Northwest Fishing Reports

I thought about making three different posts, but I changed my mind. I am a reasonably new boat owner, and need help. I have a gas motor, and a trolling motor. When I bought the boat I had the gas engine mounted as I can not lift it on or off. So now I can not take my boat on the smaller lakes unless I take it off, and I don't want to & can't. I just recently got the trolling motor for my birthday, but still do not have a fish finder so here are my questions:

1. I have heard that Lake Stevens has perch in it, and I have fished it with just worms before & have never caught any perch. So does Lake Stevens actually have perch in it, and if so is there a particularly good spot to catch them?

2. For Lake Sammamish is there only the boat launch in Issaquah, or is there more anywhere else. Next where are the best places to catch crappie, and I know to use jigs, but is there a trick or any particulars any one might be able to help me out with. Also how do you locate them without a fishfinder or where is a good spot to catch them as well as perch?

3. Now for Lake Washington are there crappie in there, and if so where. What happened to the big perch? This year I have not found any all small. Lastly this applies for all Lakes for bass. Is there any certain bait that is best for beginners as I have herd that sometimes you can't even tell if you have a bite. Are the docks in downtown Kirkland good since it is so rocky there. I work nearby, and have tried a couple things with no success?

Sorry if this is asking too much all at one time, and thanks for any help in advance.

You can email me also @ slicbob@yahoo.com

I cannot answer some of your questions but can say that Lake Stevens is an excellent choice from my experience for what you need since you can't take your big motor off. There are perch in Lake Stevens I know for a fact because I have caught them there. Honestly I cannot say excatly where this was but just know that they're there. Lake Stevens is an excellent lake for Kokes and decent holdover rainbows as well.

Yes, all of those lakes have crappie and perch, with the possible (?) exception of Stevens and crappie.

Stevens has a good population of nice size perch (some of the largest perch I have personally caught over the years have come from Stevens).

During the summer they are scattered with the best spots being the outside edges of weed beds in 8 to 15 feet of water and on the various flats and humps in 12 to 18 feet of water. I sometimes find new hot spots by casting 2/ 2 1/2 inch crankbaits; if there are some around you often get a tap or catch a large perch (11 to 14 inches) of course you are sometimes have to put up with those pesky smallmouth.

Stevens does have few black crappies though I would not classify them as being in fishable numbers; occasional stumble on a small school of them and get a couple but pretty rare.

All 3 lakes mentioned have very nice perch with the best fishing in them being in the fall once the water temperatures begin to cool (Sept/Oct or later). At that time the perch begin to form large schools and begin moving progressively deeper as the water cools. Again I tend to find the best groups on main lake flats or in bays. The fall fish are very ready biters; if you find a school where the fish are smaller than you like move as they tend to school somewhat by size.

Tight lines
Curt