rickydbasser
6/3/2014 8:46:00 AMHaving been raised in the Kapowsin area, I spent many hours bass fishing the lakes out there, Tanwax being one of them. And it is a lake that can be great one day, and yet the next day one can't buy a strike. It was that way 40 years ago, and it's that way today. My nephew who lives in that area, and a very good bass fisherman, can attest to Tanwax's reputation. But he keeps fishing it because of the size of many of the bass he has caught there. Though he also fishes a Senco in black and blue, his favorite "big bass" bait for that lake is a 3/8 oz jig and craw in the same color. And he only fishes the sink. If nothing takes it on the way down, he reels it in and casts it again. Though it's been many years back, I personally know of two ten pound bass being caught on Tanwax. And it sounds like you got the determination to catch the next one.
tuneweaver
6/3/2014 8:57:00 AMThanks for the note Ricky. Actually, a black/blue jig is one of my go-to lures. I haven't used it much on Tanwax so I'll have to give it a longer ride.
Amx
6/3/2014 11:40:00 AMI used to use a Jitterbug and Devil Horse first, then spinnerbait, then crankbait, then weightless worm over the pads, yes that works, then weighted worm in the pads and along the inside and outside pad line. All lures I used inside and outside the pad lines. Also along and under the docks. I haven't fished the lake since the '90s so never used the senko as it wasn't invented yet. You might try an old fashioned curly tailed worm instead of a senko. Oh ya, a frog and buzzbait of course.
tuneweaver
6/3/2014 11:50:00 AMThanks Amx. All good ideas. I tried the weightless worm. Remember the Gator Tail? Zoom is offering it now as the Gworm. When you jiggle it along with a slow retrieve it looks alive and frantic. I almost jumped in and ate it myself. I appreciate the tips and I'll try them all.
bassman72
6/3/2014 12:29:00 PMI have had good success with a buzz bait for the early morning. I tend to get really deep in the pads and look for lay downs in there and small pockets to pitch a jig into. I mean really deep in the pads. When I come out of there I leave a trail of pads floating across the lake. I too have noticed the bass here do not seem to fit the seasonal patterns one would expect.
tuneweaver
6/3/2014 12:37:00 PMThanks Bassman. I've worked the inside and outside edges of the pad fields but I'm getting the idea that I have to start working right in the middle of them. I used to have success that way but somehow I got away from it. I appreciate the tips.
arniejl
6/3/2014 4:39:00 PMOk, I kid, I kid.
I work with a guy that was pan fish fishing two weeks ago on Tanwax. He had caught a perch and a couple of 10"+ Crappie. He was using a bobber with his jig about 4' under it, then Boom! He hooked a monster. Light gear, light line, nearly 10 minutes later he lands this bass. He does not have a scale but a bass boat near him seen it all and came over. The guy in the bass boat weighed the fish for him, 9 pounds 6 ounces.
Yeah, why? I don't know but it seems like this sort of stuff happens sometimes. There is no real logic as to why a bass of that size would bite a tiny little jig, but it happens. Must have been pretty convenient for that bass.
My two cents says that it is not really, for most fish, still prespawn or even the spawn. These small shallow lakes warmed up way fast this year. The lakes I have been fishing the spawn seemed to have passed a couple of weeks ago. There are probably a few fish still wanting to do the deed, but I think you are in a post spawn pattern here.
I work with a guy that was pan fish fishing two weeks ago on Tanwax. He had caught a perch and a couple of 10"+ Crappie. He was using a bobber with his jig about 4' under it, then Boom! He hooked a monster. Light gear, light line, nearly 10 minutes later he lands this bass. He does not have a scale but a bass boat near him seen it all and came over. The guy in the bass boat weighed the fish for him, 9 pounds 6 ounces.
Yeah, why? I don't know but it seems like this sort of stuff happens sometimes. There is no real logic as to why a bass of that size would bite a tiny little jig, but it happens. Must have been pretty convenient for that bass.
My two cents says that it is not really, for most fish, still prespawn or even the spawn. These small shallow lakes warmed up way fast this year. The lakes I have been fishing the spawn seemed to have passed a couple of weeks ago. There are probably a few fish still wanting to do the deed, but I think you are in a post spawn pattern here.
Amx
6/3/2014 5:16:00 PMAt my local lake the Large Mouth spawn seems a couple weeks late. The fish I caught today I also caught in the same spot on May 13th, 2013. Yes, I've been checking that spot a few times over the past month to see if I could catch her again. :-) Other Large Mouth haven't been in areas where they have been in the past. There is a 7 lb plus I haven't seen last year or this year, provided she's still alive, spawning, and spawning in the same spot/area, she should be in the 8 to 9 lb size by now. I'll have to go check again soon, been a couple weeks.
arniejl
6/3/2014 8:20:00 PMSure, each lake is different, as are the fish within each lake. I guess that I was suggesting that it is possible that it is post spawn as, from the sounds of his post, it kind of sounds post spawn. But, even so, there may be more fish moving up any day now. Another wave...I have not fished Tanwax this year so I do not know.
HunterT136
7/1/2014 11:24:00 AMFrog this lake. July is usually great for frogging on this lake yesterday my buddy caught two and i missed one in the weirdest spot. Black spro frogs i skipped it under the dock being bored from a dead bite in the last hour and got a hit but missed it picking out my backlash and not getting a good hook set. Fish the camp lakeview side pads.
Amx
7/1/2014 11:46:00 AMAh the value of using a spinning rod and reel. lol I would never try to skip under a dock with a level wind, I get too many backlashes as it is, but I do ok at best.
jaked26
7/9/2014 10:58:00 AMI have lived on this lake since '92 and have fished many of days on this lake. You have the right idea as I have caught most of my bass on senko. I have caught some on jig, lizard, spro, buzzbait, crankbait, and some days I have had good success with floating gold and black rapala but senko has had the best results. Same as what you said skipping under docks and around lay downs. I have caught bass everywhere in this lake. My biggest being 8+ pds but most are 2 to 5 pounds.