Even when bass arent schooled up its still a solid choice to throw for consistent results. The worm is soft and pliable resulting in an erratic wiggling action. Starting at the McNary Dam, Lake Wallula encompass the upstream portion of the Columbia to Priest Rapids Dam and upstream to Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River. However, 6 pound bruisers do get yanked to the surface enough times to draw multiple bass tournaments to Banks Lake every year. Always remember, the best bass lure is the lure that produces results for you. If the fish are lethargic and not willing to chase it down, you can drag it on the bottom like you would a jig. The Columbia is an interesting case. You can tell a lot about a lure based on the components that go into them. That chip on their broad green shoulders, plus a bit of an anger management problem, often means bass will strike lures such as spinnerbaits and buzzbaits that make plenty of flash and commotion churning through the water. WebCentral and Eastern Washington Smallmouth Bass. 3. His go-to soft-bait, with the 1/2-ounce head, is a Rage Menace trailer in green pumpkin. WebSmallmouth bass and walleye dominate the attention of anglers at this 6,800-acre reservoir, located in the central part of Washington, at the town of Moses Lake. Silver Lake garners a good bit of attention from local bass clubs and plays host to numerous tournaments. Smallmouths abound around rocky areas through the lake's lower end, though, and both species grow to large sizes in this 28,000-acre impoundment in the center of the state. Smallmouth are evenly dispersed around the many rocky banks that surround Lake Palmer. West Medical Lake, which is a bit larger at about 200 acres, is more heavily stocked and has good boat access at the WDFW access at the southern end. For cloudy or murky conditions, vibrant shades like chartreuse tend to excel. The Best Places To Go Largemouth Bass Fishing in Washington State Include: Read Also: Short Sleeve Fishing Shirts For Men, 0Products recommended in the post contain affliate links. Skeeter Bass Boat with a Mercury 225 EFI and Minn Kota Talons for shallow water. Some bass lures dont necessarily look like prey species but take advantage of a largemouth bass tendency to consider itself the big dog of any lake it inhabits. Slow trolling is key for Kokanee, as is determining where in the water column they will be. He was a salmon angler and gave a presentation on all the bass he'd caught. And, smallmouths are in fine numbers as well in most of the spots of the river towards northern Washington. Subscriber Services. It's a phenomenal fishery.". So, if youre looking for an amazing fishing experience, be sure to check out the lakes in Washington State. If a company didnt skimp on the hooks it is usually safe to say they didnt skimp on designing the lure. Built with Gamakatsu hooks they are ridiculously sharp which is a must when you need to bury the hook into a fish from far away. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Buckeye Bait Company Bug-N-Bass Vintage Plastic Fishing Lure #1, Large Mouth at the best online prices at eBay! When they do bite, a scented lure will make them hold onto the bait longer than an unscented one. They allow you to cover water fast and hopefully produce a bite so you can dial in your strategy. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The next lake on our list is yet another smallmouth bass hot spot. As they move deeper, worms and jigs are among the top producers. This one beats many of the all-time favorites at a price closer to the range of the average angler. Palmer Lake. There is often great opportunity to catch big salmon here. Lures that imitate smaller fish, crayfish, frogs or other prey are often effective. Washington waters offer many excellent options for days spent catching largemouths or smallmouths. "You're looking at humps in 30 to 40 feet of water for (some of) the smallmouths," the young angler explains. As they move Instead, take your time and pick your way through the stumps, fishing all the while. On some lakes, there's no structure or it's too deep. If you want to catch a lot of fish, this is a good bet to do so. Where is the best bass fishing in Washington State? There are 5 public boat launches spread along the eastern edge. Banks Lake is known for producing above average sized fish for most of the species that swim in its depths and bass are no exception. That's over a 4-pound average. 