i am heading back over this year when the catfish bite is on and would really love some crappie tips to use while i am over there....catfish is nice but i love my crappie more..
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i am heading back over this year when the catfish bite is on and would really love some crappie tips to use while i am over there....catfish is nice but i love my crappie more..
All of the creeks mouths that dump into the river in that area hold crappies almost year round. The best places I've found around the Paulouse are out in front of the bluff that's on your left side (west) as you head up river from the park. In early spring (April to mid May out there) you will find huge schools near the bluff and right up against it. Sometimes the fish can be 4 to 6 feet down suspended over 15 - 30 feet of water. Just cruise around that area and watch your depthfinder. They can be "out in the middle over nowhere" there...meaning they can be 100 yards off that bluff. You have to crusie to find them but when you do find them they bite great. As the water warms they will head in closer to the bluff and the cover just north of it. They will spawn all along that west bank in water that's 2-5' deep.
Across the river at the marina is great area as well. From late May though Fall you can catch true slabs around those docks. Night time is best for the slabs. They will average 10-12 inches but there will be a few going 14-16" and weighting about 1.5. lbs. Check out a map and look for areas where those little creeks dump in...they are killer for slabs and you'll have them all to yourself. I've found some really nice holes below and above the dam.
All white jigs and anything with chartreuse in it seems to work great. When I fish the bluffs I set a float 4-6 feet above a jig and slow troll it right against the bluff face. We nail walleye, cats, and slabs that way. In the coves we tightline jigs along rocks or docks until we find the depth they are using. Don't be afraid to use spinnerbaits, crankbaits, grubs, etc for the these guys. There are a lot of smaller fish to weed through and sometimes the larger lures are the ticket to get to the slabs out there.
wow that is some great info man i really appriciate it, sometimes it is hard to get people to share info like that so really thank you..we had a blast last year when the cat fish were biting but only got half way up river because the boat we had was a prop, this year i have a small jet so it will be a whole new expierence going into new teritory..and now that i can chase both i am super excited. my fishin buddie is a walley nut so i am sure we will do a little of that to..thanks again
Hey SlabKing,
Good to hear from you again. Thanx for the info. I believe going up river from the marina the left side is actually NE, not west, but I could be wrong. I'll be working the left side regardless. Do you use bait on your jigs? When is the earliest a guy should take a trip over there to do some catching? If I had to go fshing in Lake Union right now, what would be the best areas and tactics to try? Hey, update your webpage and add some pics of your successes. Mere mortals would like to see some slabs.
Dave, thanx for bringing this board to life again. Keep us posted when you head over. I've heard the walleye fishing there can be outrageous, but you can lose a lot of gear if you're bottom bouncing.
we actually did get acouple nice walley while we where catfishing in the shallows on the paulouse....it was a nice surprise. as soon as i here the catfish bite is picking up i will head over i think we are going to stay 4 or 5 days this time, cant wait it is one of my favorite trips of the year.
Can't wait for it again this year too. My dad and I are heading there again this year probably in mid June for the catfish/walleye, and crappie if we can find them. Not sure if we'll try camping for a few days instead of driving over there from Kennewick where I live everyday yet.
slabking what is the best time to go to the brownlee reservoir ? it's an 8 hr drive from everett have never been there.but sure like to fish it this spring.
I've never been there but I've read reports on it last year on the Oregon fishing site. Check out ifish.net, there's plenty of threads on their forum board about Brownlee and the crappie. From what I've read it really depends on how much water is being let out of the dam above it. The guide for down there at Brownlee also writes reports and gives info on some of the areas on there in the panfish section of the website.
i cant wait for the bite to pick up over there... in the mean time i have been sturgeon fishin and have got some nice ones off of the columbis out by stevenson. if i can figure it out i can post a few pics...i think this is going to be a great year.
SlabKing:
Brand new, signed on late last night. Really appreciate all the great info. Been an avid salmon chaser, and sometimes catcher, the last 20 years. Grew up down Southern Idaho in the 50s, and over in Montana in the 60s, so have had many great days creel'n my share of beautiful trout. Caught some wonderful "Crappie" in both areas.
