Where are you looking forward to fishing???

[rob allen]

Ok we are a couple months away from bass being really active or maybe I should say ?easy? but in the interest of getting some talk going .. Where are you guys looking forward to fishing this season.

For me there are wto places that stand out, both of them are places I got to fish once many years ago.
The first would be 10 mile. About 12-13 years ago my friend and I went down there and rented a boat slapped our stolling motor on it and proceeded to have a pretty good weekend.. We used Poe's RC-1 crankbaits to catch fish on wood structures and got a couple flipping and pitching jigs on the nastiest most heavily deteriorating docks we could find.. not too much in the way of size just average keepers and 1 fish about 3.5
The other place i want to spend some time is Potholes. Did'nt do well the one time i fished it before but the dunes have to be the fishiest place i have ever seen in my life I can't wait to explore them again...

[shalom]

Brownlee Res. and Prineville Res. These two are my favorite places to go . I love to go East of the Mt. and the weather is great , most of the time . :angel: :jester: :yay: :dance: :dance: :angel1:

[rebell]

Every year I simply look forward to fishing the Columbia and Willamete. We are lucky to have 2 of the better smallie fisheries in the country right at our doorstep.

But this year I have my sights set on the California Delta. I have offers from a couple of friends who fish it weekly to come down and spend a few days with them. I am hoping to get down there! :dance:

I wan't that 10 pounder! I know its not a gaurenteed thing even at the Delta, but it sure is neat to fish somewhere that any bite could be a 10+ fish. :bowdown:

[DukAddict]

I am really looking forward to fishing Crane Prairie this year. I fished it 2 times last year and had some pretty good success with little bass. Caught quite a few of the little dinks but never got my line on a big one. Hopefully I can find a fishing buddy in this area that knows Crane and is willing to take me out. I dont have a boat but would help out with gas.

If anyone wants to get together to fish crane this year, lets do it! PM or email me. I have a ton of gear and tackle and am willing to learn.

Brett Neffendorf
nwgreenhead@hotmail.com

[bucketmouth]

All these places you guys are talking about are great places.

Like Shalom, I also like Prineville and Brownlee. Like Rob Allen I love potholes, that body of water has alot of fish in it and if you hit it right weather wise it can produde great numbers of fish, good size too.

On the other hand though, like Rebel I like not having to drive a gazillion miles to be in good water. Willamette and Columbia rivers are great.

I think I will fish the north coast more this year. Cullaby and smith lakes. And I too have a friend who has invited me down to California to fish at Clear lake. Clear Lake is difinetly A body of water I look forward to wetting a line in.

Hagg is always a favorite.

I'll also try the John Day this spring.

Love Craine prarie, galesville, selmac, dorena, cottage grove and Owyhee too.

If I could find the time I would fish them all.

[rob allen]

I have heard in the past that cullaby is hard to get a boat in and out of.. anyone know the story???

[rebell]

rob, Cullaby is no problem. There are 2 ramps there, one is rough, the other you could launch about anything you wanted to.

Cullaby has it's day's, it is probably the most on again\off again fishery I have ever been on. But when they are on, there are some great largemouth to be caught. Some of my better largemouth are from there. :dance:

Then there is Smith lake (some call it the golf course) :cool:, one of the best kept secrets on the coast in the early spring. I would not post that if I felt it would get much pressure! The ramp is lousy, it's 5 mph, and you need to travel to get the good fish.

Now I'm getting stoked to do some bass fishing, who want's to go?

[SuperT]

I can't believe I've lived less than an hour and a half from Brownlee and I've never fished it. That WILL change this year.

Other than that, I plan on making a few more trips to Swan Falls Reservoir just South of me. I had a couple of 50 fish days for smallmouth last year, and that was just fishing from shore. :smash: :smash:

[Crappie Chaser]

I probably can't do it this year but I would love to spend some time on Owyhee.

[Wannabe]

The listing of all those places.....the California Delta is my favorite but I don't see it in the near future. I'm looking forward to them "ALL" here in Oregon and on those days it will be awesome because I'm not working just out there enjoying what a great Lord has created fishin with friends. The tourney season also looks like a good one for the times of year picked for places.
Tight Lines to all
<)))><

[Codfish]

"Sigh", so many waters, so little time. The one thing that I am really looking forward to is to get a Washington license this year and try for the tiger muskies in Mayfield and Merwin. I have always wanted to go northern pike fishing and this is the closest alternative. Other than that I also want to find some good spots for bass close to home on the Willamette and Columbia.

Codfish

[Willie83]

Many years ago I did a trip to the Great Lakes for Northern Pike. Some buds and I spent 5 days and although we didn't exactly slay 'em, we caught enough to have a great time! Best fishing trip I've ever been on. Anchored at one spot we could dip a net and catch minnows, bottom fish the minnows to catch perch, then bobber fish with the perch to catch pike... it was pretty cool.

I'm anxious to learn how to fish Hagg in the Spring. Want to try Smith and Bybee Lakes this year, as well as rent a boat on Silver Lake, too.

[Tommy T]

I'm looking forward to working the local river systems. There's so many fish that I can't wait for those 100+ fish days.

