nice report, thanks !

I am afraid the darn things are here to stay, but a good dose of either the Musky or Northern Pike will go a long way in controlling this species. The Squaw Fish is pretty much a bottom dweller, their main diet is fish eggs. Try switching to top water lures or a shallow running presentation and you should get way fewer if not altogether zero Squaw Fish...

I might be able to fish during the week some time I live about 10 min from the lake. Message me when you have a minute and we can figure out a time. I have a boat and if you have one we can trade off or something. I am not an expert by any means but know some spots that product fish

fish2live,
I am going to devulge my all time top secret method to you so you can catch some smallies. Go to Cabelas in Post Falls Idaho and buy some 2 1/2" pumpkin seed tube jigs made by Gitzit. Do not be fooled by any of the other cool colors. They are just there to get your money. Pumpkinseed only, or maybe the smoke ones (LOL). Rig them with a 1/8 ounce jig head. Go left out of nine mile resort. Run down river till you are about 1 1/2 miles or so from Willow Bay. You will see rock outcroppings on the left side of the lake. Pull up at the rocks and start jigging with your new tube jigs. No worm, just the tube jig. Start by staying as far out from shore as you can cast. Throw those new jigs right on the waters edge. Jig them back to the boat, staying in close contact with the bottom. Just jig them to about 8 to 10" up, then let it drop. If you don't catch anything, check the depth of the water. If you aren't sitting over 20 feet of water, move out till you are and repeat the casting and jigging. This method is guaranteed. If it doesn't work on your first trip out, go again and again and again. Sooner or later you will load the boat with smallies. This will work at any rocky shoreline on the lake. Myself and one other fisherman can usually catch 50 to 60 and even more smallies in a day out there. Please don't tell anybody my secret method. I don't want to see the smallmouth population dwindle out there. All kidding aside, the pumpkinseed tube jig will out fish anything in the box in my opinion. Good luck out there and Happy Fishing

Fished it last year in late May using 5" Yamamoto Senkos, texas rigged using Gamaktsu 4/0 EWG hooks and no weight what so ever. Fished docks, beaver homes and submerged rock piles and caught both SMB and LMB. Largest was right around 4lbs smallest around 2lbs. Caught the 4lb LM on a spinner bait very carefully flipped in around a beaver house.

Fish2live, AJ's dad is right on as usual. Pumpkin seed is the most effective color of plastics in any form be it tube's, jigs, worms and lizards in all local rivers and lakes. I've caught many SMB & LMB out of Long lake or Spokane river in the 2-5lb range. I personally like to use Zoom products, trick worms and lizards with no weight Texas rigged, you can buy them at either Cabela's or Anglers Experience north at Roundy's Kawasaki, Seth Burrell has set up shop there and has some great products! Zoom products are also cheaper than Yamamoto products and I've found that they are just as effective as the Senko's and grubs. If you don't already, you may want to switch to using red hooks, I've been using them since they first came out on all or most of my plastic's and lures and they have increased my catch. ALso, please beware though when information like this is disclosed, I did this a few years ago and had problems finding stock because Cabela's was the only local store that stocked Zoom products at the time, so I ordered them on-line in bulk, hope this helps! Good luck!

I prefer a wacky rigged 4 inch senko weightless, rig it on a drop shot hook size 2. Color green pumpkin with red flake. It knocks them dead. They can't resist the action the worm produces on the descent.

Remember that just as 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish, 10% of the water holds 90% of the fish. If you have not got into the SMB on Long, it is because you have not learned to read the right water for them. Learn the fish, learn the lake, and you will hammer them.

In about two or three weeks, you could probably catch SMB at Long on anything, IF you find the right spots. SMB love cover, lots and lots of cover. Think current, rocks, weeds, trees, etc. Soon the 4 rating will be for bass, not Pike Minnows.

This is awesome! This is what these posts should be all about, successful fishermen/guides disclosing what works for them so others can enjoy the experience too!

This is awesome! This is what these posts should be all about, successful fishermen/guides disclosing what works for them so others can enjoy the experience too!

All of you guys have some outstanding techniques, I am going to go for broke and try them all until I have found what works best for me, Thank you all very much for talking the time and teaching the methods I need for that area.

ilv2fish,
Do I know you? I appreciate the as usual comment. Thank you! Happy Fishing

I went to Roundy's Kawasaki and chad kaiser helped me out alot very professional and knowledgeable, they have a great set up over there.

AJ's Dad, that would be a no, but I've seen you out on the water a few times and have read plenty of your posts, I just like your postive influence and input that you have on other's in this great sport. You are a true sportsman...

I went to Roundy's Kawasaki and chad kaiser helped me out alot very professional and knowledgeable, they have a great set up over there.

Don't neglect a Yamamoto grub in color 176, cinnamon w/ blake flake. Lower Columbia, Long Lake, Coeur d' Alene, Banks, Potholes, Chelan, Okanogan, Roosevelt, Whatcom, Potholes, Moses, Hanford, Samammish, Washington, Snake River from Tri-cities all the way to SW of Boise, John Day River, Grande Ronde River......I've fished that grub on a 1/8 ounce round-head jig, in all those spots, and never failed to catch a smallmouth. All the comments here are great too. Don't be afraid to keep changing and/or moving until you find what works. But in the end, put on a 176......and fish it just like AJ's dad says.

Just in case fish2live is still trying to master the Smallies on Long. I'm sure you guys are the local experts but one rig I don't see listed that is simply dynamite for me is the drop shot with an olive tint. I honestly can't remember a day that I couldn't find some Smallies off a rock slide or drop off since I learned to tie the rig. There are a host of articles for dropshotting online, but Seth's DVD is a hoot.