Pine Flat Lake Fishing Report

Water levels are dropping and surface temps are climbing into the 80s, but Pine Flat's bite hasn't slowed. Shad are the main course right now, and most of the lake's action revolves around finding these baitfish schools. Trollers are using sonar to find the specific right depth daily, but typically running spoons in the 35-50 foot range has been producing quality trout limits. A few king salmon are mixed in too, keyed on the same schools but sitting deeper than the rainbows.

Bass have been just as good. Topwater action on walking baits and prop baits (Chappos) is hot early, with bass keyed on shad... the same as everything else. Midday, it's jigs and soft plastic craws around rocks and steeper banks.

With the recent stretch of warm weather and 80-degree days projected next week, Pine Flat bass have started transitioning into early prespawn behavior and are getting more aggressive by the day. A good number of fish are being caught off secondary points and creek channels as they stage for the shallow prespawn push. Swimbaits and glide baits are drawing some quality bites in those areas, while drop-shots and T-rigged worms remain good for more consistent numbers (albeit smaller fish). Expect fish to move shallow into the backs of coves next week as temps tick up a few more degrees.

Trout and salmon reports at Pine Flat have been quiet lately, which is typical this late in the warm season, as rising water temps tend to shut those bites down. The bass bite, however, has been very good. Choppos, Whopper Ploppers, and other prop baits are getting crushed in the early morning by quality spotted bass in the 1-3 pound range. Once the sun peaks, most of the action shifts deeper, where jigging spoons and finesse soft plastics are producing best. Some anglers are also finding success in the late evenings by tossing green pumpkin or black swim jigs and connecting with some really solid fish. Look for the bite to only improve in the coming weeks as fall conditions start to roll in.