Northwest Fishing Reports

My friend and I are going on our annual bass fishing trip next month and wanted to know where are some places to get big bass. We have gone to potholes with not much luck for 3 years beasides a few 2-3 lbs being the biggest caught. We went to roosvelt lake last year and had a blast with lots of 2 lb SM bass. We prefer camping so we save money for other necessities (Beer, fishing gear). Any ideas would be great.

Silver in pierce Co. has some BIG bass and I believe it has camping also... How far are you willing to drive? I know of the ultimate small mouth stomping zone in N. Oregon 100 + fish days and fish up to 6 lbs:-"

I think we are game to drive anywhere in washington and even part of oregon if there are a chance for some bigger ones

if u have herd of lake sawyer there are HuGe bass in that lake. there is no camping there that ive herd of. there are bass up to 8 lbs in there
and all kinds of fish from trout to crappie ive caught all of them. i had friends that lived on that lake.

fishaholictaz wrote: Silver in Cowlitiz Co. has some BIG bass and I believe it has camping also... How far are you willing to drive? I know of the ultimate small mouth stomping zone in N. Oregon 100 + fish days and fish up to 6 lbs:-"

I messed up I said pierce I meant Silver in Cowlitz Co. Just caught that

fishaholictaz wrote:

fishaholictaz wrote: Silver in Cowlitiz Co. has some BIG bass and I believe it has camping also... How far are you willing to drive? I know of the ultimate small mouth stomping zone in N. Oregon 100 + fish days and fish up to 6 lbs:-"

I messed up I said pierce I meant Silver in Cowlitz Co. Just caught that

I was starting to wonder ... I was like let me go take a different look at Silver in Pierce ... lol. Am camping at Silver @ Cowlitz in August ... two thumbs up!!!

Fishnislife is right that almost every body of water in Western Washington has trophy potential with very few exceptions. The same thing could be said for Eastern Washington as well. Moses Lake is arguably the best big bass fishery in the State right now for both largemouth and smallmouth.

I think that how you target those bigger bass is much more important than where you go. For example, Potholes is loaded with big bass and you guys have yet to figure the bigger fish out quite yet. Try modifying your approach and techniques to consistently catch better than average size fish. Good luck and let us know how you do.

Taz, are you talking about Crane Prairie?

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Yea there are big bass all over the state in most of the Lks. Like Tag said it takes some knowing how too and where to get the big ones. I would fish the Lk thats close to where your at. Try different things. Live craw fish down on deep cover will get some big fish in any Lk in the state and US, Canada, Mexico ect,ect.

tagwatson360 wrote:Fishnislife is right that almost every body of water in Western Washington has trophy potential with very few exceptions. The same thing could be said for Eastern Washington as well. Moses Lake is arguably the best big bass fishery in the State right now for both largemouth and smallmouth.

I think that how you target those bigger bass is much more important than where you go. For example, Potholes is loaded with big bass and you guys have yet to figure the bigger fish out quite yet. Try modifying your approach and techniques to consistently catch better than average size fish. Good luck and let us know how you do.

I want to second this comment, and add to it.

I was watching some fishing program yesterday, and the guy commented on the number of big bass, if I rember he was talking about 8# and up, that have been caught in the last 20 years on the Pro Circuits. He did the math, pointed out that these numbers were from the countries best fishermen, fishing the countries more noted fisheries, and the odds were that you had a one in 50 chance of catching one of these fish in you LIFETIME (assuming you fish once a month and fished for 50 years).

I guess I have had a great lifetime, because I have caught several over that. How did I do it, well, as indicated, smaller lakes are often better. Larger lakes get hit hard, smaller lakes are often overlooked. You can't catch a big fish if they don't exist, so if your body of water is hit hard, it is doubtful that many/any trophy bass will remain.

Also, are you fishing for numbers, or size. There may be only one or two "trophy" bass in any body of water, but hundres, even thousands of the small fish. Also, the trophy fish often eat your normal size fish. So, if you are trying to catch a a "trophy", you will need to change up on your methods.

You did not indicate what size you are fishing for, but consider that you are not likley to catch a shark using powerbait. Learn to fish with bigger baits, and learn to accept fewer fish caught. Remember, a bass can eat food up to one third of it's own weight. Your 6 pound bass can and may be eating 2 pound trout, Bass, or even carp.

So, what are lure are you going to fish with this weekend?#-o

Bisk1tSnGraV wrote:Am camping at Silver @ Cowlitz in August ... two thumbs up!!!

We'll be there also beginning to mid Aug.

RaMcVey wrote:

Bisk1tSnGraV wrote:Am camping at Silver @ Cowlitz in August ... two thumbs up!!!

We'll be there also beginning to mid Aug.

Sweet ... if you see me paddling around in my tube stop by and say hi. Pm me and I can let you know what spots we have reserved.