Mason Lake fishing

[Harbor_hunter]

I am heading up to Mason Lake this weekend to do some fishing.  I hear there are some good bass in the lake and I am going to see if I can catch some.  Does anyone have any tips about bass fishing at Mason Lake?  I am new to bass fishing, so any advice is helpful, thanks!

[Harbor_hunter]

bump

[whitey]

worms

[Jacque]

I've done well with a fly rod and a poper casting tward the bank from a canoe.

[Curly]

Used to be a real tough lake to catch bass in.  I did ok, but never caught more than 2 in an 8 hour trip there.  It's probably been 20 years or so since I've fished there though.  I believe part of the problem there was always all the boat traffic and jet skis, so it was always best right before and after dark and first thing in the morning.  Once the skiers got started.......forget about it.

[wildmanoutdoors]

We used to target them at the outlet of the lake. You could really see the big bruisers in there during spawning time. Pretty much sight fishing when we went.

[deltaops]

I never fished Mason Lake just because of all the skiers and boat traffic. I grew up in Mason County and mainly fished the rivers or private ponds.

If you fish the Lake, I would look for cover. Docks, lily pads, weed beds. Places where smaller fish like to hide.

For bass, I use whatever I can from poppers, rapalas, plastics, rattles and even rooster tails, crank baits, jig and pigs . So many different options, you just have to find what works for that day.

bass will start spawning when the water temp reaches 55 to 65. They usually spawn in gravel beds close to shore. Find them and hit the beds with plastics.

I live on a small lake and it is full of Bass, right now I have not had any luck catching many. July and August when the water temp is warmer I hit it hard and have great success.

Right now with the water temp low, I would try slow retrievals and then pick up the pace if that doesn't work. I have caught bass using slow, medium and fast retrievals. Sometimes I just throw a floating rapala out and just jerk it ad random speeds. Seems to work for me when the biting is slow. 

[Westside88]

PM sent

[Harbor_hunter]

Thanks for the info guys.  I think later in the summer when the water gets warmer will be a better time to bass fish overall.   I think the boat traffic does make it tougher to fish out there.  I will be hitting the morning and evening though for sure, since we will be there all weekend.  I have a lot of lures in the box, so I will just throw them all and see what works!

[Jacque]

Just 3 miles down the road from Mason Lake, at Trails End Lake no gas motorized boats allowed.  Bass hang around the logs, docks and grasses. I've had luck with up to 4 in a 2 hour period.

[deltaops]

Just 3 miles down the road from Mason Lake, at Trails End Lake no gas motorized boats allowed.  Bass hang around the logs, docks and grasses. I've had luck with up to 4 in a 2 hour period.

OOh, I forgot about Trails End Lake. That would be a better bet for you.

[Harbor_hunter]

Hmm, I haven't been there before.  Might have to check Trails End out.

[Jacque]

They supposably planted a very large amout of trout there this year.  Not sure if it was a typo but it was something like 37000 fish.

[PolarBear]

Used to be a real tough lake to catch bass in.  I did ok, but never caught more than 2 in an 8 hour trip there.  It's probably been 20 years or so since I've fished there though.  I believe part of the problem there was always all the boat traffic and jet skis, so it was always best right before and after dark and first thing in the morning.  Once the skiers got started.......forget about it.

I was a hardcore bass fisherman and always had trouble at Mason.  In fact I quit fishing it.  Trout seems to be the main target there.