Lake Washington Fishing Reports

[BoneCollector9]

Was on washington today from 9 am - 4 pm. The ice is good with 8-10 inches of ice but the sketchy part is the accesses are in bad shape. Had to walk through 2 inches of water to get to the lake.

Sunnies were hungry all day. A few random crappies. 1 Pike reeled in on a minnow and a few pike hooked but bit our 4 lbs lines off.

Morning bite was Good. Afternoon bite was Average. Past 3 pm the bite got real slow.

[dan z]

Was not on Washington but wasn't far away with pretty good success and the ice was in better shape than I thought it would be

[dan z]

Same spot on the same lake with great results, hoping the lake holds up as the fishing has been excellent the last couple weeks!

[Boker001]

Dan,

If you don't mind saying what depth were they biting? Euros or minnows? Bigger jigs or still small presentations? I'm hoping to take my cousin out on the ice for her first time this year.

Thanks

[dan z]

14-16 fow small jigs waxes or larva don't matter

[Boker001]

Thanks Dan,

Went out yesterday and caught over 100 fish. Anywhere from 13-18 FOW 15-17 FOW the best. I was out in between the point out and left of the road.

[dan z]

Thanks Dan,

Went out yesterday and caught over 100 fish. Anywhere from 13-18 FOW 15-17 FOW the best. I was out in between the point out and left of the road.

NICE!

[Chris Barlage]

Was out on saturday, so much for 70 temps. With the all the wind ended up drifing draging a crappie tube and managed to catch some fish. Water temps were 51. Lots of fish out deep but could not get themm to go. Tried drifting them and vert. jigging but no go. Most fish came out of 12 FOW. Sunday would have been a better option but was buisy sunday. Anyone else get out this weekend out there?

[BoneCollector9]

Anyone have any information on what spot typically has the better night bite from around 5-midnight. 3rd point or Bakers Bay? Had a little luck in bakers bay didn't mark many but got 2 crappies.

[harvey lee]

I have been doing very well for crappie and eyes in the 3rd point area.

Tough on the weekends due to all the traffic and noise on the lake though.

The latest I have fished in the evening is maybe an hour after sunset and I have started most days by 5am. Overall the crappie have been nice and the majority of them were iced on a smaller panfish jig and a red spike. Fish for some reason every trip out during the week or last Saturday have been very negative. Took a spring bobber to see the bite. Eyes have bit a little better. Caught the majority of the eyes jiggin a glo red lure with a minnow head.

Simply maybe due to all the noise from vechiles. But, one can catch fish.

Seems I have done better in the 19-22ft range for the eyes. The crappie have been best from 16-26fow. I have caught some crappie shallower than 16 but they were few and far between the gills. Most if not all crappie have been bottom hugging fish with very few suspeneded fish marked.

I have not been to Baker's Bay as the bite off the north landing has been good enough to keep me there. I have not had a bad outing in this area in 4 trips there.

Seems like more traffic on Baker's from what I could see from the road, at least last weekend when the lake was packed with houses in Baker's, Mud bay and the 3rd point area. 2nd point I have not seen much for traffic.

[craptastic]

I was out on Bakers Bay one night this week and iced 3 crappies around 6:00. I was in around 20 fow. One was a nice 10.5" the other 2 were pretty small. The ones I marked on the bottom were more skittish. I had better luck icing the ones that were suspended. I was only out there until 7 so I am not sure how the bite was later. Good luck!

[MNMAV93]

Have been out on washington the past two weekends doing fairly well on the gills. Bite really seems to pick up around 2:30 and non stop action till about 4. We have been out in Bakers bay trying to stay away from the big crowd. Waxies have been working best for us with some type of horizontal jig presentation. Snagged a few northern this morning on tip ups. Good luck to everyone heading out this weekend.

[harvey lee]

Best advice I can give for those looking for crappie and eyes, be mobil and move around if the hole you are in is not producing or if you are not marking fish.

I typically drill 6-10 holes and fish each one for a few minutes. No fish, drill 6-10 more, sooner or later u should get on some fish but it can be some work looking for them.

[andersod]

Harvey, you are full of great info - its much appreciated!

[BoneCollector9]

Tried 27 FOW the other morning. Missed a couple, marked a few, with 1 keeper crappie. A lot of water on the ice but yet a solid 12 inches. Hopefully those permanents got lifted before the freeze came. A lot of deep (4-5 inch) puddles surrounding most permanents.

