns of the reel, just enough to make the lure crawl through the water, then let it sit again. A lot of times you'll get hit just as it stops, especially if it's been suspending long enough for a hungry bass to start checking it out.

I don't twitch suspended cranks in colder water - just slow, smooth motions, as if the water is too cold for the "bait" to move much.

When the weather is cold, me and a buddy always use "Hotlips" cranks. They go to around 25' when trolled at a decent speed. Works great for smallies on Wawa.

not to cold for lipless cranks thats for sure. i usually dont start using diving cranks till about june.

Well, I have found the Hotlips go way deep when the smallies are down in the 30' range. Caught my personal best of 4.5 on washington in November on them.

Who cares, give it a try! What's the worst that can happen, you catch a fish off crank bait at this time of yr. If the fish wants it, it will eat it..haha! That's my theory! Some guys get so caught up in the particualr season and think only particular baits will work,, true to an extent but not always..ya feel me!

good luck

Good point. If it doesnt catch fish, switch up lol.

Threw some Cranks and Jigs on WaWa with FlippinFool today,..water was 48-52 degrees depending on where we were,..had a couple of hits but we were 2 busy running our mouths 2 set the hook,..LOL,..Cranked/Jigged some docks and marked some Spawning Spots for future reference,..found some perfect laydowns for Greenies,..great day on the water with the Homie and his "Skeeter-Is-Off-Da-Scales",..maybe Sammy is next,..thanks FF!

BB

Had a nice fish yesterday in 49.4 water on a crawdad colored crank windy cold and snotty it dove to the depth I saw the fish!@!!!

Finally got one at Wa WA with a crank and a jerkbait.

kzoo wrote:Finally got one at Wa WA with a crank and a jerkbait.

Not pic worthy kzoo,..no report,..just curious!

BB

BassinBomber wrote:

kzoo wrote:Finally got one at Wa WA with a crank and a jerkbait.

Not pic worthy kzoo,..no report,..just curious!

BB

Didn't post a report. Caught five between the two of us. Caught majority on football heads the rest on cranks and jerbaits. All between 2 to 3lbs.

kzoo wrote:

BassinBomber wrote:

kzoo wrote:Finally got one at Wa WA with a crank and a jerkbait.

Not pic worthy kzoo,..no report,..just curious!

BB

Didn't post a report. Caught five between the two of us. Caught majority on football heads the rest on cranks and jerbaits. All between 2 to 3lbs.

Nice job kzoo!

BB

kzoo wrote:

BassinBomber wrote:

kzoo wrote:Finally got one at Wa WA with a crank and a jerkbait.

Not pic worthy kzoo,..no report,..just curious!

BB

Didn't post a report. Caught five between the two of us. Caught majority on football heads the rest on cranks and jerbaits. All between 2 to 3lbs.

jees leave some fish for us am i gonna finally meet u at the sam derby?

Plenty of fish to go around at Lake Washington. I can' t commit to the Sam derby, due to work.