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2008 Spring Smallmouth

#1: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Gonefission, Location: Walla Walla, WA.

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:50 am
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Hey all you bass hounds! Anybody been out yet? This year may be a bit late due to the cooler weather. I wanted to kick-start a thread to start sharing any success stories... GOT ANY???

glock - Any news on the Walla Walla?

#2: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: glock, Location: Washington State

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:34 pm
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The water is a little cool for my liking. I will be hitting the Walla Walla soon once it heats up a bit. I usually start floating the Walla Walla River in the middle of May. We need to have a member float.

I have ordered in my "special" rubber worm just for the Walla Walla. It is amazing that such a small river can hold so many incredible bass.

No stories to share as of yet.

#3: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Pasco_steelhdr,

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:57 pm
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Been out once and it was a bust.

#4: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Gonefission, Location: Walla Walla, WA.

Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 6:38 am
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Went fishing on the lower Walla Walla yesterday. I was only out for 2 hours... managed to land 2 smallmouth about a pound a peice, LOST ONE BIG ONE!

#5: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Conehead, Location: Ellensburg

Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 11:25 pm
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Was out on the Columbia 4/27 above Priest. Water was 45 degrees at around 9 in the morning. Picked up a couple SM later afternoon on some rocks in 2>5 feet of H2O. 2.5 lbs or better. Saw more and bigger... once they saw me it was over though. Water wasn't all that clear and it was tough to pick out your boulders as deepl as I'd like. Fish were glued to the rocks.

Been out 3 previous times in the basin with one day of 8 LM first week of April in 48.5 dregee water. Then got skunked on Potholes next day. Following weekend got skunked on Seeps... I saw a TON of fish Twisted Evil

#6: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Gonefission, Location: Walla Walla, WA.

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 4:55 pm
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Fished the lower Yakima today. Started slow but the two of us managed 8 fish... one pig was 3 lbs. Two others were in the 2lb. range. The river is different this year due to larger runoff. NOTE: We had some large chinook playing around us today.

#7: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: DoubleD, Location: Walla Walla

Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 5:03 pm
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I with glock...once I get some sun (This weekend?) I'll be floating the lower section.

#8: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Conehead, Location: Ellensburg

Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 6:29 pm
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Was out to the Seeps again on the 3rd. Between us we must have got a dozen largemouth. About half were nice ones and the rest were one footers. Partner caught most of the better ones.

Hit the Columbia solo again on Friday the 9th. Picked up 3 nice smallmouth off the same rock pile as last visit. Black tube with red flakes was well received. I spooked others out of hiding in the same area. Went up river and it was tough. I talked to a guy at the launch who spent all day where I had a tough time and he and his wife managed a dozen with 5.5 lbs as tops. Back at the launch around dinner time I picked up another 5 or so off launch related structure. These chased down a black and red grub on the retrieve. I tried some other colors and spinner baits too but no takers.

Bite seemed to be on at 8-9 in the morning and dinner time of course Laughing

#9: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Conehead, Location: Ellensburg

Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:25 pm
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5/15
Big change from last weekend in the number of fish out and about on the Columbia. Bite shifting to earlier and later than last week.

#10: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Pasco_steelhdr,

Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 4:05 pm
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Thanks Conehead.

#11: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Gonefission, Location: Walla Walla, WA.

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:47 am
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Has anyone had any success lately? I have been leary to head out due to the high water on both the Walla Walla and Yakima Rivers... WHATS UP?

#12: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Conehead, Location: Ellensburg

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:43 pm
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Probably boated over 40 Sunday on the Columbia. Nothing much bigger than 3lb or so and plenty of smaller fish than usual. I went on foot Friday and did ok. Bank access was not available in some places but most of the fish I did get were fired up alright.

One of the guys with us Sunday guides on the lower Yak for bass said it was still too high. Look for 2,000 cfs or less he said. Should be great when it does drop.

#13: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Gonefission, Location: Walla Walla, WA.

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:42 pm
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Thanks for the update Conehead. I am going to try the lower Walla tomorow. Will report if any success. QUESTION: Is the spawn on yet??

#14: Re: 2008 Spring Smallmouth Author: Conehead, Location: Ellensburg

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:35 pm
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Spawn is on.

Water temps were high 50's to low 60's up here.

I'd venture we are at least mid spawn. The Columbia spawn can spread time wise out depending on the area.. also think those fish come in in waves and not just all at once.

We saw 25 or more beds together the first week of May. This was way back off the main channel. I know I will run into stragglers even early July.

Last weekend we saw beds in all the usual spots

Water was up and had enough color to help I think on catching some fish. Trade off was spotting the beds covered deeper by high water which were harder to spot. Those beds we saw in early May we couldn't see anymore. Just had to assume any darkness beside a rock is a bed and lay it in there.

Guy who caught the most really focused on tossing a mid-sized black tube with reds flecks... and it was a VERY SOFT tube.

I don't know anything about the Walla Walla. Someday I need to get down there a check it out.

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