Largemouth Bass

Targeting largemouth bass around Montesano offers a quintessential Pacific Northwest freshwater experience. Focus your efforts on the Chehalis River and its associated sloughs and backwaters, as well as local lakes like Sylvia Lake. These waters provide the ideal habitat for largemouth, with plenty of submerged vegetation, woody structure, and fluctuating water levels that concentrate the fish. Spring and early summer are prime times, as the bass move shallow to spawn. Fall can also be productive as they feed heavily before winter. A local tip: Pay attention to the tide in the Chehalis, as incoming tides can bring in warmer water and trigger feeding activity. Be aware of submerged timber and adjust your lure presentation accordingly. The bass in this region tend to be opportunistic feeders, so experiment with different lure types and retrieve speeds to find what they're keying on.