new at bass fishing

[howardi211]

Hi everyone!

i use to fish when i was a kid, but stopped for almost a decade. Recently been trying to get back into it. Im trying to get into bass fishing and was wondering if i could get some tips and locations (since i dont have a boat and will be fishing from the shore). I was thinking lakes around issy area and lake washington (since i live close to Enatia Park right under i-90). any help would be greatly appreciated!!! thanks in advance!

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

Welcome aboard howard. You have come to the right place to get a helping hand with this addiction. Of course what most will say is that your bass fishing will change once you get off of the shore. It did for my by leaps and bounds. I didn’t get a boat but did get a float tube. This was a relative small expense and has allowed me to get to all the places I saw as I fished from shore. I will share any information you may be seeking if I have it at all. First and foremost have fun and I am looking forward in hearing of some of your bass fishing adventures.

[topdawg47]

Well, Howard-

I don't claim to be a pro bass fisherman or anything. But, I have an idea on how to fish. Now, Biskt1sngrav is right, a boat or float tube is a "must" in my opinion. The more access you have, the more you increase your chances of landing fish"!

But, if you are fishing from shore for Bass: Try looking for structure (tough from shore, with no depth finder or being able to see below surface), deep drop offs, rocky structure, sand flats, pilings, etc..docks are a plus on lk washington as well

For lures/rigs: try drop shotting (just google and you will see pics/articles on how to set up), crank baits (my personal crank bait choice is perch-Rapala brand), plastics (senko, grubs, & craws), I like spinnerbaits as well.

Also, try locating perch or bait fish and the bass should not be too far off from them.

But, I have fished from shore majority of my life, and just recently purchased a pontoon from costco and 1st outing I got a large mth. Fishing from a boat or some sort of small craft is like probability. Example, if you ask out 100 women on a date, the chances of you having success is a much greater than asking out only 50, ya dig! That's my theory.

So I reccomend purchasing a float tube or pontoon and hit some of the smaller lakes around your area!

[BassinBomber]

Well, Howard-

I don't claim to be a pro bass fisherman or anything. But, I have an idea on how to fish. Now, Biskt1sngrav is right, a boat or float tube is a "must" in my opinion. The more access you have, the more you increase your chances of landing fish"!

But, if you are fishing from shore for Bass: Try looking for structure (tough from shore, with no depth finder or being able to see below surface), deep drop offs, rocky structure, sand flats, pilings, etc..docks are a plus on lk washington as well

For lures/rigs: try drop shotting (just google and you will see pics/articles on how to set up), crank baits (my personal crank bait choice is perch-Rapala brand), plastics (senko, grubs, & craws), I like spinnerbaits as well.

Also, try locating perch or bait fish and the bass should not be too far off from them.

But, I have fished from shore majority of my life, and just recently purchased a pontoon from costco and 1st outing I got a large mth. Fishing from a boat or some sort of small craft is like probability. Example, if you ask out 100 women on a date, the chances of you having success is a much greater than asking out only 50, ya dig! That's my theory.

So I reccomend purchasing a float tube or pontoon and hit some of the smaller lakes around your area!

Nice reply TD!

BB

[The Quadfather]

Someone mentioned Googling to get info. on the various rigging. Another good thing to do is search under You Tube for how to actually present the various tackle, and how to tie certain things, (Texas rigged worms, drop shotting, wacky rigs)
I think that You Tube is an excellent resource for learning anything by seeing it first.

[ChrisB]

Fish Enati park before its too late (spawn). There should be some fatty's cruising through there. I got a good one from there a couple years back.

[BassFanatic]

Welcome aboard Howard!!!

I was right there with you last year, fishin' from shore I see you have heard allot of great info already. In my opinion is when the water warms up and you find the perch start crankin the outsides of the weed lines before they get to out of control and start growing out of the water. I usually fished the west side of Lake Wa Wa from shore. I would fish for perch at first and once that bite started to heat up I would start thrownig a perch colored crank, That method has landed me some nice smallies from shore and allot of good sized perch...LOL. I hope this helps you good luck and again welcome to the site.

[howardi211]

Thanks for the welcome and everyone's great advice, its greatly appreciated! I'll prob be fishing from the shore for a while, wont be able to buy a float or pontoon anytime soon =(. Is lake washington in spawn yet? I thought a body of water that huge would take a little longer to heat up, therefor delaying spawn a little longer than other smaller lakes. I went to larson lake in hopes of some bass yesterday, but come home without even a single bite. used some spinners, than plastics than worms. Prob going to hit up Enatia Park today and try my luck with some plastics. Hopefully with all the advice, ill be able to bring back a story soon! Thanks!

