Bassin' along the highway

[Fish-N-Machine]

Friday morning I am headed to northern Idaho, and am planning to do some bassin' on the way. I can't think of a better wat to break up a long drive. I will be taking I-84 all the way to Umatilla, then head north on I-82. I know of a few places on the Washington side of the CR to catch smallies, but was hoping to learn of some more places to stop along the way. I have heard of good smallie fishing in the Dalles area and also the Tri Cities, but have never fished either one. I will be limited to bank access only, and would like to stay "on course" as possible. If you have any places you think I should try, please do tell. :grin: I will give a report, and pictures if I catch some nice ones, when I get back Sunday night. :cheers: Thanks.

-A.J.

[ExBassGuide]

I PMed you a few places to try. Some one give him some more ideas please!
Thanks Roger

[Fish-N-Machine]

Thanks Roger, my trip will be much more fun!

[iangler]

There are a bunch of parks along the way that you can try out, and the mouth of the Deschutes and John Day should get you some smallies also.

[ExBassGuide]

iangler is right! I told you about a good area upstream from the Deschutes and the area around the ramp and near the bridge can be good!
Roger

[rob allen]

Between the Dalles and the Mouth of the Deschutes river there is a fairly decent lake just off the right shoulder of the eastbound lanes. There is good parking at the east end of the lake., fish along the rip rap created by the highway, it should take maybe an hour at the most to fish and should produce a couple 14 inchers for ya at least. for this kinda drive by fishing i'd get a pack of Kalins grubs and some simple lead heads.. maybe take a white spinnerbait too..

Next spot to try is the rip rap around the Mouth of the John Day river..
Next spot after that would be around the grain elevator at the town of arlington...

[Fish-N-Machine]

thanks rob. I usually fish 3" kalins grubs and spinnerbaits for smallies, so I have some already. Thanks for the pointers! :cheers:

[Fish-N-Machine]

Just got back today(Monday), decided to stay an extra day. First time to my Mom's new place in Bonners Ferry, ID. I saw 2 wild turkeys and a ton of white-tail deer. Only buck I saw was early this morning on my way home, was a nice 3 point or better, real nice buck.

Anyway, I fished a couple places on the way there and did pretty good. I didn't spend very much time fishin' on the way, but still caught bass. Best place produced 8-9 fish all easily over 12", biggest was probably 2lbs. Caught a fish almost every cast, for the first few casts. Then they took a little more work. Didn't fish much on the way back, cause the wind was howlin' in the gorge, made things very difficult. http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/sm-htl.jpg

[Fish-N-Machine]

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/sm-htl3.jpg

[Fish-N-Machine]

AND....an action shot! http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/sm-htl2.jpg

[Fish-N-Machine]

Thanks to Roger, iangler, and rob for the advice,it was all helpful. :cheers: :applause: Hope to fish with you all soon.

[Jon55]

Great post start to finish! :applause: :applause: :applause: I go out towards Idaho every once in a blue moon but never thought about wetting a line. Where were the spots you stopped? The pics look like you were on the Columbia rather than a trib or slough. What did you end up throwing? :cheers:

[Fish-N-Machine]

I used a green 3" senko c-rigged. I only had a few dinks chase a 3" grub, no bites on that. The fish in the pics were caught on the Washington side of the CR, upstream from the Dalles Dam a couple miles, I also caught a few fish at Mayer State Park on the Oregon side. I was shocked at how much stamina those fish had, I have caught lots of SM before, but none were as stong as these for there size. :dance:

There is so much good looking water in that area it is rediculous! If I had a boat, I could spend weeks fishing there and never fish the same place twice. I only saw one bass-boat on the water, between Portland and Tri-Cities, everyone else was steelhead fishing. Someday I will get up there in a boat.
:cheers:

[fishlipper]

That second fish you posted is a largemouth! Not a bad one at that. Did you catch him in back water?

[Fish-N-Machine]

fishlipper-
that fish wasn't caught in back water, but in the main river where there is substantial current. I didn't notice it was a LM, but now that you mention it, it kinda does look like it. But, I have never seen a LM with verticle stripes like that.:shrug: Maybe someone else can tell better. :cheers:

[ExBassGuide]

They are all small mouth in the photos!
Roger

[rob allen]

No question all smallies..
glad you had a good time i'f i knew you were gonna fish washington i'd have given you a few different and better spots , but it looks like you did just fine:)

[fishlipper]

My bad,
That is what happens when you are trying to look at things to fast at work. Definetely all smallies. Nice fish.

[Whopper Stopper]

I don't mean to be critical but I also think the second fish is a Smallie. Guys, tell me if I'm wrong, but on a LM the jaw would extend past the eye, right?

Jay

[shalom]

Yes it should . You are correct .