Bass fishing

[deerhunter_98520]

My 12yr old has been watching alot of bass fishing on YouTube and is hounding me to go bass fishing. I've never been bass fishing and  I don't have a boat so that limits me where I can go. Is there any decent lakes on the Westside that I can take my kid and fish from shore? If there's better places on the eastside I could make a weekend out of it.

[metlhead]

From the Harbor? Vance creek ponds

[birdshooter1189]

Yes there are decent lakes on the west side. Yes there tend to be better places on the eastside. The majority of all lakes and ponds in WA hold bass.  Some of the bigger and better bass fishing lakes get pounded by bass fishing tournaments all year.

I haven't fished Vance Creek ponds, but it looks promising via google maps. I'd definitely try there.  If you get skunked one day, don't give up. Go back another day.  Some days they just don't want to bite anything, and other days they will smash anything that moves in the water.

[Russ McDonald]

Lake Waahington, Lake Tapps and Lake Sammish to name some of the more popular lakes.

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[deerhunter_98520]

Thanks guys! Yeah from the harbor. Didn't realize Vance creek had bass, was just by there today lol

[Cylvertip]

Duck Lake at Ocean Shores used to be pretty popular. 

[HUNTIN4SIX]

Duck Lake at Ocean Shores used to be pretty popular.

I was gonna say Duck lake too.  Back in the day it was great bass fishing.  There is many access points on the bridges that go over the sloughs and around the boat lauch.
Very unique lake.

[deerhunter_98520]

I thought about duck lake but i figured most of the access would be private there

[metlhead]

Just remembered the ponds near the lower Satsop off Keys road. Bass were in there at one time.

[bassquatch]

Start saving for any small vessel that floats well cause if the bug bites him there's no getting him back 

Loomis Lake is good out that way, there's also some little ponds in the Long Beach area we fished years ago. Your biggest issue will be bank access, as you stated, just gotta make it work. I busted a lot of brush in my youth and did a lot of casting from my knees to clear branches ect. It can be done, repetitive casting from shore is a long game, the sound of the bait hitting the water repetitively could eventually attract bass, so don't just make a few casts and bail. Fan cast what you have access to for at least an hour or two and try a couple different baits. 

[Sandberm]

When i was boy my buddies and i enjoyed wading around ponds to bass fish. Our backs to the cattails, sometimes the water was up to our chest. Shorts, some old worn out tennis shoes and creel to hold a small Plano tackle box full of rapalas, beetle spins and mepps spinners. Fan cast a bit and then move 10 feet or so along the cattails and cast a few more times. If the fishing stunk you put your gear up on shore and went swimming.

Good times. 

[bassquatch]

That sounds very familiar 

[deerhunter_98520]

Start saving for any small vessel that floats well cause if the bug bites him there's no getting him back 

Loomis Lake is good out that way, there's also some little ponds in the Long Beach area we fished years ago. Your biggest issue will be bank access, as you stated, just gotta make it work. I busted a lot of brush in my youth and did a lot of casting from my knees to clear branches ect. It can be done, repetitive casting from shore is a long game, the sound of the bait hitting the water repetitively could eventually attract bass, so don't just make a few casts and bail. Fan cast what you have access to for at least an hour or two and try a couple different baits. 

We haven't even got our first trip in and he's asking for a boat! I've been wanting to take him on a charter trip and he absolutely refused to step foot on a boat and now that he's been watching bass fishing he wants a boat, go figure 

[HUNTIN4SIX]

There is a few good bass clubs around you.  Pricesless memories fishing tournaments with my Dad in a old converted bellboy boat.  Dad cut the top of the hull out of it and made a platform.  I wound up usually fishing with some other guy at club tournaments and learned so much about fishing and life.  Nowadays there is a heck of a lot of opportunity for youth.  High school and college fishing too.  Bass fishing kept me grounded even through my bad years.  If he is interested jump in two feet first...you’ll never regret it.

[deerhunter_98520]

There is a few good bass clubs around you.  Pricesless memories fishing tournaments with my Dad in a old converted bellboy boat.  Dad cut the top of the hull out of it and made a platform.  I wound up usually fishing with some other guy at club tournaments and learned so much about fishing and life.  Nowadays there is a heck of a lot of opportunity for youth.  High school and college fishing too.  Bass fishing kept me grounded even through my bad years.  If he is interested jump in two feet first...you’ll never regret it.

