ProCrafter

Just did another dumb thing yesterday.... While launching the boat, put one foot on the boat and one foot to push off and, with high water time, slipped on some algae and fell into the lake. I was in only up to my knees but the shock of 45 degree water put me off for a few seconds and when I got up I noticed my boat was now 20 or so feet away and movin fast!! with nothing to retrieve it and no one on the lake i was forced to venture along the shoreline....waist deep...through peoples backyards with the waterline into the berry bushes and such grabbing stuff to hold onto was impossible and after trudging 100 yards or so I hopped onto a dock where my boat had drifted to....removed my shoes...got out a towel and started fishin!! I paid my launch fee already and was'nt gonna give it up just for dry clothes!!! Only caught a Perch for the day but for the first time this Spring saw Largemouth cruising the shallows!! Well off to the T-Mobile store to get a replacement phone...(Lone Casualty!)

It should be good as they start filling Moses now so by the end of the month Potholes should be back to full pool and re-warming....just as a pointer, I just ordered 150 Senkos for a planned re-stock after April-May at the "Holes" also Jigs, Texas rigged Craws and Creature baits and gonna work some spinnerbaits and shallow cranks. Largemouth should be transitioning to spawning areas and searching out exposed gravel beds and the Smallies should be setting up along the dam rocks and flats.

I have one couple from another site coming....maybe some from work.

Well im going to Potholes April 28th-30th and staying at Lake Warden Resort...(Campground) they have plenty of spots and they're website is...... www.lakewardenresort.com will post prices when I get them...Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake and the seep lakes are avail. for the fishing...there is motels nearby and restaurants also...have room for non-boater and if more folks go will play it by ear. These fisheries have Largemouth, Smallmouth, Walleye, Crappie, Catfish.....usually takes 25-32 lbs to win two day tournaments here and Moses Lake it had a tourney that took 58.98 for ten fish to win!!! For those who have talked about going to the Potholes area this is the time so come along and check it out.

Okay....its been a couple weeks....anyone in the NW interested?.....Potholes is just a suggestion....we can float some other lakes too, Banks/Roosevelt.....somewhere in Oregon....also open to different time of year.

I joined the Western Bass Club back in 1996 and have never regretted it....the lessons learned and comraderie have been well worth the price of membership.

Nice Work!!

After all the health issues and with the economy keeping me from the Roadtrip..... I was wondering if any Northwest folks would like to get together at Potholes Reservoir the 4 days of April 28th thru the 1st. of May.....Fishing should be good...we caught them good last year...outside of the windstorms!! and I promise to not swamp the boat again!!! I have a resort willing to house us with campsites running around $22-$24 a day...they have a group area and a community hall. I can smoke up a bunch of pork ribs and Chicken if the interest is there. Here is the slideshow from last year. http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t79/larfshmn/?action=view&current=397aac5d.pbw

Just got pics downloaded and got un-packed.....with the low pressure stalled over Montana and spinning bands of Thunderstorms at us it was difficult at best to get out...Me and (Huntfishspokane) got out Saturday the 1st. and well...we really earned the 4 Largemouth we got...Good to see Jake get his first sight fish/ Bed fish opportunity...it was a classic!! Unfortunately for us the excitment was just starting as we started across the lake to get to some Smally areas we encountered heavy swells and whitecap conditions...we came off plane to plow through the sweels when we fell into three large troughs of 10-12 ft!!!! I have never had to....and hope to never again yell the words.."Get the Bailing Bucket and start bailing!!! as the water got up to our knees!!! but the bilge pumps caught up and we made it to the launch OK but minus some sunglasses..beanie and a cracked nose cone for the outboard steering/control access and a new set of plugs.... Sunday was a wind-off with just 4 hrs fishing...Monday had winds in excess of 50 MPH sustained with gusts to 65!!! saw and was in a tackle store when the roof came off an apartment building and crashed into the building!!...Tuesday got down to 28 degrees with hard frost...did get out but only for a few hours due to Thunderstorms!!....Wednesday...same thing as the wind and storms kept chasing us off....Thursday starting to improve as I got four Smallies off rock piles and shelfs....dropshots and Carolina rigs. Largemouth just starting to move around again but super skiddish...even long casts spook them off!! lots of wind damaged trees blocking some of the better bays and pools.....Friday was tough as it was warming and I should have moved to the Smally pattern but stayed looking for cruising, staged Largies and found them ...around 15 different fish just could get none to the boat...broke off three and had two come un buttoned!!! With no fish to take pics of got some sunset stuff and some deer pics... Last day... Saturday....went back with a club member... got back in the dunes and finally seeing interested fish...boated the first...a solid 4 lber on a tube bait...saw several cruisers and was able to cast far enough ahead with a Senko to get a 3 lber to go and then got another on a Senko also a 3..... my partner worked two bed fish for two hours and got a 3-3/4 Smally later in the day....overall for me just 9 fish total but considering the conditions...well worth the trip!!! Thanks to Jake, Glenn and Keri and Bob from my club for coming along!!

I'm starting with a Spinnerbait.....a weightless Senko....a Jig/trailer...and a Texas Rigged Lizard.