ChrisB: when you fished at enatia, were you fishing on the smaller dock and casting toward I-90? cause it seems like that area is really rocky and it drops off after a few meters and its somewhat close to structure. so far, ive only caught a hand full of trout there, which is disappointing cause trout don't give the kind of fight that im looking for.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

I am bank-bound also. Enetai is probably one of the best spots for smallies for the shorebound fisherman on Lake WA, throughout the spring and summer and fall. The fish are not always there though. The fish come and go throughout the day. You can stand and cast at the same spot for a couple hours with nothing, and then make a cast to the same spot and hook one. My biggest bass came out of Enetai (close to 20 inches, smallmouth). Most of the ones I hook there will be between 8-12 inches, but you'll catch your fair share of 14-16 inchers. I use exclusively Texas rigged grubs.

Ive caught smallies from all of the docks on the Bellevue shoreline. The docks at Coulon Park in Renton are good too.

[returnofthefish]

To Shad Eatin Grin- When you say the docks at Coulon Park, did you mean the fishing dock at the far north end near the canoe launch, or the docks by Ivars. Half of the dock is closed off by the way. Looked like a boat it it. I remember reading some old reports where people caught smallmouth by Ivars. I scouted the park a few weeks ago for summer fishing. Thanks

[tnj8222]

i like the last dock on the walking path at coulon. i have caught alot of smallies there. drop shotting and texas rigs off the dock.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

To Shad Eatin Grin- When you say the docks at Coulon Park, did you mean the fishing dock at the far north end near the canoe launch, or the docks by Ivars. Half of the dock is closed off by the way. Looked like a boat it it. I remember reading some old reports where people caught smallmouth by Ivars. I scouted the park a few weeks ago for summer fishing. Thanks

I have caught them right at the footsteps of Ivars. You can catch them off that entire area up and down the shore off the docks. Basically, the smallmouth cruise the shoreline at dusk (and throughout the day actually) looking for food. You'll catch them fishing off the rock shoreline too, rather than standing on the docks.

[howardi211]

hey. i dropped by Enetai during the weekend, still no bites. than i jumped around with a few friends. went to the falls on the east to scope out spots and than dropped by phantom, larson and some marinas. jus caught alot of bluegill and perch (who could have guessed, in weather still as cold as seattles). than dropped by edmonds in hopes of some ling, but when we got there is was incredibly windy and cold. all in all, it was a good day of fishing, jus not alot of bites from bigger sized fish.

ill hit up Coulon Park sometime when i get the chance. any tips for there? bait...color? Thanks!

[BOLDbomber]

A few of these lakes come to mind: Beaver, Larson, Phantom & Pine. All have shore access.

Go and pickup some 3inch S E N K O S ! ! ! ! 1 ! and catch some bass.,, You can pitch them around docks, skip them under, and even through the dock itself. I would suggest RED hooks, as they are invisble to the fish. MO

GS

~MO aka my opinion (though it can be otherwise stated as honest, and it might not just be that, but its mine).~

[fishingmachine]

pine is not worth bass fishing from shore. Beaver on the other hand is good.

[BOLDbomber]

pine is not worth bass fishing from shore. Beaver on the other hand is good.

Your partially (note the 1/2 BOLDness) correct.,, Pine is VARY GOOD from shore if your the first on their in the morning, or the last one to leave at night.,, MO

Now if you just go for Trout it can be decent. Wedding Rings, and Castmasters work wonders.,, MO

Now that they have done some shoreline work at Pine lake, I am not sure how the fishing has changed. MO

GOD SPEED

[howardi211]

A few of these lakes come to mind: Beaver, Larson, Phantom & Pine. All have shore access.

Go and pickup some 3inch S E N K O S ! ! ! ! 1 ! and catch some bass.,, You can pitch them around docks, skip them under, and even through the dock itself. I would suggest RED hooks, as they are invisble to the fish. MO

GS

~MO aka my opinion (though it can be otherwise stated as honest, and it might not just be that, but its mine).~

I went with a few buddies to larson, phantom, beaver and pine over the past few weeks. ive only caught trout at pine, and not one single bite on the other 3 lakes. maybe i was doing something wrong and not presenting the lures correctly. I think when summer rolls around and the weather gets better, larson and phantom are going to be hotspots, cant wait for the warmer weather. btw, BOLDbomber, red hooks are invisible to fish? hmmm, good to know, i didnt know that.


its suppose to be good weather this weekend, tight lines!

[tnj8222]

i know who bold bomber really is.

[BOLDbomber]

i know who bold bomber really is.

You are assuming I am a tom foolery.

You sir have been misled

[howardi211]

ended up shore fishing at lake washington a few days ago. Casted a crank bait for a few minutes. Ended up getting a strike around 10 min and fish on! Was not the biggest bass, but it was my first. Small mouth. Thanks for everyones advice! Hopefully more to come in the near future!