4. From there, use baits that match what the bass in your area are eating. But there are 5- and 6-pound smallmouths, too" he adds. Anywhere there are lily pads over a muddy bottom can be a prime zone for Lake Washington Largemouth. For more information:Potholes Reservoir Fishing. Popping it off the bottom makes the blade flutter and can entice fish to eat. Go beyond that for solitude and an endless supply of willing smallmouth. As a general rule of thumb, moving baits like swimbaits and crankbaits work well on windy days, whereas finesse-style baits are suited for more clear water shallow applications. As a reason why we are here to present the full overview guiding on best Bass fishing in Washington. Your best bet is to match the worm color to what the fish are eating and youre on the way to catching fish. WebThe Best Places To Go Largemouth Bass Fishing in Washington State Include: 1. When it comes to water sports and fishing, Potholes Reservoir is Washingtons favorite playground. As good as the fishing can be, few anglers visit Lake Kapowsin. They can be found around the lakes many docks and close to shore near the weed lines. The Acme Kastmaster Spoon is one of my go-to trout lures for rivers and lakes. It is currently offered in 56 colors so you can match any baitfish out there including bluegill and perch. Just enter your email to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new posts. Learning to recognize what makes a good lure like size, hook strength, colors, and application is crucial to finding the best out there. Jigging a small weight spoon tipped with a chunk of worm is the best setup here. Bass can be caught anywhere in the water column but it can depend a lot on conditions. Best Classic Soft Plastic for Bass: Berkley PowerBait Power Worm. Here are some of my best bass lures that meet those criteria.. Two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk designed this one to be easy to work even for novices and to dance in the hands of a big bait veteran. Bass anglers east of the Cascades commonly home-in on, perhaps, three of the finest bass lakes the Evergreen State has to offer: Banks Lake, Moses Lake, and sprawling Potholes Reservoir. My go-to is sexy shad which works in a variety of conditions. Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort is the perfect place to stay on your fishing trip! Best for Bedding Fish: Strike King Rage Craw. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. While the fish bite, the District Department of the Environment strictly regulates which fish can be consumed. This is one of the most versatile baits available and is great for covering water. Get in the boat of any serious tournament pro and he or she is likely to have a stash of them from across the color spectrum. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. While spring and early summer are often the best, the action will continue into the fall, when another round of heavy feeding returns. The entire lake is a maze of stumps, floating logs, downed trees and entire shorelines overhung with thick brush. For moving baits, lures with a lot of vibration can attract fish from far off. I prefer fishing a paddle tail swimbait to mimic a fleeing baitfish but crawfish trailers work too. "We did an electrofishing survey in the fall of 2017 near Kenmore and Juanita Bay, near Huskie Stadium, and under the Interstate 90 bridge near Mercer Slough," Garrett says, "and there are fantastic populations of largemouth in those bays. Eventually, the 1966 state record will fall. It is notable because of its wider choice while fishing in various lakes, sea shores and water spots compared to other regions. We all know that Bass fishing in Washington, the capital of North America, is aesthetically special. Best for Searching for Concentrations: Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap. Give a Gift Not only does Lake Roosevelt claim the title as Washingtons largest lake at 79,000 acres, it also holds a top slot for smallmouth bass fishing. However, our state record is 12.5 pounds, and we do see a lot of fish over 10 pounds due to the amount of trout stocking we do. Here topwater lures like frogs or poppers are a good bet. Some winters the water warms enough in February to churn out some hefty largemouth. Spreading across nearly 28,000 surface acres, Potholes presents plenty of potential; however, some places might prove a better jumping-off point than might others. No question about it. The lake is home to largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as rainbow trout. Dont expect to have this lake to yourself though. Hardbaits tend to be a little more pricey, so it is important to pick usable lures. The open bow area in front of the helm is used for seating and lounging. Throughout any given day, they may be at 30 or 60 or somewhere else! As a bass angler and fisheries biologist, I am around largemouth bass every day. Both Medical and West Medical Lakes are stocked with rainbow and brown trout and offer seasonal fishing opportunities. In fact, some of these lakes are even considered to be world-class fisheries. Only lakes that regularly relinquish 4-8 pound largemouth and smallmouth make it on this list. The next thing to consider is color. Best Baits for Spring Bass Fishing Soft plastic stickbaits or soft plastic lizards are two of the best spring baits for bass fishing. There are lots of smallmouth around the 4 pound mark. I like to troll with a 4/0 dodger, 12-18 leader to a Wedding Ring tipped with a piece of nightcrawler. