Soda Lake Recomendations.

[mallard83]

Leaving for Potholes/Seeps Lakes area on Thursday morning 4/23 with my girlfriend. Some family and friends will be meeting us later for the weekend.

I have a few different questions. I was first going to try going to Canal Lake, but decided against that and am going to try out Soda instead (mainly because of the variety of species in Soda).

1.) Can you use a gas motor on Soda?

2.) Are there any decent places on or near Soda away from the crowds to camp? (without camping at the pay area)

3.) What are some good species to target this time of year? (I have heard Walleye and Smallies)

4.) Where is the best area for Carp on Soda and what would be the best bait to use?

5.) Any other Seep Lakes you suggest?

6.) Also are there any kind of campfire restrictions in this area?

I am pretty clueless when it comes to this area because it has been years since my last visit. :shaking: I would mainly like to try for carp, walleye, and bass. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[YellowBear]

Hello mallerd83.

#1 Yes you can use gas motors.

#2 Soda has pay camping on the North end and this is the only camping on soda however, there is a spot on the south end of the lake that I see a lot of folks useing through out the year. I am not saying its okay but I do see it used alot.
You may be hard pressed to get away from the crowds.
You might find a spot over on the lind coulle, just take any road that is marked "public fishing".

#3 Soda has been pretty slow for the past few years, Smallmouth and Walleye seem to be on the down hill slide.
We still fish it but its not what it was. The Smallmouth have been running a pound and a half to two pounds. The fives and sixes have been few. I took a twelve pound eye out of the lake two years ago and last year, never got a keeper. There are still some dandies in there I am sure but you will have to work hard to get them. We have had the best luck on the south end in front of the bluffs, 30 to 50 feet.
On the up side, we are seeing more Crappie.
Lots of Carp.
We fished Soda last Saterday and never got a hit.
The water temp was 53 to 55 and had just dropped around 4 or 5 feet a day or so before.

#3 We were looking for Smallmouth and or Walleye.


The little wife and I try to fish it once a week if we can, it has been a study lake of ours for 12 years now, we are looking forward to seeing how this season goes.



Canal had a hot bite going for Trout this winter, the WDFW stocked a bunch in there last fall and they got hammerd pretty good while we had ice.

#4 There are 4 bays on Soda and the Carp were in all 4 last week.
We haven't really tried to catch them as of yet, maybe this year, lol.
I know they will take corn and worms, you may want to check out the internet, lots of Carp sites.

#5 Canal.
Long.
Lower Goose.
Hutchinson.

#6 Fire danger is low.

[daveenlola]

awsome i had the same questions about the same area, we have a bachlor party with probably 10-15 people coming, any good camping areas for that many people? My buddie said camp at upper goose but???

[YellowBear]

I have not been to upper goose this year but it has had a cable across the road.
It seems they were having problems with parties leaving trash.

[daveenlola]

figures people cant have a good time and be responsable...loosers

[mallard83]

Hey thanks a ton for the info YellowBear. Where is a good place to find a crappie or two on the lake? We will have a boat to scoot around the lake so location is no problem. Also everything that we catch will be released aside from mabey a trout or two for dinner.

[YellowBear]

mallard83.

Crappie have been in the bay on the north end on the east side, you will see a rock slide. try out from the slide in around 10 feet or so. we have found some down on the big flat, about mid lake on the west side. We also found a big school in the out flow area. There is a lone tree up on the bank and the fish were holding out front of the tree. We are not getting bunches of Crappie but we have been getting some good ones.