Westside Angler
5/20/2014 6:56:00 PMSerene: Same as above but the water is much clearer, therefore you can actually see the panfish both on left & right side of the launch. Sight fishing - same set up as above but without the bobber, with a polarized sunglass - located the fish/ or present the jig tipped w/ worm and keep the bait just above bottom - and you should see them come out and attack the jig!
Bobber fishing - adjust leader "1/2" ft from bobber and "Flip" towards lilies along the fence on the left side of the launch, they're hugging along the fence near the weed edges.
I'm sure glad to hear interest in panfish on these lakes, most folks are mainly after trout and a rare sighting to come across a panfisherman. Again, they're overcrowding the lakes and are impacting their growth, so don't be surprised if you see a 4" fish that's filled with eggs!
Good Luck! ... If you have a boat, I will be glad to provide you with the honey holes where the crappies likes to hang out
prescott102
5/21/2014 11:25:00 AMWestside Angler
5/21/2014 2:30:00 PM1) Directly across from the ramp/ in front of the multiple stories Spanish style Casa, anchor between the two docks away from the lilies so that you don't spook the fish, more of the crappies are near the weed edges/ lilies towards the bigger dock (right side)
2) South end of lake, anchor near broken/ abandoned dock and cast towards lilies/ and old dock structures. Work your way from the broken dock to your right - stopping along in between docks. Remember to distance your boat away when your working the docks
3) North end of lake (around beaver dam and left side of it), all lilies in this area - anchor and work in open pockets
From my experience, key is fish late eve (will bite earlier if overcast), use 4 lb/ or 2 lb test line, 1/32 oz crappie jig (anything with the red eye is my fav), 1/2 black 1/2 chartreuse tube or 1/2 pumpkin 1/2 chartreuse tube tipped with crappie nibble (cream/ white color nibble is top producer). Use a weighted bobber (better casting accuracy, cast farther, & sinks faster when fish on), adjust the leader accordingly to avoid snagging the weed (you want the jig to stay as close to the bottom as possible without getting snag)
If crappie fishing is new to you, patience and practice is the key! It might be challenging at first, but once you get it figured out - it's down hill from there!
Yellow perch and bluegill are much easier to catch - same set up as mentioned above except just use plain jig without the tube and tipped with worm.
Best of luck to you!
Westside Angler
5/21/2014 11:18:00 PMThe technique that I shared with you works well in our Puget Sound lakes and ponds, also deadly in certain locations of the mighty Snake River (where you can catch them by the coolers).
A good starter lake that I'd recommend for you would be Larsen in Bellevue. Here, there are plenty of shore access - but the dock would be your best bet, there are very little weed in this lake which is nice because less snagging, but massive lilies - which are great for bass and crappies!
Remember to jig slow, twitch your bobber from time to time, and focus on any sudden movement on your bobber, and quick reflex on your hook set! As you maybe aware, they have soft "paper" mouth - so don't rip their mouth open/ or try to horse them in:)
Recommended Suppliers in Sno County: John's/ Broadway for crappie nibbles (best quality & price) , Cabela's/ Tulalip for tubes + jigs + nibbles (their good jigs gets sold fast, Ted's/ Lynnwood for crappie nibble & some selections of jigs
Hope this helps :)