Have you any knowledge of "slabs" of any significant size down here on the Columbia River in Southwest Washington? Or do I just have to pack it al up and head east to the Snake? I don't have access to a boat, and am wondering if there are still areas (ponds, gravel pits, sloughs) that are productive without a water vehicle. I'll probably have to drive most of the day to find such places, and am willing to do so.
SlabKing:
did you happen to know a big beautiful fish'n fool named Kevin Duckworth? he used to fish over at Brownlee Res. with some friends of mine.
unfortunately, that was at a time when I couldn't/wouldn't allow myself to get away and do that sort of fun stuff. Then again, I was pretty
busy over here on the Westside, catch'n some hardfight'n Nooks & Cohos back then.
Is it too early in the year to go chasing after (and expecting to catch) big-bad-slabs, anywhere along the Columbia or in southern Washington?
Times is hard, and i'd love to share some o' this fine table fare with my girls.
Poparoddy
I have caught some nice ones at silver lake near mount sain helens, swaffords pond and at carlisle lake near onalaska. there out there but those are the three i would go to for bank fishin. i have also had great luck at the cosmos off of highway 12 before morton. when the water is flowing in there at the inlet you get schools the hang in the bends as the water swings through.
Dave:
where are you located? where do you live?
i know Lewis County quite well, all the way to Packwood & Randle, but i don't recall the term "the cosmos" off Highway 12, before Morton. I know Onanlaska, but not Carlisle Lake, unless that's the name of the little pond right near the high school.
i know, but haven't fished, Mayfield. heaard there are some big "Tiger" musky in that water, but that they are rarely caught. and have done real good for nice-sized trout, "carryovers", some years back on Riffe Lake.
Does what you refer to as "the cosmos" have anything to do with, what was then, the new dam, upstream of Riffe, on the Cowlitz? they were just starting that project when my travels up there started to wane...because i found out i could catch big salmon right here in my backyard (much closer).
i enjoy and get excited hearing from you and any other serious fish'n nut. thanx for gett'n back at me.
yeah that little mill pond behind the store there in onalaska is carlisle. i have gotten some real nice crappie there a few times that i have fished it. we used to fish it for the brown bull head catfish at night and while playing with a bobber we got into a school of crappie and caught fish for acouple hrs. the cosmos is where the water runs into riffe lake theres a camp ground and a fishing bridge if you go far enough out. i stop by the first bridge and walk along the "stream" and fish all the bends and have gotten some real nice crappie and blue gil usually later in the year ofcourse. i got into crappie about 5 years ago and absolutely love it but i am also allways looking for new places. i live up in bonney lake but i drive there allot to fish.
Hey Popparoddy,
Silver Lake near Mossyrock is a great place for crappie even bank fishing. The good news is that you can catch a bunch of crappie. The bad news is they are really small.
Potholes has some good crappie fishing in Lind Coulee during the spawn. Wait until dark and throw out a jig under a lighted bobber near the reed by the bank. Bingo!!!!
Lyons Ferry has some real slabs and bonus catches of walleye and catfish.
Brownlee Reservoir is my favorite place to crappie fish. The fish can be big and are dumb enough even I can catch them.
Kahlotus Lake used to be a wonderful crappie/bluegill fishery, but last time I went past there it was dried up.
Hope this helps. Good luck everyone and keep your eyes open for a Slabking sighting as he is the real master here.
thanx for all the help. this sure seems like a genuinely generous and well-intended group.
some of those places sound familiar (so. of Moses Lake) usually blow'n and pretty barren.
now, from what you're saying, that Brownlee area gives me a real good feeling. if i'm not mistaken, that's a little more forested, right? having grown up in Montana, i do appreciate gett'n to fish in fresher waters and some mighty p-u-r-d-y places. we've caught "spiney-rays" (crappie, bluegill, and largemouth) in some real clear water and deep gravel pit ponds.
Guppy:
what part of Washington are you in? I'm in So-West, Vancouver.
