bass fishing in lake whatcom

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Matthew Kennedy on July 16, 2012 at 11:59am

More info than anyone could hope for, Nick. Also, I missed the worm and bobber part. Wouldn't have advocated for more posts had I acknowledged that. Thanks for the time.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Foote on July 16, 2012 at 7:38pm

Please don't feed the trolls.

 

Dana Steiner said:

Bone,

All I got to say, you must be a real MEATHEAD. Must be injecting to many ROIDS to get that bench weight up. Be careful, it will make your penis shrink as you get older.
 
T-bone said:

Must be the spear fisherman. Thats the only viable reason we are not all catching fish on some of these lakes.

Permalink Reply by Jon Koker on July 17, 2012 at 6:37am

I am a very bass/fish conservative concious person...  I very rarely keep any fish and when i do theyre usually the smaller ones, for two reasons. I like to release the larger ones to keep a better fishery and i find the smaller ones taste better. Once again this is very rarely.  I appreciate the advice on whatcom techniques. 

 
NickBerto said:

Again, let me refer to my previous post.

1. If you take a look back at previous posts from this year and years past, there are tons of great information shared on techniques and what the bass do on Lake Whatcom or smallmouth in general.

2. Most people who use night crawlers as a means to catch bass, usually do not do so and practice C&R (catch and release). The problem with using night crawlers or any live bait (though not lawful in most WA waters) and still releasing  is that the fish usually swallows the bait and hook, resulting in a high mortality rate.

And if this still doesn’t make any sense or you can’t find what you are looking for, let me help and hopefully you practice C&R as this is vital to the bass population and we would like to keep it that way.

Smallmouth this time of the year (mid-summer) are all in the post spawn phase in most cases. They can be found scattered all over the lake and doing multiple things depending on the moon phase, water conditions, temperature outside and water, lighting/sun, previous days weather, etc. so saying this spot and this lure are going to work is hard to pin point because it may change from hour to hour and day to day depending on all these variables.

I would start the day shallow and see what the fish are doing using reaction baits and topwater, it allows you to cover water and feel out the fish. If that doesn’t work I would slow down then generally move out until a pattern is established. As far as techniques, it is personal preference this time of the year because fish should be pretty active with the warm water/weather and caught using just about anything (reaction or finesse).

A great depth finder is hard to beat and worth its weight in gold as it will allow you to also find the fish quicker and find schools of bait (in Lake Whatcom, kokanee and perch) and some may be out as much as 100’+ suspended.

And if all this (especially going back to look at previous discussions on this topic) doesn’t help or make sense, I would take up golf…

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on July 17, 2012 at 9:42am

So what you are saying is that you do keep large fish!

Jon Koker said:

I am a very bass/fish conservative concious person...  I very rarely keep any fish and when i do theyre usually the smaller ones, for two reasons. I like to release the larger ones to keep a better fishery and i find the smaller ones taste better. Once again this is very rarely.  I appreciate the advice on whatcom techniques. 

 

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on July 17, 2012 at 10:16am

When most of us hear or see the word "Night Crawler" we get a little suspicious.  Apparently there are some who don't. 

Jon Koker said:

I have been fishing in washington state for over 20 years... for the most part when out on my boats or hiking to lakes or where ever im fishing i usually meet people who are willing to share info to other experienced fishermen.  I am not fishing for info on how to fish so that i may share this info with the entire world... just asking for some advise from one fisherman to another, but apparently that may ruin the fishing for others. This is a fishing forum for people to share stories, pictures, ideas and more... also whats the problem using night crawlers for bait, they work wonders on bass if presented in the right way...

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on July 17, 2012 at 10:31am

Wow, I didn't see this until now.  You use the words "rarely" twice and "usually" once.  Awesome.

Jon Koker said:

I am a very bass/fish conservative concious person...  I very rarely keep any fish and when i do theyre usually the smaller ones, for two reasons. I like to release the larger ones to keep a better fishery and i find the smaller ones taste better. Once again this is very rarely.  I appreciate the advice on whatcom techniques. 

 
NickBerto said:

Again, let me refer to my previous post.

1. If you take a look back at previous posts from this year and years past, there are tons of great information shared on techniques and what the bass do on Lake Whatcom or smallmouth in general.

2. Most people who use night crawlers as a means to catch bass, usually do not do so and practice C&R (catch and release). The problem with using night crawlers or any live bait (though not lawful in most WA waters) and still releasing  is that the fish usually swallows the bait and hook, resulting in a high mortality rate.

And if this still doesn’t make any sense or you can’t find what you are looking for, let me help and hopefully you practice C&R as this is vital to the bass population and we would like to keep it that way.

