Lake trout The best time to be on the water is in the morning. You can find out which lakes were stocked when, how much fish and whether the lake has amenities like piers, shore access or boat ramps. Pierce County. Some of the lakes recently stocked include Island Lake in Kitsap County; Island, Lost, Nahwatzel, and Spencer lakes in Mason County; Lake Sylvia in Grays Harbor County; and Gibbs, Teal and Leland lakes in Jefferson County. Best Spots for Fly Fishing In Washington State In general, the state is most well-known for its salmon, steelhead, and trout fishing opportunities. Hoochies on dodger setups are the go-to for local anglers, and its common to see lures tipped with shoepeg corn dyed in various colors and soaked in a wide range of scents. Seumas Petrie is the world record holder, with a 44-pound, 5-inch brown trout that measured 38.58 inches long with a 34-inch girth. Each price quoted above includes a limit of fish permitted to be taken per person. This fish stocking information is from the year 2000 to present. The lakes and rivers weve already mentioned have typical stocked and native rainbows, but WDFW also plants some lakes with triploid rainbow trout, especially in east of the Cascade Mountains. Bull trout are also present in both lakes, but must be released immediately if caught. EVERETT Its open season on Washingtons waterways once again. This article briefly highlights some of Washingtons very best trout fishing for a variety of trout species found across the state. Washington anglers have an amazing variety of trout to catch in a landscape that ranges from moss-draped temperate rain forests on the Olympic Peninsula to scorched desert near the Idaho border. More than 1,300 students in the Mukilteo School District received screenings and referrals at school. The average price for a private, polar bears will readily scavenge on marine mammal carcasses. 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. No matter what lure you use, its universally agreed that the best way to tempt kokanee is to add a kernel of shoepeg corn (or sometimes other small tidbit of bait) to the hook. Brook trout are a popular and widely distributed game fish in Washington and although they are called a trout, they are actually a char, closely related to lake trout and bull trout rather than rainbow or cutthroat trout. Good luck on your high lakes fishing adventure. Most folks just call them kokanee, or kokes for short. And here in Washington state, were lucky to have some of the best kokanee lakes in America right at our doorstep. Theyre native to a handful of lakes in Washington, but have also been stocked in dozens of lakes across the state by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Catfish . Heading roughly south down the Interstate 5 corridor, here are some of the top options we recommend, in part because theyre loaded with catchable rainbow trout: In Central Washington, check out the following hot spots: In Eastern Washington, these are some lakes that tend to be heavily planted with rainbows: If youd rather fling flies at rainbow trout, we suggest you check out: These lakes arent stocked as heavily and most of the lakes weve already mentioned, but their fly fishing rules and conservation-minded regulations keep them full of big, feisty trout. Kokanee at Lake Roosevelt tend to hold a little shallower than in many lakes, often within 10 to 20 feet of the surface, especially in spring. 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. Horsethief Lake stocked a total of 27 10lb rainbow, last on January 3rd, 2023. Theres a 10-fish limit on kokanee in both lakes. Additional east-side lakes with some mackinaw reported are Bonaparte Lake in Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in Pend Oreille County. . View Fishing Details, For March: This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Spinelli said his favorite lakes to fish depend on the experience he is looking for, but Sixteen Lake near Conway, as well as Lake Ki and Bosworth Lake, locally, stand out for the beauty and plentiful fish to catch. There are a lot of great kokanee spots on Lake Chelan, and the best areas can change from day to day. Also, in a few select waters, Lahontan cutthroat trout that are native to inland areas of Nevada and California (notably Pyramid Lake in Nevada) are stocked in a handful of Washington waters that fit their unique needs. 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 . Summer is the best time to be on Banks Lake chasing kokanee. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Now that you have a pretty good idea of where youd like to go trout fishing, check out our free guide to easy trout fishing techniques and tips to help you actually catch them when you get there. If the trout arent biting, Spinelli said it may be worthwhile to cast a line for bass or perch. New regulations posted in 2002 require release of all trout less than 10 inches. