Best spots for Walleye fishing in Washington?

[triehl27]

Hey I am wondering where the best places for Walleye fishing are in Washington.

I am thinking that I may have some Vacation time coming up and a friend metioned banks lake I think.

I am totally clueles here, so details would be great thanks.

[fishaholictaz]

The Columbia has huge Walleye Babe Winkleman from tv caught his biggest ever just up from the bridge of the gods.

[kevinb]

Banks is well worth a look,check out Coulee Playland Resort or Steamboat Rock State Park...stay away from
Sunbanks resort.
The Columbia is another excellent option...but you might want to check out a guide service for that,depending
on how much time you have or familiar with the area.

[jens]

I've done well in the Potholes. Head over to MarDon's resort in Othello and they will tip you where the fish are biting-

[Anglinarcher]

Add to that Moses Lake, but only if you have a boat. Different kind of fishing at this lake.

Add also Roosevelt. Depending on the time of year, the fish can be anywhere. Check out the reports before you go, but Hawk Creek, 7 Bays, Hunter, Kettle Falls, well just too many to mention.

[mav186]

You can also add Rufus to the list too. All the above mentioned waters are all great walleye watering holes. Keep in mind that seasons (timing), techniques and water environment can be different from one another depending on where you go. I would recommend reading up as much as you can, calling the local tackle shops with questions, hiring a guide if possible and of course just plain ol’ putting the time in. Also, as I learn different fisheries…I subscribe to the philosophy of sharing as much information as I ask for. I'd be happy to tell you about my expirience at a specific location you have a question about. Hope to see you out there! :bounce:

Mav

[G-Man]

I'll second Banks lake for walleye. I like the size of the lake and the fact that you can find a nice quiet area to fish the majority of the time. I also like the many access and camping areas that the lake has to offer. You'll need a boat to fish most of the areas in Banks lake, so if you don't have a boat you may want to look at some other areas. The raceway below O'Sullivan dam is probably picking up by now as is Soda Lake where the raceway dumps into the lake. Both of these areas can be fished from shore as well as some areas on Moses lake, see the reports that the Jigmiester has posted.

[lonnie197272]

If your looking for numbers and not so much quality then Moses or Potholes are your best bet. If you have a boat Moses usually heats up first and you can pull quite a few from there with the occasional big beast. Its a fairly easy lake to fish just look for shallow flats that transition from rock to mud or sand. There are some sunken rock piles that you have to watch out for. And depending on the time of year those can produce great walleye and smallmouth fishing with a jig or crankbait. There is one south of Conley Park that you are almost guaranteed a fish on every cast just not sure which one it would be walleye or smallmouth. Usually a worm harness and walker work just fine. A jointed rapala trolled in the 5-10 ft range on the flats work pretty good to this seems to produce larger fish.

[kevinb]

Thanks lonnie,good info. I havn't fished Moses in quite sometime but I'm making
plans for a weekend walleye trip. Not completly sure where yet...somewhere on the eastside.

[wmaxwell48]

The confluence of the Snake and Columbia at Tri-cities and from there all the way down the Columbia to Portland are great Walleye producers. Be sure to check out the areas with the locals and look at Northwestwalleye.com for the latest Walleye news.

[kevinb]

The confluence of the Snake and Columbia at Tri-cities and from there all the way down the Columbia to Portland are great Walleye producers. Be sure to check out the areas with the locals and look at Northwestwalleye.com for the latest Walleye news.

Thanks wmaxwell,I go on that site often but can't start an account...it says my e-mail address is invalid#-o

[Misselley]

I have a friend that fishes Rufus a lot and was telling me just yesterday how awesome the walleye fishing is there. Plannign a weekend this summer to go over and have him show us where to find them. Also says Rufus is much more quiet than the potholes. So if you want a quiet fishing weekend that may be a better choice.

[Joe Heater]

Rufus is some of the best scenery you can ask for and it will be a very quiet trip if you go during the middle of the week. You won't have any other boats out there but you are always at the mercy of that dam. If they are moving water it can be great. If they aren't, IMHO you are wasting your time there.

Somebody recommended Tri-Cities and the Snake. If you are going there by yourself do yourself a favor and hire a guide. There aren't numbers there but that is where the state record came from and I know of a 16 and a 14lber that have come out of there this year.

[ruthven78]

over here on the Eastern side, where the Kettle River meets the Columbia is where I hear there is good walley fishing, never fished it myself through

[eustace]

No doubt in my mind for shear numbers from June 1st through early August (or at least mid July) below Little Falls Dam on the Spokane River. I have Never been skunked in June there and about half the time I catch my limit. Most fish there average 12 to 14'' with the occasional one over 20''. You do need a Tribal license from the Spokanes (if you are shore fishing), a lot of people get tickets because they think they are ok fishing from the Island between the spillway side (old river bed) and the powerhouse outlet side. That is Tribal land on that Island, you can fish from and catch them from the far south shore, but, it is trecherous walking. A good river ready boat can get up there and hit some of the less hit holes.

[Kfedka]

No doubt in my mind for shear numbers from June 1st through early August (or at least mid July) below Little Falls Dam on the Spokane River. I have Never been skunked in June there and about half the time I catch my limit. Most fish there average 12 to 14'' with the occasional one over 20''. You do need a Tribal license from the Spokanes (if you are shore fishing), a lot of people get tickets because they think they are ok fishing from the Island between the spillway side (old river bed) and the powerhouse outlet side. That is Tribal land on that Island, you can fish from and catch them from the far south shore, but, it is trecherous walking. A good river ready boat can get up there and hit some of the less hit holes.

How do you fish that part of the river for walley and what do you use, because the current there is strong.

[Hal]

Never been there but Im guessing around a 2 ounce bottom bouncer and a spinner rig...

Hope you read this before my magical disappearing post condition sticks its face in again...

[Joe Heater]

Why do you always have to be negative. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!!!!!! LMAO

[eustace]

No doubt in my mind for shear numbers from June 1st through early August (or at least mid July) below Little Falls Dam on the Spokane River. I have Never been skunked in June there and about half the time I catch my limit. Most fish there average 12 to 14'' with the occasional one over 20''. You do need a Tribal license from the Spokanes (if you are shore fishing), a lot of people get tickets because they think they are ok fishing from the Island between the spillway side (old river bed) and the powerhouse outlet side. That is Tribal land on that Island, you can fish from and catch them from the far south shore, but, it is trecherous walking. A good river ready boat can get up there and hit some of the less hit holes.

How do you fish that part of the river for walley and what do you use, because the current there is strong.

Whatever works best for the conditions. In early June from shore I Lindy rig a nightcrawler and how I fish it depends on how agressive they are, but always in a back eddy. In the evening I my throw a jerkbait w/ wieght and sometimes if the current has calmed down I will wade out to a piont that is a producer from hell. Sometimes drifting a nightcrawler like you would roe for Steelhead is the only thing that works.

From a boat drop shot works the best using a variety of plastics. Early last year black worked best for me then it was chartuse's and finally a solid green or pumpkinseed.

I am out there alot after work in the early summer.