Northwest Fishing Reports

The information on the thread before this one "Favorite Spinners" is very helpful. I will definitely get myself a panther martin or two. What color/size would you guys recommend? Is it a fast or slow retreival lure?

This brings up a larger question for me.

I have only caught one fish on a moving lure and it was a wooly bugger.

I have tried a lot of times with different lures, spinners, spoons, crank baits, etc. with no results. So I always just give up and go back to worms under a bobber, but if I want to catch more than five trout in a lake/pond or two in moving water I can not use the worm after my limit to C&R. I really need to work on the whole artificial lure technique.
The biggest problem I have is that I always go fishing alone and so when I try something new I try and use it the way the fellow in the store told me or what I have read on line for different tactics, but practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent. If I am doing it wrong in the first place it will not get better.

I really do not know exactly what I am asking for here. Maybe more detailed explanations of technique? Maybe video of how one “swims” a rapala (I have heard that term and have no idea how to do this). Perhaps if you know of a web site or sites that have videos of how to cast, retrieve and play a lure.

Any help would be appreciated.

Sore Lip ‘em All,
Lewis

When throwing spinners, as a general rule you want to move the lure as slow as possible while still feeling the thump of the blades. However sometimes they like a quicker retrieve so you'll have to experiment and see what the fish's mood is. I really have no color preferences in spinners, except I like a variety. If the fish stop responding or you get fewer hits, change to a new color and they will usually pick up the chase again.

A major advantage of the Panther Martin is that it counts down pretty good considering its a spinner. Most spinner blades create lift especially when retrieved too fast, but the PM stays down better.

If you see rising fish, throw a Super Duper into the rings. If you can predict the direction an individual or a pod of trout are going as they feed on or near the surface, throw your Panther Martin ahead of them.

Its really all up to the fish. The colors I like the best are either brown or black or a really bright color, so that dosnt really help lol. Another thing to keep in mind is trout can be very picky. I have right around 100 different spinners and spoons to throw at the fish. It would take me about a week to throw everyone of them. So just make 4 or 5 casts then switch. All it takes is 1 bite and you will at least know the lure type or color that the trout are attracted too.I would say that its more the color that will catch the fish rather than the actual lure type but thats not always true. But my go to are probably rainbow trout or brown trout colored kastmasters, or brown roostertail, or chartreuse roostertail. The most productive however (for trolling) is a wedding ring and a worm. Some other great trolling lures are needle fish, dick nites and flatfish/hotshots. But if Im in the boat I dont even bother with still fishing/ casting its trolling all the way. Trolling a fly on an ultra light is very fun. Also next time you are still fishing with your worm and bober, slide the bobber up a couple feet and troll for a few minutes, you wont be disappointed.

I've always liked the yellow body with red spots and the bronze blade. Remember throwing spinners/spoons is really tough if the fish are close to the bottom. They are very effective for surfacing trout in the top 15' of water, because it's tought to get a spoon or spinner down to the bottom .

Kastmasters are great weighted spoons with great action, but like gpc said, trolling is the way to go. I can't stand still fishing off a boat, casting is fun occasionally when trout are just surfacing all over.

Look at all sorts of lures though. I'm pushing 75 spinners/spoons/hotshots/flatfish and I'm still adding them when I find good colors and I always make sure to have a few of the best colors when I lose some out on the water.

It's all about testing what works on your water. Good luck and keep us posted with how you do.

You know, i'm just like you. I've always used worms or powerbait/powereggs. Always stuck with them, because will, they are very effective.

But the thing is, i do not keep or eat my fish. I just fish for fun. I bought some artificial worms,frogs, and swimbaits to try out on some bass. But didnt have much luck with them.

3 or 4weeks ago, i went to try and catch some fish at Lake Meridian. I guess the majority of the trout are gone, or in deep. And only the kokanees were biting. A guy there suggested using spinners and spoons.

Went and got a few rooster tails. Pink 1/6oz. Caught 2 that day with that lure. First catch with a lure. But i was very disappointed with the casting distance. So i went to a 1/4oz and 3/8oz rooster tails. I had problems keeping the blade spinning with slow retrieves. Also sometimes, for whatever reason, it wouldnt spin, unless the lure got close to me, even if i was retrieving the same speed the entire time.

The bigger roostertails appear to need a faster retrieve, to keep the blade spinning. With the 1/6 size, i could retrieve it at a very slow pace and it would spin no matter what.

I tried a smallest pink buzzbomb, and also a silver/green 1/4oz kastmaster at LM. I had bites with both, but didnt hook.

This week, I've been fishing at Black Lake. After I didnt get any action with powereggs, even the GF caught 4 with them. I put on a silver/orange kastmaster. After 10 mins, finally caught a nice big trout. Had another bite, but missed.

Now, I'm starting to get more confidence in some of these lures, so I'm using them more often. Even looking for a new rod/reel just for a lure setup.

Just got back from Sportsman Warehouse with these.




The way i fish with spinning lures. I just cast, wait a few seconds, depending on how deep the area is. Then retrieve as slow as possible while maintaining spinning action.

