Northwest Fishing Reports

with the nice supply of Ticks they have in NE WA this year, I'm thinking about bagging the turkey trip and going fishing instead. I just cant' decide what interests me more.. salt, or fresh. Neah Bay Lingcod opens the same weekend (april 16th) so there's TONS of potential up there... or I could head east and finally chase the legendary Rufus Woods Monsters, and maybe get some quality bass time in as well...

what would you guys do? I'd rather not spend a fortune.. but I probably need wireless access so I can login to school (University of Phoenix).

Man that's a tough one. I can't speak for saltwater at all, but for freshwater, I think I'd target a largemouth lake and somewhere that I could stay and just moor my boat or at least have quick access to a launch. I think Silver Lake, and PotHoles or Moses would be my top choices for April. Potholes and Moses both have giant smallies and largies, great camping facilities, and good launches. Banks smallies can sometimes be absolutely on fire in mid to late April as well.

I guess you have a tough problem Dustin, but it's not like i feel bad for ya or anything man! I'm sure you'll get tons of great suggestions, but feel free to give me a call on my cell if you want to talk specifics about wherever you decide to go, or need help choosing some gear to take if you go for bass.

Good luck!
Dave

Curlew! Trout, kokanee, bass, and MUSKY!

davidwat1 wrote:
I guess you have a tough problem Dustin, but it's not like i feel bad for ya or anything man! I'm sure you'll get tons of great suggestions, but feel free to give me a call on my cell if you want to talk specifics about wherever you decide to go, or need help choosing some gear to take if you go for bass.

Good luck!
Dave

LOL thanks If I go east I'll give ya a holler! It's a tough one. If I go to Neah Bay I know I'm going to bring home meat, If I go east I'm not bringing home anything for the smoker unless I pick up some trout or walleye probably, but could get into some great bass action (that and the eastern WA change of scenery is always nice). Silver, Potholes, Moses, maybe banks? Originally we were going to camp off roosevelt for the turkeys, but I'm thinking fishing may be better if I stay more central...?

I just read that the potholes open bass tourney is the same weekend i'm looking to travel....

Potholes all the way.

Hi Dustin...I think I'm going to be around the Roosevelt / Rufus area the weekend you're talking about. As long as the weather holds, it should be good. I like what gpc says, but with a tourney that weekend...no thanks...I'm saving those trips for May and June! :thumleft:

Now through??? Cathlamet all the way, springer fever!

http://www.cathlametmarina.org/

mav186 wrote:Hi Dustin...I think I'm going to be around the Roosevelt / Rufus area the weekend you're talking about. As long as the weather holds, it should be good. I like what gpc says, but with a tourney that weekend...no thanks...I'm saving those trips for May and June! :thumleft:

Good point the Reservoir can be a ZOO with some of those tournaments. Even getting a burger at the Cafe or a case a beer at the Mar Don store can be a task on a tournament weekend.

hmmm... maybe all the more reason to do some jumping. maybe 2 days at Mardon, thurs/fri, and 2 days at Chelan or something. or head south to the columbia and find Crappiemasters hideout. He's landed some lunker hogs.

I love to fish Banks this time of year, I think I'll be there that weekend in fact. Typically its pretty good fishing mid April.

Dustin07 wrote:hmmm... maybe all the more reason to do some jumping. maybe 2 days at Mardon, thurs/fri, and 2 days at Chelan or something. or head south to the columbia and find Crappiemasters hideout. He's landed some lunker hogs.

Last summer we did something like that. We stayed a night a Mar Don then 2 nights around the Sun lakes and on the way back spent a night in the Quincy area. It was to bad that we picked the hottest time of the year so the fishing wasnt the best but still fun. This time of year would be perfect.

Hit potholes for bass and walleye, Lenore and Dry Falls for some large selective gear trout, Banks for some more bass and walleye, Rufus Woods for some pigs then to break up the drive home some C&R only Stan Coffin bass and then hit Evergreen Reservoir for some more walleye and maybe even a chance at a tiger muskie. You can easily do all of that in a 4 night trip. Fish for a little of eveything

I think we may do something like that. Mar Don Thurs/Fri, Chelan Sat/Sun. There is probably going to be 4 us, and 2 may be joining Friday night so I think 2 of us will fish moses/potholes thurs /fri, then meet the guys at Chelan that night.

I think it depends on your sleeping and living accomedations.Were getting cold funky weather for a bit. Id stay somewhere ,where there are nicer accomedations or a motor home.My first bet would be Campbell Lake.There is a inexpensive lil motel right there across from the lake . Being there puts you into alot of different types of fishing. Right close is Coronet Bay,Deception Pass,Whidbey Isle,. For the east side Id say Mardon is a good bet.also the Coulee area ,Lots of oppurtunities in and around.Plus the awesome sites of the Dam are great.

Me personally would choose neah bay so much to fish for up there and all so delicous! I don't think i heard anyone being disappointed heading home from neah bay!! On the other hand there are alot of state records being caught overthere!

I know, it's a tough call. I hope to hit neah bay at least once this year, but I think this trip we've decided to head east. The change of scenery will be nice, and I'm really craving some bass. On top of that the other guys I'm going with want to get into some lake trout, and I've never targeted walleye before... so over the course of 4 days we should be able to do a little bit of everything. I think it's going to be Mar Don Thurs/Fri, drive up to Chelan, fish Sat/Sun.

thanks for the suggestions guys!

Ahhh...the familiar spring time dilemma...trying to stuff 10 pounds of 'candy' in a 5 pound sack! I love this time of year...so many choices and NEVER enough time! Have Fun :bounce:

LOL well put ;)

Southern Cal is not that far for some good fishing. In Wa the weather changes to much to enjoy a 3-4 day outting. Unless your a duck!