WILD BLOG FEATURE: DIY small-lakes bass: options abound!
POSTED Aug. 11, 2009 / 3:45 p.m.

An escape from the woes of terminal bass fisheries is what small lake bassin’ is all about. From swampy ponds to little lakes, the Puget Sound region is teeming with hundreds upon hundreds of bass-laden gems.

Often overlooked by the bulk of bass fisherman, Washington’s small lakes are home to some of the best bass fishing around, and for good reasons: Excellent habitat, ample food resources and fewer fisherman can create some serious potential. And with structure often blatantly obvious and well defined - not to mention readily accessible - small lakes easily accommodate the full spectrum of fishermen and skill levels.

Where?
Great fishing, little pressure and big bass are all great things that you can find within a close drive from home, if you know where to look. Take a big map of your area, close your eyes, and put your finger down on it - chances are you’ve hit water holding bass.

The beauty of small lakes lies in their abundance, meaning ample opportunities only a quick jaunt from home.

As the title “small lakes” implies, I’m not talking about places with sophisticated boat launches ( or even paved parking lots, for that matter). For many of these lakes, you may not even have a gravel boat launch to work with, so a light cartopper or boat on wheels will be your best bet to get in the water. Any 8- to 12-foot boat fitted with an electric motor should serve you well, but don’t look past a canoe or float tube!

Finding small lakes isn’t difficult, but a little creativity can go a long ways. Due to both legal and illegal stockings, largemouth abound in an overwhelming number of bodies of water in the Puget Sound lowlands. To get pointed in the right direction, here are some of my favorite haunts for a small-lake smackdown:

North Sound
The I-5 corridor from Seattle to the Canadian border offers a vast expanse of small bass lakes. Beginning with one of the larger of the “small lakes” (Green Lake) and moving north, you’ll find everything from backyard bogs to full-blown lakes. Don’t expect peace and quiet here, many of these lakes are mere urban potholes with nothing more than a park for access.

Federal Way
Federal Way is home to a large cluster of lakes and ponds, including some of my favorite bass waters in the state. Starting with Fenwick Lake to the north, and bounded by Surprise Lake to the south, these lakes offer some big-fish potential in a mixed rural/urban setting.
 
Olympia
Leaning toward the larger side of the category, the Capitol City is home to a nice array of bassy waters. Centralized in the area south of Lacey, you’ll find a cluster of good-sized lakes known for notoriously big bass.
           
East Side
From the Snohomish River oxbows to Lake Tradition in Issaquah, the eastside lakes offer a diverse mix of habitat. Here you’ll find a bigger choice of lakes set in a more remote setting, replacing docks with logs and lily pads, and houses with trees.

Keep in mind these hardly scratch the surface of our local waters. The real beauty of small lakes lies in the satisfaction of exploring new ponds and lakes, and finding that honey-hole of your own!

When?
Beginning with that first streak of sun that cracks that cumbersome spell of winter, you’ll have a good shot at these small-lake wonders. This is one of my favorite aspects of these lakes: the ability to catch nice fish from springtime clear through the first frosts of fall.
           
Fueled by the rays of water-warming sunshine as early as April, bass are driven by their compulsion to procreate. Look for springtime bass to be making their way towards shallow flats and spawning habitats (such as docks), keying in on staging areas.

As the water temp climbs into the upper 60s, watch for the flip of that magical switch that seems to scream “spawn”. The majority of the fish in these lakes will often spawn within a one-week span, with females coming on earlier followed by lingering males. Fortunately, these small-lake largemouth usually aren’t in any hurry to retreat to their summertime haunts, so keying in on shallow structure can be killer clear through June. With the vast amounts and sizes of small lakes around, you’re apt to find spawning fish all spring long!
           
It’s no secret that summertime bass can be downright aggravating for fisherman. Because they’re spread out throughout a lake in various depths and habitats (not to mention possessing that post-spawn attitude), they are often tougher to find and catch than those same bass in the spring.

To up your odds, focus not only around but a bit outside of the usual springtime haunts. Try the outsides of deep docks, outside weed lines, edges of lily pads (especially those adjacent to deep water), and finally deep logs and similar off-shore habitats such as points.
           