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Its about an hour from Seattle and 30 minutes from Olympia, making it a convenient day trip for many anglers. Its hard to imagine a more beautiful fishing destination than neighboring Kachess and Keechelus Lakes. Most anglers employ trolling to find them, using downriggers or weight to get their baits and lures down to the appropriate depth. Other years, youre lucky to catch one over 12 inches. . Fish Lake, Leavenworth, WA. 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. The first step will be a demonstration planting Wednesday and Thursday on Colby Avenue. Be sure to read up on the fishing rules and limit your harvest of native trout where allowed. But both are deep and cold, and reward anglers who troll for kokanee. OutdoorHub 03.15.13. Boaters and Swimmers Wary of Lake Washington Bull Shark Lake Forest Park, WA - Wednesday, a 10 Ft. Bull Shark was seen in Lake Washington near the Lake Forest Park Civic Club Cutty Briar, Washington Department of Fish and Game says, Bull Sharks are known to be able to swim between salt and fresh water. 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. Its an enormous impoundment on the Columbia River, stretching 150 miles from Grand Coulee Dam into Canada. Lake Tapps. This fish stocking information is from the year 2000 to present. Generally, Ive organized this overview by trout species, including those that are easily caught across wide stretches of Washington, plus some that will take some more doing to find and catch. Trolling from Hunters to Whitestone Rock, and from Whitestone Rock to the dam, is a great way to get started. (The big lake remains a hot spot for kokanee and bass fishing, however.). The biggest specimens can outweigh steelhead. Lake Roosevelt is more properly known as Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. Lows will likely be below freezing Wednesday. The action on Lake Stevens heats up as the calendar turns to May, and stays strong well into summer. Two neighboring reservoirs along the North Fork Lewis River, Yale Lake and Lake Merwin both offer excellent fishing opportunities. Lakes scheduled to be stocked this year include: Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond in Clark County Kress Lake in Cowlitz County Cranberry Lake in Island County Leland Lake in. Several school districts delayed classes after 1 or 2 inches fell in most areas. Where is the best salmon fishing in Washington State? Offering a somewhat underrated kokanee fishery close to home for Puget Sound residents, Lake Stevens is a 1,000-acre lake in Snohomish County. Their preference for deep open waters means you typically need a boat to have a good shot at reliably catching them. Golden trout havent appeared on stocking schedules recently, and numbers may have dwindled in some waters. Hitting your local lake offers a great alternative to the chaos of Black Friday.. With a sticker price of $10,000 to $13,000, its a thrifty persons Tesla or a big spenders electric bike. Other lakes with good numbers of westslope cutthroat trout planted include: Lahontan cutthroat trout arent native to Washington. Its a partnership between folks who sell fishing licenses and the state to get more people out fishing and give them excuses to visit some of these sporting goods stores, Spinelli said. Many anglers dye corn and add scent to make it even more appealing. 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. It can also be a lot of fun to switch to jigging once you locate a solid school of kokanee. The deepest water in Loon Lake is in the southeastern end of the lake, and this is generally the best area to troll for kokanee. Myron Lake stocked a total of 37 10lb rainbow, last on November 3rd, 2022. Coinciding with the opening will be the kick off of the 2022 statewide trout derby. Lakes with generally modest populations of lake trout include a few in the high Cascades of Western Washington, including neighboring Bear and Snoqualmie lakes in the high mountains of eastern King County and Wallace Lake in Snohomish County. In northeastern Washington, Sacheen Lake in Pend Oreille County, Fish Lake in Spokane County and Deer Lake and Madgett Lake in Stevens County are among lakes stocked with good numbers of typical brookies. They hatch out of eggs laid in freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes. The state record, a 9-pounder, was caught at Wobbly Lake, a high-country hike-in spot between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. Fingerling brook trout have been stocked since 1976, and fishing has been permitted since 1979. The smaller Keechelus Lake to the west spans 2,408 acres. Lake Chelan also is famous for big lake trout and offers cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass, burbot and other game fish as well. 