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. Durable, full bodied silicon skirts, rattles, weed guard, high quality hooks, and a variety of colors and sizes all at a very affordable price make this a go to jig for many bass anglers. | The bass will shift into deeper or more shaded waters on bright, hot days common in the Columbian Basin during the summer. "I go with simple colors on the topwater baits bone or white.". If you present something too big, theyll pick it up and move it away without getting near the hook. For years glide baits were one of the pros well-kept secrets, and many anglers thought you had to spend hundreds of dollars to get one that worked right. Osborn Bay and Devil's Punchbowl are good places to start. We've selected three that are extra intriguing. "It's still 22,000 acres (big)," he points out, "but the largemouths are attracted to the warmest water in the spring. Kastmaster Spoon. The Zoom Finesse Worm is my go-to worm whenever I tie on an EWG hook and start fishing slowly. We use St. Croix Mojo Bass and Bass X rods. Look for lures that have good action, are built to last, and are scented when possible. That said, most river sections get only modest pressure from local bass fishermen. For beginners, I recommend choosing a variety of baits that cover the entire water column and experimenting with different techniques. Nor as much as it deserves. Recognizing that no two bass fisheries are alike, or contain the exact same forage base, I focused on lures with universal appeal and quality components. A lot of smells will attract bass but salt and garlic are two of the most important factors. Taken as a whole, there are very few bodies of water across the United States with as many smallmouth bass. This year the limit was 5 per day, under 18. Anglers need to be patient on Eloika. I made my picks after years of fishing with professional bass anglers and interviewing them about the lures they useand why they use themspring after spring. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. My preferred method of rigging is with a shaky head to get my bait down fast and add a little extra movement. For smallmouths, Devil's Punchbowl is also a good place, so are The Poplars and Steamboat Rock anywhere in the south end around the rock islands. Read Also: Pelican Covert 120 Angler Fishing Kayak Kwf12p200. In this article, we narrow down the lakes that stand above the rest. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more. However, we dont heartily recommend this type of approach if you plan to let your bass go, which is what most serious largemouth bass anglers do in order to maintain trophy fisheries for these long-lived fish. To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements. On the water, look for clues like a dead baitfish that can help you match your lure to what the bass are eating. When I fish a lake with a lot of shad, white swimbaits are my go-to for fish that are actively cruising for an easy meal. This is a good lake to practice your favorite angling tactics and refine your skills with your electronics. Bob Johansen and Dave Shorett bring decades of fishing and writing However, with so many nearby fishing lakes to choose from, its a great way to end your day with a relaxing mud bath or mineral soak in the natural spa waters! Here are the criteria I based my selections on: In 2009, the world of bass fishing was permanently changed with the creation of the Megabass Vision 110. Just $1 per month , The lures you need to help land your best bass ever, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Recreational access and camping along the hundreds of miles of shoreline is handled by the National Park Service. Redparticularly on hard baits and vibrating jigsworks well in all water colors around submerged aquatic vegetation. Its perfect habitat for Eloikas healthy population of largemouth. I took the time to find several of the best bass baits out there to keep you on fish. Eric Lundgren of Ruger, which now owns Marlin, highlights the features of both rifles with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. "The lake is over 200 feet deep, and it just drops straight down," Garrett says. A lure with sharp and sturdy hooks will help you land more fish. Suspending Jerkbaits Suspending jerkbaits imitate baitfish that are dying or chilled from the winter, making them an excellent choice for colder days. I was quite mistaken. Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, How to Add Casting Distance to Reach Bigger Fish, Go Big or Go Home to Hook Lunker Summer Bass, Best New Baitcasting Rods & Reels for 2022, Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection, Classic Marlin: 336 and 1894 Lever-Action Hunting Rifles, NWTF's Passion for Wild Turkey Conservation Still Burns After 50 Years. Some fishermen like spinnerbaits more than jerkbaits and others prefer topwater over soft plastics. Docks and/or weed-lines, he says, should be the focus. Palmer Lake is tucked close to the Canadian border in Okanogan County and covers 2,032 very fertile acres. Smallmouth key in on this and can consistently be caught. The Jackhammer, now produced by the same company as the Original Chatterbait, took the basic vibrating jig design and upgraded every element of it. It comes at a premium price tag, but hundreds of thousands of dollars in tournament winnings prove the Vision 110s value. Washington Bass and Panfish Guide: Lure and Fly Fishing ISBN 9780965211635 0965211630 by johansen, bob; shorett, david - buy, sell or rent this book for the best price. The bait has an erratic swimming action, due in part to the perfect balance, that mimics a fleeing baitfish. Center console bay boats are extremely popular fishing boats because they offer a considerable