A 1995 Tracker TX-17 with a 40 HP Merc EFI. Bought her brand new!! I had wanted one my whole life and vow to buy another one just for the fact that it was so forgiving to a new angler learning the ropes!! Alot of memories from the Ol' Girl!

I have a contin. education class today...grease up the trailer bearings....load up some goodies and in the AM tommorrow hit the road!!! The last hour of work yesterday took sooooooooo loooooonnnnngggggg!!!!

I am fishing alone...let me know which days/day and bring a vest if you have one.

Okay NW folks...Glenn, Keri and Myself are gonna be on "The Holes" me from the 1st. till the 9th...I will be at Wardens Lake Campground they're number is (509) 349-9865 they have some of the lowest rates for the area and a clubhouse...communal firepit showers and even on the shores of lil' Warden Lake!! Blackbirds seranade every morning!!! If you are looking to come out for a day...two or the whole time just post it here and we can coordinate a plan..boats etc..either way we all are going fishin!!! Glenn and Keri post up info on Sportsmens and such....

Spanaway has some monster Smallies and a few 6-7 lb Largemouth.....there is a rockpile directly accross from the launch they should be at 20 ft or so but this repetitive cold front thing might slow them up a bit.

Some friends and I just had a Fish-in on American Lake and had 5 Smallies from 3.2-4.7 LBs on Crankbaits and Footballhead Jigs also as stated Prior, Lake Wa., Lake Sammamish have very nice Smallmouth fishing.

We get ours today....expecting 40-50 MPH winds and 1-3 inches of rain....was supposed to go to Eastern Wa. to fish for 4 days but with a winter storm warning for 1-3ft of snow at Snoqualmie pass and night temps of 20-25 I will not be camping this weekend..... :'( oh just heard...one of the Refineries in Anacortes just blew up killing 3 and injuring 4..... lost lives are bad enough.... and last time this happened in '98 it raised fuel prices 20-30 cents...This Spring is gonna suck!!!

I use 8 lb Izorline green for spinning rod applications and as leader for carolina rigs..... and 12 lb Izorline green for Baitcasters....this year I am going to try venturing into the flourocarbon realm for leaders and with my two baitcasters with braid.

whaaa whaaa whaaaaa Our club has 4 points tourneys One draw tourney One Jack-n-Jill tourney One Team tourney Angler of the year determined by points tourney Couple of the year and Female Angler of the year determined by points tourneys. Big Tournament Stringer Award From all events. Big Stringer Award is accumulated by "Green Slips" turned in throughout the year each angler can turn in one Smallmouth and one Largemouth slip per month, the biggest goes towards their Stringer and the angler with the most weight at years end gets the award. Scales are certified by our Greeter Greenslip Person who also keeps the journal as record. We also have the Member of the Year who is voted in by the Executive Board. The Ambassador of the Year is named by the Ambassador Director....And the Presidents Award is named by the Board President. Our Awards Banquet in January as you can see is quite the Broohaaahaaa!! This is 2008s Angler of the year getting the Progressive award.

Thanks Glenn.... Insurance requirements were adopted years ago in conjunction with BASS requirements which at that time were the standard....most clubs also carry a "Hold Harmless" insurance and release program to protect the organization.... Here is the WAC code for tournaments/contests... http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=232-12-168 and yes that is a certain persons Ranger....cant tell if the picture is grainey or if that rig is just gettin a lil long in the tooth?? :D :D

Washington State manages tournaments by setting a deadline for application, setting a calendar and with one conflict resolution meeting....30+ clubs are given 7 tournament dates/weekends on all bodies of water and sets boat limits and size restrictions. Each application for event has a $24.00 application fee. Boats must be identified by a "Tournament Banner" which is Bright Chartreuse on one side and Blaze Orange on the other.....accepted distance for sportsmenship is 100 ft. from a bannered boat and if a boat should experience a mechanical failure that boat is to turn the banner over to expose the blaze side and any other tourney boat has a duty to stop and render aid. Tournament directors can change size limits at their descretion..... Big lakes have up to 250 boat limits so multiple clubs might share water....the smallest lakes might have 35 boat limit and all permits are species specific....no keeping anything not on the permit...not only DQ but can be cited and fined! Overmanaged??? how about your state? Here is our states website showing currently accepted tournaments and their fisheries... http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fish/contests/2010contests.htm

Each club is allowed 7 Ts a year and with 30+ clubs in the state...thats alot of Ts......some clubs opt to use some of their dates for open events our "Donate" them to Circuits.....or fundraisers.

The AOY has been the thing I have wanted most....each year just adds to the excitement of the chase for AOY!!

Club Trophies....Open Trophies...Tour Trophies... On the Mantle, Wall or where? Show some displays, types of trophies, banners...those big checks!! Here is mine....Mostly Western Bass Club and a few open place stuff.

Here is some more Washington Smallies.... Banks lake 3 & 4-1/4 A pair of Lk. Washington Beauties! A 3.2 from Lk. Roosevelt. And a 4 lber from Banks Lake....love the colors on this one!!