by Bob Johansen, July 09, 2007

NUMEROUS SMALL LAKES, SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE NORTHWEST AND INACCESSIBLE TO THE BIG BOAT CROWD, CAN PROVIDE SOLITUDE ANGLING OPPORTUNITIES AND QUITE OFTEN -- LUNKER BASS !

During the past 25 - 35 years the popularity of bass fishing, nation wide, has grown by leaps and bounds. Here in the great Northwest, with salmon and steelhead populations on the decline, it has also become a favorite piscatorial pursuit of many avid anglers. Many bass
clubs have been organized all over the Northwest and club tournaments are scheduled on most of the large bodies of water almost every weekend during the bassin' season.

The ultimate goal for most serious bass anglers is to hook and land a bragging size fish. In Washington and Oregon, a five pound largemouth or a four pound smallmouth are generally the minimum size considered to be a trophy class bass. Unfortunately, catching a bass of that size is a goal that eludes many anglers.

So where does an angler go to avoid the crowded tournament waters with all the big noisy, powerful and fast boats and enjoy some quiet, peaceful bass fishing with a very good chance to land a lunker? Perhaps the solution is small lakes. These small bodies of water, mostly inaccessible to the big boat fisherman, can provide, not only solitude, but also some exciting bass fishing.

Small lakes don't have to mean undersized bass either. Many of these little lakes contain some real lunker bass in the five, six and even seven pound class. As an example, Son
Donald caught an eight pound-six ounce largemouth from a lake with less than 75 surface acres with no launching ramp for a trailered boat. He was fishing from a canoe And, I once caught an eight pound-four ounce largemouth from another small lake of similar size while casting from the shoreline. Both of these fish were weighed on certified scales and both were "Sports Afield's" best of species from Washington State -- different years, of course.

Most of Washington State's little lakes receive very little boat traffic or fishing pressure following the "opening day" crowd that show up to fish for the planted, hatchery raised rainbow trout. These mini-waters often provide ol' bigmouth with plenty of his favorite
food items. Schools of small sunfish, perch, crappie, sculpin and other fish are usually plentiful. Add to this, the numerous insects, crawfish, bullfrogs, an occasional mouse, baby duck or snake and it's easy to see that the hefty bass in small bodies of water can dine like the kings they are.
Big bass are virtually eating machines. They will hit a wide variety of lures but trophy bass don't attain their "lunker" status by being stupid. The key to fooling them lies in the proper lure selection and a near perfect presentation. Big bass are also basically lazy. They
don't like expending energy chasing food unless they have a good chance of catching it.

So, what are the best lures for catching small lake bass? A bass is a bass, is a bass. I've fished for bass all over Washington State for many years and have found that when it comes to enticements, these small pond bass like much the same lures as their big water cousins. Quarter ounce jigs and spinnerbaits are almost always effective. The best color seems to be black. Black worms and lizards, rigged Texas style are also a good bet. Top water lures, like floating minnows and hula poppers also work well and can provoke exciting surface strikes.

Usually, I try to make my lure presentation as quiet as possible although at times, I think a little splash attracts the bass. For instance, a jig cast very close to the shoreline and then hopped along the bottom into deeper water could fool ol' minnow breath into thinkingthat he had just found a frog for lunch. A jig pulled slowly off a dock and allowed to drop straight down with a soft splash is great way to entice a strike from ol’ bigmouth hiding in ambush.

Stealth is always an important factor when fishing for bass anywhere. It is even more critical when fishing small waters. Always be careful when moving paddles or tackle boxes around in the boat. A carpeted floor is always a good idea. Yes, you can add a piece of discarded carpet to the bottom of your small boat. Bass hatched and raised in a small water environment are especially aware of what is happening around them. They are aware of the predators like the blue heron as he quietly wades the shallows or the mink or otter frolicking along the shoreline.

Bass are also aware of the ducks on their lake and more than one baby duck has ended up as a tasty meal for ol' Jaws. One of the things I usually look for during the spring is how many babies are following mama duck. A small brood of only one or two babies could indicate that at least a few lunker bass live in the lake. A large brood of ten or twelve babies
might suggest that not many large bass are present.

"Would be bass anglers," who have avoided the sport because they felt they could not afford to spend $20,000 to $30,000 (or more) for a high performance bass boat should take heart. Quality bass fishing is available in scores of small lakes throughout the Northwest where you
couldn't launch a big bass rig if you had one.

So, what type of water craft do we need for fishing these small bodies of water? The selection could be almost anything from Belly Boats, (float tubes) and other inflatables to Jon Boats, Bantam Boats, canoes and other light weight hand carried craft. The final choice will depend largely on individual preference and what type of waters you intend to fish.

My personal preference for a small lake craft is one that is versatile enough to handle any small lake that is under a hundred surface acres, and even some of the larger "mid-sized" lakes. It should be light enough to launch and load alone. I would never want to need help
with launching or loading. Many bass anglers enjoy fishing alone at times. Your craft should also be tough enough to withstand the rigors of dragging it down steep banks or through thick brush to rough launch sites.

Aluminum boats are light and tough, but personally, I find them too cold and too noisy. The craft I have used for all around fishing small bodies of water all over the state is a 16 foot fiberglass canoe. This tough little craft weighs only 70 pounds and has served me well on hundreds of fishing trips. Many large bass have came over the gunwale -- only to pass back over to freedom after being weighed, measured and thanked for the memories.

I "knock on wood" as I write, “It has never even come close to tipping over.” All canoes are not created equal. A broad, flat bottomed canoe with a keel is stable, carries a great load, tracks well and is a good choice for fishermen. Anglers who fish alone at times should also select a model with seats that allow them to sit on the front seat and canoe "backwards." By sitting in the front seat and facing aft, you will have a much better center of gravity. Even stable canoes can get a bit squirrely when you paddle alone from the back seat. While fishing alone in the canoe, I even did some fishing while standing. I don’t recommend this to beginners however.

The only times I feel uneasy in a canoe is on those rare occasions when I fish with a rookie canoeist. Most beginners have a tremendous tendency to over compensate for every little wiggle of the boat.

Most serious bass anglers diligently practice catch and release. Small lake bass should not be kept for eating. With few exceptions, the populations are too fragile to withstand the pressure of intelligent bass fishing. If it's golden brown fish filets you want, plan to catch some of the more prolific perch, crappie or bluegill. They are excellent table fare and can withstand a lot of fishing pressure.

If you plan to detain Mrs. Bass briefly for measuring, weighing or photographing, carry an old cooler partially filled with fresh, clean water in your craft. She will be much more comfortable waiting in there while you ready your camera or scale -- And, her chances of survival upon release will be greatly enhanced.

Small shallow lakes are the first to warm up in the early spring. Many are open to year around angling and can provide exciting bass fishing as early as March. Check a current copy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's fishing pamphlet to find which lakes are open to fishing year around and those lakes that have special bass regulations. Most do have a slot limit.

It is not my intent to put unreasonable fishing pressure on any small lake by mentioning names on any web site as widely viewed as "washingtonlakes.com." I will however, mention Terry Rudnick's excellent fishing guide "Washington Fishing" published by Foghorn Press. Terry is a skilled angler of all fish species and a talented outdoor writer. His book lists more than 800 of Washington's lakes and reservoirs, how to get there and what you can expect to catch.

So, if you are tired of crowded launch ramps, water skiers and noisy hotrodders, why not try some of Washington's small lakes. You just might hook up with a potbellied pole bender -- And, if you do, why not consider releasing her. Maybe you or I or some other lucky angler can experience the joy of hooking her again, or maybe one of her hefty offspring in a few years.