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Tapps Lake Report
Pierce County, WA

Details

06/04/2013
Smallmouth Bass
Morning
06/05/2013
2
935

Went to Lake Tapps. Sunny skies and flat water. Nice. I wish I could say the same for the bass fishing. Lake Tapps is in that terrible transition period which happens every year about this time. Most of the smallmouth are post spawn, moving out of the shallow areas into deeper waters, but not yet really established in their deep water homes and not actively feeding. Anyway, that's the best answer I can come up with.
I started shallow throwing jigs, drop shots and Stick-0's. Didn't touch a fish. Then went deep. Started off on my favorite off-shore humps and ridges. Never saw a fish on my graph, much less get bit. Obviously they haven't made it that far on their summer migration. Then went to steep drops off shorelines near the spring spawning flats. Finally began marking schools of fish in 21 to 25 ft of water. But they were very reluctant to bite. Had to get right on top of them with a drop shot and 3 inch skulpin and just keep working them. Finally one would bite, but never more than one off the same school. Ended up catching six, with all well under two pounds. Tough fishing.


Comments

Bmastro777
6/5/2013 10:23:00 AM
Thanks for the report. It was tough fishing for me as well. I think your right that the fish are kinda in limbo right now. I still need to get my graph hooked up cause I hate having to drill a hole in my hull for he transducer :( maybe we will get together sometime and fish the lake so you can show me how it's done :)
rickydbasser
6/5/2013 12:38:00 PM
It was tough, but you stuck a real pig largemouth, something in the three years I've been fishing Tapps have yet to do, at any size. I know what you mean. I hate drilling holes in my boat too. But, unfortunately, during the summer and fall months a graph recorder is a necessity. It won't be long and the smallies will be on their summer homes which is off of steep drops in 20 to 25 feet of water, schooling up on stumps and rocky bottom areas. To help you along in where to look for these humps and ledges, simply go to Google Earth, and type in Lake Tapps. The satellite photos are great. The lighter green areas are the shallows, the blue areas the deep parts. When you see a definite line between light green and blue, you've found a steep drop. For example, one of my favorite ridges is straight across from the boat launch, about 3/4 the way across. On Google Earth you can easily see that ridge. The sides of points are other great areas. Hope that helps.
rickydbasser
6/5/2013 12:55:00 PM
I began thinking about what you said about drilling holes for a transducer. One, you can do as I did, mount a transducer on the base of your electric motor, which is what I use while fishing. And if your boat is fiberglass, you can epoxy a transducer to the floor of the hull when operating the big motor. Of course, I have two graph recorders. One to watch while operating the gas motor, and the other while fishing with the electric motor. I don't know. Just a thought.
backwater
6/5/2013 1:31:00 PM
Could you possibly nail glue a block of wood to the boat them drill into it?
Amx
6/5/2013 2:59:00 PM
They have items that glue to the boat, then you screw the transducer to that strip of wood, plastic, or whatever it is. I don't remember what that thing is called or where to find it other than Cabala's, Bass Pro Shops, or one of those stores/internet stores.
muskyhunter
6/6/2013 8:28:00 PM
Ricky as much as you don't wanna do it you gotta do it. Try fishing for muskies. Then your bound to catch some smallies. My son and I went out last night got 2 good smallies in 6-8 ft of water fishing for the toothy fish. Inline spinners man! And they whacked him pretty good. Both were 16 inch fish. The musky was a fiesty 34 inch headshaker. Try shallow dude. Its hard fishing but the smallies are there and the muskies are following them around!. Believe me ..okay? Good luck out there watch out for the lake lice they are everywhere!
rickydbasser
6/7/2013 12:21:00 PM
Muskyhunter, you are encourageable! I'll meet you half way, just reversing your offer. I'll continue fishing for smallmouth, and I know I'm bound to catch another muskie. How's that! :)
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709