OLYMPIA - The Washington trout season begins in earnest Saturday, April 23, when hundreds of lakes stocked with catchable trout open for business and the 2022 statewide trout derby kicks off. The lake is stocked with various game fish and is open to the general public on a permit basis. All fish stocking is done in a manner that is conducive to protecting native aquatic fauna. What Is The Most Versatile Type Of Fishing Rod? The award-winning chef came to the Everett Performing Arts Center for a spicy cooking demo while fielding audience questions. Lake Sacajawea stocked a total of 15 10lb rainbow, last on December 15th, 2022. For the sake of comparison, the IGFAs overall world record for golden trout stands at 11 pounds That fish was caught by Chas Reed at Cooks Lake, Wyoming, in 1948. There arent usually many opportunities to catch kokanee from shore. Yes, it is legal to use sport caught trout for bait for halibut Use salmon, herring, or halibut for anything other than human consumption or fishing bait.. Lake Sammamish often can out-fish its larger neighbor for numbers, although at times the average trout here will be a bit smaller. Conventional wisdom suggests that late spring is the best time to catch trout, especially if youre looking for larger fish. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Its an enormous impoundment on the Columbia River, stretching 150 miles from Grand Coulee Dam into Canada. Fair to occasionally quite good fisheries for lake trout also exist in northeastern Washington, specifically at Deer Lake and Loon Lake in Stevens County and Bead Lake in Pend Oreille County. Battle Ground Lake stocked a total of 25 10lb rainbow, last on December 28th, 2022. German brown trout, have made their home in a fair number of Washingtons lakes and streams, thanks both to stocking programs and natural reproduction in some waters. There are a lot of great kokanee spots on Lake Chelan, and the best areas can change from day to day. Licenses can be purchased online, by phone at 1-866-246-9453, or at any of the hundreds of license vendors across the state. The famous Lake Chelan in recent years has been stocked with generous numbers of these cutthroat trout, and cutthroat of excellent size are being caught. Physical description. Lake Sammamish, just outside Seattle, was historically one of the areas go-to kokanee lakes, but kokanee fishing here has been closed in recent years following a major population collapse. (Merwin also is one of the select number of lakes in Washington planted with tiger muskies.). According to the Fishbase online database Rainbow trout inhabit water between 0 and 200m (656ft) The source of this maximum depth is from the Catalog of marine and freshwater fishes of the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk. What lakes in Washington have tiger trout? With "spring break" fast approaching, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is stocking dozens of lakes in Western Washington with more than 250,000 . Boat launches are limited at Rufus Woods. Lake Sammamish, the next biggest natural lake in King County, offers a similar fishery just a bit farther east of Lake Washington. At 1,486 feet, lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes. The lake has been stocked with several species of fish including: largemouth bass, walleye, saugeye, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill and crappie. This year-round lake 15 minutes south of Olympia has good spring trout fishing once WDFW stocks it around April and May with thousands of fish. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Maybe youd rather match the hatch on moving water? Rock Lake. It can also be a lot of fun to switch to jigging once you locate a solid school of kokanee. Just like the Yakima, this, in turn, produces some giant trout as they have a reliable food source and plenty of space to grow. Banks Lake is perhaps best known for walleye fishing, and for its abundant population of lake whitefish, among other game fish. Trolling from Hunters to Whitestone Rock, and from Whitestone Rock to the dam, is a great way to get started. As the largest natural lake in eastern Washington, Rock Lake covers 2,189 acres and stretches for nearly 7 miles through the desert landscape. Are steelhead and rainbow trout the same? Loon Lake is arguably the best. There are 5- to 10-pound rainbow trout here too, and one might surprise you by grabbing your lure. For March: While the fishing can be excellent in both lakes, and it varies year to year, Merwin is often regarded as the best for both size and numbers. Fish Lake, Leavenworth, WA. Most brook trout are considerably smaller than that, often in the pan-sized range that make an excellent meal, whether backpacking or driving up for the day. We will never share your email with third parties or spam you. This is the largest natural lake in eastern Washington. From the small haunts to the well-known spots, more information on the local stocking schedule can be found at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking. Many arent publicized much, but one place to start your search isWDFWs brook trout page, which lists selected fisheries by county. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Brent grew up spending his summers out on the water, exploring the many rivers, streams, and lakes of the region. The Yakima River. Eastern Washington offers fewer kokanee waters than the western and central parts of the state, but anglers in the Spokane area have a few options. He added that Wagner Lake outside of Monroe and Howard Lake past Index both fished particularly well to start the season. Can you fish for trout all year-round in Washington? As a bonus, its only about 45 minutes beyond Snoqualmie Pass from the Seattle area, or a similar distance driving northwest from Ellensburg. Its about an hour from Seattle and 30 minutes from Olympia, making it a convenient day trip for many anglers. The lake also freezes most winters, making it a popular ice fishing destination for a variety of fish. Its definitely our top choice if you are hoping to boat a big mack. In the past, Tims Ponds stocked tens of thousands of rainbow averaging 0.5 lbs. Trout marked with orange tags have been stocked in Washington lakes, offering prizes valued at $38,000. Westslope cutthroat trout In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". To prepare for the opener, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's fish hatchery crews have been stocking more than 12 million trout and kokanee in lakes statewide. In winter, try the area between the Narrows and Twenty-Five Mile Creek, and work your way downlake as the weather turns toward spring. Better still, fish early in the morning. Lake Riley. If not, youre still like to catch brook, rainbow or cutthroat trout along the way. Everyone age 15 and older needs a fishing license. The lake essentially has one main basin, and finding kokanee is the greatest hurdle here. The state record, a 9-pounder, was caught at Wobbly Lake, a high-country hike-in spot between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. The next reservoir downstream from Roosevelt is Rufus Woods Lake, which has produced the Washington state record rainbow trout, a triploid tipping the scales at nearly 30 pounds. Native populations at Lake Whatcom have also been enhanced by major stocking operations. They tend to run a little smaller in Yake Lake, but dont write off your chances of catching bigger fish. But theres a great under-the-radar kokanee fishery here as well. Table of Contentsshow 1. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Horsethief Lake stocked a total of 27 10lb rainbow, last on January 3rd, 2023. Here are some regular brown trout stocking sites across Washington: Some of the streams that at times can fish well for brown trout, and might be worth exploring, include Crab Creek (Lincoln, Grant and Adams counties), Colville River (Stevens County), Rock Creek (Adams and Whitman counties), and Spokane River (Spokane County). Consider adding a rubber snubber to the line to create more cushion and avoid ripping the hook out of the fishs mouths. But both are deep and cold, and reward anglers who troll for kokanee. At 1,091 acres, American Lake gets busy on summer weekends. Check out our complete guide to the best fly fishing rivers in Washington. The lake gets its name from the naturally occurring foam that gives its water a soapy appearance, and because the lakes mineral-rich waters have a slick, soapy feel. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. A trout plant of roughly 63,400 is underway in 18 year-round lakes in King, Snohomish, Whatcom, San Juan, Skagit and Island counties with some already stocked. Its probably the most likely place in Washington to catch kokanee salmon that cross the elusive 20-inch mark. For those who have their sights set on giant browns, look no further than Rock Lake. Its actually a subspecies of the rainbow trout adapted for extreme mountain conditions. Theres often some great fishing in deep water north shore Silcox Island. American Lake near Tacoma is the largest lake in Pierce County. The watershed, or the land area that drains into the lake, is relatively small. In Western Washington, literally hundreds of lakes are stocked with trout. Fish beware. Good luck on your high lakes fishing adventure. Kokanee typically measure 10 to 14 inches and weigh about a pound. This article primarily serves as a jumping-off point, where you can link into more detailed information about the specific trout fishing topics and locations that fit your