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Bonnie Lake Report
Spokane County, WA

Details

06/27/2011
Top Fishing From Boat
Crappie
All Day
06/29/2011
3
1794

First trip to Bonnie for us, and I would have to say she didn't give up too many secrets. The launch is loose rock, steep and uneven.. just aweful. But we managed to get the trailer down and back it in far enough to float the boat. That day the creek averaged about 2.5' deep and after laboring for some distance against the current with just the trolling motor, we put the outboard down at a slight tilt and made our way slowly and carefully to the lake. Quite a long haul actually and through a creek sometimes so narrow that the weeds/pads touched both sides of the boat. An adventure for sure!
First cast and I nailed a nice slab crappie on a white maribou jig. I was thinking "this is going to be GREAT", but it turned out to be the only crappie of the day, unfortunately. We fished the lower end up to the island (a unique granite formation amidst the basalt cliff walls of the lake) casting and trolling without much action, so we motored to the very north end to see what the lake offered. Fishing back we were able to catch a number of LM bass, mostly small, using crankbaits.
Somewhat disappointed in our success, we finished the afternoon fishing for perch with bait and were finally rewarded. Only 1 dink to throw back, and we took home about 9 very nice size perch.
If you're going to Bonnie, have a surefooted 4wd vehicle and ideally a small, shallow draft boat with a small outboard (or a very good battery for your trolling motor). And don't be in a rush to get up the creek.
Water level in the creek will continue to drop, I'm sure. Don't know how low it actually gets but it seemed to still be a little above average right now. Water temp was 67 at the lake (in at least one location).


Comments

rwl
6/29/2011 9:15:00 PM
Thanks for the report. I've fished there a few times recently for the first time this year. The best success I have had on the bass has been concentrated in a few spots otherwise the bites are pretty sparse, most of what I am catching is small. Where were you fishing for the perch, how deep?
Ghoti
6/29/2011 9:20:00 PM
rwl, I agree on the bass. We found most of them along one particular shoreline, near deep water. For the perch we were fishing the southern end of the lake in about 10' of water is all, right on the bottom.
tvh1882
6/29/2011 11:46:00 PM
Glad to hear there may still be crappie in that lake.I used to fish it in the 80's and your description of the trip up the creek brought back some fine memories. Would really like to get in there again but it's just to far from home.
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: FinReaper GS

Phone: (503) 551-9772