bass fishing tips

The central region of Washington state offers bass anglers plenty of fishing grounds to explore. Bass is one of the most sought after game fish in the state and largemouth and smallmouth bass are productive in central Washington's waters. The Washington state record smallmouth bass was caught from the central region of the state: Columbia River in Benton County.

Geography

Central Washington is divided into north and south regions and is defined by the Washington State Department of Transportation as including the counties of Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan and Yakima. Two of the primary bass fishing grounds located in this region include the Columbia River and the Potholes Reservoir.

Types of Bass

Largemouth and smallmouth bass can be caught in central Washington. Fishing season for bass is year-round for Columbia River and Potholes Reservoir. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has bass stocking programs to enhance fishing opportunities in both areas.

Access Sites

Anglers looking for bass can access the Columbia River and Potholes Reservoir in numerous access sites. Most sites have boat launch access and allow motorized boats. Columbia River has 11 access sites located throughout the state. There are five access points along the Central region including Vernita Bridge, Buckshot, Old Vantage Highway and Sunland Estates in Grant County and Langsdorf Landing/Caterpillar Island in Clark County. Potholes Reservoir has a total of 13 access sites all located in Grant County.

Hot Spots

The 28,200-acre Potholes Reservoir is one of the most popular bass fishing destinations in Central Washington. A variety of game fish can be found in the potholes but the most popular species include bass, walleye and yellow perch. A hot spot for largemouth bass is located in the north end "sand dunes" area of the reservoir, while smallmouth bass are abundant near O' Sullivan Dam along the rocky shorelines, according to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Regulations

All anglers are required to purchase a valid state fishing license. Statewide regulations for largemouth bass has no minimum size but only bass less than 12 inches may be retained with the exception of 1 over 17 inches may be kept. The daily limit is five. For smallmouth bass, there is no minimum size required but only one bass over 14 inches may be retained. The daily limit is 10.