The best time to be there in my opinion is middle of April all thru May. After those dates it will still be good but it gets supper hot on the Brownlee after those dates. The dates I mentioned should put you into some real nice keepers(11 to 12" range) plus the spawn is in full swing.
I would say your best bet is to travel from your home to Richland, Oregon. Richland is on the Powder River arm of the Snake and has some excellent fishing for Bass and Crappie. Richland has a nice marina and boat ramp .After you launch you can fish numerous coves on the Power all the way down to the Brownlee. When you get to the Brownlee fish north or south both ways are good.
If your camping out I think there are some camping spots in the marina if your moteling it there is a nice one in Richland.
Any more info you need contact me. I fish and have fished this reservoir for 30 years
Hopr this helps ya out..
Sorry but you won't find forest on the Brownlee you will find lots of sagebrush and a few willows and in some draws lots of blackberry bushes but don't let that stop ya come on over I think you'll like the fishing
you forgot to mention the rattlesnakes and black widow spiders in Richland in Hewitt Park. There's a place for you to camp either pitch a tent or bring your RVs also in the town there is a RV park that you can stay there also. I am a local resident of Richland, Oregon. before anybody comes over to Brownlee make sure that you check the water level is we do have drawdowns but it is usually up in the spring but check anyway. do not forget the other two impoundments below Brownlee damn Oxbow and Hill's Canyon are excellent crappie fishing also there are campgrounds on all these impoundments.Quote:
Originally Posted by fishnfool
Thanx, Snake! really appreciate the info and tips...as for the dates provided, that's always a real busy time for me...but maybe I can catch it a little later...Thanx, again
please note that the Brownlee pool has been drained you cannot launch a boat at Hewitt Park and I would imagine it would be the same at the other launchers on Brownlee Reservoir. I have posted some pictures of Hewitt Park if you'd like to take a look on my website on the main page I will keep you updated when they bring the water back up. Supposedly, the in the April we are just letting everyone know in our neighboring states if they are plan on coming over also you can call me my phone number is on the website. Or you could send me a personal PM here to find out more details is the next few weeks go by is soon as they start putting water back into Brownlee or bring it back up, I will immediately notify you. Please keep checking our website also for updates. 3-5-11
Snake:
thanx for the info regarding Brownlee, but it raises a question. With the water drawn waaayyyyy down, doesn't that reduce the size of the area, making it a bit easier to "locate" the slabs we are seeking? less water=more concentrated fish? or can one even get down to where the water line is now? i'm totally "unfamiliar" with the area, so please forgive if my thinking is way off mark. Are the fish even active this time of year, if the water was up?
thanx, again~Poparoddy
Thanks for the info. We have been putting in at Morgan Creek and so far had no problems however if it goes much lower won't be able to do that. Have not been there for ten days or so could be one can't get in there now.
Thanks again will keep checking for more info from you....
Tight lines to ya
Howdy poparoddy . The area is so big even with the water down still would be hard to find the concentrations unless you know the reservoir. There are some places one can put a small boat in other than the improved ramps buttttttttt if the water goes to low even these unimproved places are questionable.
I doubt it will stay down to long(reservoir) there is a lot of run off to come so right now they are creating space for the extra water. Most years it will be full to the brim by Memorial Day. Thats a long time yet right? Heres the deal to do that they have to start backing things up around a month in advance so there is usually plenty of water to fish by mid April.
"Snake River" can tell you much more than I can its his Home........
Have a nice day
Thank's a heap, Fool!!! You guys are fantastic. Are 1 to 2 lb. slabs a rarity?
I'd bet that hhat would be some unforgettable eaten, and are there any big
perch anywhere? over there? Are there good eaten bass, anywhere? The
bigger bas and perch that I've caught over here on the West side, are from
some pretty brackish water. I've found tiny little worms (parasites) under
the skin, in the meat. Talked to the biologists about it, and they said "don't
worry, they'll cook to disappearance, so you'll never even know they were
there"; but I'm just wondering how common that is. We really like eat on
some good fish...
