Weather looked iffy on west side on Saturday rain by 2pm so headed to eastern Washington to try my luck...saw I-82 ponds before and be a good spot for my small boat and 70F with no rain in forecast...made it with stop for cheap gas in Cle Elum(so I wouldn't have to stop on drive home) and bite to eat...left Marysville 9am got to lake around noon. Pond #6 has ample parking lot and porta potty which I stopped at. No boat launch and plenty of shore bank fishing...found a spot to put boat in on south end ..I started to south and was calm...which is good for top water fishing ..I was using black buzzbait and top water perch minnow by rapala size #7...never been here so tried close to shore nothing...little out got a roll...then about five minutes in wake and fish on...average bass 10" photo release...shallows are very slimy and weedy...nice green water planets and not much green slime more grass on reel ins...had some action in front of weeds and couple hits deeper out...caught three from one corner sunfish, crappie and another small bass...
Spooked a few fish moving the minnow to soon...so not sure if they were small or bigger ones taking a cautious look...saw a big fish jump out deep...and would see him again and again...make corner and on far side from parking lot caught couple more bass one out deep that was a leaper...had another roll in front of weeds and reeled in the minnow and Bam fish on!!!! Whoa!!! Where's the drag??? Big one he swam along weed line tried to get shallower but I turned him to the boat...went under boat twice and saw the side...big flash...good fight and grab that big mouth...landed whoa heavy...take out phone photo, second photo....I snagged him on side with one hook by his mouth...selfie...measure twice...18" by 5" wide...my third biggest bass this year...and ties my 5th longest...this one was fat...no scale but my guess close to 3.5-4lbs...let him go and upload Facebook photo...back to fishing another jumper saw this one big trout with red on his side...saw him a few more times and within 5ft but he didn't want my minnow...got 11 fish total all on top water minnow got three reeling it back and pausing it...nothing on buzzbaits, spinner bait, frog (had green frog chase it) or chatterbait...wind picked up gave up 5:30pm...fun part was trying to get back on shore...grab a clump of grass and leap up the bank...wind was pushing boat into hole by shore...so wasn't going anywhere but had to haul it up the bank some to unload the boat. Good first trip to this pond. All fish catch some photographed and released.

Good luck out there.

James

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