I've never fished Silver Lake, but after hearing Rogers stories, I have to give it a try this spring.

Growing up, I used to fish the backwaters of the lower Columbia River. Westport, Clatskanie, and Brownsmead to name a few. Those waters are full of Largemouths of good size. I have to make a trip or two down river and see if those fish have grown.

Good topic Chromer!!

[buzzerbaby]

hoping to learn the Lower Colimbia and Silver Lake (hint, hint) and heading back to the snake.

[sbasser]

I'm looking forward to fishing Potholes and Scootney Res. with BuKuBass and his sidekick Ryker in late April or early May. I've been to both many times, and do good on Potholes in Spring (high water), but avoid it at low water. While I can navigate around in the dunes, I have not figured out where to actually catch fish in there. Like Rob says, it looks so fishy, but a lot is too deep, too weedy, too shallow or too barren...too something. Maybe just too hammered? :smash: In other parts of the lake, private little pools with good depth and a decent dropoff seems to be the key.

Scootney is an interesting experience for me, because it is a long chain of 3 lakes, sorta, has a fixed spillway, and a good current flow. Normally, I fish lakes without much current. Navigation is a challenge, until you know the safe routes, so idle speed is good, with depth finder under constant attention. The current positions the fish in some challenging places. I'm not sure what's the best way to fish some of those places, but maybe Roger, Ryker and I can figure it out. I'm counting on Roger's river expertise, and just hoping Ryker won't jump out of the boat and make a move on a local mink, marmott, ferrett, or bovine. I've had some good days there, caught some nice largemouth, but it has good smallies, perch and wally's. It's about halfway between Potholes and Pasco. Do it after Potholes.

Dang. Didn't make it to Riffe Lake last year, but would sure like to get some time on the water there this year. :wave: C&R, Steve

[BuKuBass]

Steve:
I'm looking forward to meeting you there as well.
With Ryker's retrieval skills, he could give us a second chance at any "long distance releases". He has his own method of "lippin' 'em".
Since you're showing me your's, I'll show you mine: Oxbow Rez. on the Snake. Specifically an area that I call the "Oklahoma Hole" 'cuz it's some Sweetwater! It's an big (20 x 200 yards) eddy 25-40 feet deep with brush on the bottom. By drop-shotting with the hook point lightly buried, we'll be able to plumb the piles and pummel the smallies. Hint: instead of using a dedicated DS weight, I lightly crimp on a split-shot so if it gets hung (and it will), it can slide right off without losing the rest of the rigging.
C'mon Spring!!

[Striper Club]

I am looking forward to trying out some WA area waters come April when I can buy a year license....

I also want to get out along the CR some more to find good bank spots as well as hit up the John Day at some point (maybe do a group float or something if others have 'toons or various craft).

Other than that and some high desert fishing at Billy Chinook and Craine Prairie, I had a blast fishing with Bucketmouth and Bamaboy on the lower and upper Willamette last season!

So many choices, so much to do.... <and don't forget Springers!>

[BuKuBass]

Keep me in mind for a float on the John Day. That's my favorite chunk of Oregon. Gotta go; heading over there today for some steelhead.

[ExBassGuide]

I'm looking forward to early to mid-February, that’s when the bass start to bite up at Silver Lake (Cowlitz Co., Washington). A couple of years ago I got a 6lbs 9oz and a 5lbs 11oz bass in three consecutive cast on a shallow log on silver lake. The bite gets even better (for numbers) by mid-March. Jig are the top lure but Senko, Crank baits and spinner baits can be good too. Also the crappie will start up at mid-March and really turn on around Easter.
Also The Willamette River is a GREAT place to fish in the late march - April. You can get about 30-50 fish a day out of the Willamette. The Columbia (in the Portland area heats up mid- April. Late April- mid may you will find me up river on the Columbia slamming 80 plus bass a day! I have had no better days than fishing for spawning small mouth bass (I put them back in the water fast).
Then if you would like to catch and toss back over 100 trout a day plus :smash:. And keep 5 fish over 16 inches, you should think about fishing in Washington! Their stocking program is MUCH better than Oregon. I have landed: 7lbs 4oz, 8lbs 8oz :smash: (I do not C&R big trout :smash:) and a fishing buddy in my boat got a 12 pounder on his third cast one day (in the last 5 years). I only fish for trout 3 days a year (bass 60 plus days a year)!
Come on Sun!! Roger The Silver Lake EX-Bass Guide
:applause: :wave: :wave: :laugh: :dance: :yay:

[sbasser]

I am looking forward to trying out some WA area waters come April when I can buy a year license....



About 5 years back, Washington changed their "Fishical" year...the license goes from Jan 1 to Dec 31. NOW is the time to buy a license up here. The Regs booklet may not be out yet, but the current book is good until April. Be sure to get the new one when it's available, 'cause they have changed some stuff in the last few years, and more changes are expected. C&R, Steve

[B-RUN STEELIE]

Just looking through the Pan fish board I see that Crane Prairie is at the tops of a lot of guys lists. I am wondering if you all realize that warm water fish have ruined this lake, or do you think its a good thing whats happened over there. Its needs killed off and re-built as a trout lake again. I fish warmwater and like it but bass at Crane is just wrong.

