Any suggestions as to where to fish near Monroe? I would like to try river/creek fishing for bass in general because I have never been able to find any creek or river with bass in it other than the Columbia, but I have a boat and will readily fish a lake.

Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, Lake Stevens and Goodwin all have very good smallmouth fishing and aren't to far from Monroe. There are no rivers or creeks with bass on the west side ( except Columbia river ) that I've ever heard of anyways, rivers over here are to cold.

Come to Montana and fish the Flathead river for some 5-6lbers. Also stop in ceour d'alene on the way for huge lake smallies. Never fished bass in Washington but want to.

If you ever head to the east side of the state, Pend Oreille river has tons of smallies. As well as large mouths and a serious pike problem.

I never did get tired of the Columbia....it was so awesome.

Stevens, Goodwin, and Roesiger are good for smaller lakes. Stevens is probably the best of the three of for bigger fish, Goodwin probably the best for numbers. All three have largemouth and some pigs, especially Roesiger.

 

For the two bigger lakes, Sammamish and Washington are great. Also the lower and middle Yakima River are great but that's a fairly decent drive.

Lake Washington or Lake Sammamish

(The fish there are not very finicky and also I would downsize 1 size) 

Lake Sawyer has some big SM as well as LM, the lake record LM is just over 11lbs.

Any suggestions as to where to fish near Monroe? I would like to try river/creek fishing for bass in general because I have never been able to find any creek or river with bass in it other than the Columbia, but I have a boat and will readily fish a lake.

A little late and far away but you should definitely check out the Columbia river in tri cities. Great for big smallies!