dwh4784

I did (and will continue to) fish that point by the camp, I really just meant that I won't go back in their bay. There was quite a bit of activity there when I was there, just would be strange to get too up in their business. Thanks for the tips everyone. Of all the lakes I checked out last year this one had the most drastically different features, but was nice to fish with no boat traffic so hopefully I can figure it out better this year.

I weigh any fish I think is even close to 2lb. I like to document my trips so I can remember weights/methods etc. My scale fits easily in my tackle bag, really no reason not to have a weight on anything. My wife caught a smallmouth last year she proclaimed "huge". I felt a little bad when I burst her bubble with a 13oz scale reading. Still a good fish for her, and that smallie was as black as coal.

I've read all those reports, in fact I'm active on that site and the only Fan lake report from 2016 was from yours truly. That lake just doesn't see much action. It's right next to one of our more well known bass lakes, Eloika lake. But Eloika is shallow and weedy and heavily fished. I grew up fishing shallow weedy lakes, this deeper rocky drop off stuff is brand new for me. I tried some lipless cranks in it and didn't find anything. I hit the narrow spot pretty hard, and the island, finally went back into the shallow weedy shorelines and caught a few fish where I'm comfortable. But they should be elsewhere at least at some point I have to believe.

Yeah the picture is weird, not sure what the line is all about. I think it is two different pictures, one windy day one calm. Edit: Yeah definitely different days you can see it in the grass on the shore, weird. If you click the link I posted there is a button on the right that says Mapping, it goes to topography. I thought I linked directly to it, but it apparently doesn't work like that. The YMCA area is not necessarily closed to fishing, but IMO not going to do it. It's a summer camp, kids all around, paddle boats etc. Still a lake I can kayak fish without boat wakes makes me want to explore it more this year.

This is Fan Lake in Washington. It's a small little lake, but very deep in spots. Just curious what some of the experts here would do. It's a no motor lake so the pressure is light. It gets very limited rainbow trout plants. There's literally ONE dock on the entire lake. I don't count the area around the YMCA camp, I'm not going to go fish in there (that's my imaginary yellow line). I caught two bass off of that one dock actually including the one in my avatar. It has a small island in the deep area, and a narrow channel that leads to a second section that is very shallow and weedy. Most of the fishing reports are for LM bass, but some from a few years back mention catching nice smallies in there as well. I circled in red the spots where I caught fish my only time out there. In blue I circled the island and a bay with a small stream coming into it that just seems like it should hold fish but what do I know. In the middle of that bay in ~20' of water is a large tree trunk cut off flush about 5' below the surface, no electronics so I'm not sure what else lurks below. Also here is a link to the topographic map. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/washington/409/ My bad, this link doesn't go directly to the topo map, but if you click the "Mapping" button it takes you there.

That looks like these nasty slimy things they catch up here they call burbot. This time of year you see a lot of them caught.

It would be really cool to see a team like the Falcons take it at this point. Although it's tough to root against Rodgers and GB at the same time. Even as a Seahawks fan I'm glad they're out. That team has ridden on their defensive reputation for the last two years, and finally been ripped open as the overrated reflection they are especially combined with the inconsistent and down trending offensive play. I'm not a Steelers or Patriots fan, and normally can't even stay awake through an AFC playoff game (today being no exception, yay field goals and Alex Smith) so go NFC winner whoever you are!

The fishing section at the one near me has had less inventory every time I've went in the last few years. I did get a good deal on a pair of rod/reel combos last year on clearance, occasionally I've scored some nice stuff that way. However I recently had a bad experience with their online black Friday sale apparently having next to zero inventory of an item they advertised. I've definitely been shying away from them lately. I have a local hardware store that has started carrying fishing stuff and some of the guys there are avid bass fishermen so they're bringing in some great stuff. It's the opposite of Cabelas, every time I go in there I waste a bunch of time looking at the new stuff and chatting with the employees that actually know what they're talking about!

As a Spokanite I resemble that...maybe you meant to ask Jake from State Farm what he was wearing?

No words is right. My thoughts are with you.

White Slug-Go used to be my mainstay, but haven't used one in years now. Fishing from a kayak I don't know that I'd go back to it anyway, so many of the fish I caught were on bites that I saw rather than felt. Nothing quite like watching that bright white bait twitch all over the place and all of a sudden it just disappears and you set the hook instantly.