The fall is also a great time to key in on these lakes. While most people have long forgotten bass for the year, these fish have begun a feeding binge in hopes of sufficing them for the winter. Fall fishing doesn‘t necessarily have its own methods, rather, a combination of all others as aggressive bass key in on forage throughout the lake. Don’t hold back in your techniques and areas, because fall bass may be found anywhere from open water up into the shallow stuff. The most critical part of any autumn onslaught is finding the fish, once that happens…lights out!
           
Whether it’s the break of spring, dog days of summer, or bitter fall mornings, play your cards right and you can be into some great fishing for the better part of the year.

How?
Finding fish is only half the battle, and with the plethora of bass gear available to anglers, choosing a bait can be downright overwhelming. Here are my recommendations for baits you can count on to bring em’ in:

Texas Rig
Its no joke, Texas-rigged plastics catch fish. Because of their endless versatility, they’re a small-lake staple and easily my number one go-to bait. Try a Zoom Brush Hog in the natural color patterns, and don’t look past the classic killers such as Berkley Power Worms and Chigger-Craws.
           
For most largemouth purposes in smaller lakes, any arsenal of plastics go great when matched with a 2/0 to 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook, and a 1/8- to ½-ounce bullet weight. When fishing around structure and in tight quarters, pegging your weight can help keep it from working against your bait (i.e. if your worm lands on one side of a stick but the weight slides down the other).

Jigs
Jigs can be a small-lake bass’s worst nightmare. Jigs offer a bulkier profile, greater durability in cover, and a unique action that separates them from the similar Texas rig. Booyah and Strike King jigs from ¼ to ½ ounce in darker colors are a great bet. Tipped with a Yamamoto grub or pork trailer, jigs are big-fish producers and must-have for small lakes.

Senkos
The ever popular Yamamoto Senko is also a great bet. Rigged weightless with a 3/0 hook or wacky-rigged on a live-bait hook, Senkos can be flipped, pitched, and skipped … perfect for any small-lake finesse application. A standard 5-inch Senko in white, green, or brown should always be within reach.

Reaction Baits
Feel like chuckin’ lures? Fire away:whether it be cranks, spinnerbaits, or topwater, you’ll find a place for each when it comes to small lakes.
           
For conventional hard-bodied baits, it’s tough to beat the tried-and-true original floating Rapala for its sheer adaptability. For killer action, twitch it on top with a few short retrieves mixed in, or fish it fast (even ripping it) it to cover water. Try the 4- and 6-inch models, in black/silver or rainbow trout.
           
Spinnerbaits are great when covering different types of water, and give you the ability to fish variable depths, even on the same cast. I like to fish a Terminator or Booyah ¼- to ½-ounce in white, chartreuse/white, or bluegill patterns. Throw them in, along, and away from structure - utilize your ability to cover water when spinnerbait fishing. Mix it up with steady retrieve, stop-and-go, or slow roll to see which works best.
           
Topwater fishing can be a pure addiction, and small lakes are a great place to get that explosive fix. From early summer clear through the fall, you can get into some hot n’ heavy topwater action with only a couple of lures. Walking baits, such as Heddon’s Zara Spook, are a great bet when “walked” around docks, logs, and underwater weed beds.
           
Pads and weeds are in no short supply in small-lake situations, and the opportunity to capitalize on a pad field or weed mat is one no small lake fisherman should turn down. This is frog water, and a great way to indulge on a situation like this is with a Spro frog in the “green tree“, “leopard“, or “night walker“ colors. Tie one on the end of a spool of 50- or 65-pound Power Pro braid and fish them with a slow rhythmic pop over and around surface vegetation for vicious blow-ups. To boost your hookup percentage, don’t forget to give the fish a couple of seconds to get the frog in its mouth and back down into the water … then give it a hook set it will never forget!

Final thoughts: That about covers the basics, and all that’s left to do is get out and fish! With small lakes, great fishing is never out of reach, and can be had even after your daily 9-to-5. Do a little hunting in your area, and you’ll see that a bounty of small lakes and ponds are closer than you think.

Any one of these are great choices for those beginning their bass fishing pursuits, all the way up to tournament veterans. If you haven’t discovered the joy of small-lakes bass fishing, I think it’s about time!

-Chris "Road Coug" Gregersen

NWWC Note: Chris and the rest of the WSU Bass Club will proudly represent the Pacific Northwest at the FLW National Guard College Fishing Western Regional on the California Delta (Sept. 19-21). Follow the Cougars and the entire FLW College Fishing scene at CollegeFishing.com