Previous Next

This was maybe my 5th or 6th time out to Lake Whatcom. I love the place, but am having a REALLY hard time catching fish consistently. I've been trying for anything that will bite: smallies, trout...whatever. I just love to fish. I'm from the midwest and have primarily fished for largemouth bass in my life, but that knowledge doesn't seem to translate to the pacific northwest. The places I've tried on Whatcom which *look* like they'd be hotspots (like the whole N. side along the park shoreline where there are lots of fallen trees and the very south end of the lake where there are lots of pilings and lily pads), are in fact not so hot...for me, anyway. I'm beginning to think I'm really missing something. And L. Whatcom is so large, I feel like I'm playing pin the tail on the donkey. I NEED HELP!

My first few times I fished 30 or so yards out (from shore, NE side down to the E/SE end), and drifted along (kayak) casting towards the shore and around structure, trying crankbaits (rapalas and bombers) and spinners (panther martins and rooster tails) and caught a variety of fish, but they were all tiny. So small that if there was a "smallest fish" tournament, I would win it easily.

I do have a fish finder and can see there are trout hanging out 30-100 feet down throughought the lake, so last couple times out I've adjusted my strategy. I tried drift-trolling in deeper water with spoons (kastmasters and dick nites). I have caught a few trout this way, but the payoff is minimal relative the the amount of time spent actually trolling.

Based on the pics I see on this site for Whatcom, and what I see in my fish finder I *know* there are larger trout and smallies in this lake, I just don't know how to catch them! I need some "insider" knowledge, and can't really dig much up on the internet. If you have any tips, let me know! Or even better...if any of you guys on here would be willing to take me out, I'd even PAY you a guide fee to show me how to fish this lake. It's near my house and I'd like to fish it regularly, but thus far it's been frustrating.

MrLucky

7/13/2009 2:25:00 PM

I'm a Bellingham kayak fisher as well, but I've never fished Whatcom. Want to, but with the sheer size of it, I wouldn't know where to start. PM me if you line up a trip with a real Whatcom guru.

G-Man

7/14/2009 9:48:00 AM

This time of year your going to need to go deep to catch trout or kokanee. You can hook into bass in the shallow North section of the lake, check the past reports on this lake for lure selection. Depending on the time of day you need to be anywhere from 25' to 90' down for the kokes. I use a down rigger when fishing the lake and it helps to cover more water. If you can't get a down rigger mounted on your kayak, try jigging for them using a mini buzz bomb or a swedish pimple, tipped with shoe peg corn, worm, shrimp, real maggots or gulp maggots. If your not drifting too fast you should be able to see your jig on your fish finder, that will let you know if your at the correct depth. Silver with red or UV has worked for me on this lake, but make sure you have a couple of colors to switch out just in case. The kokanee aren't big, 10" average, but they taste great. Good luck!

8theB8

7/14/2009 2:11:00 PM

If you launch at Bloedel-Donovan just work the pilings and logs to the south (right) of the launch with grubs and drop-shot rigs. Just the other side of those pilings there is a small cove with lots of scattered logs on the bottom, great place for tubes! Try spinnerbaits or tight wiggling crankbaits in perch colors around docks. Work the pilings on the northeast shore out to depths as deep as 30 feet with grubs tight to the pilings wait til it feels "heavy" and set the hook! Also try deep diving cranks in shallow water near rocks and move em fast so they deflect and make alot of ruckus, that usually turns on the smallies....

Also, I emailed you.

Leave a Comment:

Login

Flag

×

Why is this comment inappropriate?

Close Submit

Delete this comment? Provide reason.

No Yes

Edit

×

Cancel Save