Northwest Fishing Reports

Hey guys, I’ve grown up fishing the salt and trout fishing, and the last few summers I have really enjoyed getting into bass fishing. This site has been great helping me build my tackle box, techniques, and skills so far and it has paid off in the summer. I’m looking for advice on what small lake might have decent winter bassing, the two I’ve been thinking about are Meridian and Sawyer. I realize fishing is slow this time of year but any help would be much appreciated!

Both will be about the same. Off the points/deep water, IF you can find the points in Meridian, they are there but not that prevalent from viewing above the water. Just have to scout around with the depth finder until you find the corners and spots they may like. They can be anywhere from 5 feet to 40 feet during the winter. The shallowest I've caught them is 5 foot on a crankbait in Jan in about the mid 1990s on a real sunny warm day. The deepest about 30 feet, but I don't like to fish deep at any time. I haven't fished either lake during the winter since the late '90s.

You need to head for the lake RIGHT NOW! if you like nice days. That'll give you an hour of fishing at most.

Or wait until Wed. when it's supposed to be ok weatherwise. Or if you prefer the cold or wet any other day that it's raining or drizzeling. The fish still don't always like the sunny days, but sometimes they do, and I sure do anymore.

Jigs on the bottom slow. Dropshot with 6" leader, Carolina and slipshot rigs slow. Crankbaits/jerkbaits slow to medium to superslow with long pauses, depending on the sun and if they are up enjoying the sun.

Thanks Amx, that’s very helpful. I think both of those launches are 5$, do you know if they are cash or card?

Sawyer is card. I don't know if it takes cash anymore, been a few years since I used the machine, and before the machine it was cash only in an envelope and into the slot in the box.

Meridian I use the Game dept launch, no $$ needed. The city launch is a machine, never used that launch or looked at the machine so I have no idea if it's card only or if it takes cash. Fishingfool used it alot so he should remember. Or call the city of Kent tomorrow. Or look on their web site.

edit: Their web site doesn't say anything about the machine except that to pay at it.

Thanks again! I cant wait to start fishing for my first winter bass.
Tight lines

For Sawyer - The Black Diamond city hall web site says they will be deciding to increase the parking fee sometime in early 2013. So maybe by spring it'll go up to $7, a guess of course. The anual pass is $60 at this time.

Went fishing today, broke off what felt like a good big one. Dropshot with Sniper Bolt in green pumpkin. 8" leader 1/8oz Quick drop. Oh well. Haven't been winter fishing in 15 or so years.

Tom how deep were u fishing?
Im assuming you were on sawyer.

When have you known me to fish anywhere other than Sawyer? I'll get to Sammamish later this month I think. Washington next month I presume.

About 15 ft depth where there is a sunk dock. I looked for the sunk boat but couldn't find it. I'll look again next time. I still have to try an area that should be good, I just need to leave my usual spots alone and go to the areas I don't usually fish.

Nice job Tom geting bites is not easy. I went out to meridian today, no bites but I found some bait and some fish hugging the bottom in 15-25ft. worked jigs most of the day on a new baitcast set up. Also threw a carolina rigged smokin rooster. Next trip I'll give sawyer a shot.

I didn't even fish Meridian last year, never got around to it. It used to be my home lake when I lived down the road from it. After I get some new rubber boots I'll get there again.

Has anyone gotten a water temp on sawyer recently? thinking of heading out this week.

cold

http://www.lakesawyerweather.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cool link, thanks

Don't pay any attention to the weather forcast - it's wrong. That temp is also 3 degrees too high. last week it was 43 degrees and no way it's gone up.

weather here;

http://www.komonews.com/weather/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

King County's Bass Lake might be a good choice. It has some nice bass.

bob johansen wrote:King County's Bass Lake might be a good choice. It has some nice bass.

I've heard that it's also got a fairly undeveloped shoreline. Is that the case? Never fished there.

http://washingtonlakes.com/TopoMaps/430_Bass-King.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Of course I'm sure it hasn't changed since 1973.

That lake is one of the only lakes I have fished that is completely undeveloped.

fishingmachine wrote:That lake is one of the only lakes I have fished that is completely undeveloped.

Cool. Not many lakes like that that around here, espescially with bass in them.