Thanx to all of you for all your help and info~Poparoddy
You'll find those worms in any of the fish. I've seen them in trout also, just have to make sure you cook them up right! I was going to hit up Moses Lake today for some big perch but got out of bed too late, you may want to try that out if you're in search of some perch that are decent sized. I'm hoping tomorrow I might be able to get up there for them.
if you didn't know all fish have warms. That's why I cooked them . Well done.Quote:
Originally Posted by poparoddy
yes it does reduce the size of Brownlee, but you have a big problem. Where are you going to launch your boat. If you guys are able to launch a boat in Brownlee, please pass it on to other people on this post. I do not know of one that is also in Idaho and in Oregon on Brownlee reservoir.Quote:
Originally Posted by poparoddy
yes you can find some one and two lb slabs but mostly in the early spring and yes they are very good on the table. All the bass I have caught on the Brownlee are good eating and some do have worms but it has been my experience that we do not find many fish with worms. If and when we do they are most often found in the intestines which is no problem they go in the trash right? I have never seen a worm cooked to a disappearing state and yes you will know they were there cuz you seen them.
One of the best times to solve the worm problem at least here is to fish early spring say up until June . Fish caught then are some of the best eating you can get. No brackish water over here so come on over and enjoy.
Keep a tight line
depends on the size of your boat. If you have a small boat that you can launch from a unimproved ramp Morgan Creek, The Cemetery, and the Swede's would be some places to look. Oregon side by the way. If your into pontoon boats you can launch just about any where you can hump it down to the water. They limit the area you can fish but you can get to some good crappie in one. Watch out for the wind if it catches you to far from shore in a pontoon boat you may have a long way to paddle back..
Go for it
Just a heads up for any one considering a crappie trip to the Brownlee Reservoir this month and part of next. In a post couple of days ago I stated that it was still possible to put a boat in even tho the water has dropped. Sorry that picture has changed. In their infinite wisdom and their ability to predict the weather for the next six months Idaho Power and the U.S. Corp of Engineers has dropped the reservoir to one of the lowest levels I have ever seen. No public notice no information nothing they just did it. Never mind that it will most likely kill fish(bass,crappie, catfish, etc).
Seems sort of funny in a sadistic way. I'm saying that because frequently Idaho Power and the Corps do a big public relation gig they rattle on and on about how much they value the sportsman, how much they spend on habitat for fish and wildlife, how much they value the input from recreational folks and sportsman. Seems funny to me they spend thousands on the hype then turn around and do the exact opposite. Aw well its the times we live in. The $$$ rules everything
Brownlee is down 43 feet. Reports from Oxbow the fishing has been fair. The fish are ready to explode with eggs I think Brownlee may be in trouble if those fish decide to respond to early. Hopefully they'll hold off until April when they bring the water back up. I feel bad for everybody involved over here it is going to hurt a lot of people. I've had a lot of phone calls from around the state in Washington, and also California and Idaho wanting to know the situation. We even get calls from across the country on Brownlee reservoir. It is very well noted throughout the US.Quote:
Originally Posted by fishnfool
here is the latest on Brownlee. We have had pretty much none stop rain for the last 7 days. Most if not all the creeks and rivers that run into the reservoir are at flood stage and MUDDY. Looks like the crappie fishing here will be delayed . How long? who knows how long this unusual weather will last. The forecast for the next ten days is not promising. Anyone points east want to adopt me for a couple of months? I don't eat much but I do fish a heck of a lot.............lol
fishing below Brownlee in Oxbow pool in Hells Canyon fishing has been pretty good fish are down about 40 feet and running about 10 inches in length crappie last time I checked on Brownlee it was down 43 feet will be checking on Brownlee in the next day or two to give you a full report.Quote:
Originally Posted by fishnfool
another Brownlee report it is down 63 feet last time I checked if you come over to fish bring water with you you cannot launch a boat at Hewitt Park and possible.Powder River is running full blast right to the park last that I heard on raising the water no certain date set for the people that been contacted me about fishing in the snake River above Brownlee damn or below Hells Canyon dam I do not know anything about the water above the water below the only pools that I know are Brownlee Oxbow in Hells Canyon ask me any question about those arrested snake I do not know nothing about.