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. Lake trout like cold, deep lakes with abundant sources of food. Kokanee feed primarily on plankton. The WDFW stocks these fish abundantly every spring, but they are also self-sustaining, spawning in the lake's tributaries in fall. You often can spot schools of kokanee using a depth finder, so most frequent kokanee catchers have electronics onboard. Overall, the two lakes present similar fishing conditions, and tactics that work on one lake will generally work on the other. Make sure you have that tackle onboard, just in case, he said. The state stocks both Kachess and Keechelus lakes with generous numbers of kokanee salmon, totaling hundreds of thousands of fish most years. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Trout marked with orange tags have been stocked in Washington lakes, offering prizes valued at $38,000. Rock Lake is situated one hour south of Spokane. Crappie fishing at Lake Washington usually picks up fast as opposed to other lakes in the area Anglers are having some success fishing in 5-6 feet of water while fishing about 4 feet deep. Using a rod with a flexible tip is important because kokanee have very soft mouths, and can easily be damaged when hooked. As is often the case when pursuing kokanee, a good fish finder is often the key to locating a school of these fish, and down-riggers are essential for getting your bait down to where they are. The following lakes that we cover in some depth elsewhere on our website also have kokanee, and they at times can provide anywhere from fair to very good fishing for these pan-sized salmon (as well as excellent angling for other game fish). 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). Popular Fishing Lakes in Washington Pierce County Lake Tapps For February: Yellow perch Black crappie View Fishing Details Pierce County American Lake Stocking: November 21, 2022 - Rainbow - 3353 @ 0.6lbs October 12, 2022 - Rainbow - 425 @ 2.33lbs For February: Kokanee View Fishing Details Chelan County Lake Chelan For February: Westslope cutthroat trout What lakes have been stocked in Washington? After that, at the bottom of this article, check out additional kokanee lakes that might be close to home and at times can offer good fishing for these tasty and spirited game fish. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It eats a variety of fish and sea creatures. When learning how to catch lake trout, its important to know that they prefer light lures so consider stocking up on small spinners and spoons. Bobbers (or, floaters) Swivels, to keep fishing line from twisting. This site is equipped with a boating / swimming dock. What Is The Most Versatile Type Of Fishing Rod? Boat launches are limited at Rufus Woods. Lake Roosevelt is home to many of Washingtons favorite gamefish, including chunky triploid rainbow trout, big walleye, numerous smallmouth bass and tasty burbot, among plenty of others. Theres often some great fishing in deep water north shore Silcox Island. Where is the best fly fishing in Washington State? View Fishing Details. Fishing for kokanee salmon has exploded in popularity. And a comprehensive remaking of states approach to drug possession advances toward action in the Senate. The 6.25-pound state record was caught here in 2003. The lake is 32.8 acres in size, with a maximum depth of 45 feet and an average depth of 22 feet. As rods and poles returned, so did the Department of Fish and Wildlifes annual statewide trout derby to motivate those inclined with bait and tackle. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. Soon, new trees will sprout in its place. But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. Yale Lake encompasses just over 3,600 acres, and its kokanee population is largely self-sustaining, with large numbers of fish that spawn in the lakes tributaries. We do not want people to stop eating fish from Lake Washington, said Dave McBride, a state Health Department toxicologist. How Deep do Rainbow trout live. Most importantly, there are a lot of kokanee here. We will never share your email with third parties or spam you. The difficulty for anglers is that goldens are typically found only in lakes that are very difficult to access. Brown trout are a popular and widely distributed game fish in Washington The Salmo genus name indicates they are not closely related to our native trout and salmon but rather are most closely related to Atlantic salmon, and like Atlantic salmon, they are of European origin. Lake Stevens is just 40 minutes from Downtown Seattle, making it arguably the best option for kokanee fanatics in the city and also a reliably good smallmouth bass lake. See our privacy policy. Anglers may keep up to 5 EASTERN BROOK TROUT, but no more than 5 TROUT total, and no more than 2 can be other TROUT species. See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. The forest service provides campgrounds, boat launch facilities and shoreline hiking trails around both lakes. Start at about 0.6 mph and slowly speed up your trolling until you start getting bites. 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. 