Northwest Fishing Reports

My son and I are heading to Banks Lake Saturday and hope to catch some smallies and walleye. I haven't been there for 3 years and we were skunked then. I was hoping someone might have some suggestions as to where to try and what with. I have a very good map of the lake, and it's highlighted with hot spots, but it's always best if someone has current info. I appreciate any insight!o:)

My go to walleye rig is a bottom walker 20" leader and a double whammy with a full night crawler. GOOD LUCK

I got my first walleye just north of the mid lake launch (north of million dollar mile), Seemed to be a hot spot as there were a lot of people there. Also had success with smallmouth at the bridge under Martin? falls, near the entrance to Steamboat Rock state park. I was bank fishing, but if you take your boat under the bridge there is a large cove that holds smallmouth, crappie, perch, and huge carp. Another good smallmouth area is at the east access to the south end of the lake. Again, bank fishing. There is a good article on banks lake on this site, lots of info on locations and tactics. Also, stop at Big Wally's in Coulee City. They have all the current info, and a great tackle selection. The food is pretty good too! Big trout can be taken off the jettys in front of the Coulee City marina.

Smallies should be in to spawn and will be very aggressive. Try cranking with suspending jerk baits, or throwing spinner baits. Jigs and dropshots would also be a good bet.

I fished Banks for the first time this Sunday (4/29/07) and fished for smallmouths with two other guys. We used Rapala DT6 and DT10 in the perch color. We fished the northwest section of "steamboat rock" and the "painted rocks" (the caves) shorelines making sure to hit bottom with the lure. Caught more than 20 fish that way. My partners did better than I that day. It seems that if you fished towards shore with your boat in about 25 feet of water, get your lure down and bang some boulder sized rocks, the bass will strike. Water temps were between 46-51 degrees. Wind was terrible that day but not the fishing. Start early (7:00 am)!

Thanks for the tips guys. It's a solid 2 - 2 1/2 hour drive from here and it will be tough to be on the water by 7:00 since my son's not an early riser (works nights) and he has a 30-minute drive to our place from the wrong direction to pick him up.

I suppose it would be best for me to launch at Steamboat or one of the launches close to there. Last time there I launched from Coulee Playland and only got as far south as the airport. We'll spend more time there Saturday and I have a boat big and fast enough to cover lots of ground if need be.

Don't have any suspending cranks so I'll have to pick some up before we head out. Any other good colors besides perch - shad or crawfish maybe? Got plenty of drop shot stuff and look forward to trying that out while there too!

I'll check back again before we head out!

Hewes,
While bass and walleye are great fun, Banks offers another fish that is often overlooked. That is Carp. Some folks will think I'm crazy for posting this but they likely haven't ever tried fishing for them. They'd fish for chum salmon without a second thought but would never fish for the lowly carp. Sight fishing for them with a fly rod will be the closest thing to bonefishing you'll ever find in the Northwest. Arm yourself some crayfish, brown wooley buggers or wooley worms. The things can be picky as heck at times, which adds fun to the pursuit. I enjoy the stalking part as much as the catching. Hook up a 20 lber and you'll be in for a great fight. The old submerged roadway on the east side of the lake is a great place to start.
Banks also has some really nice rainbows in it.
Have a good trip.
Brian
P.S - I like to fish for chums to =p~

if i were you i would use night crawlers for smallies

Call Big Wally,s Gordon or Rosey will give you todays information.
Bill

You can always ask Dave @ Coulee Playland, he is always knows the best ways to get in to the fish. He also has one of the best tackle stores on the lake, and they have fuel on the water.
http://couleeplayland.com/

Have fun!!

hewesfisher wrote:
I suppose it would be best for me to launch at Steamboat or one of the launches close to there. Last time there I launched from Coulee Playland and only got as far south as the airport. We'll spend more time there Saturday and I have a boat big and fast enough to cover lots of ground if need be.

Northrup Canyon is one of the nicest launches I have seen. It's about 2 miles north of the entrance to Steamboat state park. It's much less crowded than the state park (not that it matters right now). You could also launch out of Coulee City, but the city is starting to charge some outrageous fee for launching this year.

I love Banks.

I agree with you tcb, Northrup Canyon is a nice launch indeed, and we launched there yesterday. Didn't know I needed to pay to launch in addition to hanging my access tag on my mirror. At least they didn't write a citation and I dropped my launch fee before we left.

We proceeded to fish the rocky shoreline along what used to be Devil's Lake. Hooked up with some smallies there but none of any size (maybe 1lb). We then headed down to the south end of Steamboat Rock and tried fishing the flats for walleye with no success at all. Then we moved up to fish the rock walls along Steamboat Rock and didn't get a hit. Lastly, we headed over to the flats off Barker Canyon and dragged worm harnesses and bottom bouncers for walleye. It was mid-afternoon by then, and the wind had come up pretty good creating 2' white capped swells. We trolled around for a good 90 minutes, without a hit, before we decided to call it a day.

It was a beautiful day, clear blue skies and sun, but the fishing could have been better. I'm sure it's my lack of skill and/or technique when it comes to walleye, but I figure I have to keep trying because sooner or later I will hit on the combination that works. Makes for a tough day when you drive 2 1/2 hours one way for just a few fish.

Thanks for your tips guys, I'll go back again and give it another try in the not too distant future. o:)

hewesfisher wrote:
We proceeded to fish the rocky shoreline along what used to be Devil's Lake. Hooked up with some smallies there but none of any size (maybe 1lb). We then headed down to the south end of Steamboat Rock and tried fishing the flats for walleye with no success at all. Then we moved up to fish the rock walls along Steamboat Rock and didn't get a hit. Lastly, we headed over to the flats off Barker Canyon and dragged worm harnesses and bottom bouncers for walleye. It was mid-afternoon by then, and the wind had come up pretty good creating 2' white capped swells. We trolled around for a good 90 minutes, without a hit, before we decided to call it a day.

Do you spy on me!?!? This is almost my basic pattern of fishing on Banks. Good luck next time!

Sorry about not mentioning to pay, it's a state park launch and I buy a yearly pass ($50) and dont think about it.