Henry Hagg Lake

Constructed in the mid-1970s and fast becoming one of the
best smallmouth bass lakes in the Portland area, Henry Hagg lake
has been yielding some in the 6-lb. plus category! This 1,113-acre
impoundment is located west of Portland. To get there, go on the
Tualatin Valley Highway (Hwy 8) through Hillsboro to Forest
Grove. Turn left on Hwy 47 approximately 6 miles until you see
the Hagg Lake/Scoggins Valley Park signs. Turn right and go 3.7
miles to the park entrance. There is a nominal fee for day use of
the park, which is open from sunrise to sunset. Owned by the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation and maintained and operated by Washington
County, the park has numerous picnic areas; two boat
launching facilities; the lake is stocked with rainbow trout,
smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, perch, crappie and bluegills
for angling; 15-plus miles of hiking trails; observation decks for
wildlife- and bird-watching and extensive facilities for disabled
visitors. Washington County has provided excellent handicap
facilities and the boat docks are fully automatic for those confined
to a wheel chair.

SPRING STARTS TROUT ANGLING ACTIVITY
In the spring hot spots are found at the south end, by the dam
and at the boat ramp C area. Scoggins Creek is also good early in
the season. Bank fishing is good April and May, slowing from June
through August because of the warmer weather. You should try out
deep, just off the bottom. Trolling is good all through the year in the
Sain Creek Arm and in the deep channels in the middle of the lake
as the water begins to recede.

SUMMER SEASON
This is the time to start using lake trolls. Because of their
popularity, effectiveness and ease of use, a wide variety are available
They are particularly effective in deep, murky waters or on
days with overcast skies.
The basic difference between lake trolls is the number and
shape of the blades and the length of the shaft (cable). The blade
shape determines rotation speed and the particular underwater
sound vibration produced. A round or nearly round blade such as
the Colorado or Bear Valley swings slow and wide from the shaft,
while narrow blades like the Willowleaf are best suited for faster
trolling because they have less resistance in the water.
A troll can be used in conjunction with just about any lure or
bait such as a small spoon (Needlefish®, Super Duper®) live bait
(worm) or a small plug (Hot Shot®). From the end of the troll, a
leader should extend at least 12 inches back to the lure (many prefer
leaders of 18 to 24 inches - some 36").
Larger and more blades should be used for deep trolling or for
working murky water. Clear water or depths of 10 to 20 feet require
fewer blades which can also be smaller. Nickel finishes work best
on bright days or in clear water brass and copper finishes produce
better in murky, deep or tea-colored water. Brass, 50/50 brass/
Nickel or Copper finishes work well on overcast days.
Some of the best lake trolls for Hagg Lake are Doc Shelton™,
Ford Fender® or other rigs such as Bear Valley, Willow Leaf and
Baby Gangs™ with a snubber and two feet of leader followed by
Hot Shots. Strikes that come when trolling usually are vicious so
use the snubber to absorb the impact and prevent tearing the hook
out of a fish's tender mouth.
When varying trolling speed and working is "S" curves and just
about everything else has failed to outwit a trout, try these tips. Give
your line a sharp jerk or two every few minutes or allow the troll to
go dead in the water and sink for a few feet before continuing. Also
try doubling your speed for several feet and then slow down
quickly. You will receive the most hits just after the lure has been
quickly and erratically moved and is beginning to slow down.
Another thing to consider is going to a lighter, longer leader from
troll-to-lure. Berkley® 6-lb. Trilene® XT or XL has high know
strength and very high tensile strength in relation to line diameter
and is difficult for finicky trout to see.
Bang-Tail® spinners can also be very hot now. Try fishing for
bass with crankbaits such as a shallow-diving Speed Trap® up in the
rocks by the dam and by the boat ramps, or the deep-diving Hot Lips
Express® for fast drop-offs and deeper water. Night crawlers can
also be very effective.

UNDERSTANDING BASS
Bass first become vulnerable to surface lures when the water
warms up in the spring. As water nears 60 degrees, both largemouth
and smallmouth move into shallow bays and pockets looking for
food and readying themselves for spawning. Once the water
temperature has stabilized and spawning if finished, these shallow
spots pay off only in low-light situations.
Bass are especially susceptible to wood surface baits such as
the Bass-Oreno® in the fall, when they stay in warmer, shallower
water for long periods. They seem to sense that winter is on the way
and increase their feeding activity.

