Northwest Fishing Reports

Hey everyone, I just bought a new (to me) boat, and I wanna get her out on the water this weekend. I was wondering if it's even possible to find some smallies at American Lake this weekend and if so, anyone got any tips or tricks? I'm a largemouth fisherman and I've never caught a smallie.

Thanks for any and all input.

Tight lines!

i dont target smallies, but in the past when fishing off bill's boathouse i've seen others do pretty well fishing around the docks in that area in march in 20 to 40 feet of water. i've even picked a few off with nightcrawlers meant for 'bow.

Yup, lots of smallies in American Lake. I've never fished it but have thought about fishing that lake. There is a map of American here on Wa Lakes. Look it up, print it out, take it with you and it should help.

Slow slow slow. I'm not sure what the water temps are out that way, in the winter I only use 2-3 rods max, a Ripbait (Lucky Craft) a darterhead with a 4 1/2 fat Robo worm in Prism shad, a a Yami Hula Grub on a football head 3/8oz green pumpkin. I suppose you could even throw a drop shot with a 6" leader I use the same Robo as the darterhead. Good luck! At least you guys have no ice on your lakes.

I've never fished there before, but if it's a typical westside lake in the NW. Look for points right now or if you're boat has good electronics, you'll need to find rock fields. Football heads (3/4 oz) with twin tail grubs and drop shot with cray fish plastics. Depth will range, could 17' to 40' depending on weather, food and time of day.

There's a guy on this site name BassMaster Derek, nice guy, he fishes that lake constantly, I'll PM to see i he's still around.

Nope, no smallies in American...
Last time I was out, they were still schooled up in about 50' of water, but you will sometimes find ones coming up shallower this time if year looking for some food, look for schools of baitfish. Once you start seeing the rock bass bedding, the smallies will follow. Not sure why, but on American the smallies wait until the rock bass are done spawning before they move up in any numbers. Usually some time in April or early may. I got my p.b. smallie out of American last year, and my son got one even bigger. It's a quality smallie fishery for sure, but dont tell anyone...

f1sh1nf00l wrote:Nope, no smallies in American...

Darn. Then whoever told me they were in there lied to me. I guess I'll never go to that lake then.

Hopefully you have some good electronics so you can minimize the time it takes to find the fish this time of year.

Forgot to mention, the three rods I have rigged up this time of year are: Dropshot- with Roboworms, Gulp minnows, or a crazy leg chigger craw; Jig- usually a big skirted jighead with a craw trailer, or a fish head jig with a swimbait body; and Carolina or Texas rig- with a big ol' worm. I've been told that the Daimiki Hydra grub works very well this time of year. Once you find 'em, be patient, fish slooooow.

Eoso wrote:Hopefully you have some good electronics so you can minimize the time it takes to find the fish this time of year.

Ohh I wish I did. I'm fishing out of a small, ugly, old, fiberglass boat I picked up for $200. It's my first boat and I'm just glad it's an upgrade from my float tube. I've been fishin out of my tube since I was 9 and after 11 years it's gotten a little old haha. All I've got is a 30lb thrust trolling motor, and I just wanna get out this weekend, make sure she floats and maybe find a fish or two.

Thanks for all the input, hope it's a succesful trip, but if not you know what they say. A good bad day of fishin beats a good day at work.


Thanks!

907fisher wrote:

Eoso wrote:Hopefully you have some good electronics so you can minimize the time it takes to find the fish this time of year.

Ohh I wish I did. I'm fishing out of a small, ugly, old, fiberglass boat I picked up for $200. It's my first boat and I'm just glad it's an upgrade from my float tube. I've been fishin out of my tube since I was 9 and after 11 years it's gotten a little old haha. All I've got is a 30lb thrust trolling motor, and I just wanna get out this weekend, make sure she floats and maybe find a fish or two.

Thanks for all the input, hope it's a succesful trip, but if not you know what they say. A good bad day of fishin beats a good day at work.


Thanks!

Good Luck! It's always exciting when you get your first boat, opens up a new world!

Good luck to ya 907fisher. I havent been out there in a long time.Look for the fish in deep water near structure. Find rock. I have caught smallies in 20-30ft in winter but they move there to feed, otherwise they should be around 50ft until the water warms a little. I am willing to bet the water is around 42-43 degrees right now.

BMD