MO S ES L AK E
Story & Photos
BY DAN RICE
Washington
Rapala DT-6 Bruised
M
oses Lake is a Washington State fish-
ery known for a mix of dynamic small-
mouth and trophy largemouth. With a
semi-arid climate and very few fishing restrictions, this area of the region is nearly 6,800
acres of bass abundant water that many anglers
utilize for early ice-out fishing. In spring, reac-
tion baits are the most effective methods for
catching quality fish that quickly advance
through the stages of spawning. Regard-
less of your purpose, all types of bass
anglers will find something familiar in Mo-
ses Lake; trophy hunters throwing large
swimbaits, tournament anglers covering
water searching for active fish and weekend war-
riors who often take family trips due to the sheer
numbers of warm water species available today.
With a vast array of opportunities, the bass are
striving and tournament weights are strong. The
key to approaching this particular lake is having
the right baits tied on for each species of fish and
covering water with persistence. Lures such as
jigs and soft plastics are very effective, but for
newcomers, anglers should keep the trolling
motor on medium-high and engage the fish
aggressively. Ask any angler in the northwest
and Moses Lake quite often ends up being a top
pick for favorite bodies of water.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
The smallmouth bass in Moses Lake are rod bending abusive. The larger fish tend to ignite their activity levels as soon as daylight hours increase.
6
Traditional
of the “here
today” and “gone tomorrow”
positioning, these fish reuse the same
highways when it comes to pre-spawn fishing
year after year. Those who can fish deeper breaks and keep track of smallmouth when they advance to shallow flats are often able to dominate this body of water.
For pre-spawn action, the Rapala DT-6 has been a very consistent choice personally. Colors such as Red Crawdad and Demon Craw are excellent for spring fishing in general, but a recently released color called
“Bruised” looks be an effective
Rapala DT-6 Red Crawdad
®