Arbaritum or union canal (lake washington)

[drysuperfly52]

i would like to take my girlfriend fishing for bass we keep trying and keep getting skunked. i am always hearing about shore fishing for bass on the union canal, or by the arbrietum in lake lake washington. what is better? where do i get access at if i go to the canal, and what should i use? i have an assortment of bass gear.

i dont mind traveling to other lakes that are north of seattle, we dont have a boat and she is dying to catch a bass.

Thanks

[Gringo Pescador]

Park over behind the Museum at East Montlake Park. Walk up to the cut and you can fish the cut via the Foster Island Trail all the way to Lake Union or hit the Burk Gillman in Freemont from the Freemont Bridge west (or the Seattle side along the Ship Canal Trail).

Throw a spinnerbait out to the middle, let it sink to the bottom and retrieve. Not tons of fish and not huge fish, but you'll catch some.

[drysuperfly52]

sounds good, i have only used a spinner bait a couple time, slow retrieve right? what are the best colors to use?

[racfish]

I park two places. One is down near the Seattle Yacht club. Plenty of street parking. I found my best Smallmouth fishing on the west side of the bridge.I sent you a PM

[Gringo Pescador]

Other bass techniques/lures will work as well, I just have always had my best luck with spinnerbaits. Yeah, just a slow retrieve, ticking or just above the bottom. Yellows, whites, big or small. For a beginner you can't get much simpler than casting and retrieving a big ol spinnerbait.

Rac has more time on the cut than I do I would follow his advice for that area.

[racfish]

My biggest fish so far has been on a weed free nightcrawler. I drop it on a pad and slowly pull it through the pads making a slow retrieve. The Arboretum is peaceful quiet fishing. I love it there. Just lock your vehicles and leave nothing showing of value in your ride. I usually take my Honda so I can have the trunk. High prowl area.(kinda like Snohomish County) No offense to the good folks up there.

[racfish]

Well Wheres the pics and report??????

[Bryne Chum]

Id fish the canal over the arboretum. Its usualy productive.Both sides of the cut have some good spots. Right now I use soft crays on the bottom in the mid day-late after noon, and shallow diving rapalas in the early morn and eve. If you can get fresh crays, then rig up for bait fishing, relax under a tree and have a few brews. Last night I spoted a few catfish swiming awfuly close to shore. one even followed my crankbait. Anyone ever have any luck fishing cats over there?

[G-Man]

Only cats I've picked up there are small brown bullheads of the 8" to 10" variety.

[racfish]

Im with G-Man. Just the smaller variety of Catfish. I usually get them in the main channels and pools in the Arboretum. Back in the 60's and 70's that area was smoking for crappie and catfish.

[drysuperfly52]

i posted the report, i pretty much got skunked, i had one hit with a top water at about 830pm on the bridge by muesem, i wil try agian later this week.