Smallmouth this time of the year (mid-summer) are all in the post spawn phase in most cases. They can be found scattered all over the lake and doing multiple things depending on the moon phase, water conditions, temperature outside and water, lighting/sun, previous days weather, etc. so saying this spot and this lure are going to work is hard to pin point because it may change from hour to hour and day to day depending on all these variables.

I would start the day shallow and see what the fish are doing using reaction baits and topwater, it allows you to cover water and feel out the fish. If that doesn’t work I would slow down then generally move out until a pattern is established. As far as techniques, it is personal preference this time of the year because fish should be pretty active with the warm water/weather and caught using just about anything (reaction or finesse).

A great depth finder is hard to beat and worth its weight in gold as it will allow you to also find the fish quicker and find schools of bait (in Lake Whatcom, kokanee and perch) and some may be out as much as 100’+ suspended.

And if all this (especially going back to look at previous discussions on this topic) doesn’t help or make sense, I would take up golf…

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on July 17, 2012 at 12:42pm

Did you not see my post?

Mike Bess said:

Wow, I didn't see this until now.  You use the words "rarely" twice and "usually" once.  Awesome.

Jon Koker said:

I am a very bass/fish conservative concious person...  I very rarely keep any fish and when i do theyre usually the smaller ones, for two reasons. I like to release the larger ones to keep a better fishery and i find the smaller ones taste better. Once again this is very rarely.  I appreciate the advice on whatcom techniques. 

 

Permalink Reply by Josh Potter on July 17, 2012 at 3:26pm

He was palying with his "night crawler".

Jon Sessler said:

Did you not see my post?

Mike Bess said:

Wow, I didn't see this until now.  You use the words "rarely" twice and "usually" once.  Awesome.

Jon Koker said:

I am a very bass/fish conservative concious person...  I very rarely keep any fish and when i do theyre usually the smaller ones, for two reasons. I like to release the larger ones to keep a better fishery and i find the smaller ones taste better. Once again this is very rarely.  I appreciate the advice on whatcom techniques. 

 

Permalink Reply by Jon Koker on July 17, 2012 at 4:10pm

 This year I have kept six bass, one of which was 19"...  the others were all 12" and under.  I dont really keep a whole lot of fish... when i fish night crawlers im always sight fishing so its not like im placing a worm on a hook and throwing it out, waiting for a fish to swallow it.  I have never caught a bass, sight fishing the way i do when i use night crawlers, that has swallowed the hook, so you all may relax.  So yes i do keep large fish... once in a while
 
Jon Sessler said:

So what you are saying is that you do keep large fish!

Jon Koker said:

I am a very bass/fish conservative concious person...  I very rarely keep any fish and when i do theyre usually the smaller ones, for two reasons. I like to release the larger ones to keep a better fishery and i find the smaller ones taste better. Once again this is very rarely.  I appreciate the advice on whatcom techniques. 

 

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on July 17, 2012 at 4:41pm

If you want to save a few bucks or not spend time digging up worms, you don't need to use night crawlers while sight fishing.  Bedded smallmouth will just as readily bite a bare hook with a piece of yarn tied to it.

Jon Koker said:

 This year I have kept six bass, one of which was 19"...  the others were all 12" and under.  I dont really keep a whole lot of fish... when i fish night crawlers im always sight fishing so its not like im placing a worm on a hook and throwing it out, waiting for a fish to swallow it.  I have never caught a bass, sight fishing the way i do when i use night crawlers, that has swallowed the hook, so you all may relax.  So yes i do keep large fish... once in a while
 
Jon Sessler said:

So what you are saying is that you do keep large fish!

Jon Koker said:

I am a very bass/fish conservative concious person...  I very rarely keep any fish and when i do theyre usually the smaller ones, for two reasons. I like to release the larger ones to keep a better fishery and i find the smaller ones taste better. Once again this is very rarely.  I appreciate the advice on whatcom techniques. 

 

Permalink Reply by 0koeo85ldc9uf on July 17, 2012 at 4:52pm

Dana, roids don't make your dinger smaller. It makes your balls smaller. So in comparison, your dinger will look bigger next to your smaller balls. Ask me some time, I'll show you as you seem to be interested. It's the damnest thing you have ever seen.

 

T

 

 

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on July 17, 2012 at 10:15pm

You have got to be the biggest idiot on this site.
 
T-bone said:

Dana, roids don't make your dinger smaller. It makes your balls smaller. So in comparison, your dinger will look bigger next to your smaller balls. Ask me some time, I'll show you as you seem to be interested. It's the damnest thing you have ever seen.

 

T

 

 

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