Northwest Fishing Reports

I just bought my first boat with a trailer and want to launch and retrieve it at a nice launch (not a rock, where I want to go). So I am really excited to get out there and try it out, but of course I will be itchin for some fishin as well. I have only fished the lake from the shore, so what is my best bet on catching some nice fish? I am not much of a troller or still fisher, but I will do them if that is where the fishing is best I guess. Thanks for reading and I am open to any other suggestions for areas to hit right now, I just want to get a handle on the boat and also catch some fish too before the bass season starts. Thanks. Tim. AKA bazzdude

Take your boat to Downs Lake. The spring bass fishing should be about to heat up. There should be about a 12 ft section of open water between the banks and the lily pads, you can work this open water almost all the way around the lake. If the bass are off the bite you can always try for some planted rainbow, the state put 5000 in about 2 weeks ago. There are several places on the east end of the lake where trees have been blown over into the water, always throw a crappie jig under a bobber in as close as you can get to the limbs, this lake has some amazing crappie but they hang in deep cover. Its a little early for perch at Downs but it never hurts to give them a try. The center of the lake will have a new crop of lily pads coming up,you want to fish right at the edge of the pads, just drop a worm to bottom and reel up about 6 inches. Good luck

Hey hewesbob, thanks for the reply. I am familiar with downs, I really like that lake. My picture shown on the side is from there on a spinner bait in mid. april I believe. I would have to say it is about a month early for the bassing or am I wrong? seems as if the ice has just cleared. I do know about trolling for the small rainbows and I have heard of the big numbers of pearch. Thanks for the info on the crappies. I have 3 small kids that would love to go and catch some fish on bobbers. I need to work on my falaying skills and cooking ones as well. Any how thanks again for the reply but I am thinking it is a little early for downs unless you know otherwise, you can probably shoot me an e-mail of you want to say something more. whatever, I am itchin for some fishin.