PS, I do have a "vibrating" Blue Fox spinner. That one spinnings like crazy with slow retrieves. But havent had anything bite yet. Dont use it often though.

With the kastmasters. I just cast as far as i can. Quick flick of the top of the rod. Reel slack. Let drop, and repeat. The bites I've had on them, has been near the bottom I assume. So I now let them drop pretty deep. I try and mix it up a bit though. Double twitch. Or even a sweeping motion. I try them all. Dont know if that's the correct way to use them though.

Kastmaster retrieves can be varied quite a bit. I prefer a slow retrieve to mimic a slowly wobbling baitfish or just something that pisses off a trout into biting it. The whole sweeping motion, sit and retrieve has produced for me, but I usually stick with this tactic for buzz bombs...BUT if it works, then keep doing what your doing...

Hey FishingFool,

Thank you so much for the detailed response. I will definitely get some more lures and try different ones. I have a Kastmaster that I have given limited use and I have a few of the Panther Martins that have never been wet. I will give these a try and the Super Duper has been mentioned a few times so I will need a couple of those.

My biggest obstacle to using new things is that I do not hold to the old adage that it is the fishing not the catching. If I am not catching anything I will go to an old reliable method even if all I catch is little dinks, in my mind that is better than a skunk. I will have to go out with the mindset that I need to learn to fish with different methods even if I catch no fish at first.

Lewis

Lewis...... I see you live in Vancouver, Where are you fishing?
I live in Portland & I have a place at Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway so I fish there a lot in the summer.
But I am thinking about other places to go( Ore. & @Wash.) starting in the spring. Maybe we could get together then.
Richard

the best buy for panther martins has been at bi-mart. they are cheaper than the catalogs and you can get good discount sometimes when a new batch is going to come in. the PM is suppose to give off more vibration and you can fish them fairly slow which is one reason i switch from rooster tails. i found that the line will twist more than most other spinners so i put a swivel 16-24" up from the PM rather then a snap swivel to the spinner its self.(for the smaller spinners) i also do this to small spoons etc. but bigger lures i will use a snap swivel , doesn't make the action different on the bigger ones. castmasters can be fished like a swedish pimple, take off the hook and put on a snelled hook, bait it with a worm, etc, jig it near the bottom to attract them the baited hook will get them to bite. this is also very effective ice fishing. <')//<

Kokonuts wrote:Lewis...... I see you live in Vancouver, Where are you fishing?
I live in Portland & I have a place at Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway so I fish there a lot in the summer.
But I am thinking about other places to go( Ore. & @Wash.) starting in the spring. Maybe we could get together then.
Richard

Hey Richard, That would be great to go and fish together. As far as where I fish I have fished most of the lakes here in Clark County and gone up to Kress and Horseshoe one time. I also like to fish the Columbia and have had limited success in some spots from shore. I even tried my hand at fishing the East Fork at Daybreak. I used to work down in Silverton and saw what I thought were some good fishing spots on the commute, but have never fished Oregon.

Looking forward to spring...and meeeting you!

Lewis

Lewis.... I am planning on going to Wallowa Lake in Eastern Or. just because Ive heard so much about it,
and I would likr to try some of the lakes in SW WasH. like Riffe & Swift.
Ive never had my boat on the Columbia , I just got it last Aug. Its an older 16 ft. glass with an 80hp
& a 4hp kicker . the big eng. moves it along real good but I have some trouble with the kicker so
I might try to get a new kicker motor this winter. I keep it up at Lake Merwin & so far thats the only
lake Ive fished in. Its all shut doen for winter storage now, cant wait for the spring!!........Richard

Reading through the posts in this thread I am reminded of some of my own frustrations with "what to use and what not to use" when I go fishing.

Every environment is different. Sometimes when you want to use artificials instead of bait the best thing to do is "find a new lake or river or bay or water".

Kokonuts mentions Swift Reservoir. I worked that water many, many times with plugs and spinners and spoons to no avail. Turns out the best thing to use there is worms. Instead of using worms, which I don't like, I just stopped fishing the lake and went somewhere else.

I have picked up some knowledge on the subject over the years that might be useful though. Certainly not "all inclusive" just some things I've noticed while I was on the water and that might be useful to some.


1. Sometimes a small jig (1/32nd to 1/4 oz) tipped with a little plastic grub and small hunk of worm or just smammed with some kind of scent is just as good as the always dependable power bait and/or whole nightcrawler on large hook kind of rigging. Small jigs with some kind of plastic and a little smam of shrimp scent have accounted for more than a few nice sea run cutts and steelhead for me on the Cowlitz River anyways.

2. For some reason, hatchery trout (e.g. the opening day scene) seem to like white. In my experience white thin bladed spoons have always worked better than the silver or bronze versions on hatchery trout. Also, hatchery trout tend to just fin around dazed in the upper 10 feet of the water column for the first 10 days or so after being dumped off by the tanker truck. So, when dealing with this kind of prey, just troll your lures very shallow. In most other situations, you're better off being near the bottom where most of the food will be on any particular piscatorial day.

