Bass fishing from shore on Orcas and San Juan Islands?--report added

[fongster]

Posted this over in Freshwater but maybe you guys can help here...

Hi, I'll be visiting these islands near the end of this month. I've heard of a few lakes to try--Egg, Sportsmans, and Cascade. I'm sure there may be more. I'd like to C and R bass fish but am limited on time and am also shore bound as this is more of a family trip vs a fishing one. I can bring 3-4 outfits with me. If someone can clue me into the primary techniques and tackle, that'd be great. I like to both power and finesse fish and have infinite gear and baits, lol. I just need to pare down to what are the best bets. I'm thinking of bringing a 6# dropshot rod, an 8# worm rod, a topwater/fluke rod and a 40# braid rod which I can fish reaction baits or frogs on (I saw pics with weeds and lily pads on a couple lakes). Are those good choices? Any other lakes to try? An idea of how accessible the shorelines are would be appreciated. Thanks!

[ChrisB]

More than likely you might not get much info about these lakes. They are probably under-fished due to their location, which can really work out for you. I would get on Google Earth and zoom in and try to see if you can see anything. Lakes that have a park with alot of shoreline, docks, good to float tube if you have one ? I see successful fishing in your future.

[The Quadfather]

Send a PM to RacMvey ( I think that is how he spells it?) look him up in the members area. He has experience in the San Juans fishing the lakes up there.

[CarpMouth]

Hello Fongster,

As we fish Cascade almost every week, here are my recommendations. You sound like us in saying you have infinite gear. If possible, I would not pare it down alot. I think our success is two fold - worms and infinite crankbaits.

If fishing from shore, then it's probably not convenient to carry six rods and four tackle boxes, but concentrate on a rod for worming and a rod for casting lures.

Drop shots or Mack's wedding rings with worm with serve you well. And as I say the more crankbait variety the better.

You can walk around Cascade Lake to the lagoon and fish from shore there from several places like the swimming rock, from the entrances to the bridge and from the points on either side before one enters under the bridge to the lagoon. Also along the rockery by the main road and a few other campsite areas.

Next time you visit Orcas, bring the boat as it will better your catch rate. The bigger bass are moving deeper now and towards the end of the month. Have lots of fun.

[fongster]

Thanks guys. What's the forage for Cascade and other island lakes? Is Cascade weedy or bare bottom? Stained or clear? Thanks.

[fishnazzi]

A buddy of mine swears the night bite is the best on those lakes..............a lot of fish but only after dark.

[fongster]

Hi all, back home in so. cal. now. Had a nice time in WA and the San Juans--awesome people and places! I fished Egg on San Juan Island for 2 hours but couldn't crack it (pun intended). Sportmans was unfishable from shore--completely brushlined with heavy growth. I fished Cascade on Orcas for a couple hours by the boat rentals and scored my first two WA State bass. They were kind of small, only 11-inchers on a Cordell Spot. That sure is a beautiful lake, I can see why Carpmouth is on it so much. Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'll be back on another trip--a longer one for sure!

[noah the angler]

Try Hummel if you get a chance, but in cascade in-line spinners seem to work for me for bass and trout.

[The Quadfather]

Noah, the original poster has not been on the forum since Oct. 2011

San Juan county lakes don’t get a lot luvin/attention within the website.