This report is actually for July 3rd through July 5th. It was a multiple day trip. Girlfriend was out of town for a few weeks and we have been so busy with our move that I haven't been able to fish in months really. So I decided it was time for some me time. I actually headed out to Lyons ferry on the 2nd but it was bad fishing. Only SMB and walleye were biting. So I decided that if I'm going to catch those two species I'm not going to waste my time on the dinks in the snake. Long Lake has much bigger bounties. For those of you who don't know for years the park rangers have been letting us fish at night and from the dock at the confluence boat launch. This year it looks like they replaced all the rangers and really stepped up enforcement. As I did most of my walleye fishing during the spawn at night, it pretty much cut off all options for fishing the spawn. I get it but it still put a bad taste in my mouth which is another reason I skipped out on fishing the last few months. I really wish there was some way that they could let us on the properties at night so we can do our part to pull the invasive species out of the river. As it stands they will only let you go overnight at Lake Spokane campground if you reserve a campsite or you could go to Willow Bay and pay 17 bucks for the lunch fee there. Neither spot is going to get you to the upper end of the river without a long boat ride.

July 3rd
I hit up the nine Mile rec area on my kayak. Staying on the southern lunch side of the river but typically start by throwing jigs to shore after the third house. This was an amazing day for fishing. I ended up with 20 smallmouth bass, keeping my 1, 18 incher. They were all over 14 in so I couldn't keep a full limit. I worked all the way down about 3 Miles. At this point you get to a gigantic Eddie in the center of the river. This was a walleye hotspot that day. I pulled in a 5-pounder and released 4 more over 20. Speaking of which I wish they would change the statewide limits. Literally all I catch on Long Lake are fish over 20 in. Both the bass and the walleye came off half ounce jigs with 5-in paddle tails. I needed something this heavy because the current was going pretty strong. Whites and greens. I pulled a 13 inch crappie with a number seven shad rap as well.

July 4th
I hit up the lake Spokane campground boat launch. This was not a very good day. I didn't mark any fish anywhere. Everyone I talk to except for the people right at the campground caught zero fish. I went up River two miles crossed over to the other side fished all the way down and came back to the launch with nothing. Right out the buoys in front of the lunch I managed to pull in a 17-in smallmouth. Using the same jigs from yesterday. On top of the bad fishing day I accidentally left my stringer, filet knife and filet board at the launch. If you happened to grab it please send me a message.

July 5th
I went back to the nine Mile wreck area expecting another amazing day. Unfortunately that was the day they decided to let water back over nine Mile dam. The water was dirty and you couldn't keep weeds off your line. I marked plenty of fish in the channel suspended. But no fish.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Lake Spokane / Long Lake, the quality of your fishing will depend on the release or non-release of water over the dam. When the water is flowing fast you need to go further upstream than the nine Mile reck area. While I will be holding strong to the points and drop offs waiting for food to come to them. They are the ultimate window shoppers for sure. At the same time smallmouth bass become sluggish and you'll probably have bad days. When the dams aren't spilling water and the water clarity cleans up you'll find both smallmouth bass and walleye feeding heavily. The best tend to hang out in their beds until the spawns over and then they will move to the weed lines where the walleye are. The walleye here no that the trout hatchery releases are done in big weedy areas. The first half of the river is more like a river. You have a thin channel that doesn't go very deep. There are plenty of stumps and weed lines the fish love. The south end of the river is more like a reservoir. You're going to find fish there but they're going to be scattered. This end is a better place to go during the winter.

What worked
Half ounce jigs
5 inch paddletails

What didn't work
Thinking I could replicate the same day of fishing.
Shad raps(aside from the crappiei had no bites)

---