Target - Panfish

Going to be targetting panfish in either American or Spanaway lake this weekend.  Not sure of exact day yet, but if anyone is interested let me know and I'll tell you what day we decide on.

You go boy! 
Ride that momentum. 
Yeeee Haaaa!!!

I'd be game, but it a WAF deposit weekend... after buying a canoe for family fishing last weekend and spending time with her this weekend I should be set for some serious fishing for at least the next couple months.   

You can find panfish this time of year? Cool. I've heard of Crappie fishing here in Feb, over in Duck Lake in Ocean Shores. Never tried it though. I've only tried for panfish here in W WA in the late Spring and Summer.
I need to find some good panfish water. I caught a Bluegill a little bigger than my hand on a dry fly, fishing the lilly pads over at Offut lake a few years ago. That little thing put up a good fight! It was late Summer.

 Unfortunately, Duck Lake had some toxic algae last Summer. I'm avoiding any lakes where that is a recurring problem. It has messed up Anderson, Gibbs, and Leland lakes in Jefferson County, too.

Please remember to clean and wash your boats between lake go-outs!

lee,

meant to ask you last night if you'd heard of Millersylvania state park? just south of Tumwater. you get down that way, stop in and say hello to the head ranger, he's a Vietnam vet and very pro veteran and fisherman.,

also, you got away before i asked if you have a copy of " Washington Fishing" by Terry Rudnick. published by Foghorn Outdoors, i picked up the house copy here at a local Freddies. ( totally understand , tho , having the little guy with ya's) trust me, it's a great buy, especially with the goals you have in mind.....

The lake at the park you mentioned is closed until Last Saturday in April if I remember correctly. 

You can find panfish this time of year? Cool. I've heard of Crappie fishing here in Feb, over in Duck Lake in Ocean Shores. Never tried it though. I've only tried for panfish here in W WA in the late Spring and Summer.

Panfish are definitely a year round fishery anywhere.  Ice fishing is all about them.  Spiny rays don't stop eating in the winter, they just get more selective since they need to conserve energy.

Looks like Saturday will be the day right now.  53 and raining.  Not sure which lake yet.  Will be starting around 9 or 10 so the fish has a chance to start moving around a bit.

I'll continue to update.

Try fishing the deep holes (50 ft>) with a piece of nightcrawler. That's where the yellow perch like to hang out in the winter.

Lee, how about telling us about that monster trout you caught!

We're heading to American Lake around 9 or 10am on Saturday.  Target location will be the Fort Lewis Marina.  It's at southwest end of the lake.  40-50ft of water with dock cover.  Should produce.

If you come out, I'll be in my Mango T-160 and my GF will be in my Red Tsunami 140