Hello

Im looking for a couple lakes for beginners.  I would like to take a few beginners out for a few days of fishing in the summer, and I dont want them to leave empty handed.

... any suggestions?  Lakes with boat rentals are a bonus.

Thanks

EDIT

Bass fishing for beginners that is...  also what baits do you suggest they use.  Remember these guys are beginners, and the more fish the better.

What's up TDot?!! If you don't mind the drive, Kapowsin lake is right up your ally!!  You can catch bluegill and sunfish about as fast as you can cast,  it also has catfish, trout, crappie and a few bass here and there...... It also has a boat rental, they'er not bass boats, but they work in a pinch.

T-Dot,

If you want to have your beginners catch bass on their first trip or two, I recommend Lake Nahwatzel. It is about 10 miles west of Shelton. It's about an hour to 90 minute drive, but it was worth it for me when I took my wife and kids out for their first bass fishing trip in our little 10 ft livingston.

We went in the middle of the summer on a hot day and caught lots and lots of bass. All we threw were 4 inch single tail brown grubs on 2/0 Gamakatsu EWG hooks - no weights. I think you could rent a boat out there. you'll need to call out and check.

Lake Nahwatzel - Shelton
W 12900 Shelton-Matlock Road
(360)426-8323
Privately owned boat launch and resort.


Check out the pics from our trip at these two pages. We are the ones in the bright colored life jackets. That fish my wife caught was her first ever bass (about 3 lbs or more) and the one I caught in the pics with both kids i caught on a little kid sized Zebco rod/reel. Both kids casted and caught their own. (go up the right side of the lake from the public launch.

http://www.westernbassclub.com/igallery/folderview.asp?folder=Catch%20Pictures&p...

http://www.westernbassclub.com/igallery/folderview.asp?folder=Catch%20Pictures&p...


Good luck!
Stu

Sawyer is a nice little lake.  Not too many big ones with all the pressure, but great for beginners.  That's where I started and landed my biggest bass so far.  Throw weightless senkos, hula grubs, or when the water is clear a 4" single tail grub on a 1/4 jig head should produce some bass.

I watched a guy put a brand new ranger bass boat into Lake Kapowsin, and thought he was brave dude because the gel coat was bound to get scratched up.  But when he started up the big motor and took off on full plane, I was in disbelief!  Bammm!!! He hadn't gone a hundred yards when he hit the first submerged stump.  When he raised up his boat motor, the lower unit was held on by only one bolt.  Tough and expensive lesson to learn!

The lake always had stories of 8 and 9 pound fish being catch "last year".  And although I caught a few largemouth (I didn't know much about bass back then), I just loved being on the lake.  It also has a great population of red-eyed rock bass.  And when the crappie are in the bushes during the spring - wow!  

I watched a guy with a fly rod one evening catch a pan fish on almost every cast.  Trout fishermen troll and catch plenty using those gang blades with a wedding ring on the end tipped with a bit of worm.  

I haven't been there since the boat ramp got closed down - but I can't wait until it reopens!  There aren't many lakes on this side of the mountains that aren't surrounded by houses.  You feel like you are truly out in the outdoors.  

Yes stay away from Kapowsin! It is very dangerous  and it is completly fished out. In facted I think they killed it off for the slimers.  Do not go there.

Carlos

That was you on that stump??  Go figure!! I was the guy in the 10 ft. aluminum who was trying to figure out how you did that!!   Seriously, your not the only one who has found that stump that way.

Thats hilarious John !!