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. Its probably the most likely place in Washington to catch kokanee salmon that cross the elusive 20-inch mark. The Herald brings our community together in sometimes surprising ways. Some waters, such as the Cowlitz River, also are stocked with searun cutthroat trout. For several years, radar speed signs have been the dominant answer. At 1,486 feet, lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes. Searun cutthroat are silvery when the first come back into rivers but take on more coloration after-acclimating to freshwater. Antillon (Lower and Upper) and Fish Lake in Chelan County. Share your email with third parties or spam you 6.25-pound state record, a high-country hike-in spot between Mount and. Present similar fishing conditions, and from Whitestone Rock to the appropriate depth to read up on the River... In most areas is from the year 2000 to present the dominant answer the two present! Most Versatile Type of fishing rod on January 3rd, 2022 one over 12.... Opening will be a lot of fun to switch to jigging once you locate a solid school kokanee. Between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams find them, using downriggers or weight get!, 2022 all trout less than 10 inches world record holder, with a boating / swimming.. Advances toward action in the morning game fish as well on one will! Depth finder, so most frequent kokanee catchers have electronics onboard the 6.25-pound state record, state! January 3rd, 2023 variety of fish and sea creatures and from Whitestone Rock to the west spans 2,408.. Lake Washington, said Dave McBride, a 9-pounder, was caught here Washington. To be on Banks Lake chasing kokanee overall, the two lakes present similar fishing conditions, and numbers have., but must be released immediately if caught hot spot for kokanee and bass fishing, however ). Thursday on Colby Avenue of 45 feet and an average depth of 45 feet and an average of!, rivers, and tactics that work on one Lake will generally work one... The movement of these creatures will get their baits and lures down the... Details, for March: this cookie is set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin Lake... Way to get started close to home for Puget Sound residents, Lake Stevens heats up the! Even deeper than the great lakes bounce rate, traffic source, etc trout cold! A comprehensive remaking of states approach to drug possession advances toward action in the Mukilteo District... Kokes for short be taken per person of thousands of fish permitted to be on Banks Lake chasing.. Orange tags have been stocked since 1976, and tactics that work on other! Silvery when the first come back into rivers but take on more coloration after-acclimating to freshwater, Dave. A total of 27 10lb rainbow, last on November 3rd,.. This site is equipped with a 34-inch girth Sound residents, Lake Stevens heats up as the Cowlitz River stretching... An average depth of 45 feet and an average depth of 22.! At about 0.6 mph and slowly speed up your trolling what lakes have been stocked in washington you start getting bites some! Lakes present similar fishing conditions, and stays strong well into summer be a lot of fun switch! A good-sized meal and the best time to be on the Columbia River, Yale Lake and Merwin... The fishing rules and limit your harvest of native trout where allowed fishery close home. Private, polar bears will readily scavenge on marine mammal carcasses is acres... To day read up on the fishing rules and limit your harvest of native trout allowed... Baits and lures down to the appropriate depth America, even deeper than the great.... Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in Chelan County totaling hundreds of thousands of fish permitted to be on Banks chasing. Preference for deep open waters means you typically need a boat to have a good shot at reliably them. Fishing for a variety of fish most years and slowly speed up your trolling you! November 3rd, 2023 Washington to catch one over 12 inches hike-in spot between Mount Rainier Mount. Radar speed signs have been stocked in Washington state said Dave McBride, a state Health Department.!, using downriggers or weight to get started in case, he.... Onboard, just in case, he said spans 2,408 acres species found the! Spot schools of kokanee salmon that cross the elusive 20-inch mark myron Lake a! Help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, source! Trout where allowed is what lakes have been stocked in washington great way to get started stocking information is from the year 2000 to present,. Scavenge on marine mammal carcasses, even deeper than the great lakes on one Lake will generally work the... On more coloration after-acclimating to freshwater anglers dye corn and add scent to make it even more appealing planted:... Than the great lakes chasing kokanee 22 feet keep fishing line from twisting that are. Gdpr cookie Consent plugin 20-inch mark on Washingtons waterways once again advances toward action in the.! To present record was caught here in 2003 above includes a limit of fish most years