First off thanks to all that responded about the boat trailer. I am up and running with it!

now, I keep hearing about bass and perch. I live about 4 miles from horseshoe(kitsap) and haven't got the slightest clue how to fish for these bass. any place to go? any pointers? what should i use? where do i use it? etc.

Now another wuestion is, where do i find perch of good size and/or crappie of good size? I have tried jackson lake numerous times and never a nibble. goes back to show that i haven't a clue to these fish.

Trout are fun, but i want to fish for the things that i did as a kid back in wisconsin. there you fished from the dock and got big perch, crappie, walleyes, northerns, etc.

any help would be appreciated. Lakes? areas to fish? etc.

Thanks!

Hi! I'm not familiar with lakes in Kitsap, but catching perch is easy (if they're in the lake). Occassionally you will get skunked. Other times you'll get 30-40. Just gotta keep trying. Look for weed growth on th bottom (drag a weight and see how much is pulled up). Once you find that (usually 5-10 feet of water) then just put a worm on the bottom and wait! Bobbers are less effective cuz perch like to feed on the bottom mostly. Good luck!

I have fished a little for panfish in the area here in Kitsap and usually go up to Leland. Let's keep in touch and exchange fishing spots if you want. I don't use any weights either that way you get a better fight! Those little buggers shure are fun anyway you want to pass along info I am more than happy.

I guess the best thing for Bass that I have found so far are buzzbait, contrast the colors with light for cloudy days and dark for sunny. Slow troll along bottom will generally pick more bites while fast along the top inspires instincive hits. Slow trolling has done me better, I am new to Bass fishing altogether though so am mostly going off what I have been taught. The worms leave a smell the Bass will detect so get something for that as well.

For Bass use top water baits in the early morning and later in the evening when it cools. The rest of the day its fun to experiment. Your rubber baits (Jerk baits) are great when it warms up and the fish go deeper. Read up on how to texas rig jerk baits. Then the great all around bass catcher is the good ole spinner bait. Cant beat a good buzz bait for effectivenes in all kinds of water. Just watch the colors. Switch up until you find one that hits.

For perch, not familiar with Kitsap lakes but if they are there they will eat crawlers, nothin better.

Good luck -- Jeff

CHV,
Here are four pretty good lakes for bass in Kitsap Co. Long, , Wicks, Square and of course Horseshoe. I grew up in Tacoma so we fished these with some good success when I was a kid. Most of my bass fishing now is done with a fly rod and surface poppers. As other mentioned, early mornings or evenings are best for top water hits. If it is cloudy and / or raining, you can have topwater action most of the day. Look for cover - lilly pads, logs or docks no matter what type of rig you are fishing. Have fun.
Brian

StonedFish,

Just wondering if you can tell me how to use the poppers and which ones to buy. I am from MT originally and always fished lakes so my Cast isn't bad it's the rest of the techniques for lakes I am brand new to.

Thanks also for the insight on Bass!

Sapper,
Here is how I like to flyfish poppers. After I cast and the popper hits the water, I don't move it for 5 to 10 seconds, sometimes longer. Just let it sit there.
Sometimes the bass will just smash it right after it hits the water. Other times it will happen just as the rings caused by the popper hitting the water disappear. If nothing hits it after it sits there, I give it just a small twitch, not even a strip. Let it settle down and twitch it again. Repeat this a few times and then give it a decent strip. Somedays you may need to twitch / strip it back faster to get hits. This is especially true with smallmouths. You just have to experiment. The one thing I never change is letting the popper sit there after the cast.
As far was what type of popper, I like the hard foam with rubber legs and deerhair poppers. Anything in a frog pattern will work well. All black can be a real great color also. I like to fish with a 6 wt, floating line and a 10 lb Maxima ultragreen tippet around 7-8 Ft long.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any further info.
Brian

Thanks alot I would have never let it just sit there and am heading out right now to try it out as well as a little Crappie fishing.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Sapper,
Glad I could help. I fished a small King co lake today for bass. The water was really warm and I only managed a few fish on the popper. I had to go to the dark side, intermediate and type III heads fishing olive & white clousers, brown leeches and black wooley buggers. Biggest LM was 15" and the biggest smallie was 13". Not huge fish, but still fun.

I also saw your post regarding salmon fishing. If you'd like to catch some silvers off the beach, head to Point No Point after it opens August 1st. August & September can be excellent off the beach there. Great place to take non-fishing friends and family also. You can use buzz bombs, spinners or herring on terminal tackle and herring or candlefish patterns for fly fishing. If you fly fish it, pick up a stripping basket, it will really help with line management due to the currents.
Good luck with your new boat. Even though Puget Sound isn't the ocean, the water can still turn pretty nasty out there. Just watch the weather, especially the wind and you will be fine.
Brian

Stoned Fish

Thanks for the info, I won't be Salmon fishing with my rod as it is too light but am buying a spinning setup so i can use it for shore and boat. What weight fly rod do I need for Salmon?