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Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass in Washington are members of the sunfish family. They're not native to Washington but have been extensively introduced as a sportfish.

They are found in almost every lake in Washington state, distributed across all counties from the Puget Sound region to eastern Washington's Columbia Basin.

Physical Characteristics:
  • Distinguished from the similar smallmouth bass by their greenish-black coloration with prominent dark horizontal bands, and upper jaw (maxillary) that extends fully past the eye when closed.
  • They average 12-15 inches but can reach 17-20+ inches in quality populations, with the state record at 12.5 pounds.
  • Their lips often turn vibrant red from feeding heavily on crayfish.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • The fish prefer clear, vegetated lakes, ponds, swamps, and backwaters of pools, creeks, and rivers, thriving in warm eutrophic waters with submerged structure like logs, rocks, and aquatic vegetation beds.

Key Locations

  • Key Washington waters include Lake Washington (best overall, with largemouth in embayments and smallmouth on main lake structure), Banks Lake, Moses Lake, and Potholes Reservoir in Grant County, plus Columbia River system, Lake Roosevelt, Sprague Lake, Lake Sammamish, American Lake, and numerous smaller lakes throughout King, Pierce, Spokane, and other counties.

Specific Spots

  • Focus on docks, weedlines, rocky points with 45-degree slopes, shallow protected bays with vegetation, and drop-offs.
  • In eastern Washington's desert lakes, target rock piles and deep weedlines.

Largemouth Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Largemouth Bass in Washington?

Successful lures include crayfish-colored jigs year-round, trout-patterned crankbaits and jerkbaits (spring/fall during trout stocking), bluegill swimbaits and spinnerbaits (spring/early summer), topwater frogs (late spring through summer), plastic shads in baby bass patterns on dropshots, and perch-patterned...

What flies work for Largemouth Bass in Washington?

Top fly patterns include deer hair poppers in bumblebee, frog, and chartreuse patterns for surface fishing, plus crayfish patterns (dark brown with orange accents to match signal crayfish), trout-colored streamers, bluegill patterns, baby bass patterns, yellow perch imitations, and rodent patterns like mice flies for...

When is the best time to fish for Largemouth Bass in Washington?

The largemouth bass season in Washington runs March through November, with prime fishing during spring and fall when bass are most active.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass in Washington?

Pacific Northwest bass fishing differs significantly from other regions due to clear, cold, heavily vegetated waters.

What do Largemouth Bass eat?

In Washington's unique ecosystem, largemouth bass feed on signal crayfish (the region's only native crayfish species), stocked trout, bluegill, yellow perch, baby bass, frogs, and various baitfish rather than the shad and minnows found elsewhere.

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