South Sound Bass Fishing

Hello everyone,

My name is Jeff, I'm new to the site. I've lived here in the south sound for about 2 years. I have bass fished a couple spots here and there with some success and not so much success with others. I'm still trying to figure out these PNW bass. They seem for the most part to act like any LMB from anywhere else in the states, so I'm just assuming my skills are a little rusty and I need more practice. 

I am posting to ask about where to go fishing in the south sound, particularly areas close to JBLM. I have a little jon boat so I'm not comfortable on huge bodies of water with a ton of traffic on them. Early morning around sunrise is when I most often go out.

My father is in town and I want to hook him in to some of these beautiful lunkers I know exist up here, but I just cant seem to find them. We fished Long Lake in Thurston County the day after 4th of July in the morning before church with no luck at all except a couple perch and rock bass after we moved into the deeper water because we didnt even see any fish or have any bites around any docks or at the northern end through the little canal. I was under the impression Long Lake is an excellent bass lake, but I didnt even catch any little bass. I am confident enough in my skills that I can at the very least catch a couple little bass even on my worse days. 

I come to you guys for any tips/suggestions/hints/knowledge or anything yall might have that can help for bass fishing in the PNW in general, and more specifically any places around JBLM (Lacey to Tacoma).

Thanks in advance for any help.

-Jeff