It is very early for fishing docks but since you "camed a fish in 15 feet" try slow rolling a spinner bait in areas like the fish was in. Four to five weeks from now the spinnerbait bite will be awesome.
I got two Sunday using the old three way rig. Both in 45 feet over gravel / small rock fields.
You are right on about not learning if you are not out there. The more you learn about Lake Washington the more you will see what an incredible smallmouth lake it is. A few years ago I dedicated most of my winter time to checking the lake out with my AquaView. The water is not real clear in the winter but you need the calm water to maintain control of the camera. I hope you have the 120 foot cable. Spend enough years doing this and you will figure out that most people are only familiar with areas to catch SM when they are active and feeding. Time on the water and the camera will eventually tell where they spend the rest of thier time. Then just go after them with lures that get reaction strikes.
See you out there....

Okay Brian, I share your pain.  I wasn't going to post the results of my trip on Sunday, but since you admitted the skunk ... I smell too.   I fished in the 40-60ft range mostly dragging tubes and then tried rev-rigging 40-50ft.  Nada!  I don't have a camera and sometimes I'm glad I don't 'cuz it would frustrate me more.  I think I need to find more specific structure (rocks, boulders, stumps etc...).  I suppose a camera would help with that.
Anyway, you're right just keep trying...
Ray

went out sunday again and yes i did not get anything again. these smallmouth on this lake are killing me! i camed a nice fish in 15 feet of water. fished in 15 to 50 feet of water. water temp got up to 45. then went to a new area for me and found a rock bigger then my boat. but no fish there yet. i will get these smallies on this lake sometime. i cant learn anything if im not out there.

Against my better judgement I took the boys out to Washington Monday but stayed away from the jumpers area.  Beautiful calm day.  Only one fish 50' on a dropshot a little over 2lbs.

I didnt get to go to Lk. Washington today, fished some smaller lakes the past 2 days and have only got some trout. Hit up Black Lake, Chambers and St. Clair and all three were around 41 degrees and I didnt do so good.

-Nick

when out saturday from 7-3 no fish. 20 to 50 feet of water. saw a school of large mouth swim by my dock today. about 2 feet of water. troy thats funny.

You guys are killing me.  I was thinking about fishing in the 20ft range with the stable weather we've been getting.  I'll try it again on Thursday or Friday if the weather cooperates.

i ended up going 3 for 3 on saturday.  got one in 29ft and 2 in about 45ft.  all on green pumpkin tubes.    oh and i snagged someones sockeye rig off the bottom and thought i had a monster on cause it still had the metal flasher and my rod was pulsating the whole way in.  there was a boat fishing by me asking if i had a big one on, and we all got a laugh out of my bounty when i landed it.  very little wind made a great day on the water.

troy

You can repeat Blandi's post for Henry and I. Caught one fish in 49' also. Had a couple of more bites and two hooked but lost them on the way up from the depth's.

ME

Fished today for 1.5 hours max.  I caught a 2.0 lb smallie in about 49 feet.  Used a watermelon tube on a drop shot.  Very glad to get my first fish of the year.   

I fished a couple of hours yesterday and blanked.  Fished anywhere from 35-60ft of water, dragging tubes, hula grubs and dropshotting.  Water temp was at 46 so it's getting warmer.

Hey Truck,
  My experience has been the big lakes are more productive than the small ones this time of year.  The only time the small ones turn on is when you can get a week of stable warm weather.  If you get that weather pattern, then it's worth the trip to Sawyer, Meridian, Kapowsan, Spanaway.  If the weather has been like it has, definitely stick to the big lakes.

Mark

Varmint,  How many did you catch?  I am looking to start fishing again but don't know weather the big lakes like WA or some smaller lakes are a better bet this time of year.

thanks guys. the first smalie i have ever got on washington was the weekend before our team tourny last year. so i have been reading up on them and im ready to try some new things out this weekend.

Washington was 42 last Sunday. All my fish were cought in 45 to 50 feet.