Northwest Fishing Reports

I just thought of a way i may be able to catch perch, but for it to work, i would need to know how tall most millfoil/weeds are in lake washington. On the west side a little south of the i90 bridge if that helps.

Another question i have is about depthfinders. In really thick weeds/millfoil, will they tell you the depth at the top of the millfoil or the actual bottom?

Thanks, J.T.

As you guess, Milfoil grows to different heights depending on several factors, so I can't tell you there.

In Eastern Washington, It usually grows to about 8 or 10 feet tall.

It does not like cold water, so it starts to dies back pretty fast. This time of year, depending on light and warmth, it might all be dead and laying on the bottom. If that is true, the oxygen will be taken out of the water by the decomposing Milfoil.

As for the depth, a high end depth finder will show the top of the Milfoil, and give you a gray line showing the milfoil, with the bottom below that. A lower quality will only read to the top of the Milfoil. My old Eagle Ice fishing unit is of the lower quality version.

I hope that this helps at least a little.

Milfoil can grow as deep as 20 feet. It depends on the water clarity and how well the sunlight penetrates. And of course, a good muck bottom is helpful.

As for visualizing with a depth finder, you will generally get a broken return where the milfoil is and can adjust the sensitivity for a solid reliable return of the actual bottom. I usually can get to the bottom and even penetrate through the mud for a hard line. If you are using a lower priced fish finder, the weeds will generally obscure the bottom and the auto depth feature will lock to the weed height.

Thanks guys. just an average idea for milfoil hieght helped me

But Now i wish my dad would change to fish finder out of our big boat and put it into our speed boat for the lake, cus the little speed boats fishfinder is old and it basicly sucks. lol

JT, fishing the tops of the milfoil is a solid technique for the perch. We fish the sides and top of a particular weed bed and produce 40-50 perch in a matter of a few hours, sometimed hooking up as many as 6 at a time.

E

Gisteppo wrote:JT, fishing the tops of the milfoil is a solid technique for the perch. We fish the sides and top of a particular weed bed and produce 40-50 perch in a matter of a few hours, sometimed hooking up as many as 6 at a time.

E

Thats what did all season, i guess i just never found a spot as good as yours. The problem was i mainly fished of the docks so could get the right depths, and when we fished on the boat, my dad acted like he knew where the fish were, but he didnt.

Find a long, narrow bed thats parallel to the flow of water in an impoundment. Anchor over the top or to one side or the other. Use the normal goodies. They tend to travel in schools along the bed, praying on the small fingerling bass and crappie fry. I like a curlytail and some worms, but your mileage may vary.

E

The relatives of one of my friends live on Lake Washington. We went fishing there, and he told me a couple weeks before that he had to cut the milfoil because it was too tall. It was about five feet at the time (around early summer). Not sure about this time of year though. It's probably dead.

iPodrodder wrote:The relatives of one of my friends live on Lake Washington. We went fishing there, and he told me a couple weeks before that he had to cut the milfoil because it was too tall. It was about five feet at the time (around early summer). Not sure about this time of year though. It's probably dead.

Yep some communities/people on the lake will pay to have someone dump in weed killer to clear out the water every summer....Still grows up pretty high...

Yep, nasty invasive plant species. I hope we can keep it out of the lakes left that don't have it.
I want to try Washington for Perch this year, anyone do well by Coulon Park?

Jake Dogfish wrote:Yep, nasty invasive plant species. I hope we can keep it out of the lakes left that don't have it.
I want to try Washington for Perch this year, anyone do well by Coulon Park?

I fished outside Kenmore in late Sept. and early Oct. and did well. Never got into the big jumbos, but did pull up a 3# smallie. I usual fish for the cutts, and the sea-runs were really running hard. The weather has killed off all the foil so there's not much concern there now...but oh man was there ever this summer and late fall.

Well, ya ask a question like that to gramps, and gramps would answer back with a question....well I don't reckon I know....how long's a piece of string? Of course I'd sit there goin, huh? And before I could answer, he'd say "too gawd dang long" I sure miss that man.