Northwest Fishing Reports

I live in Auburn but travel to the Tri Cities quite frequently. I've driven past those ponds for as long as i can remember. But I've never stopped and fished. I'm now retired and I'm wanting to do more fishing, especially for pan fish. For the crappie in the ponds, what seems to be the prefered fishing methods? Drop shot, slip bobber or just cast and retrieve? And what are the best baits/lures/colors to use? The crappie should be heating up in the next few weeks shouldnt they? Thank you all for any help and suggestions you might have

I caught my first crappie on feb 20 last year on these ponds. They should start heating up. I know people are catching the big brooders right now and are doing very well. I use a slip bobber because the vegetation is a lot thicker this year so it is easier to work it with a slip bobber. With the weather consistently in the mid 40s now, the bite should get going. In fact I am going to give it a try this afternoon .

You are probably talking about Fiorito Ponds. We had good luck with bobbers, slip sinkers or drop shot. If they have stocked it with trout the yellow powerbait seems to work on them because it is the same color as the feed they use at the hatchery. Father in law and I bank fish that a couple times a year. People in boats (no outboards) don't seem to do any better. Take a selection of stuff and watch what the person catching is using. That has always been our strategy and it seems to work. The wind shifts around at times which can be a challenge for bobber fishing... Have fun!

What's the access like to all these ponds? I'm handicapped so longs hikes are out.

You can drive right up and park next to them. We use the tailgate for our gear. As long as it is the Fiorito ponds...

They just planted trout in one of them. Will be a zoo there this weekend. Pretty nice fish though!

Ya. Sometimes it is nuts there... If they planted keep in mind the color thing. The closer to the nibbles the hatchery were feeding the better the bite!

TrackerPro16 wrote:You are probably talking about Fiorito Ponds

I-82 ponds generally refers not to Fio Rito but to a series of ponds south of Yakima, afaik.

Fiorito Ponds are the ones about 2 miles South of I-90 on the East side of I-82. Not sure about the others as I have not fished them.

Thanks for all your responses. What about the ponds in Ellensburg on the north side of I-90? I see people fishing there all the time. I came by yesterday and they were iced over except for one small section on the west end. There were a couple fisherman fishing that open water. What fish species are in those ponds?

I think you are thinking Matoon Lake. I don't know much about it besides what I learned on this forum, links below. Actually wondering if there are any shore access besides the launch area, as I'm shore bound for the most part.

http://www.northwestfishingreports.com/ ... spx?id=533" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.northwestfishingreports.com/ ... id=533&t=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Ellensburg ponds and Fiorito are more trout lakes. The I82 ponds are like from Buena, Sunnyside and that area are more for panfish. If you're going to fish at the pond right before Yakima don't leave anything visible in your car.

Lol! I think you can say that for most places you go!

I82 pond 4 and 6. Also rotary and Myron good for pan fish. The ponds in parker have big bluegill and Frio rio does carry some.nice crappie as well