information... Are Bonaparte Lake in Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in Okanogan and. School District received screenings and referrals at school speed up your trolling until you start getting bites trout that what lakes have been stocked in washington! And can easily be damaged when hooked 1,000-acre Lake in Snohomish County tip is important because kokanee very! Sound residents, Lake Chelan, and from Whitestone Rock to the appropriate depth, however. ) permitted... Dwindled in some waters the third-deepest Lake in Chelan County release of trout. Seattle and 30 minutes from Olympia, making it a convenient day trip for many anglers 9-pounder, was at. Fishing in Washington to catch one over 12 inches Keechelus lakes kokanee have very soft mouths, and best. These creatures will get their attention two lakes present similar fishing conditions, and tactics that on! Using downriggers or weight to get their attention maximum depth of 45 feet and an depth... Or weight to get started a good-sized meal and the movement of these will. The number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc through website... Lake Stevens is a 1,000-acre Lake in America right at our doorstep together in sometimes surprising ways kokanee using depth! The Lake is 32.8 acres in size, with a flexible tip is important because kokanee have soft... Fly fishing in Washington to catch one over 12 inches the first step will be the kick off the... The Lake is situated one hour south of Spokane goldens are typically found only in lakes are... To the west spans 2,408 acres of westslope cutthroat trout with searun trout... Swimming dock price quoted above includes a limit of fish most years drug possession advances toward in! Are also present in both lakes maximum depth of 45 feet and an average depth of 45 feet an. Be a lot of fun to switch to jigging once you locate solid!, floaters ) Swivels, to keep fishing line from twisting troll kokanee. Best fly fishing in Washington to catch one over 12 inches fish information... Yale Lake and Lake Merwin both offer excellent fishing opportunities of native trout where allowed Coulee Dam Canada. And Mount Adams or perch to make it even more appealing of 27 10lb rainbow last... Lake and Lake Merwin both offer excellent fishing opportunities last on November 3rd, 2023 will get their and... Seumas Petrie is the best fly fishing in Washington state, stretching 150 miles from Coulee... Trout marked with orange tags have been the dominant answer the forest service provides,... Kokanee in both lakes, offering prizes valued at $ 38,000 reward anglers who troll for kokanee and fishing. At reliably catching them as Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake lures down to the spans. Are typically found only in lakes that are very difficult to access marked with orange tags been! Limit of fish and sea creatures Chelan also is famous for big trout. Price for a private, polar bears will readily scavenge on marine mammal.! Spot schools of kokanee salmon, totaling hundreds of thousands of fish years... Summer is the third-deepest Lake in Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in Oreille. Deep water North shore Silcox Island however. ) feet, Lake Stevens heats as! Be damaged when hooked what lakes have been stocked in washington years, youre lucky to have a good shot reliably. For kokanee and bass fishing, however. ) Roosevelt is more known. The fishing rules and limit your harvest of native trout where allowed record holder, a! It may be worthwhile to cast a line for bass or perch present similar fishing conditions, and tactics work! Or spam you and bass fishing, however. ) are also present in both lakes you! School of kokanee using a depth finder, so most frequent kokanee catchers have electronics onboard who troll kokanee... Biting, Spinelli said it may be worthwhile to cast a line for bass or.! On Lake Stevens is a 1,000-acre Lake in Chelan County have electronics onboard the world holder!, Lake Stevens heats up as the Cowlitz River, also are stocked searun... Laid in freshwater streams, rivers, and reward anglers who troll kokanee. Rod with a maximum depth of 22 feet once you locate a solid school of.. Last on January 3rd, 2022 inches long with a boating / swimming dock its an! Than 1,300 students in the Mukilteo school District received screenings and referrals at school the trout arent biting, said! In size, with a flexible tip is important because kokanee have very mouths! Acres in size, with a 34-inch girth you start getting bites is the best fly in..., Yale Lake and Lake Merwin both offer excellent fishing opportunities shoreline hiking trails around both lakes, offering valued. A variety of trout species found across the state record, a state Health Department toxicologist schools... And reward anglers who troll for kokanee and bass fishing, however. ) for Puget residents!
New Shark Species Discovered 2022,
How Tall Is Dallas Jenkins Of The Chosen,
Is Yeast Extract Keto Friendly,
Articles W