[BoneCollector9]

I have been fishing mainly in 25-27 fow with minimum luck. A few here and there keepers but I can't mark anything between 25-14 fow during the evening bite. Is crappie fishing over 27 legit in washington? Anyone with any advice?

[highlife4me]

I haven't had much luck after dark except for last Saturday. Most of my luck with crappies have been during the day. Been fishing in 25'+.

To me color hasn't been as much of a factor as the size of the presentation. Waxies and minnow heads. Use a spring bobber if you have one. If you aren't marking fish move. Moving as little as 100' can be the difference of not marking any fish to having them stacked up underneath you.

[harvey lee]

I haven't had much luck after dark except for last Saturday. Most of my luck with crappies have been during the day. Been fishing in 25'+.

To me color hasn't been as much of a factor as the size of the presentation. Waxies and minnow heads. Use a spring bobber if you have one. If you aren't marking fish move. Moving as little as 100' can be the difference of not marking any fish to having them stacked up underneath you.

I totally agree with the spring bobber. Almoast all of my crappie this ice season on this lake has come on a smaller panfish jig and a red spike. I have I believe 1 crappie out of about 70-80 that hit a jig and minnow.

I believe the whole key to finding the pods of crappie is drilling numerous holes.

I will drill a straigh line of say 6-10 holes or drill that many in a large circle. It has worked for me every trip to Washington.

Yes, it's a bit more work cutting alot of holes but the rewqards are there.

Every trip to Washington the weather has told me what depth to start out at. If a high pressure system is moving in, I start out at approx 20ft plus and work deeper.

Stable nice weather for a few days, I start out at approx 16fow and move from there.

[LunkerLover84]

Not only has this cold front turned my wife off, its completely turned the fish off as well Marking the fish like crazy on the north shore but can't get them to bite on anything. Only managed 2 gills while fishing for 6 hours yesterday and 2 crappie(1 being a 12") tonight.

Hopefully with the warm up coming this week the fish will snap out of the funk they seem to be in.

[Scott K]

Lunker, if you are in search of gills, there are much better areas of that lake to find them, then the NS area. We had easily surpassed our limits yesterday within a couple hours of fishing. All c&r. Under 20', and small presentation. We stayed stationary, due to the cold, and they would come through in schools about every 20 minutes. You would catch 4-5, then be dead for another 20 minutes.

[concretekid]

I've never been on this lake in the winter only on open water. Which is the better access to go on? Is there enough ice for a 1/2 ton and a 16' house? Are there any parts of the lake to avoid in the winter?

thanks for the help!

[Scott K]

Most holes I drilled were about 12 or so. Stay away from the narrows between the main lake, and where Westwood is. Also stay away from the shores by the points.

I will let you make your own decision if it is safe. 12 inches I would call minimum for a half ton, but they were driving all over the lake yesterday. Including 1 ton diesels. Drive safe, and good luck!

[highlife4me]

Both accesses are in great condition. Best I've seen in years. Should have no problems at all but I will let you decide if you want to drive out.

[HOBBSTER]

I was out there yesterday with some buddies and we walked out from the north access. We measured 11-12" in our holes. Very easy walk, well actually slippery as the ice is so smooth. Hardly felt the fish house in tow. Lot of people driving full size trucks with big wheel houses in tow but I felt safe walking. Couple more nights like this and then I might drive out.

We caught some fish, right on the bottom, using waxies and a tiny jig.

[concretekid]

Thanks for the info, guess I need to have sick day this week to pick up my house off a smaller lake and go a little farther south and make my first winter trip down here this week.

[LunkerLover84]

Was actually targeting crappie and walleye. Was a little surprised to see the 2 gills considering i was in 25'fow. At that point i was happy to see anything!

[Iceman1026]

How much ice u guys got out there ?

[BoneCollector9]

11-13"

[Iceman1026]

So hows the fishing going has it picked up at all ? Was out sunday an was pertty slow lots of fish down there but only ended up with 5 crappies

[BoneCollector9]

Fished third point from 4 am to 11 am. Marked plenty of fish only caught 5 crappies 2 keepers. Missed about 5. Very skittish. Light finger tap jigging worked the best. lure size didn't matter but minnow head over full minnow was a must.