satsop river smallmouth bass

[obryan214]

perhaps 5 years ago one of the hatchery people told me they had a smallmouth bass in one of the fish traps, I thought this person was BS'ing me. this morning I finally saw one in the river. my dad spooked it from along the bank and it swam towards me. I followed it along while trying to get it to take my spinner, no deal. I walked along side it for about 30 feet with it about 8 feet away, clear water and great view of it. it was around 11 or 12 inches long and clearly not one of the largemouths from the beaver pond near the families property.

Not sure where it would have come from since I've never caught any in Nawatzel or the other smaller lakes that drain into the east fork. I'll send the game department an email later, nobody was around at the hatchery that I saw and didn't want to knock on doors.

My neighbor down on the river swears he caught a Brook Trout 2 years ago, I thought he was crazy but now I'm expecting to see them too. I know of an Atlantic from the Cook Creek area a couple years ago too.

[obryan214]

i have been noticing redds in a few areas in june and wasn't sure what would have made them. they are pretty small and maybe too late for steelhead and cutts. i don't know when whitefish spawn.

[natetreat]

There are bass in the Chehalis. Wouldn't be surprised if they went into the satsop. We used to fish for them in Centralia.

[rickydbasser]

Interesting report. I never could understand why smallmouth would be in the rivers of Eastern Washington, but not in Western Washington rivers. Heck, maybe they are. As far as the trout, maybe he did catch a Brook Trout. But I lean more toward it possibly being a Dolly Varden, which the novice might mistake for a Brook. But who knows.

[obryan214]

i was thinking he mistook a dolly for the brookie but he swears he didn't. it would be an easy mistake.

[obryan214]

I have received 4 emails from the WDFW so far. in addition to the bass in the fish trap, 4 Bluegills were caught to that year. from some lake or pond upstream? it was a high water year they say. another report came of a largemouth about 15 years ago in the Satsop being caught and another was seen.

[rickydbasser]

I have received 4 emails from the WDFW so far. in addition to the bass in the fish trap, 4 Bluegills were caught to that year. from some lake or pond upstream? it was a high water year they say. another report came of a largemouth about 15 years ago in the Satsop being caught and another was seen.

Very, very interesting. Wow, a 15 year old largemouth? I caught a 8-7 largemouth on Lake St. Claire. A biologist who happened to be there when I brought it in for a photo took a scale sample and promised to send me a report, which he did. According to the scale rings, that bass was 12 years old.

[Bodofish]

I have received 4 emails from the WDFW so far. in addition to the bass in the fish trap, 4 Bluegills were caught to that year. from some lake or pond upstream? it was a high water year they say. another report came of a largemouth about 15 years ago in the Satsop being caught and another was seen.

Very, very interesting. Wow, a 15 year old largemouth? I caught a 8-7 largemouth on Lake St. Claire. A biologist who happened to be there when I brought it in for a photo took a scale sample and promised to send me a report, which he did. According to the scale rings, that bass was 12 years old.

OH MY!!!!! The keeping of Bass????? Good thing this isn't the Bass forum! Break out the fire extinguishers!!!!

[rickydbasser]

Don't panic! Don't panic! Because I had no one to take a picture, I put it in my livewell and brought it to the boat launch. After the photo and scale sample it was released alive and kicking. I am die-hard catch and release. If I want a wall-mount, I buy a replica, which I have two of hanging on the wall.

[Bodofish]

Don't panic! Don't panic! Because I had no one to take a picture, I put it in my livewell and brought it to the boat launch. After the photo and scale sample it was released alive and kicking. I am die-hard catch and release. If I want a wall-mount, I buy a replica, which I have two of hanging on the wall.

Just razzzz'in cause so many get really upset. I do C&R with the exception of hatchery fish too. You usually don't hear of any bass fishermen, except for the tournament guys do any more than give them a kiss and back in the drink.