[andrew]

Anyone have the scoop on Padden? Fished it last evening for the first time with my Dad and all we accounted for was a 6" large mouth...which I didn't know they had in there...after releasing I sort of wondered if I shouldn't of done that? Nothing I've read about this lake says anything of bass.

We mostly trolled, didn't see any surface activity, the guys on shore caught a few on bait off the bottom.

Any help on productive flies or methods would be great!

Andrew

 

[Runejl]

Hey Andrew,

The lake is really warm right now. I know because I swim around the lake a couple times a week. The surface temps are such that the fish will be hanging out deep.

Try a full sinking line. Also I have encountered some colder spots at the west end of the lake a 100 plus yards off the dock. I think it may be a spring. Try over there. Good luck and try not to catch any swimmers.

 

[Matt Roelofs]

Yup, there are bass in Padden -- rumor has it they got in the lake from the golf course ponds and proceeded to munch on all the hexes, so what was (from what I've heard anyway) an outstanding trout fishing experience throwing giant mayfly imitations is no more. I would imagine this would be a tough time to catch trout there - and if you do it'll be tough on them. The lake usually fishes well the first couple of months after the opener and then again in the fall (though the numbers are pretty seriously reduced from the spring by all the harvest).

 

[Jeff Studebaker]

What Matt said.

It's a real shame to see the state of this pretty little lake. It was such an awesome resource for trout anglers. Now it seems destined to be a mediocre resource for panfish anglers. If I ever find the guys who keep introducing bass and perch into our lowland trout lakes, I'd like to introduce my boot into their asses.

 

[Chris Johnson]

When I was a kid growing up on the southside, we used to cut school and go fishing @ padden. Back then it was the water source for the south side, they had a fence around it and we'd sneak in and fish. There was bass in the lake back then, and cutts as well. A friend of mine caught a 8# bass out of there. Sometime in the 70's or early 80's they killed the lake and made it a put and take rainbow fishery. I recall hearing as far back as the 90's that someone planted bass back in the lake, so I wouldn't worry about the planter fishery, not many hold over anyway. We use to see monster bass cruzin the sallows, but I could never catch um' with my worms or perriwinkles!!

 

[Runejl]

Cool Story Uncle Chris. I didnt know padden was used as a water supply.

Padden still has a surprising amount of fish. Most of the planters have been caught, but with water starting to cool here in the fall, the cutthroat will become more active. Padden also has kokanee which you can watch spawn in the feeder creeks later in the year.

 

[andrew]

Had a few hits the other evening...did come across one of those monster looking Mayflies sitting high and dry on the water, however, didn't see many more. I am not exaggerating when I say that it's wings were easily the size of the tip of my index finger, with a tail that was 3/4" or more. I could only imagine what a major hatch would be like with those bugs! And yest the bikini hatch occurred too even with low 70 weather!

 

[scottybs]

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