As a kid we used to load up on
crappies on Lake Washington,
but where have they gone?
I keep hittin' small trout on crappie
jigs in the shallows, but I'm chasin'
crappie? Can someone help me out here?

kennyray-
Lake Washington produced the state record black crappie in 1956. It weighted 4 1/2 pounds. The big Lake produced great crappie fishing into the 1970s when the fishery declined. At the same time the Lake clean-up kicked in (Metro). Does anyone remember how badly the lake used to smell in the summer and the swimming closures due to polution? With cleaner and clearer water (less productive?) the food chain changed. In the 1960s and early 1970s the major food consumed by the crappie was mysid shrimp. In clear water lakes crappies tend to suspend off shore most of the year rather hold along the shoreline structure and weedbeds. Except during the spawning; spring when water temperatures reach the high 50s/low 60s, I would look for crappies off shore suspended over the outer contour breaks.

Over the last 30 years it seems the spiny-ray fishery has changed from one dominated by largemouth bass/crappie to a smallmouth/yellow perch fishery. If you are looking for some white filets it may be more productive to look for the perch.

Tight lines
Smalma

I'm new to the forum and want to take my 7 year old daughter fishing for perch on Lake W. Two weeks ago we tried inside the logboom at N. Coulon Beach Park, with no luck (jigs, power bait nuggets). Where do I find the little buggers, and how do I catch 'em? My daughter is having fun fooling around with the pole, but I'm sure that will get old fast if we don't snag a few fish!

Thanks!

When we were teenagers, we used to crawl under the fence at the Shuffleton Power Plant and fish the warm water outlet for plate sized crappie and big largemouth bass. I can reveal this secret now, because the power plant has shut down, the statute of limitations for trespass has passed, and I'm too big to get through the hole in the fence. Fishing the south end of the lake for these species is not so good anymore. Smalma's explanation of what happened to the crappie and the largemouth seems plausible.

ErynH, if you have a boat, fish the weedlines at Coleman Point(first point north of Coulon) with worms, or worm tipped jigs. If you don't have a boat, try the fishing pier at the north end of Coulon Park using worms, or jigs, fished near the bottom. Good luck!

Thanks for the heads up guys,
I do have a honey hole for perch.
It's really no secret, American Lake
has some of the biggest perch I'd
ever seen. But I get a kick out
of catchin' slabs of crappie!

Fish On!,

Ken

I did OK on crappies 3 times last summer, over by the arboreatum just south of the 520 bridge, Bobber w/ split shot and worm or tube jig under bobber tipped w/ worm. Fish last hour of light in p.m. Didn't catch any more crappies there after the end of June. Also, on the southeast shore of the lake, just south of the old Barbie Mill (almost straight across from s tip of mercer island), there is a green boathouse in a tiny bay-like area. Water is about 11' deep. Accidentally caught a few crappie there one afternoon. Fishfinder showed tons of fish but could only coax a few into biting. Didn't get a chance to try it at dusk, but probably would have been better. GOOD LUCK