Lake Umatilla
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Lake Umatilla Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Lake Umatilla. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Steve AvilaBronze AmbassadorSpecies
WalleyeTechniqueFootball JigsSeasonSummerStructureLedgesTargeting ledges and small rocks, bouncing and deflecting jig off and down ledges on to small rock flats.
- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonFallStructureLedgesMore fun with the fluke today, probably ended up with 15+ fish in about an hour and a half, best fish probably went 2lb but I didn't bring my scale, great cheap fun, drop offs from shallow feeding areas near the shore to deeper water were clockwork level predictable, right at the transition is where you get bit.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonFallStructureRip Rap
Baitfish season is upon us, despite my pig headed attempts to force the fish to eat my jig this week (just bought some new ones and I'm dying to put them to use) they were having none of it, rip rap and the few remaining patches of live grass are holding the fish, a relatively slowly worked fluke in either White Ice or Sexy Shad got all the attention rigged weightless on a 4/0 Offset Roundbend worm hook, just below the surface, no need for a super sensitive rod or anything, this time of year these fish aren't shy and they won't leave any doubt when they hit a fluke, just remember to hang on so they don't rip the rod out of your hands. A medium fast spinning rod with a 2000-2500 size reel will do it, 15 lb braid to an 8lb leader (I like Maxima Ultragreen but Stren and Trilene XCARET other solid alternatives) this is one of the best and most cost effective ways for folks looking to jump in to fishing or for those on a budget to get some solid numbers
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard Topwater (Walking)SeasonSummerStructureBoulders
Fast walking and then long pause drive these smallies crazy in the early morning. The earlier the better for the top water bite, soon as the sun is fully up the top water bite shuts down
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueFootball JigsSeasonSummerStructureBouldersPrefishing for a upcoming tournament. Found an area where there was a ton of bait balls. 20-25 feet of water was the magic depth. Cast and drag back, you’d get bit almost instantly! Smallies were aggressive! Staggered between the PB&J and Stealth Craw pattern. PB&J was more consistent.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard Topwater (Popping)SeasonFallStructureBaitfish
Been getting into the summer/fall transition, and it's gotten to feast or famine from the shore, Pop-R's and Jerkbaits have been getting it done for me lately, haven't had much luck on many moving baits but if they are going to bite one it's been a squarebill lately.
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueTubesSeasonSummerStructureSubmerged VegetationTook me a good bit to accept that they weren't on a shad bite anymore, but when I finally quit being stubborn and tied on a tube I started landing them pretty close to every cast, just hopping bottom amongst the rocks along the weed edges or crashing through the mats and they were mashing it, best fish went 2lb 13oz and I probably caught half a dozen in 15 minutes. Green Pumpkin body with a bit of blue seemed to be the deal tonight
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard Topwater (Walking)SeasonSummerStructureRip Rap
Had some pretty nice success last night on a walking bait, a Strike King Sexy Dawg Jr. In sexy shad did most of the work, but I also caught fish on a Rebel Pop-R, a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap in ghost minnow, and a handful of different paddletail swimbaits on an Owner inshore head, best fish went something on the order of 2-3, and came on the paddletail, but the walking bait got a 2lb fish and probably was overall the most productive lure.
