Silver Lake Open Cowlitz County (March19th)

[Amx]

No fish? And with all the sun the past couple days. Weird. Friday's rain didn't help, but still I figured a few fish would still be caught.

[Amx]

My understanding is that it's just not much of a lake even at the best of times.

It use to be a GREAT lake, back in the '80s and into the '90s. Then the grass carp were put in, and they put in WAY TOO MANY. The water quality these days doesn't help either.

[kevinb]

Now watch,tomorrow some lucky fellow will catch a 10lb+ lmb. I swear thats how these things go.
I recall last year when basspro caught a nice 9 pounder prefishing

[Stacie Kelsey]

My understanding is that it's just not much of a lake even at the best of times.

No no, that's wrong. It was a fantastic lake prior and a little bit after the grass carp stocking. We called it the jewel of the west side. We can get it back there.

[Amx]

Now watch,tomorrow some lucky fellow will catch a 10lb+ lmb. I swear thats how these things go.
I recall last year when basspro caught a nice 9 pounder prefishing

Yup, and during the touney a week later we didn't even get a bite. I still wish I could have afforded to go today.

[Eoso]

I was referring to the tournament and the last 10 years.

[Amx]

Well that was after the carp decimated the weeds. And something else seems to be affecting it also.

[Eoso]

So is the strategy to just hit the 1ft drops?

[Stacie Kelsey]

I just got all the historical tournament data I'm going to be looking at it this week. See how it's been trending.

Yes, definitely something going on water-wise. Lots of surveying to do but it'll be worth it.

[Amx]

So is the strategy to just hit the 1ft drops?

That is only one of the many things to do on that lake.

[Anonymous]

lowvw , did anybody mention what the water temps were around the lake?

[Eoso]

Reports said 47

[lowvw]

43-50

[BillMcMurry]

Dang that sucks!!! Must be to early andall the other stuff going on....... i remember going into the canal about 12 years ago and catching over 150 crappie/perch/bluegill a day along with the bass in there also! what happend????

[Stacie Kelsey]

We have to figure out what's happening, but my initial guess is serious lack of vegetation and water quality issues.

[BassDood]

Interesting. The only bad day I ever had there was last year when AaronE and I went out in our tubes in the spring. We blanked. Sad to hear it's spiraling down. It used to be the "premier" bass lake in western Washington.

[kevinb]

I think this lake is still awesome. Obviously I can't brag to much but I can honestly say this is the only lake
that I have never been skunked on,granted,I havn't caught the biggest bass by any means here but never once left without catching something. I hope whatever issues can be fixed. One thing this lake doesn't get to much mention is the crappie. There are some serious slabs in here,white and black crappie and big numbers.
This lake has also produced the best family fishing memories,my son schools me in the panfish.
I know this lake isn't the same as it use to be in talking with other anglers that are much more familiar with it but still one of my favorites....maybe thats based more on good times....I don't know.

I will still say a 10lb bass will be caught tomorrow

[Stacie Kelsey]

I've been getting reports that the crappie are very small in weight. So it's good to hear you say there are still some nice ones.

The ones I saw at the Cowlitz G & A resort looked fairly anorexic.

[tnj8222]

Silver lake is a great lake. I will be back many times this year for the morning crank bait bite. If you say its a bad lake you just don't know.


Although I did get skunked along with everybody else and ruined my prop I still love the lake.

[BassDood]

If it wasn't such a long drive, I'd fish it more. I do like the lake. I'll hit it again this year. Sorry to hear about the prop, dude.