Northwest Fishing Reports

Hi, I am still new to fishing in the pacific northwest and I am having trouble catching anything around here.

A friend of mine said Green Lake right now is pretty good. The fishing report a couple weeks ago shows that too, but I have gone four times and caught nothing.

I read that the Fluorescent orange power nuggets work well, as well as the power egg stuff. I started out with rainbow the first two times, but then switched after I got advice.

Still have caught nothing. I have small trout hooks on 6lb test. Its a carolina rig set up cause thats what I read and what I was told, but I still think theres some key part to this that has not been explained.

I mean I even see the trout eating and splashing at bugs on the surface. So they are out there when I fish at about 515 to 8 or so..

It's a tough time of year to target trout on the local lakes. How long of a leader are you using?

The hook begins 23 inches from the swivel, I attached a pic of my setup hopefully.

I suppose I could put more weight on to get it out a bit further. I think those are 1/8 oz weights.

rayzorsan wrote:The hook begins 23 inches from the swivel, I attached a pic of my setup hopefully.

I suppose I could put more weight on to get it out a bit further. I think those are 1/8 oz weights.

23" is a pretty short leader, especially this time of year with the growth of milfoil and other aquatic plants. You might try a 4'-6' leader with a buoyant small corky to help keep your offering off the bottom. Another option would be to set up a dropper weight about three to four feet below a three way swivel with your shorter leader then attached off the mainline to a three way swivel. Most of the guys I see fishing off the bottom with your style of setup are running pretty long leaders. FWIW. Good luck.

Ok, that is a really big deal actually. Makes sense, I will try to get the floating bait to the surface then.

You could also try casting and retrieving kastmaster spoons 1/4oz or size 4-6 panther martin spinners, retrieve as slowly as you can while still keeping action on your lure, use gold or bright colors (chartreuse, pink, orange) when its over cast, and silver and natural colors( green, brown, black, white,) when its bright/ sunny .this will be most effective during the first 2 hours of the day, when the air is cooler, and the trout are actively feeding closer to the surface. As far as power bait goes, change your set up often, change leader lengths, change color of bait, change scents, use different baits entirely, like pink corky and shrimp, or black corky and worm, or bobber/worm. I use the 2 pole endorsement and typically plunk bait on one set up and cast/retrieve lures with the other, after 20 minutes with no action on either rod i change my set ups, until i catch fish, this system works very well.1000s of trout have been caught by me using this exact system.

x2 what jonb said, i like 50/50 kastmasters. only use gold, silver or 50/50. Thomas bouyant spoons work too. Rooster tails in simple colors are a good caster as well, but a little more difficult to fish. I change the hooks out to the Big river sickle style hooks to make them a little less snaggy, especially this late in the year.

From shore I use a rainbow or sherbet powerbait from the bottom on a sliding weight rig. I thread my 6# test mainline through a 3/8 oz cannonball and then tie on a snap swivel that my leader is attached to. I use a 3-4 foot, 4# test,fluorocarbon leader usually, depending on the bottom vegetation, and a red #6 bait hook. If there's stocked trout this rig will catch them. After you cast reel in until you can feel the mild tension caused by the snap swivel meeting the cannonball sinker and wait for the nibbles. If your rod is light enough you'll feel every bump as long as you keep that slight bit of tension.

Alright thanks for all the helpful advice, I will get some kastmaster lures. Having one active pole will make me a little more patient too.

How often do you guys check the line to make sure it hasnt fallen off or been nibbled?

I havent tried fishing in the evening yet. I have just done it at around 515 AM. 1/4 west of the beach swimming area. Near where someone told me its deeper and better fishing, but seems like there is less fish activity than the dock immediately east of the beach.

Try the 65th st dock, also dont restrict your self to one area, if no action after 2 hours pick up your gear and move down the lake a few hundred yards, or wherever looks fishy. Check your plunk rig constantly, you can cast retrieve with one set up and just glance over at your other set up often, check to see if your line is slacked, or if the rod tip is moving, either sign indicates action on the other end.