"Destination: Lake Sammamish"
Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:42 pm
Found this article in the latest Bassmasters. Good write up and puts in a plug for West Coast Custom Tackle.
LURES TO PACK
West Coast Custom Tackle (WCCT) was created by Lake Sammamish anglers for Lake Sammamish smallmouth bass. Anglers who prefer to throw supersoft and heavily scented plastics, WCCT favorites — all hand poured, tournament tested and approved — include: Money Shot, Money Worm, Western Stick, Western Dropshot Worm, Western Finesse Worm, Western Goby, Western Thang, Western Tournament Worm, Western Lizard, Western Brush Bug and Western Creature. Best sizes: 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches. Hook sizes: 2/0 and 4/0 mosquito hooks and 1/0 to 4/0 worm hooks. Best colors: cinnamon, watermelon seed, green pumpkin with copper flake and natural greens and browns. When bass are feeding on baitfish, try these colors: sand, blue shimmer and violet shad. Scents that work well with the plastics: crawfish oil and coffee. For crankbaiters, the best choice is Luhr Jensen's Hot Lips Express (1/4 ounce; brown and summer crawfish).
BEST TIMES TO GO
Lake Sammamish is open year-round, but the more productive months for targeting smallmouth bass are March through September. Early morning and evening hours are best as the bass can be found foraging in the shallows, particularly under docks and pilings and at the mouth of feeder creeks. During the afternoon, especially if clear skies and warm temperatures are present, the bass move into deeper water where bouncing plastics along the bottom will produce the best results.
BEST TECHNIQUES
When targeting feeder creeks, weedlines and dropoffs with WCCT plastics (worms, lizards and the like), cast and let the bait settle on the bottom. Using a very slow retrieve without any slack in the line, crawl the bait along. When the line twitches or you feel the fish turn with the bait, set the hook. The bite is very subtle. During spring and summer months, target shallow to moderate depths as the smallmouth move close to shore for warmer water, spawning and food. During fall and winter months, fish shallow in the mornings and evenings, and deeper in the afternoons. Because smallmouth are far less active in cold water, fish your baits extra slowly in an "easy to catch" manner. When fishing hard plastics around the plethora of docks, watercraft, overhanging trees, weedlines, dropoffs and feeder creeks during the spring and summer months, select a small crankbait such as Luhr Jensen's Hot Lips Express that has a nearly vertical descent, reaching the target water more quickly and remaining there through the bulk of the retrieve. Crank it down, then work it slowly. Depending on the lake depth, the Hot Lips will dive 12 to 16 feet (1/4 ounce), 15 to 18 feet (1/2 ounce) and 18 to 24 feet (3/4 ounce).
LURES TO PACK
West Coast Custom Tackle (WCCT) was created by Lake Sammamish anglers for Lake Sammamish smallmouth bass. Anglers who prefer to throw supersoft and heavily scented plastics, WCCT favorites — all hand poured, tournament tested and approved — include: Money Shot, Money Worm, Western Stick, Western Dropshot Worm, Western Finesse Worm, Western Goby, Western Thang, Western Tournament Worm, Western Lizard, Western Brush Bug and Western Creature. Best sizes: 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches. Hook sizes: 2/0 and 4/0 mosquito hooks and 1/0 to 4/0 worm hooks. Best colors: cinnamon, watermelon seed, green pumpkin with copper flake and natural greens and browns. When bass are feeding on baitfish, try these colors: sand, blue shimmer and violet shad. Scents that work well with the plastics: crawfish oil and coffee. For crankbaiters, the best choice is Luhr Jensen's Hot Lips Express (1/4 ounce; brown and summer crawfish).
BEST TIMES TO GO
Lake Sammamish is open year-round, but the more productive months for targeting smallmouth bass are March through September. Early morning and evening hours are best as the bass can be found foraging in the shallows, particularly under docks and pilings and at the mouth of feeder creeks. During the afternoon, especially if clear skies and warm temperatures are present, the bass move into deeper water where bouncing plastics along the bottom will produce the best results.
BEST TECHNIQUES
When targeting feeder creeks, weedlines and dropoffs with WCCT plastics (worms, lizards and the like), cast and let the bait settle on the bottom. Using a very slow retrieve without any slack in the line, crawl the bait along. When the line twitches or you feel the fish turn with the bait, set the hook. The bite is very subtle. During spring and summer months, target shallow to moderate depths as the smallmouth move close to shore for warmer water, spawning and food. During fall and winter months, fish shallow in the mornings and evenings, and deeper in the afternoons. Because smallmouth are far less active in cold water, fish your baits extra slowly in an "easy to catch" manner. When fishing hard plastics around the plethora of docks, watercraft, overhanging trees, weedlines, dropoffs and feeder creeks during the spring and summer months, select a small crankbait such as Luhr Jensen's Hot Lips Express that has a nearly vertical descent, reaching the target water more quickly and remaining there through the bulk of the retrieve. Crank it down, then work it slowly. Depending on the lake depth, the Hot Lips will dive 12 to 16 feet (1/4 ounce), 15 to 18 feet (1/2 ounce) and 18 to 24 feet (3/4 ounce).