fishing for stocked trout and occasionally for salmon or steelhead (without much success). If we caught an 11 inch rainbow, that was huge. When I started fishing with my friend about 20 years ago, we would trout fish. Occasionally they would plant bigger fish here in Washington and we might catch browns or rainbows up to 17 inches.

About 18 years ago, my buddy suggested we try for bass. He'd had some experience with bass and heard they had smallmouth in the Columbia River. We tried a backwater that drains to the Columbia in North Bonneville, and I caught my first smallie, a fiesty 15 incher. I was hooked. We started fishing a small local lake (private) that was owned by the company we work for. It has big largemouth and very little pressure. We would do well there. We caught fish up to just over six pounds and my buddy once lost one that was eight pounds easy. Unfortunately, eight years ago the idiots sold or donated the lake and park to the city, who don't let anyone fish there.

This year, I've started fishing further up the Columbia more often and have had success with both smallies and largemouth.

One thing I love is trying out different lures. There are so many types to try for bass. I've caught largemouth on big fat trout imitation lures, 10" snake type plastics, top water frogs and poppers and a bunch of other lures. Smallmouth will also take a bunch of different types and sized lures. It's awesome figuring out a new pattern that works that you haven't tried before.

Give it a try sometime. Good luck.