COLORS / SIZES
Bass do react differently to different surface lure types and
finishes. They normally only see the silhouette of the plug on dark
or cloudy days so that's when dark lures work best. When there are
bright light conditions, lighter shades work best. On calm days,
smaller plugs with less noisemaking capabilities work better, while
you need a real noisy plug such as a Nip-I-Diddee® to create
disturbance on windy days.
Accurate casting is essential. Mere inches can mean the difference
between a fish and none. Casts should be made to openings in
or near cover such as underneath or alongside a dock, inches away
from a stickup, between lily pads, over submerged objects which lie
just under the surface, etc.
Bass feed on large organisms such as crayfish, minnows,
salamanders or frogs. Any small animal or bug that lands near a
bass in ambush is a likely meal and this is what makes surface lures
so deadly . . . the imitate these easy meals.

TOPWATER TECHNIQUES
Two basic options for fishing wood surface chuggers/darters
such as the Bass-Oreno which darts underwater when twitched and
then floats back to the top are:
1. For fishing near deep dropoffs and points, it can be used
either as a darter or subsurface wobbling bait. A unique feature of
the Bass-Oreno is its ability to pop back almost to its original
starting position, after being twitched under the surface. To fish as
a darter, use a sharp jerk which causes the bait to splash and pop
water on the surface before darting under. Then pause, allowing the
bait to resurface. Jerk again, pause and repeat. Many anglers prefer
to fish the plug with the sharp-jerk, pause pattern for several feet,
switch to a straight subsurface retrieve for the next several feet and
then allow the bait to resurface and start the process over again.
2. Use a twitch-and-pause pattern when fishing shorelines or
water adjacent to cover. Work it all the way to the boat, keeping
your eyes open for a boil adjacent to it. If one is observed, lengthen
the pause time between twitches on the next cast.
PROP BAITS
There are three basic options available for fishing propeller
baits such as the Nip-I-Diddee or Woodchopper™:
1. Cast to the edge of cover and let the impact rings move about
three feet away from the lure. Twitch once, stop, twitch again, stop.
Make a short, sharp jerk, stop, jerk, stop and continue this pattern
until the plug is only a few feet away from you. Watch the lure
carefully as you lift it from the water. If a boil appears, slow down
the retrieve on your next cast as you have been moving the lure too
fast to achieve a strike.
2. Cast to the edge of cover. Make two quick jerks, stop and
then continue this pattern until the plug is a few feet from you.
Follow the lift-out procedure as in #1.
3. Cast to the edge of cover. Wait for one full minute. Twitch
the plug twice, stop, jerk once, stop, twitch twice, etc. Use this
alternating pattern until the bait is a few feet from you, again lifting
out as in #1.

LAKE TROLLING TIPS
1. TROLL SLOWLY: One of the biggest mistakes made by anglers
is working a lure too fast. Large fish will not spend any more energy
than necessary to catch a meal. Also, most lures will not perform
correctly at fast speeds. The best advice is to troll s-l-o-w-l-y — the
slower the better. Many expert trout trollers refuse to use a motor
as they feel it's just too fast. They use oars instead. If you're going
to use a motor, make sure it will throttle down to a crawl. Other
prefer a multispeed electric.
2. VARY YOUR SPEED: While slow is the password to successful
trolling, this does not mean slow all the time. A lure running
through the water at a constant speed, at a constant depth and giving
off the same vibration pattern will not catch many fish . . . there’s
just nothing there to indicate an easy meal is available or that
something is in trouble. Slowly, yes, but adjust your speed every
few minutes to change the lure’s speed and vibration pattern.
3. WORK IN “S” CURVES: Consistent trolling results require that
you do everything possible to keep from running in a straight line.
An “S” pattern will produce many more strikes and fish. Every time
the troll and lure are on the inside swing of the boat, the lure will
drop deeper and slow down. On an outside turn, it will speed up and
rise. With each turn you will impart a different action to the troll and
trailing lure, signaling “Meal Time” to nearby fish.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob and wife Cherri Klaumann own and operate Lake Stop
Grocery at nearby Gaston, Oregon where they offer a full line of
fishing tackle and food items. Call 503-357-4270.
The best baked fried goods this side of Gaston Market. The chili's not bad either.