Silver Lake, Cowlitz County

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kimihiko Nakamura on February 26, 2010 at 6:48pm

Sometimes I fish a lake many time and I can't catch the big bass. I go back and back and back to the lake and try many different technique and lure. Many time you hear pro bass angler say keep an open mind. You must try many different area, technique, lure and tactic to keep an open mind. Like I say before many time it is all in the mind. Like many wa fish angler say westside bass do not eat topwater and jerkbait but only the eastside bass. It is all in the mind. If you believe in the mind you will catch the big bass you will catch the big bass if the big bass live in the lake. Do not give up like Ike say many time before. Japanese bass angler very good at keeping open mind. That is why Japan make the best lure and best technique for the US angler to use. And that is why Japan have the real world record largemouth bass now. Keep an open mind and the big bass will come Tdot.

Permalink Reply by Joel Booth on February 26, 2010 at 8:25pm

Craig summed it up pretty good in my opinion. This is the lake that I learned to bass fish on and probably do 90% of my fishing there and I've also noticed it is very easy to overthink. A lot of times your only fishing for a handful of bites especially early in the year and its hard not to keep changing lures and techniques, but many guys who do this come up empty handed. I would suggest throwing the things Craig suggested until you find some water that continually produces for you and then start to experiment with different baits if you want to change it up. If all else fails slow down and work everything over good, most people don't have a lot of luck fishing fast and covering a lot of ground unless you hit it with real good conditions. Overall there are some big fish to catch, but I think the lake is overated. I would rather catch 10 3lb bass in a day than one 5 lber.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Bye on February 26, 2010 at 9:57pm

I love this lake but I havn't caught anything over 2-2.5 pounds. The crappie have been good
and I intend to fish it much more this year,in search of bigger bass. I guess I like the idea that their are some quality bass and just by the grace of god,I just might hook one. I continue to go back here because it always turns into a great family outing,even if we catch dinks all day.
Sorry T,this doesn't answer your question but maybe someone else can jump in.

Permalink Reply by Mark Maderos on February 27, 2010 at 5:15am

T,
As a swimbait thrower, I am not sure if this lake sets up well for the big swimmers. My guess if your going to throw swims, would be to hit it after the spawn. Say May thru the summertime. The trout will have been planted by then and the largies are done doing their spawn and some of the fish will set up on the pad line edges where a big swimbait might entice them. As for me, I love silver lake. It is one of the few lakes on the west side that has such a great pitch/flip bite. Like others have said, you just don't get alot of bites on that lake. I think my best day numbers wise might be 10 to 12 fish in one day. The flip side to this, how about 6 fish for one day, that weighed in at 27lbs. I have seen a number of really good fish brought out of this lake. 8.8 being the biggest I have personally seen. With many in the 5 to 7lb class. Give me a call later in the spring and I would gladly take you out.

mark

Permalink Reply by T Dot on February 27, 2010 at 12:28pm

this lake has always sounded promising to me, but i never really fish it the way i want to. ive always been distracted, or to lazy to get up when im out there. it is really bothersome that i have yet to pull out a quality fish from there. the best ive done for 5 is aboot 12lbs.

ive scored a handful of custom painted baits that im itching to throw there. i tested them all last year to see how they work, only to get bit on them during the latter parts of the season. i whole heartedly believe that one of these baits will attracted a huge bite.

i will definitely take you up on that offer mark, as im trying to rework my schedule this year. hopefully you can get more information on those rods.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on February 27, 2010 at 2:40pm

Dark water and no true underwater vegetation, I think make this a hard lake to fish standard patterns. Most of the lily pads in there look like they are about to die and are yellow no milfoil, or any other subsurface aquatic weeds are there, I thinks this leads up to poor recruitment of both baitfish and bass. The only cover available to them are super shallow brushy shorelines, pilings, some planted structure, and the sickly lilly pads. With no true weeds for the fish and baitfish to hide and the bass to set up on makes this a hard lake for me to figure out. The largest fish I have caught in there have been around rock structure and a submerged log in the middle of a lily pad field. This Lake needs submerged weed beds if this happens in the future this lake has all the other qualities to make it the best, as of right now it is not even close.

Permalink Reply by Chris Blandi on February 27, 2010 at 4:20pm

Sounds like Kevin B and others need to go down there and slay some carp, help bring the weeds back.

Permalink Reply by Kimihiko Nakamura on February 27, 2010 at 5:01pm

A good bass angler tell me one time, a lake that have many grass have many big bass. And he also say that a lake with no grass is a lake stink like the ass. ha ha ha ha!

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on February 27, 2010 at 7:46pm

You like the ginger bushes best?

Craig Taylor said:

Trust me, you are not the only one with these thoughts. I don't know how many people I know who share them with you. I have been fishing Silver lake all my life and it still can humble me any time I go there. You gotta believe me though when I say that with how tough this lake can be, it can be very rewarding too. It is still a true big bass lake.

Fishing Silver lake, especially this time of year, you just gotta stick to your guns and be persistent with what ever you throw. The biggest mistake I ust to make on Silver lake was making 10 cast with one lure then picking up another rod and do that over and over. When tossing a spinnerbait on Silver this time of year, go at least 3 hours throwing it before trying something else. Same thing if flipping. Don't even change colors more than once or twice. It is real easy to "over think" on this lake this time of year. Silver lake is notorious for kicking a anglers ass for 6 hours then end up taking 14 pounds off of one bush late in the day to win early tournaments.

I would recommend just tossing a spinnerbait, Flipping a jig in the red bushes and have a sinko tied on. (all dark colors) No need to have more then that for a tournament, maybe a Texas rig and a crank but I save that stuff for late spring, summer and fall.12-20 pound test on all rods and reels.

If you really want to learn Silver, try fishing it in May-June. It also has a awesome bite Oct-Nov. The frog bite starts early in the season and ends late too, (always a plus!)

Permalink Reply by Chris Blandi on February 27, 2010 at 10:37pm

Let me know when you get in town, we need to go fishin lol.

Kimihiko Nakamura said:

A good bass angler tell me one time, a lake that have many grass have many big bass. And he also say that a lake with no grass is a lake stink like the ass. ha ha ha ha!

Permalink Reply by Kimihiko Nakamura on February 28, 2010 at 12:16pm

Greeting Chris. I like to go fishing with you in US. I must give warning to you. Do not bring your girlfriend or wife I see in your picture. I am very handsome. ha ha ha ha ha

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on February 28, 2010 at 10:44pm

My Japanese friend it sounds like you are very familiar with the grass... ;)

Kimihiko Nakamura said:

A good bass angler tell me one time, a lake that have many grass have many big bass. And he also say that a lake with no grass is a lake stink like the ass. ha ha ha ha!