interests. Anglers who catch orange-tagged trout in lakes across Washington can win one of the more than 1,000 prizes, from 70 participating businesses with a total value of more than $38,000. https://stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/, What time of year do you use topwater frogs? The best kokanee fishing on Lake Chelan is typically from mid-April through the end of June, but some of the biggest fish tend to be caught a bit later in the summer. There are three subspecies of rainbow trout that occur in Washington, but only two are native; the coastal rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss irideus) and the Columbia Basin redband trout (O. mykiss gairdneri) The coastal rainbow trout occurs in western Washington and in the lower Columbia River. Kachess Lake is the larger of the two, covering an area of 4,377 acres. However, the populations in most coastal streams are wild. Trout prefer to wait and cruise in the bottom 2-3 feet of water to intercept any food that drifts by. She settled with the city this month. In a year of good returns, over 1 million Chinook, coho and sockeye salmon, and summer steelhead travel up the river to spawn in its tributaries. Find the best locations, time and species of fish to catch in the state of Washington. Antillon (Lower and Upper) and Fish Lake in Chelan County. More than 1,300 students in the Mukilteo School District received screenings and referrals at school. Its hard to imagine a more beautiful fishing destination than neighboring Kachess and Keechelus Lakes. Bait your hook with floating bait so your offering rises up close to the thermocline. See our privacy policy. Fiorito North stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on January 25th, 2023. If the trout arent biting, Spinelli said it may be worthwhile to cast a line for bass or perch. Loon Lake is open seasonally, from the 4th Saturday in April until October 31st. As you explore, youll want to click the links in this article to discover more detailed information about places where you can catch your favorite type of trout, or where you can check off another less-common trout species from your bucket list. A western green drake or Drunella Grandis is a large crawling mayfly that can be easily identified for its upright mayfly wings and vibrant green color. 18-inch kokes are possible in both lakes. Start at about 0.6 mph and slowly speed up your trolling until you start getting bites. Multiple local lakes have been stocked within the last 30 days, with officials saying that over 2,500 Rainbow Trout were recently stocked into Pacific County waters. Golden trout havent appeared on stocking schedules recently, and numbers may have dwindled in some waters. The kokanee population at Banks Lake is fueled largely by abundant stocking from WDFW. On good years, 16- to 18-inch kokanee are average. We calculated the density of stocked fish per acre based amount of fish stocked in the last 12 months, divided by the acreage of the lake. Depths vary, so be prepared to change it up. Kokanee are actually a landlocked form of sockeye salmon, known for fighting above their weight class while sharing the sockeyes supreme reputation for table fare. Of course, as with many lakes, the kokanee fishing can be frustratingly cyclical. Prior to the existence of a state wildlife management agency, the U.S. Forest Service stocked mountain lakes with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) , cutthroat trout (Oncohynchus clarki) and eastern brook trout . In 2021, WDFW says that over 33,000 fish have been stocked within Grays Harbor and nearly 30,000 in Pacific County. Heres another non-native char, though it hails from the other side of the country in the Great Lakes and up into Canada, rather than the other side of the globe. Best Trout Fishing in Washington(Complete Anglers Guide), Lake Trout (Mackinaw) Fishing in Washington, complete guide to the best fly fishing rivers in Washington, the best steelhead fishing rivers in Washington in a separate article, free guide to easy trout fishing techniques and tips, FioRito Lake and Mattoon Lake in Kittitas County, Dalton Lake in Franklin County (Tri-Cities), Mountain Lake in San Juan County (on Orcas Island), Campbell Lake and Cavanaugh Lake in Skagit County, Davis Lake, Marshall Lake and several smaller lakes in Pend Oreille County, Badger Lake in Spokane County (plus a few others with modest plants), Merrill Lake (fly fishing) in Cowlitz County, Antillon (Lower and Upper) and Fish Lake in Chelan County, Martha Lake (Warm Beach) in Snohomish County, Aeneas Lake and Blue Lake (Sinlahekin) in Okanogan County. Start at the state park. The old standby Wedding Ring spinner with a nightcrawler on the hook a pretty common tactic. 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