I fished my second summer (2012) here. This report is for the whole summer. I am still using a fishing kayak (still no electric or gas motors are allowed) but I added a Lowrance Elite-4X depthfinder.

The middle of the lake is bowl shaped and maxes out at 40’. There is not much in the way of underwater topology. There is one good point south of the Tillicum Middle School. From the shoreline the point does not look like much, but runs underwater 150’ from shore going SSW and has a 18’ deep rock hump at the end. On the east side of the point is a trough (~30’ deep) that runs up near shore NE of the point. I tried jigs and deep diving crankbaits out on the point, but only caught a couple of small bass.

There is a thick “thermocline” feature everywhere at about 20-30’ deep that rises quickly all the way to the surface at sundown. I think it is zooplankton like copepods, but that is a guess, it could be an actual thermocline. A dusk I have to turn the sensitivity on my depthfinder down to even track the bottom.

Because the water is clear (low turbidity and no tea staining) and fairly shallow, it is ringed with a deep submerged weedline of “mini-kelp” that goes out to about 16’ deep, and then stops suddenly. This edge is the only real structure away from shore.

It became apparent to me his lake has an unusually good yellow perch population, so I tried fishing for them. You can catch infinity of them with a beetle spin– type rig with white curly tail grubs. Most are kind of small, but I imagine they would provide forage for bass, which is a nice thought.

As for bass, everything is similar to other lakes around here. This summer I got into using spinnerbaits, they seem work very well here, maybe because they draw fish out of the weeds. I have caught a couple of fish around some old pilings out away from anything, but otherwise the bass in summer seem to burrow into the edges of the lily pads almost exclusively. Thick lily pad edges and corners near deep water or docks are the best spots.

I tried rubber worms, creature baits, and jigs quite a bit this summer, but I really don’t seem to do well with them. I get pecked to death by perch, and only caught a couple of small bass. Frogs and swimbaits (like the 4” ABT Banshee, for example) are still my favorites, and also now spinnerbaits. I use bigger lures always and catch a fair number of 2-4 pound bass, and have cracked the 5lb barrier twice in two years. I still think I can do better than that, but this lake is not some super-secret lunker lake, just a solid little lake. Please release any big bass, for everyone’s sake.

There is a strong evening bite if you stay out around dusk. Topwater and spinnerbait work best. You are not supposed to be in the park after dark, but there is no gate on the parking lot. I have stayed to shortly after sundown in mid-summer with no problem.

It is worth staying out at dusk for the fishing and the wildlife show. There are a couple of beavers and some muskrats that come out at night. The beavers do this tail slap thing that can really make you jump when they sneak up close. KASPLOOSH! One time a muskrat swam right up to my kayak before he saw me, I was afraid he was going climb aboard! Oh, and you hear coyotes too. They are depraved, psycho coyotes, by the sound of it. Oh, and swarms of bats! They hit my line so much I have to keep my rod tip down. There are lots of bugs and small fish rising, with the occasional splash of a big fish, hopefully a bass blowing up a perch. There is the normal cacophony of frogs. No snakes, though, I don’t think… :O

You have to fill out a form at the ranger station near the park before you go out. Phantom lake forms the headwaters of the Lake Hills Greenbelt, and is not managed for fishing, but for peaceful kayaking and communing with nature, that is why no motors are allowed. But if you have a kayak, canoe or a float tube, it’s a good little lake for bass and perch.

N E 1 FISSION

12/29/2012 10:44:00 PM

Wow, pretty extensive report, but informational, thanks,..

flundar

12/30/2012 12:18:00 PM

Well N E 1 FISSION, since I have dubbed myself the unofficial authority on this lake, I aim to please. After all, this is a form of entertainment as well is information. Its infotainment.

Spiegel

1/2/2013 8:24:00 AM

I don't live in WA anymore, but when I did, my biggest bass came from it, a 7 pound. It was 2006 late February on a weird warm spell that lasted about 10 days. I went fishing from the park pier (C&R) and was basically fanning around the pier methodically from right side to front to left side. I had already caught 1 of the regular small bass on the right side, was getting close to the head of the pier when I heard a big splash from the right side. I looked up and still saw the rings in a very shallow place. Assuming it was a bass, I reeled in my line and casted about the ring place (texas rigged creature, dark blue). Second twitch... fish on, big fight. I had no net (normally only small fish in that lake) so I had to drag it all the way to shore out of the pier to catch it by the mouth. Quick hook release and of it went, as I had no camera with me that particular day.

Spiegel

1/2/2013 8:27:00 AM

Sorry, I should have said left side... the fish was caught on the left side of the pier, very close to shore, in an area that gets covered by lily pads on summer. It's only about 2 feet deep in that place.

flundar

1/6/2013 4:36:00 AM

Hi Spiegel. I caught my personal best Largemouth off of a dock (different lake), so I buy your story. I praise you for releasing that fish. The Phantom of the Lake called me and asked me to thank you too.

Fly_by_night

8/5/2014 8:21:00 AM

Planning on going out today. This report has my hopes for a perch bake up at least. Definitely gonna keep my eyes out for that Phantom, eh?
Your report was wonderfully in-depth, and it's people like you who care that much about writing them, that keep my faith in the brotherhood of fishermen. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

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