Thanks for the advice! I've only been once with an old friend but he passed away years ago and he was the only one I knew that bass fished. I caught one and it was a blast. I've been looking at small boats to get started. I'll have to see if I can find any of the clubs I had no idea there was any around here

[HUNTIN4SIX]

There is a few good bass clubs around you.  Pricesless memories fishing tournaments with my Dad in a old converted bellboy boat.  Dad cut the top of the hull out of it and made a platform.  I wound up usually fishing with some other guy at club tournaments and learned so much about fishing and life.  Nowadays there is a heck of a lot of opportunity for youth.  High school and college fishing too.  Bass fishing kept me grounded even through my bad years.  If he is interested jump in two feet first...you’ll never regret it.

Thanks for the advice! I've only been once with an old friend but he passed away years ago and he was the only one I knew that bass fished. I caught one and it was a blast. I've been looking at small boats to get started. I'll have to see if I can find any of the clubs I had no idea there was any around here

https://coastalbassmasters.webs.com/about-us

One to get you started....looks like a contact number on the home page.  The deal with most of these local clubs is you may not need a boat.  Most have non-boater options for tournaments.  They would probably like to help a new up and comer.  Sometimes its fun just to go to the meetings and hang out and learn.

[deerhunter_98520]

There is a few good bass clubs around you.  Pricesless memories fishing tournaments with my Dad in a old converted bellboy boat.  Dad cut the top of the hull out of it and made a platform.  I wound up usually fishing with some other guy at club tournaments and learned so much about fishing and life.  Nowadays there is a heck of a lot of opportunity for youth.  High school and college fishing too.  Bass fishing kept me grounded even through my bad years.  If he is interested jump in two feet first...you’ll never regret it.

Thanks for the advice! I've only been once with an old friend but he passed away years ago and he was the only one I knew that bass fished. I caught one and it was a blast. I've been looking at small boats to get started. I'll have to see if I can find any of the clubs I had no idea there was any around here

https://coastalbassmasters.webs.com/about-us

One to get you started....looks like a contact number on the home page.  The deal with most of these local clubs is you may not need a boat.  Most have non-boater options for tournaments.  They would probably like to help a new up and comer.  Sometimes its fun just to go to the meetings and hang out and learn.

Awesome thank you! I'll check it out!

[bassquatch]

I started tournament fishing again this year and I really tried to break down the entire process for people that are interested. There's also some great videos on converting a cooler to a functional livewell out there.

Very easy to get started, but there are some requirements and rules you'll not want to overlook! He sounds like he's pretty amped about it, that's awesome 👍💯

[deerhunter_98520]

I started tournament fishing again this year and I really tried to break down the entire process for people that are interested. There's also some great videos on converting a cooler to a functional livewell out there.

Very easy to get started, but there are some requirements and rules you'll not want to overlook! He sounds like he's pretty amped about it, that's awesome 👍💯

He is bigtime, we went out to a couple local ponds and no luck. He still had a blast though. Tried some top water frogs and other bigger frogs came after it and he loved it 😂 once I get a boat it will be easier

[HUNTIN4SIX]

I started tournament fishing again this year and I really tried to break down the entire process for people that are interested. There's also some great videos on converting a cooler to a functional livewell out there.

Very easy to get started, but there are some requirements and rules you'll not want to overlook! He sounds like he's pretty amped about it, that's awesome 👍💯

He is bigtime, we went out to a couple local ponds and no luck. He still had a blast though. Tried some top water frogs and other bigger frogs came after it and he loved it 😂 once I get a boat it will be easier

Love to hear these stories.  Is he into practicing casting, flippin or pitchin?  I use to spend hours around the yard flippin under trees and bushes.  Even got out moms glass bowls to flip into without making a noise.  These skills never failed me.  Keep it up Dad!

[deerhunter_98520]

I started tournament fishing again this year and I really tried to break down the entire process for people that are interested. There's also some great videos on converting a cooler to a functional livewell out there.

Very easy to get started, but there are some requirements and rules you'll not want to overlook! He sounds like he's pretty amped about it, that's awesome 👍💯

He is bigtime, we went out to a couple local ponds and no luck. He still had a blast though. Tried some top water frogs and other bigger frogs came after it and he loved it 😂 once I get a boat it will be easier

Love to hear these stories.  Is he into practicing casting, flippin or pitchin?  I use to spend hours around the yard flippin under trees and bushes.  Even got out moms glass bowls to flip into without making a noise.  These skills never failed me.  Keep it up Dad!

Thanks! Not yet but that's a great idea! I'll have to show him. Everything's else has kind of taken a back burner at the moment he made the local travel ball team for 13u and he's focused on that.