Northwest Fishing Reports

I moved here about a year ago and have been fishing all over the place with moderate luck. I live in seattle area and I'm looking for a few decent spots to check out for bass and tout. Its a lot to explore without much guidance as I am teaching myself the tactics around here. I came from New Hampshire and it feels like a world apart.

Well, the Seattle area is kinda large. So, north or east or south of Seattle? Maybe even west of Seattle?

Check out the lake maps here on Northwest Fishing Reports, and the fishing reports for ideas, and picture pages of the lakes. Pick a lake close to where you want to fish, and check the reports, check the map and pictures to see what it looks like, and if it has a ramp for a boat the size that you have, if you have a boat.

I'm around Renton area. I also have a kayak and have found that it may be best to look for the harder to get to lakes, everything seems so busy.

Have you been to lake boren yet? With a kayak you could get away from the dock which is the only place that is consistently fished! Just the other day I saw a guy pull in a 17" rainbow from the dock. He was hucking lead to the south east corner of the lake. So if you could kayak out there and also venture around the lake in sure you'd hook up! Every time I'm there there's people catching fish with noderate to solid success. Plus it's very close to Renton in the Newcastle area!

if you have a kayak (and even fishing from shore), Lake Washington is really all you need. Lots of great bass, yellow perch, other panfish, trout, crawdad, etc. opportunities.

Use the same tactics you would use elsewhere around the country: look for perch outside the weedlines, look for structure/cover for the bass, fish shallow near shore cover for the panfish, look for weedy/swampy areas for the cats, etc.

+1 on his lake WA suggestion. It's close and has a variety.
Lake boren like I said.
And also very nearby to Renton is Lake Meridian is Kent.
They have Kokanee, trout, bass and panfish. You would want to get out there early tho before the waterskiiers etc get in the water!

Lake Sawyer is down past Renton, towards Black Diamond. Great bass fishing, as well as trout and I am sure there are other species as well.

Oh, and welcome to Seattle! I am sure there is quite a bit of culture shock coming from New Hampshire, but I think you will find it to be the greatest place you'll never leave