[Striper Club]

Oh, I agree that is terrible what happened to CP from a biological perspective. Remember though, it is not the fault of the fish nor the people who enjoy bass fishing there. The destruction of the trout fishery is due to the "bucket biologists" who do stupid things(like non-native fish introduction) to disrupt the ecosystem.

Heck, even the bass population is suffering due to the introduction of the stickleback, which offer no nutritional value, yet are eaten by bass.

Personally, I have no problem with the 'reallocation' of this manmade resource back to trout(and very nice trout, so I hear). Hopefully, people know better now than to play god with fisheries and CP can once again be top-notch in the state of OR for monster trout.

As far as fishing CP in its current state, I tried it one day from the bank and found it pretty lame from that area. I would like to fish it from a boat before the lake gets zapped, as well as after the trout habitat has been reinstated.

[drift fishing fool]

guess what, if you like to fish for bass its not ruined! hahahahah. i really could care less since its such a long drive and there is such nice water closer to home. it is an issue that is being worked on and definatley needs more changes. but hey, so does warm water management across the state. did you read in the new bass times about a possible bounty on columbia small mouth to protect the lamprey. cant please everyone, probably should attack the issue without trying to either

[Smj]

B-Run Steelie

I wonder if YOU realize that HUman kind has ruined the salmon and steelhead fisheries, and many ocean fisheries too? At least if you want to go back a hundred years or so and look at it. How 'bout you look around....my lord, look at all the things we've ruined. I wish I could remember where it was that I read that CP got it's bass many many years ago, it was like before they built the dam maybe?

I would sure like to see the raibid salmon/steelhead/trout fishers drop the "Damn evil bass fisherman ruined the trout fishing" whine/cry/complaint.

It's been years (10?) since I've been there, but, at that time the board in the store was covered with pics of large, dead trout, recently caught too (2 wks). Doesn't that maybe...just maybe lead you to think that rabid salmon/steelhead/trout fishers may have had something to do with the decline of trout in CP also. Not to mention the fact that all those trout that are killed in late July taste like moss, Mmmm.

Aren't there a bunch of guides that started working CP in the last ten or so years also?

I hope I've not offended anyone, but the ol' trouter ranting at the basser for all his woes does get to me at least once a year.

Smj

[B-RUN STEELIE]

Wow.. SMJ.. Where was that from...

How do you know that I am a trout fisherman who hates bass or for that matter anything about me.

Just wanted to mention that this was once a quality trout fishery that got ruined by somebody who brought in a couple of buckets of warm water fish. So in spite of your ranting and false timeline of when the bass got there.. and whatever else you were talking about.. the fact is the lake will be killed off.. at which point it will be a quality nothing..

I love fishing for bass and Crappie, but not at certain places where they don't belong. Trout are the native fish in that system.. Not bass. To want it any other way is simplistic and shallow.

[Striper Club]

Let's try not to beat the poor dead horse here guys. I think we all are quite aware that CP was formerly a trophy trout haven and that years ago some yahoo intruduced certain species of fish into this body of water that is far too small and shallow to support large numbers of multiple species. <---nice big sentence, eh?

My point was... don't blame the fish nor the fishermen. I DO love to fish for bass as well as salmon, trout, steelies and sturgeon--as do many who post here in the bass section.

I have seen these salmon vs bass threads in a few sections of this site in the past and they are usually so packed with misinformation that I want to stab myself in the ear with a pair of safety scissors wondering if I was arguing with a fisherman or a PETA member. :wink: (not getting that feeling here though, yet!)

Whether or not CP get zapped does not matter to me truthfully. It is up to the state of Oregon to make that call. Fact is, I will gladly pay the park fee and fish it(should I be out that way) whether it be a trout or a bass lake.

Get out there and go fishing! :yay:

[rob allen]

personally i would oppose poisoning the lake to get rid of the non native bass in order to recreate it as habitat for non-native trout..

I know many people who still fish the lake for trout and still catch lots of big trout. I would suggest that if the fish aren't growing as big as they once did it has nothing to do with bass.... When fisheries become popular it is very common for the size and the frequency of large trout goes down. Crain prarie has grown imennsly in popularity... I'm just opposed to killing off a thriving non native species in order to plant another nonnative species.. remember once you poison the lake everything in it that was native will be dead.... unless ofcourse you want to let the small feeder creeks replenish it...

[trespassed]

The Mighty Umpqua...near Elkton.
Warm water, fantastic fishing, and beautiful scenery. Please wake me up when winter is over.

[drift fishing fool]

fished tenmile today to get a feel for what to expect at the first aba tourney this season, pretty much a shut out. buddy missed one and i caught a few perch on a drop shot. weather was warm but water was COLD. pretty much a soggy day on the coast but felt good to have a pitching stick in my hand and got for a boat ride

[riverfisher]

Brownlee is always a favorite of mine, along with the Columbia and the high mt. lakes like Crane and Davis. I can't forget about the native steelhead that start showing too. What to do, what to do!