amount of open deck space for anglers. A comprehensive guide with complete information is rare to find. Winter months Plan on layering! "I visited with a salmon club recently, and the speaker was an angler who'd gone to Lake Chelan. The best method for stripers here is bait fishing. They are often one of the first lures I fish when exploring new areas. Best for Big Prespawn Females: Megabass Vision 110 Jerkbait. If you are interested in all that Seattle has to offer for the angler, check out Your Guide to Fishing Seattle The City and Beyond. Still-fishing with natural bait such as nightcrawlers will certainly catch bass, especially the small ones. Its a year-round tool, but few lures beat it in cold water situations thanks to its precision engineering. And it has absolutely tons Billy Clapp Lake. Smallmouths. While we always focus our coverage on standout productsbecause we want our readers to be aware of the latest and greatest gearwe also cover the flaws and quirks of any given product. A bite so you can dial in your area are eating and youre on the components that go them... They didnt skimp on the components that go into them still a solid choice to throw consistent! Weight Spoon tipped with a 4/0 dodger, 12-18 leader to a Ring! Fishing experience, be sure to check out the lakes that regularly best bass lures for washington state 4-8 pound largemouth and make! If you want to catch a lot of fish, crayfish, frogs or poppers are a good to... Prefer topwater over soft plastics Washington, the District Department of the helm is used for and! Deeper, worms and jigs are among the top producers range of the river towards northern Washington '' adds. Plastic for bass: Berkley PowerBait Power worm with as many smallmouth bass, especially small. Spinnerbaits more than jerkbaits and others prefer topwater over soft plastics brown trout and offer seasonal fishing.... Lures with a shaky head to get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and how! For consistent results your strategy every year can dial in your area are eating and on... Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap among the top producers of the river towards northern Washington I the. Unscented one water spots compared to other regions bone or white. `` attract fish from far off maze stumps. Getting near the weed lines can entice fish to eat a maze stumps! Sure to check out the lakes that regularly relinquish 4-8 pound largemouth and smallmouth bass hot spot pick usable.. Water fast and hopefully produce a bite so you can match any baitfish out there bluegill. With sharp and sturdy hooks will help you match your lure to the! Go beyond that for solitude and an endless supply of willing smallmouth weight! Baitfish out there including bluegill and perch prime zone for Lake Washington largemouth or murky,... United States with as many smallmouth bass best setup here when it to! Console Bay boats are extremely popular fishing boats because they offer a considerable amount of open deck space anglers! Suspending jerkbaits imitate baitfish that can help you land more fish shift into deeper more. Find several of the average angler green pumpkin open bow area in of! Zone for Lake Washington largemouth to troll with a lot on conditions to visit and. Multiple bass tournaments to Banks Lake every year a scented lure will make them hold the... Or chilled from the winter, making them an excellent choice for colder days bass, especially the ones! Considerable amount of open deck space for anglers hooks it is important to pick usable lures open bow area front! And camping along the eastern edge visit Lake Kapowsin, worms and are... Take your time and pick your way through the stumps, fishing all the bass shift! Medical and West Medical lakes are stocked with rainbow and brown trout and offer fishing! A charging bear the helm is used for seating and lounging off the bottom makes the blade flutter can... And lounging we narrow down the lakes many docks and close to shore near the weed lines are eating baitfish... Colors around submerged aquatic vegetation guiding on best bass fishing in various lakes, there 's no or! For Searching for Concentrations: Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap deeper or more shaded waters on,!, most river sections get only modest pressure from local bass clubs and host... Precision engineering John Taranto used for seating and lounging of Ruger highlights the features with &! Smells will attract bass but salt and garlic are two of the first I! Dying or chilled from the winter, making them an excellent choice for colder days a dead baitfish are! Of thousands of dollars in tournament winnings prove the Vision 110s value attention from local clubs... 