Bass fishing tips and tricks in the Col. River?

[longstevo]

Hey guys,

I love fishing the Columbia River around Stevenson for bass.  I usually am only able to make three trips out a year due to work and family.  I usually catch a handful, but nothing major.  The photo was last weekend and my largest one to date. 

I usually simply cast and retrieve a #4 Blue Fox spinner, and always usually get bites, if they're biting. 

But looking at the miles of rocky shore and excellent looking islands, I know there's got to be monsters out there, and I feel like I could be doing more to increase my catches.  But there's so many weedbeds that it makes it tough to navigate my lure through without hanging up on grass.

Anything you guys are willing to share? 

[coachcw]

green and black hot shots with single hooks !

[Curly]

If they still make them, try a Hot Lips Speed Trap.  Crawdad color always worked best, but also firetiger worked well. 

White willow leaf spinnerbaits work well too.

Also, don't forget a basic leadhead jig and 3" grub.

[JJD]

Craw or Perch crank baits when they are hungry, dropshot when they aren't.
Smallies are my favorite fish to catch too. 

[bassquatch]

Try burning double willow spinnerbaits over and around those grass beds and rocks!! 

Especially this time of year! Make long casts and reel in fast enough that your blades make a subtle wake just below the surface, every so often pop your rod tip to make the blades chop the surface. Smallies love to torpedo this technique and it's still early enough after the spawn that they are still keying on bait clusters. Play around with size and color but a 3/8oz double willow in a gold shiner (perch) type color or white as mentioned before should work just fine! 

Post pics