Thread: Crappie around Spokane

WOW, sounds like there are some great places. I think I have a plan now for my freetime with the great info you guys have given me. I will be sure and let you all know how I do once I get settled in and start trying some of those places.

I have never really done much Walleye fishing, except for a few times in Canada. They have a few of them in the lakes around here but they are pretty elusive. They are deffinatly on my to do list once I get up there.

Thanks SlabKing, CK14, and Brokentrail, for all of your generosity.


Aaron

I live in Idaho, only about 25 miles from Spokane. We have several good crappie lakes here and Im sure there are some in the Spokane area. Like others have said there is also good fishing just west of Spokane too... Im sure you will find fish.

You are going to be predominantly in a trout/steelhead area. There are plenty of bass and walleye too(experts say the Columbia is going to yield the next world record) and there is pike in long lake(five minute drive from Spokane). The crappie fishing is mostly unknown to me south of Spokane, but to the north there is Loon and Deer lake. The average is around 8-9", with a few fish up to 14". Don't expect anything like the crappie fishing down south, but it can still be pretty darn good. I live 45mi north of Spokane, so I might be able to point you in the right direction, or at least find someone who can. If you are willing to try the trout fishing, you are in for a great time, in Loon lake they get up to 25lbs.

there are many nice lakes in Idaho, that are withing a half our drive from spokane. Thats where I always fish for crappie, Hayden lake is one that you might catch one out of ten that will be under 10" there is a lot of 12-17" in there. If you know the spots you can limit out in 5-10 min

Hey Scout I'm from Arkansas as well. Been here for 4 yrs. Joined this website today. Went back home to Duckhunt catch some bass and crappie last November. I live on Vashon Island. My fishing buddies here don't even know how to spell freshwater. They wouldn't know a crappie if it jumped in the boat. They are strictly salmon hunters. Hopefully will meet someone on this site that's all about slabs.

Originally Posted by tinytorpedo

Hey Scout I'm from Arkansas as well. Been here for 4 yrs. Joined this website today. Went back home to Duckhunt catch some bass and crappie last November. I live on Vashon Island. My fishing buddies here don't even know how to spell freshwater. They wouldn't know a crappie if it jumped in the boat. They are strictly salmon hunters. Hopefully will meet someone on this site that's all about slabs.

I know we're necroing this thread, but seems like there's still some interest here. So, from my own perspective living in Spokane and growing up in Othello out in the Columbia Basin, here's where I've nailed some very nice slabsided crappies that rival anything I've caught in Tennessee.

The Snake and Columbia rivers. That's right, these salmon/steelhead powerhouse waters are home to a full range of warmwaters and spiny rays, especially once you get east of the Gorge. Hell, near to Clarkston there are even channel cats and blues! Everyone knows about the walleye, but the large and smallmouth bass should be just as famous in their own right. So, what about crappie? Well, they are here, and they can get BIG. Thing is, NO ONE fishes for them in these rivers. But get a ways below a tailrace and find a nice gravel wingdam cutting the current for a deep slough off the channel and things will get hopping fast. Though I've caught them on the Columbia near Tri-Cities and on upstream, my favorite spots are on the Snake neat Lower Granite Dam southeast of Colfax, which is 45 miles south of Spokane. There's a resort/marina with hookups there and a rabid sturgeon and steelhead fishery, but the largely untouched crappie and smallmouth action is AMAZING.

Sprague Lake, afout 30 miles west of Spokane, once held nice numbers of crappies, but it's been really dropping off in recent years. Still, some seasons conditions are just right.

Okay, best for last. In Central Washington you have what is honestly the best fishing I've ever known in my life, both in variety, ability to find unpressured, eager populations, and scenery. And this from a transplanted Alaskan who's also spent a lot of time in the impoundments of Kentucky/Tennessee. From the north to the south you have Moses Lake, the premier crappie and bluegill lake of the 80s and 90s. The hottest action has moved to the other nearby waters, but it's still a nice place to soak a jig. Potholes Reservoir just downstream is Fisherman's Mecca, no other word to describe it. I personally caught a 2 lb (5 ounces shy of the state record) bluegill in Potholes in 1985, and the big crappie and yellow perch are there there there. And going further down you have some 100 named and unamed seep lakes caused by the rising water table when O'Sullivan Dam was complete and Potholes filled. Some are linked by the irrigation canals, some aren't. It's possible to get yourself into a little basalt canyon somewhere and forget there are other human beings in the world. And the fish there may never have even seen a lure. Very productive, and just plain heaven. And all of these waters are around 100 miles west of Spokane. Check out Mar-Don resort at O'Sullivan Dam for info, and lodging can be had in Moses Lake or Othello.

There ya go, for anyone who may stumble upon this forum and this thread, let it be known that we've well and truly necroed! There are many other good crappie and panfish waters in Washington, but these are a great start. And now, as I'm going to be moving to Tennessee full time this summer, I'm gonna head on over there and catch up on the latest.

Hey SCOUT,
I'm just east of Spokane about 15 miles. There are several crappie lakes close to me, but I'm new to fishing for them. I basically use a Roadrunner in chartreuse with a chartreuse marabou skirt. I retrieve it at moderate speed with light weight spinning gear. That's my search method. When I find them, I either concentrate on the same area with the same method or I get the bobber out and use tiny tubes. I'd like to tie up with you and share some knowledge, but my knowledge is limited. If you like, get in touch with me and we'll give it a try.
God Bless,