Left Spokane at about 5 a.m. Launched at Keller Ferry and headed down to Swawilla Basin. Couple of boats already out trolling. Marked a few fish in the 30-45 foot range but as the morning progressed started seeing marks at 50-80 as well. Initially had downriggers stacked every 5 feet between 35 and 50 feet but none of those fish seemed to want to bite. Started marking a few more in the 50-60 foot range, so move one side down to 50 and 60. Hit a nice set of marks on a U-turn and got hit at 60 foot and landed nice Kokanee. Got all the rods back out and hit all the previous marks and at same spot started to do a zig zag pattern and doubled on another nice pair, one at 50 and the other at 60. They hit apex, hoochie, wiggle hoochie without really any preference. Got lines back out, with one little hitch (losing one of my stacker Chamberlain release). Attached "old fashion" stacking release clip and got the lines down. Planned on making another pass so made a U-turn but picked up the last of our limit before completing the turn. Headed in about 11.

Ate lunch in Wilbur and then went back toward Spokane and launched in the Spokane Arm for some smallmouth fishing. It was quite hot but managed to catch about 30 smallmouth up to 2 lbs and 1 nice crappie on ultralight rods and curly tailed jigs.

Nitrosteve

6/5/2016 9:22:00 AM

Great report and good job! Definitely deeper that I would have anticipated, but seems that you found the right range. Will definitely incorporate a few of your lessons learned. Thanks for sharing!! Steve

Kekedatackleco

6/5/2016 1:13:00 PM

What a fun day! I'm sure a lot will learn from the info you shared. Thanks for the report.

CoyoteCrazy

6/5/2016 1:16:00 PM

I have zero experience with smallmouth fishing. What kind of water/structure are you looking for to target them?

jechicdr

6/7/2016 7:52:00 AM

Smaller ones up to two lbs, bigger rock transitioning to gentler slopes seemed to be the trick. Steep Deep cliffs did not seem to produce as was the more sandy/small gravel. Almost crappie sized jigs, bouncing off walls with couple feet of water worked several times. Complete shade did not seem to work as much as I thought it would.

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