I have been targeting sockeye and Chinook salmon, bass and walleye the past week and will continue to do so through mid-August. The Brewster Pool and Well’s Dam fisheries are in prime form right now! Expect to fill your cooler with bright, red sockeye meat. The limit on this Columbia River fishery is six adult salmon per person. We are trolling on down-riggers, enjoying cold beverages, and catching fish in exceptionally nice Eastern WA weather. Bring your sunscreen and I will put you on the fish.

Also, if anyone wants to get their top-water big bass fix, now is the time. We have been doing VERY well on these massive bass. The BIG Walleye are on the feed, as well over on Moses Lake and the Potholes Reservoir. If you would like to get in on the action get a hold of me before August 17th.

I then shift gears back over to the Snohomish River system for pink’s and coho and Lake Sammamish for king salmon through late September. These are “local” fisheries only 30 minutes, or less, from downtown Seattle. FISH-ON GUARANTEED for any of the Snohomish River, or Lake Sammamish fisheries … and if you like, we can even fish the lake and river on the same day (they are only 45 minutes apart)!

Remember, the pink salmon run is only every other year and I have only a few prime dates left open … that is if you and your friends and family would like to come and enjoy the most productive fishery the Puget Sound has to offer — hands down!!!!

Oh, and thanks again to every single one of you whom came out to experience the fantastic fishing we had on the Skykomish River from the opener through this last week. What a great season it was for king salmon and steelhead! Hope to see you all out there again next year come June 1st!

Sincerely,
Bonner Daniels
bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772

Here a just a few of the pics from this last month’s Guided Adventure’s:

After the 31st of July, comes the August 16th opener for the pink salmon run on the Snohomish River System (odd years only). This system should see more than 500,000 of these pink salmon!!!! If you’re interested in catching limits of salmon GUARANTEED, get a hold of me sooner rather than later, as I only have a few select dates still open. This fishery is great for the family, friends, kids and less experienced fishermen and women … along with those of us die-hard fishermen who simply want to catch salmon, after salmon, after salmon.

The walleye action continues on a strong note over on the Potholes and Moses Lake. Trolling worm harnesses and crank baits are the top producers. Crab Creek, Lind Coulee, and the mouth of the Frenchmen’s have all been super productive on the reservoir. Fish early and late if you are targeting trophy fish. The large and small-mouth bass are in full swing. This year has given up some of the biggest bass we have seen in years on the Potholes. The bass we target will average right around 3 lbs … with the bruiser’s pushing near 10 lbs! My favorite fishery on the Potholes is chasing these lunker large-mouth bass — hands down. If anyone wants to see a little slice of summertime, Washington State heaven get a hold of me for a Sand Dunes large-mouth bass adventure. Top water fishing at dawn and dusk … soft plastics and spinnerbaits in between and you’re in for some serious BIG bass action from now through September.

See you on the water!

Sincerely,
Bonner Daniels
bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772

Here are a few pics from our guided adventures since I last reported:

On to the fishing report:
Fishing has been fantastic for my boat. Big bass and big numbers of bass have been the norm. I prefer to fish plastics and crank baits this time of year. Crawdad imitations are always a top producer. When the bite gets slow try searching the same water, or new waters, with your favorite crank baits. The Potholes has some real big smallmouth and they are not line shy, so beef up your tackle if you want to land those large reservoir bass. The water levels are super high at press time, so I have not been focusing on largemouth bass, but they are my favorite warm water species of fish and the fishing for these bad boyz will get good any day now. Especially when we start to get consistant 80-degree weather days…. It took 51lbs to win the Potholes Open this year and the guys only weighed 11 of their 12 fish limit — that is a new lake record!!! Largemouth took home the 1st place check again this year, that’s why they’re my favorite fish. Big money, big fish, tough fighters, spectacular scenery, all great attributes.

When the wind picks up, so do I and then we head walleye fishing. The winds over east have been putting a nice “walleye chop” on the water almost everyday. I prefer to fish walleye in the wind. Trolling worm harnesses has been the golden ticket on my boat. Use bottom walkers, beads, corkies, and blades and you’re good to go. Walleye are some of the tastiest fish in fresh water, so bring your fish cooler.

For you rainbow trout enthusiast’s out there, we have been smoking the trout! Expect limits every time, if you would like to do some trout fishing. I typically troll for these fish. I also fly fish a few “special” lakes at the Potholes for trophy trout, as well. If you’re interested let me know. Drift boat fly fishing over on the eastside is very relaxing and productive all at the same time.

