[Buzzy]

Quite a few of the Basin lakes open March 1st, the popular lakes several miles east of the Columbia River downstream of Wanapum Dam draw large crowds. I haven't been down to scout those lakes but judging from the following pictures I snapped this morning of a large reservoir northeast of Soap Lake, it's going to take a warming trend to open up trout waters.

There's some open water on the far side of the lake but that's all private property. This is the launch at (dare I hot spot this??) at Long Lake uka Billy Clapp.

A word of caution: there's broken glass in the parking lot and every structure and sign is heavily tagged by the local gangs who compete for tagging.

 

[Brook hunter]

Shame to see the broken glass and tagging. I love fishing this lake.

 

[Buzzy]

Shame to see the broken glass and tagging. I love fishing this lake.

I haven't ever fished this lake despite how close it is to home but I really enjoy hiking along the west side, some great trails and the vista is spectacular along this coulee. I'm curious about your angling up there.

 

[Buzzy]

29 and a wake up, 16F in Ephrata this morning. Warming trend forecast for the end of the week with a chance of rain or snow on Sunday.

Banks Lake last February, lots of ice fisherman on both the north and south ends. This year the north end was fishermanless but not the south end.

A few "decades" ago three of us sat in DK's truck watching the wind blow snow down the lake on the opener (March 1st). We decided to just watch and hope that the "W" would stop or at least slow down. It didn't seem like it would (and it didn't) but one crazy guy pulled into the lot, jumped out fully wadered up, grabbed his fly rod and hiked down to the lake shore, made a few casts and hooked a fish.

I'm hoping the opener this year is warmer, I want to fish my Phillipson:

 

[Brook hunter]

Quite a few of the Basin lakes open March 1st, the popular lakes several miles east of the Columbia River downstream of Wanapum Dam draw large crowds. I haven't been down to scout those lakes but judging from the following pictures I snapped this morning of a large reservoir northeast of Soap Lake, it's going to take a warming trend to open up trout waters.

View attachment 377676
View attachment 377675

There's some open water on the far side of the lake but that's all private property. This is the launch at (dare I hot spot this??) at Long Lake uka Billy Clapp.

A word of caution: there's broken glass in the parking lot and every structure and sign is heavily tagged by the local gangs who compete for tagging.

I have spent almost every Memorial weekend out here for the past 10 years. My buddy brings his boat and we drive a ways down and camp out on the bank for a few days. Usually I spend most of my time in the coves and where it gets skinny. I have had some really excellent days out here for small mouth and have sometimes landed 40 in a day on my 6wt. They are such a blast. There is a big rock that is kind of like an island out there in the middle. It gets really deep out this way and if you can get down deep, it can be really productive for rainbows and kokanee. I've always been told the far end of the lake can be good for walleye, but I have never done any good.

 

[Buzzy]

I have spent almost every Memorial weekend out here for the past 10 years. My buddy brings his boat and we drive a ways down and camp out on the bank for a few days. Usually I spend most of my time in the coves and where it gets skinny. I have had some really excellent days out here for small mouth and have sometimes landed 40 in a day on my 6wt. They are such a blast. There is a big rock that is kind of like an island out there in the middle. It gets really deep out this way and if you can get down deep, it can be really productive for rainbows and kokanee. I've always been told the far end of the lake can be good for walleye, but I have never done any good.

Jake -
That's interesting that you camp out on the bank - that big basalt island is so unique. Dave Graybill (The Fishing Magician) has posted several videos about kokanee fishing.

 

[Brook hunter]

Jake -
That's interesting that you camp out on the bank - that big basalt island is so unique. Dave Graybill (The Fishing Magician) has posted several videos about kokanee fishing.

View attachment 377763

In the last few years, we've started coming across a bunch of rattlesnakes. That kind of make the bank camping a little less desirable. lol. I always enjoy seeing what the fishing magician posts.

 

[PooterTooter]

"A word of caution: there's broken glass in the parking lot and every structure and sign is heavily tagged by the local gangs who compete for tagging."

LOCAL GANGS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Buzzy]

"A word of caution: there's broken glass in the parking lot and every structure and sign is heavily tagged by the local gangs who compete for tagging."

LOCAL GANGS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

What's so funny about gangs, gang vandalism and gang tagging?

 

[PooterTooter]

What's so funny about gangs, gang vandalism and gang tagging?

Nothing! I just don't think that area of the state is covered up with active gangs who are competing for tag space at boat launches.

 

[Buzzy]

Down to 13 days and wake up for quite a few Basin lakes opener. I stole this image from another FF'ing website:

A friend of mine hiked into a seep lake today and found it almost ice free; I'm guessing next week the lakes are going to be making ice rather than breaking up. It's that damn Seeger Effect in full swing.