I figured that out years ago when I had a 1971 VW Bus that someone had painted with roll on house paint, and I decided to give it some class by sanding all of that off (that the rain hadn't washed away) and rattle canning it instead (with primer and clear coat at least). Every local hardware store sold that exact same Rustoleum paint can for $4-$5 until I stopped by the local "mom and pop" and they had it on the shelf for $8.99. I've never been back, for anything, and never will.

There's a local spot with great bank access that just gets absolutely trashed. Last time I was there I saw among other things, a Strike King spinnerbait package someone opened and tossed on the ground. An empty 32oz bottle of white grape juice. Two family size cans of corn. Countless styrofoam worm containers. Line everywhere. The best was a grocery sack full of trash someone tied about 6' up in a tree, but hey at least they bagged it up I guess. It's embarrassing to even fish there because of what people do. I do pick some of it up, but some of it is just too ridiculous. Another favorite is a lake that has selective gear rules, no bait or barbed hooks. Funny how every time I stop by there you can't help but notice worm containers and powerbait all over the ground. Problem is there is zero enforcement around here. I've fished my entire life and never once had my gear or license checked in Washington. Twice in Idaho I've been stopped, once they even came on the boat and checked every livewell and compartment because they saw we came out of a catch and release only lake. I wish Washington actually cared that much.

This is easy for me, even though I don't catch beasts like some of you. It was September 1st, I'd planned on getting up early but promised my son we could "camp out" on the living room floor in our sleeping bags that night...so I slept like crap and woke up at 5am to ridiculous winds. I started loading up and finally just decided to forget it I was tired and sore and the wind was insane. Around 11am I started feeling antsy and decided what the heck I'd already planned on fishing and had everything rigged up, so loaded up and headed out. When I got to the lake it was white capping and as I put the kayak in a guy who was playing fetch with his dogs at the launch asked me genuinely if I was sure that was a good idea. I told him I'd be fine, the wind was blowing in a direction that I was confident I could beach myself in the lily pads and be OK. As I paddled out getting soaked I still wondered about my decision making though. So I finally make it to the thick stuff and drop the anchor to try and stay put. First fish came right away on a Senko, dink. Followed shortly after by a 3lb2oz on my go-to white Live Target mouse, then another 2lb5oz on the mouse and finally a 2lb11oz on a Whopper Plopper. This was the best multi-fish day I had all year even though I was basically blown off the lake within two hours even with my anchor dragging bottom.

My favorite top water is a white Live Target field mouse. Love everything about that thing. I also like a Devil's Horse on windy days. That's gotta be the oldest, most chewed up lure in my box, it was my dad's actually.

Other than Houston, any of the road teams could win. I'd give GB the best shot, followed by the Steelers, Seahawks a distant third since they have been so bad after a good win.

I think that comes from the media (especially CBS and ESPN) absolutely loving the SEC for so long. Every year their teams pack the preseason top ten rankings then don't live up to the hype. Alabama being the exception to the rule.

Wow! Couldn't ask for a better championship game.

My little man last summer, he went out in the kayak with me a couple times as well.

The refs were definitely wearing their 12's last night.

They got my order today also. Just need to figure out which style of hooks for them, so many options!

My van's thermometer read -2 on my way to work this morning. This winter has been cold up here! It was 18 outside and sunny yesterday and I was walking around feeling like it was summer.

You've got me sold as well. What's the difference between Pro and Laminate tubes? I really like the look of the Summer Craw color for where I fish for smallies, it only comes in the Laminate style though.

Alabama already destroyed USC this year, and Washington won the Pac-12. Not much you can do about the selection there. Washington played Alabama fairly tight, a pick 6 and 68 yard TD run blew it open other than that the game was close. Ohio State getting shellacked by Clemson was a bit of a shocker though. This year shows the need for an expanded playoff if anything. USC, Penn State, LSU and Oklahoma all certainly looked better than Washington and Ohio State this weekend. Then again none of those teams played Alabama or Clemson...

UW played them closer than I expected, if not for a pick 6 and a 68 yard TD run they played a 3 point game against each other for the rest of the game. Clemson roasted the Big Ten's flag bearer, which to me was hilarious after they claimed conference dominance all year (and Michigan already lost their bowl game as well). I just think Alabama's defense is too good for them to lose barring a fluke, and even though Hurts has been playing like a freshman lately he's still the best QB I can ever recall them having in recent memory. They could go several more seasons without losing a game if he comes back better next year.