3. There's a reason for the "dodger". I'm not sure if "Kokonuts" knows this but there's a lure I use with the same name. It's just a small dodger with a hook with dangly plastic stuff dragging behind it. There was a guy about 2 decades ago who put an underwater camera on his downrigger and recorded all the "terminal gear" action as he trolled for trout and samonoids. What he discovered was that for every trout that actually hit his lure there were 9 or more that just sort of followed it very closely and then finned away. The way you get the fish to hit is to have a little bit of scent on the lure or something in front of it that made it look like it was "running away" (i.e. a dodger or flasher). Something that will get the fish excited and make it strike. So, whether you do it with the way you operate the boat or with the stuff in front of your terminal gear, you always want the lure to be making unexpected movements that make it look like it's trying to get away.


4. Always be watching the clarity of the water and the distractions that the fish have to deal with. When there is current and/or turbulence in the water the fish will be more aggressive. In those situations you need lures with rattles and that make noise. When the water is clear and still you will be looking for more stealth (i.e smaller diameter lines and smaller lures and lures that make less noise and have less flash). I can still remember my surprise when casting a small but very noisy lure into the water below a very turbulent water fall one time. I mean the water I was casting to was nothing but froth. I cast right into the white froth and yanked the lure as hard as I could through it and a little 12 or 13 inch brown trout just hammered it. It's really amazing what fish can sense, even in very turbulent water.

5. Current attracts fish. Always be watching waves and current. Big predator fish like to ambush their prey not chase it down. So, many times, the answer to the puzzle isn't so much to ask what to use, it's to ask where should I be using it??

6. when you're chasing down anadromous species, like we tend to do a lot of in this state, the most important thing is where they are headed to spawn. Figure out when they are making the run to the "redds" and which path they will need to get there and you are half way to salmonoid fishing success. The rest of the story is nothing but simple execution. Drive to the spot and cast your lure and catch some fish.

7. In every aquatic environment fish have a routine that includes some kind of foraging for sustinence. I can still recall the day I caught my first Musky. I was trolling crankbaits in a water back east and noticed gulls working the water very aggressively ahead of me. I trolled directly toward the gulls and as I got into he middle of the fray I started getting hits. I finally set the hook on a 6 or 7 pound musky. Not large but, to this day, the only one I've ever caught. In this situation there was a school of baitfish and there were birds working it from above and a bunch of predators (muskies, trout, salmon, whatever) working it from below.

8. Trout can discern color. There was a huge debate back in the 1950s about whether or not trout see in black and white or whether they can discern colors. The scientific studies showed very conclusively that they can see colors. Apparently this isn't true with large herbivores like elk and moose. So, when fishing lures for trout and if the water has any clarity at all, sometimes the best thing to do is switch to a lure with a different color.

Thanks, littleriver. I appreciate your advice. I read a book called "Master Angler" about how color makes a big difference in fishing. I am still working on all of that. I hate to make it too technical...kind of takes the fun or the sport out of it.

I will try the jigs. I have been using a 1/64 oz jig with a small split tail grub with a lot of success catching perch and crappie. I have noticed that sometimes it makes a big difference in the bite when I change colors.

I am not sure what a "dodger" is, but I will google it and I am sure I will know soon.

Thanks again for your time,
Lewis

Dodger isn't too feasible for you to use if you shorebound. It's used for trolling, but if you ever do find yourself trolling, they can help, at times, but I've found that often I can still coax fish into biting without the usage of heavy trolling gear, thus giving me a better fight and not having to use much weight or downriggers to get the dodgers or any other trolling gear down...

Littleriver & all....... Thanks for the tips!
I just started fishing again after many years when I bought a used boat last summer & now I am HOOKED!
I fished Lake Merwin & got in on the last couple of months of the season & tried trolling with dodgers & ford fenders
with wedding rings & small lures. Also used a downrigger, still working with it! I did catch a few Kokanees but not many.

I am the kind of guy that has to try everything when it comes to fishing tackle my wife says I go OverBoard but I think
a guy just cant have too much stuff!
Sooooo I tried a lot of different set ups & I even tried buying the larger Salmon spinners & removed the hooks to use as
a flasher/ dodger. They come in so many great colors & its cheaper to buy them than a dodger. I cant say how well they
worked cause it was late in the season when I tried them(last month). Ive even tried making up my own wedding rings
just to have something to do this winter. Cant wait for SPRING!.......................Richard

Sam definitely has it right about dodgers.

They are for trolling. If you don't have a boat they really aren't an option.

I should also note that one of the reasons i became interested in this thread is because, over the years, I've
developed a dislike for fishing with any kind of bait.

I spent about a week of evenings in late october going through all my tackle and all my lures in order to make everything
"single hook and barbless". What a pain. I hadn't even realized how much tackle I have.

But now it's done. Now barbless and "single hook" doesn't mean you can't use bait. I will still place a small hunk of nightcrawler on the barb of a jig from time to time and I have lots of smagma but it's nice to finally feel like all the live bait and powerbait strategies I've used over the years are in the rear view mirror.

The blue panther martins with a black-spotted silver blade worked really well for me this summer.

Cool Avatar, tasteslikechicken!