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Saturday, August 14, 2010. I woke up at 4:00 AM -- and, after reading a fishing report by eddieg1, I decided to re-visit an old favorite lake -- "Trails End". After eddie's glowing report I kinda expected the parking lot to be packed with bass anglers. To my pleasant surprise, I was the only one there. It was just before 6:00 AM and sunrise was just a faint glow from the eastern shoreline. I had a couple rods pre-tied with my favorite lures, a size 11 Rapala and a 1/4 ounce Jig. Rapala's have always been my favorite lure. I love seeing the strike, hearing the strike and feeling the strike all at the same time. I started down the western shoreline and on my first 2 cast I hooked bass on the Rapala. As, I continued down the shoreline, I heard a loud splash about 50 feet behind me. I knew I it was a nice bass so I backed up and cast the Rapala near the shoreline. Ker-splash, the fish just hammered it. He wasn't as big as he felt but he did measure out at about 14 inches. I continued down the shoreline cashing mostly the Rapala with an occassional cast with the Jig. Caught several bass on the Rapala but nothing on the jig -- until I came upon some new bass habatit added to the lake since I had last fished it. A huge Douglas Fir tree had fallen into the lake. It looked like an ideal place to cast my jig. On the first cast to the fallen tree, I felt that delightful "tap-tap" on the end of the line. I set the hook hard and had a nice fish on. Again, I was a little disappointed to find he, too, was only about 14 inches. I crossed over to the eastern shoreline and fished back to the access and never had a strike on that side. There were still no cars in the WDFW access area. The lake had been all mine. Overall, a very nice morning. For a report about my personal best bass from Trails End Lake, check out my report on July 4, 2003.

Mike Carey

8/15/2010 12:43:00 PM

I was wondering if that previous report would catch your. Glad you had a good day on the water.

Gamefisher

8/15/2010 4:54:00 PM

Interesting report, great picture.

fishnislife

8/15/2010 9:26:00 PM

Great report Bob. Beautiful pic too. That is pure glass.

Jamesb

8/17/2010 12:56:00 PM

I like fishing with top water rapalas too enjoy seeing the bites and find I get a lot of hits from bluegill and crappie as well. Learning to tell the difference between them and bass and even landed quite a few trout on them too. Good report and if I get down south have to check out the lake. Sounds like a good day on the water. I have found too with rapalas you get a lot of fish chasing the lure so I swim the top water back. If I don't get a hit and do stop and go...get lots of fish stopping the lure right by the boat.

bob johansen

8/18/2010 9:26:00 AM

Thanks Guys! James - I, too, catch quite a few trout on Rapalas -- Many of them quite large (17-18 inches) both on surface strikes and on the retrive. And, I, have caught quite a few bluegill and pumpkin seed sunfish on them - again surface strikes. And, I have caught several nice crappie on Rapalas coming from surface strikes -- many of them nice 12-14 inches. Trout Lake in King County was a good crappie lake during May a few years ago. I have also caught several squaw fish on Rapalas. Bottom line -- Rapala is a great fishing lure.

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