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First of all this report is not about Square Lake - it is about nearby Nels Johnson Lakes. I have requested that Mike add Nels Johnson Lakes to the Kitsap County lake list but so far he probably has not found the time. On Saturday Camp Calvin State Park had a very rare open house where visitors could actually drive into the park -- after this property has been owned by the public for 16 years. Anyway, I have known about the Nels Johnson Lakes (and their bass) for about 40 years but never had the chance to fish them because of access. So, on Saturday, I loaded up a couple rods, a small back pack and checked out the lakes. They are small but one of them is a really beautiful remote lake that probably looks about the same as it a couple hundred years ago. No houses on the shoreline and it is very marshy and boggy making shoreline fishing quite difficult - even when wearing boots. I was casting mostly floating minnows and spinnerbaits. I finally hooked up with a respectable little largemouth that was 12 1/2 inches (I had a camera and a small tape measure in my back pack). I left the little bass in the water while I prepared my tape measure and camera. He was measured and phographed (rather crudely) and released. I also saw a lot of bluegill along the shoreline. Bass anglers with the itch to explore these lakes can still walk in from the Lake Flora Road ( a little over a half mile) and fish the lakes. You can see the State Park sign along the road. Very limited road side parking available and don't block the gate or you will be towed. Oh yes, a new personal best lake record!

BassDood

6/28/2009 9:46:00 AM

Great report Bob. I've known there were lakes there as well but as you described...the access. I drove by and saw the open house sign, but didn't have to time to stop in. Something to look into with my float tube. Thanks

pacificdawg

6/28/2009 2:43:00 PM

any size to the bluegill?

bob johansen

6/28/2009 4:26:00 PM

most of them looked like non-keepers

Trent Hale

6/28/2009 10:56:00 PM

Bob, good report . I have'nt been back there in a while, nice Lks. Were you in the find it Lk or the old fish shack Lk ? I never fished the find it Lk . The pic of the Lk looks like the old fishing shack Lk standing by the old house with the deck ?

bob johansen

6/29/2009 7:38:00 AM

Trent, I fished both lakes but the one by the house with the deck is very low on water level this year -- much lower than normal according to the park ranger. The lake I where I caught the bass looks to be full pool and has lots of old logs, lily pads and other bass cover in it. It also has a very marshy and boggy shoreline making it difficult to fish even with boots which I had on. Think Bass Dood has the right idea with a float tube.

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