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WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – If you have tried to launch a boat or kayak at Lake Terrell lately, you may have noticed it’s been very busy this spring.
And that’s for good reason, as area lakes are producing big, healthy bass this year and anglers have been catching these sought-after fish since February.
In fact, if you have ever wondered if the rumors of there being largemouth bass over seven pounds lurking in Whatcom County lakes… this angler can confirm that they are still being found in the big five bass lakes of Whatcom County this year.
The biggest and baddest bass lake of them all is Lake Terrell in Ferndale. Lake Terrell is widely known as a lake for trout and bass, and as the water temperature warms up above 55 degrees more and more bass are active while trout go deeper to find colder water.
Early in bass season and when the WDFW regulations state that it is open, Wiser Lake is a great place to catch a baker’s dozen after work and is located just south of Lynden.
The largest lake in Whatcom County, Lake Whatcom, is stacked with great smallmouth bass that love docks and rocky structures. Jerk baits, swimbaits and crankbaits are many local angler’s favorites there.
From my experience this year, the bass have been particularly aggressive on Lake Samish so far, with smallmouth bass really setting their sights on square bills as they bounce of rocks. Anglers should fish Lake Samish similar to the way they fish Lake Whatcom’s big, deep water and shorelines. A pro-tip is to avoid the wood structures at the launch near Bloedel-Donavan since they are heavily targeted and rarely produce.
Be mindful to avoid hitting boats near docks, as docks are not public spaces and owners will enforce their property rights with extreme exuberance in some cases.
In case you wanted to change things up, head to Lake Fazon near the town of Everson. Aside from stocked trout and a healthy bald eagle population, the bass that live there are lunkers. The biggest crappie in the county can be caught in that lake and the catfish have a devoted following as well. There is no shore access, so a watercraft is needed to fish there.
Now as the last few weeks of warmth have bass wrapping up the spring spawning season, they are now focused on the various baitfish spawning in June. If you have recently been out near the center of Lake Terrell and looked down, you have probably seen schools of tiny yellow perch. If you watch the water closer, you can see it move as the bluegill and crappie feast on the bounty.
Top water baits like frogs and weightless Texas-rigged Strike King Rage Tails or a single tail grub along the top of the lily pads will produce all summer as both bass and bait seek cover from the sun. Buzzbaits are also popular now as the sun starts to beat down on the water.
Senkos paired with a 1 oz tungsten on a Texas-rigged EWG hook are a tried-and-true combo in Whatcom County lakes. Get creative with presentation as many retailers have been carrying the curly-tailed Senkos which were used by almost all of the Top 10 anglers at the recent Bassmaster Elite Series in June.
Spinner baits are great for beginners, though they look intimidating due to their ease of retrieve and presentation. The best patterns are smoke and white with special interest in the Sexy Shad. No matter the brand, the blue and yellow striped color combo of the Sexy Shad works on spinnerbaits, square bills or deep diving crankbaits.
As Lake Terrell fills with vegetation, it’s not a bad idea to take advantage of Lake Samish and Lake Whatcom’s larger and more rocky bottoms.
Which, in case you have not guessed by now, the best tip any angler can follow is to get off the bank and on the water. Get a boat, a kayak, a paddleboard, a raft; anything that gets you away from the bank and out exploring the water will increase your fishing success. Follow that piece of advice alone and you will have your best bass fishing season ever.
Happy summer fishing!