I've been fishing there for 50 years now and there is a lot of truth to what you said. It's a frustrating lake to fish, very up and down. Mostly its good for crappie. The only cover for the bass is around the shoreline, nothing in the middle and it is very shallow. I still keep going there because its just so darn peaceful. I had it all to myself a couple of weeks ago except for you I think.

I think luck is about 90 percent of the deal. Another 5 percent is being at a location on the lake that looks 'bassy'. The last 5 percent is knowing what lure to try, and how to use it.

I think one thing you need to know is how to read the water whether it is a lake or a river. I have fished both for more than 60 years and had a lot of "luck." Fishing a lot of different water helps this skill. Sure, a lot of fishing is just pure luck but knowing where to cast and being able to place the cast where you want it seems to really enhance your "luck." I have fished more than 300 different in lakes, sloughs and reservoirs in Washington for bass and caught fish from most of them (275). And, yes I have fished Cassidy a couple of times. I lucked out there and caught a 4-2 on the north end of the lake. The picture is on the Lake Cassidy information section on this site.

I think I saw you on Friday, green kayak? I was on the beige kayak by the dock with the shack next to it.
Was a funny day for me, I had multiple bites and managed to hook and lose a couple but never did get any to the boat.

I have got a lot of people into bass fishing over the years and for all of them at first it feels exactly as you stated, luck over skill. Until they keep at it long enough to learn that the 'skill' comes from reading the water, cover and structure and understanding the fish. Knowing how the weather will affect the bite, how the water temps and clarity factor in, how the wind will position the fish. Knowing options to try when the skunk is on. Small lakes chalked full of dinks like Cassidy are fun because you can typically always get bit. I do the same on Lake Armstrong and Storm Lake, just go to fish like a kid again for a while. However, what about the 8+ largemouth that came out of Cassidy? What about the 7+ I caught on Storm? Bigger fish are always there but to target them means getting out of your comfort zone and or opting for size over numbers. When you find yourself dissecting water, structure and cover, then tweaking baits to fall just that much slower or faster to trigger a bite, or knowing when to downsize and when to up-size for the same purpose, then you will better understand the 'skill' over luck aspect. Just following a shoreline and casting at everything that looks bassy isn't skill and in that regard your summation is dead on. Had many trips over the years where two people on the boat where using identical lures and line only to have one person out-fishing the other 2 -1 or worse! I've been on BOTH sides of it...what was the difference if it is all just 'luck' or "being in the right place at the right time"? Aren't two people in the same boat at the same time susceptible to the same "luck" then? Just my two cents. Great observations though. The great thing about bass fishing is both luck and skill are always at play and personally I would never choose one over the other :)

Hi Jason, Been fishing Cassidy since 1988 or so...what I have found there is SLOWER the better on top water especially if you move it to fast you will just see rolls and no fish. Had good luck last year fishing deep in back of pads very close to shore and NOT moving my top water minnow. I have never caught anything over 18.5" out of there but last year got that one 18" and two 17" which were in 2-almost 4lb range. There are some big crappie in there and trout which I don't target. Mornings are calmer there usually evenings you tend to get the wind after work in 4-5pm range so have to deal with lots of chop. I tend to sit in the pads and catch my fish that way as I won't get blown around in my small boat. Good luck out there.

James

I think it is important to learn the water you fish. I can almost always catch fish on my home waters. I have learned where the fish hang out and when. There are trends to the time of year too. Lake Union and Washington are my home waters. Lake Union is almost always a sure thing, Lake Washington is more fickle but the quality of fish is better.