Long time member, first time posting. I really enjoy reading this forum, but thought I should post today.

I fished for about 2 hours today in Lake Washington, arboretum area throwing senkos of different colors around lillies and weed edges, and other structure with no action.
After a while I switched to a Brad's Wiggler "Old School Perch" color to give that a shot. After a few casts, I tossed it in an alley between a weed edge and a downed tree in the water and decided to slow my retrieve, and that's when I got hit. I set the hook, played it out, the fish made a few shakes and a few short runs, and when it got closer, I could see there was some size to it. I hate to overuse a cliche, but my heart was pounding a bit, haha. First fish of 2011 for me. Boom, roasted.

When I got it up close, I could not tell what species it was. I looked in the mouth and it had no teeth, so I lipped it to get the hooks out. It was about 15 inches, not much girth, no striping or spots, white mouth, light greenish body. A kayaker came in for a closer look, and since I couldn't identify this fish I asked him. He said, "It looks like a Hybrid Largemouth. That's a nice fish." I hadn't ever heard that term so I said ok, thanks. I grabbed the camera and to my dismay my camera's battery was dead (No pic, no fish, I know. But it was real!). I admired it for 2 more seconds, then promptly released it to swim away and spawn vigorously.

I googled hybrid bass when I got home and couldn't find much of anything except stuff on hybrid striped bass, that don't appear to be in Washington. Has anyone seen this before?

dpreya

5/20/2011 6:54:00 PM

I'm not sure but it sounds an awful lot like a Northern Pike Minnow or squawfish. Hooked into one myself the other day and the sucker was close 6 pounds. Check out pics online and see if that's what it was.

The Quadfather

5/20/2011 9:28:00 PM

Ditto what dpreya said.

Elijah.Loves.Fishin

5/20/2011 9:41:00 PM

yeah we don't have any hybrid bass here. we have largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass.

urbanangler

5/20/2011 10:20:00 PM

And there is the rockin Rock Bass.

Elijah.Loves.Fishin

5/21/2011 3:18:00 AM

indeed we do, just didn't really mention it because they look nothing like the largies or smallies haha ;)

G-Man

5/21/2011 6:59:00 AM

My first thought was northern pike minnow, aka squawfish. Their body shape is more trout like than any bass and they have no sharp spines on any of their fins that you need to watch out for.

Headshake

5/21/2011 1:22:00 PM

After looking at picks, I do think it was a northern pike minnow. Which, if I'm not mistaken, are an invasive species, right? Isn't there a bounty on those?

dpreya

5/21/2011 10:46:00 PM

Yeah on parts of the Columbia and Snake rivers you can get paid up to $8.00 a head for pike minnow over 9". Too bad not on Lake Washington because I've seen schools of literally hundreds of these fish living under docks during the summer. I'm not sure but I think I read in the fishing regs last year that this is the only species you're allowed to fish with a bow and arrow in Washington State. Anyone out there with mad bow fishing skills?

js7

5/22/2011 9:16:00 PM

you can only go after carp with a bow

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