This spring we had very cold weather until a week or so ago. The lake opened for fishing on April 15, and since that time I have given up the Snake River and been working the lake hard, fishing during the morning or afternoon from my boat, and then wading out front during the evenings. Wading has always been very productive for me for the shore we live on is covered with trees and brush that is up to 6-8 feet deep when the lake is filled in the spring. Here are a few of the results:
This 20" fish was caught wading on April 20. I'd guess its weight at 5 lbs or more. The fish are in wonderful shape and the females have not spawned.
The above fish came out of the bush on the right side of the photo. This is the typical cover I fish while wading:
This fish was 19.5" long and was caught the following evening. As you can see the bait was a swimming Senko rigged weedless.
I took a friend out in the boat on the 25th, and the best I could do was this very fat 19 incher. She came from the outer edge of the trees in a small bull rush patch. I was pitching the Senko to the edge of the cover.
Last evening I caught a large number of fish as they came shallow after the perch and bluegill that are back in the trees. I caught 20 fish in an hour on a small size Chatterbait, with this 20" fish the best one of the evening.
Last night there was a nice sunset as a came off the lake. I noted a pair of jet contrails that produced a V. It must have been in celebration of my victory over the bass.
ORCA's hard working Secretary-Treasurer is coming out here in eight days to sample our Lake Lowell largemouth fishery. I sure hope the weather and the fishing hold up while he's here. He'll have the time of his life if it does. I'll let you know what happens in a couple of weeks.