NOW BOOKING: Summer Run Steelhead and King Salmon trips on the Skykomish River. Opening day is June 1st and king salmon closes August 31st. Book earlier in the season for prime-time steelhead and a little later for prime king salmon fishing. Then on August 16th the opening of “The Catching Season”! The pink salmon run is this year and not again until 2013. This is hands down the greatest catching season of the year on our west-side rivers. My dates are August 16th-September 11th. Expect to bring home the boat’s limit of chrome-bright, pink salmon and to release many, many, many more!!! Give me a call and get a date . . . before again . . . you’re too late.

I will let the below pics speak for themselves on how great the fishing has been over on the Potholes Reservoir. Here are a few pics from the last month of fish catching:

See you on the water!

Sincerely,
Bonner Daniels
bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772

Bonner holds a trophy bass.

When we are looking for table fare, we catch walleye.

Net full of walleye.

If you’re looking for a nice change of pace, the Eastside has some truly wonderful warm water fisheries. Give me a call and let’s go catch some fish.

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels
Bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772

Jason and Rod -- victors!

This is a Catch/Release Tournament, all fish were released safe and sound with one exception. Overall $20,530 was paid out to winners along with Lamiglas Rods, Walleye One Spinner Bags, hats, coats and trophies.

Tourney Stats / Teams / Fish Caught / Ttl # / Avg Size
2010 / 79 / 653 / 1619.44 / 2.48
2009 / 84 / 415 / 950.35 / 2.29
2008 / 97 / 605 / 972.18 / 1.61

Now that the winds have finally quit it is time to plan a long weekend and be here while the walleye bite is ON….Best bet is the Lind Coulee Arm, Frenchmen’s or Winchester Wasteway or try Goose Island or the Crab Creek area for a chance at a trophy sized walleye over 10 lbs.

Contestants indicated the primary lures fish were caught with were spinners and crawlers behind a bottom bouncer. Use a floating rapala behind one and a half colors of lead core trolling line and the fundamental jig tipped with night crawler or a Gulp artificial leech.

Jason and Rod shown here with Dan Conrath (middle, Ranger Boat Sponsor).

Jason Bauer of Arlington, Wa and Rod Hewitt of Monroe, Wa shown here with Dan Conrath (middle, Ranger Boat Sponsor) won the 2010 Rod Meseberg Spring Walleye Classic. Jason and Rod netted 12 fish in the 2 days of competition for 39.44 lbs using custom made rods from Fetha Styx. Rod Hewitt won our tournament 2 years ago and knew what he needed to do well this year. He is a fireman and has used Fetha Styx rods from the True Hero Series in the past. His specially made rods for this tournament together with his and Jason’s walleye knowledge earned them the title this year. Day 1 they weighed in 19.08 lbs, Day 2 was 20.36 lbs. Most tournament fisherman will tell you the hardest job in a tourney is to stay consistent and they managed to do that in spite of the tough weather. Our hats are off to them. Good job and we’ll see you for next year’s competition!!

Jason and Rod with their winnings

Report submitted by Mike Meseberg,
MarDon Resort on Potholes Reservoir
509.346.2651 (mardonresort.com)

It is officially springer salmon, late-run hatchery steelhead and native steelhead season. With that said, literally every mainstem river of the Washington Coast and Columbia River has fish in it right now. Big, bright, chrome fish…get out and get in on some of the action!

The trout lakes have been, or are being, planted; the walleye bite is beginning over on the Potholes Reservoir and Moses Lake; the Potholes Open is right around the corner; the Grande Ronde, Salmon, and Clearwater Rivers are overflowing with steelhead; and the Westside chromers are arriving right now. What a great time to go out and go fishing in this wonderfully mild weather.

My days have been consisting of side drifting bait for steelhead and springers out of my Wooldridge XL Jet Sled, which holds five guests comfortably. The fishing has been consistent with multiple fishONs!!! per day. This spring run has started off well, and should continue strong and even get better well into April. I am currently booked up through the 1st week of April, if you would like to get out and get after some of these chrome beauties, give me a call and lets get you on the schedule before its too late. See you on the water

Here are but a few pics from this week’s trips….

TIP of The Week: Keep On Casting!!!

Sincerely,
Bonner Daniels
bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772