Fishin with kids?

[Head-shot]

I was wondering if there are any places you guys and girls know of that is a good place to bank fish or has "good" boats to rent?

I have been out and about the past couple days trying to find a nice place to do a little bank fishing with my two boys (3 and 5yrs). I know about it being hotter than hell lately and that messes with the bite, but I would like to know of some places that are within about 2 hrs of Colfax, with some fish other than 3 inch sunfish in it.

I took the family out to a couple places today and was pretty let down. The first one was Sprague Lake, I called the Lady out there early this morning and asked about the fishing, was told "It is always great out here, everyone catches big trout even off the dock". So I thought that might be a good place to start out.

When we got there to the "Sprague Lake Resort" I talked with the lady a bit, another couple was there and gave big praises about the place, so I thought what the hell sounds good. I was expecting to pay for the two boys and me to fish off the dock but had to pay for the wife (81/2 mo pregnant) to be there even if she was watching from the truck! Decided not to let that piss me off and paid $5 for each, but thought it will be worth it if the bite is as good as they are saying.

after paying and getting all squared away we head down to the water. It was gross! Pretty nasty water, very heavy algae bloom, some trash in the water and the concrete pier she had told me about was nothing more than what looked like someone had washed out the concrete truck leftovers and just left it piled up. Nearly impossible to set a chair on and to top it all off the thing was covered in bird crap! The dock that I had just paid to fish off would have been nice if you didn't need to jump over a large gap to get on it and then it had pretty much the same paint job. The only thing jumping on the lake were carp. It kept the boys hopes up but after about three hours of no bites they were done. I doubt I'll go back there again.

Next was Rock Lake off Highway 23. I have heard good things about this place too but it must have been fished from a boat. The shore was badly littered with bait containers, beer cans, string, old hooks, someone even took a crap right next to the water and left the TP snagged in the weeds! Thought we would go the opposite direction and try it out. Not a bite in almost 2 hrs, now every one is starting to get pissy, even the dog looks at me like "F.U. hero, lets just go home!"

Is that what bank fishing has become these days? If anyone has some good safe places to go with kids I would really like to hear it. Also if there are some places with nice boat rentals that would be good too.

[Head-shot]

Nobody has any ideas?

[jdb]

sorry man I wish I could help but thats a ways for my nieghborhood maybe some where on the snake? good luck.

[ICEMAN]

When I was supposed to be studying at WSU, my buddy and I would take off for a bunch of lakes south of spokane and we nailed the fish. Years back though...Chapman, Badger, Williams, etc....

I usually go find the fish first, make sure they are biting, and then hurry my kids to the fish. Keeps everyone happy this way. Kids hate scouting for fish...   Dad is the hero too!

[SpokaneSlayer]

If you just want the kids to catch fish, no matter what kind, I took my 7 yr old to the WDFW dock at Silver Lake and we couldn't keep the sunfish off.  I even hooked a small tiger muskie, which I lost.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

It might be a stretch, but my favorite lake is Bonaparte, 20 miles west of Republic, reasonable rates for a boat at resort, a dock and bank fishing at NF campground (but better fishing in main lake) The lake is full of little smallmouth to keep the kids busy with a chance at a decent one, Brook trout, kokanee,rainbows, and Mackinaw. The resort has a little restaurant and cabins.

[SpokaneSlayer]

I totally spaced one of my favorite lakes.  Long Lake has decent bank access around the DNR boat launch.  Lots of little smallies close to the shore.  The campground is free, first come first serve I think.  No pets allowed though.

[walt]

Williams lake has a resort with boats and a dock.  WDFW stocks the crap out of it and it is usually the top producing lake in the area as far as numbers of trout go.  Good luck and have fun.

http://www.klinksresort.com/

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/2009stocking.pdf

http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportList.aspx?id=18&t=1

[10Key]

If I lived in Colfax, I would be fishing the Snake several times a week...from the bank I might add. There are a ton of spots that have easy bank access for kids and if you want to walk a bit, that is available as well. As for species, you name it. Come September, steelies will be heading up-river, right now, large and smallmouth bass, crappie, perch and catfish all should be available.