Northwest Fishing Reports

I want to try to catch my first ever bass in Feb so I have been hitting a small local lake. For this area it is very unique as it has a max depth of about 6 feet with about 90 % of it is less then 3 feet deep. On a sunny day you can see the bottom everywhere in the whole lake. It only has 2 main deep holes and deep is a relative term. So I have fished it a couple times so far in very cold water temp as I was breaking ice with my boat. I can't seam to figure out where the fish are. I would have thought they would be in the deeper holes, but so far I have not seen any there. The lake is long and narrow at about a mile long and maybe 150 yards wide. It has a lot of just flat bottom about 2 1/2 feet deep with little to no vegetation on it. It has a lot of shoreline with pencil reeds in about 3 to 4 feet of water, this area is where I catch 75% of the fish in the summer. It also has a somewhat deep weed bed that ranges from 3 to 5 feet deep, I catch most of the rest of my fish in this area, it has a small patch of lily pads on one end that I get a few fish from, and last the deepest water is just a mud bottom where I get a few fish as well. This lake has some surprisingly big fish in it for being so shallow. It used to have a ton of monster fish and was the best bass lake in the state back some 15 years ago but due to the shallow water it has winter-kills and about 8 years ago it had a bad one and killed off just about every fish in the lake. It has made a good recovery and I'm getting many 3 and 4 pounders again when i fished it last year. So where would the bass be this time of year. We have had a very warm spring and have semi open water for the first time that I've ever seen here. It has turned cold again and put about a 1/4" of ice on parts of the lake again. I was out breaking ice today trying to find fish but had no bites and saw no fish. I did the Jerk baits and my Sink-N-Fools as well as drop shot. So, where you you look for bass in this environment?

Maybe belly deep in the mud. Maybe looking for crayfish burrowed into the mud. The deepest weed patch would seem to be a spot to try. Any rocks of any size at all? Try those. Maybe back in the reeds looking for warmer water from the reeds sticking up into the sunshine.

Jigs, worms. Dropshot, Carolina rig with a floating worm with a 1 foot leader. Dead stick anything you try.

Fish-N-Fool wrote: So, where you you look for bass in this environment?

I wouldn't. I'd look for a lake with a bit more depth to it. You'll be able to spot them with your sonar and for the most part, they stay put. With the lake that shallow, they can be anywhere and move without need to adjust their swim bladder.

Have you tried fishing the lake later in the afternoon, after the sun has been on it for a while? You may want to bust out the thermometer and hit the warm and/or sunny spots later in the day.

Here is an aerial view of the lake, I fish it mainly on the south side which is on the left in this view. It is where most of the deeper water is. As you can see it has no trees in the water to speak of , no rock and not much real cover, but it does have fish.
I would think that if I could catch a bass anywhere then it is this cold this would be the best place to try.

A spring welling up from the bottom is usually a great place to fish. Try there first.

I tried to fish it but it was still under ice as that is the shady side of the lake,

My first initial thought is….your breaking ice with your boat?
With shallower lakes a little more care when it comes to boat noise, positioning and casting distance is necessary. Same is true if you add in clear water.
If you ever ice fish, those guys know it will take time from the first drill hole, set-up, then actual line in the water to begin catching fish.
You may be spooking them off from whatever area your fishing. Obviously the presentation needs to be a lot slower, but I can't help but think your essentially right on top of them and disrupting their environment. If a prowler is found around my house and I know he is still hanging out around my area, my family and I don't sit down to eat.
Maybe post up for longer durations and try one area working it over like a big game hunter would in a blind. I know it can be hard. Especially when your cold.
Just a thought. Good luck out there.



fishnislife

fishnislife wrote:My first initial thought is….your breaking ice with your boat?

Some of us are diehards. lol I made a video of it even. I did break up the ice first with my oar where is as thicker.

They tend to be backwards in shallow lakes. Sunny days draw them shallow, with Rapala style lures often on top, in both senses. Finesse lures often fished with 1/32 oz jigs or smaller in watermelon or similar colors do the best for me, especially in cold water. I fish a similar depth lake, and they scatter and cruise everywhere, so I fan cast my way down the lake. I know what you mean about big fish in these puddles, having caught bass in excess of 9 lbs more than once. Take your time, and lay the lure dead on the bottom once in a while, supertwitching once in a while. Good luck!

Rick,
I have been watching this forum and I have finally put together a thought that should help you out. Go fishing in this little lake this Sunday. The weather report says it's supposed to be sunny and warm. High 50's on Saturday. A lake this shallow should warm nicely with the temps we will have the end of the week and even more on Saturday. The fish should get moving with the warmer water temps. The answer is------ fish on Sunday.

Hope this helps,
Mark

Mark/AJ's is mostly right: The rest is "Fish every day you can!!!!"