Some of the most enjoyable fishing I have done in the Inland Northwest has been spending the night fishing for catfish in Sprague Lake.
One of the reasons I wanted to do an article about fishing for catfish in Lake Sprague is that I recently learned of proposed plans by the WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) to rehabilitate the lake this fall. It appears that the density of anglers has dropped in recent years to one of the lowest in the state. WDFW surveys say the lake attracts fewer than five anglers per acre per year. You can read the full story by Rich Landers of Spokesman-Review on his website.
While you can catch catfish during the day in Sprague Lake, I have always had the best results and experience at night.
I, for one, would miss the magic of fishing catfish at night in Sprague. My son and I usually go out with plans to be in the water before sunset. The best times for us are hot summer nights when air temperatures stay in the 60s and higher after dark. Far enough away from city lights, the stars overhead shine brightly and our Milky Way’s band can be clearly seen. The stars seem close enough to reach out and touch.
Another part of the magic is the flocks of bats, which feed on flying insects, and swoop so close that they often mark the line when you leave your rod tip in the water. In addition to being harmless to humans, bats eat their weight in mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects every night that might otherwise be feeding on you. Despite this benefit, I still recommend using a good repellant spray or lotion that contains deet. The best I have found is the Avon product called “Skin-so-Soft”. It is by far the best smelling repellant I have ever used and is still very effective.
Harper Island at the southwestern end of the lake is an extremely active bird nesting site and even at night the sounds of seagulls and other waterfowl fill the air. I have often wondered if the birds on the island ever sleep. If they do, you wouldn’t know it from the noises coming from there, even long after dark.
Since the nature of catfish fishing is a waiting game… much of that time is spent talking, telling stories of previous fishing trips, and whatever else comes to mind. We usually bring a small propane barbecue and cook up hamburgers and hotdogs. Good flashlights are essential, and one of the foam-mounted headlamps that can be connected to your 12-volt battery can come in handy for navigating to and from the pier, along the shoreline, and around Harper Island (see map above) at the southwestern end of the lake. Usually an angler holds the light for the person fighting the fish or head mounted lights can be great too. The east side of Harper’s Island has been our go-to spot for nocturnal cats, but I’ve heard from others that Cow Creek, at the southwestern end of the lake, is also pretty good. Either location is within walking distance of the public launch at that end of the lake.
Now let’s move on to the gear you’ll need for these monsters.
Rods: First you will need a good strong rod. Any heavy to medium heavy rod 6 to 7 feet long will probably suffice. The ugly sticks will do the job well enough.
Line: Line requirements are also fairly simple, 15-25 pound monofilament or braid or heavy test fluorocarbon. If you are fishing for trophies that are much larger than 20 to 25 pounds, you may want to increase your line to 30 or even 35 test pounds.
the right hook: The correct hooks may be the most important factor to consider. Since virtually every bite you get from your bait is swallowed, you want to make sure that when you set your hook you don’t gut or hook your fish. A circle hook will slide up the throat and then usually catch on the jaw.
In addition to setting without rod action, circle hooks are preferred in commercial fisheries because they hook and hold fish, even on slack lines. They also tend to hook fish in the jaw, causing less mortality than standard J hooks. Make sure you use a heavy gauge hook. Cats have been known to straighten thin wire hooks.
The Hook Set: Using circle hooks requires some attention to your hook set. With reels with a clicker, you would set your drag light and turn on your reel clicker. When the clicker starts to click (indicating the bait has been bitten), squeeze the drag and slowly bring the rod tip back in one smooth motion. Casting the hook too early or too aggressively can knock the bait out of the catfish’s mouth.
What bait to use? I have the best luck with a golf ball sized piece of fish on a size 3/0, 4/0 or even 5/0 circle hook. Trout chunks work great (but you haven’t heard that from me), and some people persist in using earthworms, chicken livers, stink baits, and even cornflakes, oatmeal, and flour concoctions. The truth is that almost anything edible with a strong odor is likely to attract and entice a catfish into taking a bite.
Coils: Big bait-casting style reels certainly have the cranking power to move these big fish. Spinning reels can and do work and many catfish anglers use them. Just for fun my 31 year old son hooked and played a large catfish with a kids Scooby-Doo stick and even his bottom reel could have taken him over the side of the boat if the line hadn’t snapped on the motor out of rail.
Other junk: Some people use weights to keep their baits on the bottom. With a large piece of fish on your hook, I haven’t found it necessary. Also, Sprague’s rocky bottom can cause your weight to hang on the rocks. Some jacks like to roll when engaged, so a good ball bearing swivel can be an advantage. Bobbers can be a good idea both from a bite indicator standpoint and (if it’s being blown slowly across the surface), you can drag your bait along with it and present it over a larger area. I prefer to look at my line and the tip of the rod. Usually there is not much question when you have a catfish. Last but very important, a good big net is an essential element in navigating these behemoths.
The fight: I’ve heard some people say that catching a large catfish is like pulling a large log, or some other such nonsense. These comments are usually made by someone who has never caught a large catfish before. I can testify that a good sized Sprague Lake Catfish usually puts up quite a fight.
Get there: The city of Sprague is only 37 miles from Spokane, WA. After exiting I-90, go through town to the South Shore Highway and follow it to the public access road near the southwest end of the lake.
