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05 - Lower Granite Dam to Interstate Bridge Report
Washington

Details

08/04/2022
76° - 80°
Bottom Fishing From Boat
Smallmouth Bass
Gold
Sunny
Morning
66° - 70°
08/06/2022
4
2746

As a WSU student, I frequently fish the Snake River, usually around Wawawai Park. Although I have a Hobie Outback, I can no longer bring it to Pullman because I don't have a truck anymore at the moment. As such, I got an inflatable boat with a trolling motor that works fine. On Thursday, went out of Wawawai for the first time in months and discovered a new favorite method for targeting the deep Smallmouth that are around the cliffs on the opposite side. Previously I would drop-shot a nightcrawler, but I began trolling a Walleye bottom-bouncer with a soft-plastic spinner or crawfish-imitating crankbait (Rebel) behind it and immediately started having unbelievable success. Some might say that this is cheating or not traditional bass fishing, but let me clarify that I personally like to eat Smallmouth and I find the fish from this area to be of very high quality. In addition, they are an introduced species that doesn't belong here, and I encourage the consumption of non-native fish. Next time you're on the Snake, try a bottom-bouncer for Smallmouth, and enjoy


Comments

Duck
8/7/2022 9:07:36 AM
Great post! I like the inventive approach to catching. And I completely agree on the invasive species angle. They eat the young salmon and steelhead coming down our rivers.
Dawgpound
8/7/2022 3:36:45 PM
Thanks for the report. I've caught them that way as well. I fish out of Lewiston. I have a Ranger Deep V Series, if you want to go out sometime ... Hit me up. I keep some Bass as well. It was hard to get used to that though. Anyway thanks again for the detailed report. Tight Lines!!
MrShades
8/7/2022 4:30:35 PM
I would love to! I will let you know. I am also hoping to try bottom-bouncers for perch
rwl
8/7/2022 3:46:31 PM
I've trolled plugs there too like the original rapala floaters behind a bottom bouncer too, really fun, done it mainly in the fall. I was doing it more on transition areas from flats to deeper water, but it also seemed to work along the cliffs opposite the wawawai launch. Lower granite seems like it is overpopulated and harvesting probably would improve the fishery. This time of year it is hard to find fish larger than 12 inches, wonder if your trolling method pulls in a larger average size. Topwater can't be beat for fun though early morning or late evening and also seems to produce occasional bigger bass this time of year.
MrShades
8/8/2022 8:33:00 AM
Using larger lures produces fewer but bigger fish. The Rebel craw and my bigger swimbait spinners definitely larger fish on average, although the biggest one was caught on the 2"motor oil grub, rigged in a way I normally use for surfperch on the coast.
rwl
8/8/2022 5:39:44 PM
That makes sense, although I've caught some pretty small bass on 4 inch jerkbaits. Can't wait for it to be spring again on the snake to fish the prespawn and when they are chasing smolts.
Dawgpound
8/8/2022 6:09:37 PM
dawgpound81@hotmail.com
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709