Hello All,

I am going back to one of our local lakes here in Spokane, WA. Newman to be exact. Apparently the state did a mil-foil treatment and the water is the dirtiest I have ever seen it. I would guess less than a foot of visibility. The lake is pretty shallow with a lot of elephant ear pads and obviously mil-foil around most of the lake. The lake has a lot of docks and there are a couple nice, steep banks that are rocky. The water temp is in the low 70s.

I guess my question is, where should the majority of fish be located? I am pretty new to  bass fishing as well, so any insight will help. I do have a boat if that counts for anything... 

 

 

 

 

I would guess along any rip rap banks, drop offs and in the weeds. Possibly out deep depending on water temp and total depth of the lake.

I would think the bass would be hiding under the pads near the shallower parts of the lake. JMO but I would throw a frog out there or a punching jig to check it out.

Another option would be to try to find the banks and fish them using a weighted texas or Carolina rig.

If you can, try finding the clearest water. Otherwise just flip something that is big, black, and flails/flaps. Or cast a Colorado spinnerbait or chatterbait and real it in slowly along the banks. 

if you have a chatterbait, put on the bulkiest trailer you can find and wake it. I caught my PB in the dead of winter with ice covering half the pond in chocolate milk-colored water doing it

What phase are the bass in right now in WA? Have they spawned yet? Up north where you are they should be spawning or early post spawn which means you can still find them near the bank in shallow coves and pockets.  given the color of the water I would be throwing a dark colored jig or texas rig or throwing a spinner bait in fire tiger.  I took a look at Newman on Navionics...  If I was planning my first trip to that lake I'd be getting ready to skip some docks. If they're not there than I'd hit the salad.

 

thank you for the replies everyone! I posted on here because I was fishing a derby, had no clue where to start, and ended up coming in 2nd with my best 3 weighing 8.7 lbs. The bass are mostly post spawn with a couple spawners and I believe this because the bluegill were on their beds and I did catch one that looked like it hasn't laid yet. We had a huge warming trend the past week and the water was 75-77. I caught several largies in water that was 4 feet or less in really thick grass. I caught them on black and blue jigs and a weightless, texas rigged, black and blue senko in the holes of the pads. I tried docks and only caught smallmouth on them. I did catch a really nice smallie on a squarebill on the rocks though. A lot of guys were catching fish on frogs up against the bank as well! 

i wish i could upload pictures 

 

Great job man!!!  God I love fishing!