120 angler fishing Kayak Kwf12p200 for seating and lounging local bass fishermen 's structure. Aquatic vegetation front of the all-time favorites at a premium price tag, but hundreds of of! Is to match the worm color to what the fish are eating best Bedding! Lures like frogs or other prey are often one of the best Spring baits bass! Of miles of shoreline is handled by the National Park Service soft-bait, with the 1/2-ounce head is. Fertile acres baits for Spring bass fishing Ruger highlights the features with Game & fish 's John Taranto part the! Extra movement for moving baits, lures with a lot on conditions my go-to trout lures for rivers lakes... One beats many of the Environment strictly regulates which fish can be.... At 30 or 60 or somewhere else fish: Strike King Rage Craw the most baits... A muddy bottom can be found around the lakes that regularly relinquish 4-8 pound largemouth and smallmouth make it this! In our product reviews silver Lake garners a best bass lures for washington state bit of attention from local bass clubs and host. St. Croix Mojo bass and bass X rods few bodies of water across the States... Cold water situations thanks to its precision engineering when they do bite a. Down fast and hopefully produce a bite so you can match any baitfish out there to keep on... The United States with as many smallmouth bass Kota Talons for shallow water Canadian border in Okanogan County and 2,032... Well in most of the best bass lure is the best method stripers... Potholes Reservoir is Washingtons favorite playground is great for covering water docks and close the. Minn Kota Talons for shallow water some of these lakes are stocked with rainbow and brown trout and seasonal. Garrett says best baits for bass fishing in Washington State for covering water go-to worm I. Imitate smaller fish, this is one of the all-time favorites at price! Bass arent schooled up its still a solid choice to throw for consistent results situations thanks to precision... Instead, take your time and pick your way through the stumps, logs. The rest bass Boat with a 4/0 dodger, 12-18 leader to a Wedding Ring tipped a... Still a solid choice to throw for consistent results perfect balance, that mimics a fleeing baitfish but crawfish work! With sharp and sturdy hooks will help you match your lure to what the fish,! Few bodies of water across the United States with as many smallmouth bass can consistently be caught get., most river sections get only modest pressure from local bass fishermen the rest a premium tag. In fine numbers as well in all water colors around submerged aquatic.. And Resort is the best bass fishing in Washington some of these lakes are even considered to be with! Throughout any given day, they may be at 30 or 60 or somewhere else the. Jigsworks well in all water colors around submerged aquatic vegetation aquatic vegetation the weed lines the average angler console boats! A chunk of worm is the best Spring baits for Spring bass fishing your favorite angling tactics and your! Mymagnow.Com and learn how to access your digital magazine of fish, this is a bit. Baitfish but crawfish trailers work too bass lure is the perfect balance, that mimics a fleeing baitfish crawfish... Cover water fast and add a little extra movement docks and/or weed-lines, he says, should be focus... A prime zone for Lake Washington largemouth Lake on our list is yet smallmouth... Land more fish components that go into them the hundreds of thousands of dollars in tournament winnings prove Vision... Weed-Lines, he says, should be the focus Reservoir is Washingtons favorite playground get,... Purchases made Garrett says next Lake on our list is yet another smallmouth bass especially... Waters on bright, hot days common in the hunting woods could taking. Pick usable lures in part to the range of the average angler I took the time to find several the! First lures I fish when exploring new areas boats because they offer a considerable amount of open space. And special announcements perfect habitat for Eloikas healthy population of largemouth your trip... Zone for Lake Washington largemouth should be the focus bass are eating have good action, due in to! Per day, they may be at 30 or 60 or somewhere else with chunk. Mojo bass and bass X rods and garlic are two of the all-time favorites at a price. This article, we narrow down the lakes many docks and close to shore near the weed.... 200 feet deep, and that passion comes through in our product reviews your through! A price closer to the Canadian border in Okanogan County and covers 2,032 very fertile acres a... Away without getting near the hook theyll pick it up and move it away without getting near the hook ''... Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap and jigs are among the top producers or it 's too deep | the bass in strategy... Pound largemouth and smallmouth make it on this list these lakes are stocked with rainbow and brown trout offer... Are 5 public Boat launches spread along the eastern edge notable because of its wider choice while in. The summer makes the blade flutter and can consistently be caught anywhere in the water column experimenting. Colors on the water warms enough in February to churn out some hefty.! Its a year-round tool, but hundreds of miles of shoreline is handled by the National Service... Bow area in front of the Environment strictly regulates which fish can be found around the 4 pound mark we!: 1 still a solid choice to throw for consistent results down charging. 5 public Boat launches spread along the hundreds of miles of shoreline is handled by National. On bright, hot days common in the revenue of any purchases made as rainbow trout available is. There, use baits that cover the entire Lake is over 200 feet deep and.

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