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. During the peak spring and summer season, anglers often troll depths around 50 feet at 0.8 to 1.5 mph using squid-style lures like Macks Mini Cha Cha Squidder behind a dodger. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife expects to stock or has stocked more than 16.6 million trout and kokanee into over 500 water bodies across the state to provide for excellent trout and kokanee fishing opportunities during 2021. New regulations posted in 2002 require release of all trout less than 10 inches. Lake Sammamish, the next biggest natural lake in King County, offers a similar fishery just a bit farther east of Lake Washington. 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. But Washington also has some tremendous fisheries for wild rainbow trout. Thats what opening day is about, its about having fun going fishing, Spinelli said. EVERETT Its open season on Washingtons waterways once again. What lakes are stocked with trout in Washington state? After earning a degree in biology, he spent several years working as a fishing guide, leading trips and teaching others how to catch everything from trout to salmon. June is the prime month here, and kokanee tend to be 30 or 40 feet down, sometimes shallower early in the day. Even though they have the teeth for it, they do not prey upon humans, and they reside at about 5,000-6,000 feet below sea level. Many arent publicized much, but one place to start your search isWDFWs brook trout page, which lists selected fisheries by county. 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. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. In fact, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has also stocked channel cats in dozens of lakes. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". It eats a variety of fish and sea creatures. The current world record tiger trout, weighing 20 pounds and 13 ounces , was caught by Pete Friedland out of Lake Michigan back in 1978. If youd like to dive deeper into these deep-running freshwater salmon, read Kokanee Fishing: Simple How-To Tips and Techniques. Pierce County. 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. Triploid rainbow trout are hatchery-created with an extra set of genes, which makes them both sterile and able to grow faster than the typical trout. 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. Less known are the rivers excellent smallmouth bass and walleye fisheries. 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. The best-known Lahontan cutthroat trout fishery in Washington is Lake Lenore in Grant County. Coastal cutthroats include resident forms that remain in freshwater streams and lakes their entire lives, and a searun version that has a lifecycle resembling a steelhead. Night fishing is allowed on Loon Lake, and fishing for kokanee after dark is popular among local anglers, many of whom jig with glow-in-the-dark jigs tipped with maggots. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The average size kokanee in Lake Merwin is around 13 to 15 inches. 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. Find a list of potential fishing holes atWDFWs species page for golden trout. The prime fishing season at these mountain reservoirs is a little later here than in many lakes, and Kachess and Keechelus are better known for numbers of kokanee than size of fish. And here in Washington state, were lucky to have some of the best kokanee lakes in America right at our doorstep. All fish stocking is done in a manner that is conducive to protecting native aquatic fauna. In 2021, WDFW says that over 33,000 fish have been stocked within Grays Harbor and nearly 30,000 in Pacific County. In north-central Washington, triploid brook trout are regularly stocked in a few lakes. Where is the best fishing in Washington State? This plan provides information on where and how many trout WDFW plans tostockinlakes and streams around the state. Lake Riley is a bog lake located in the Cascade Mountain foothills about 10 miles northeast of Arlington. Given the size of this lake and the need to cover water, trolling is the usual ticket to success. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. STEVENS COUNTY, Wash., In what the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is calling a massive catch, a 24-pound tiger trout was pulled from Loon Lake by angler Caylun Peterson on June 26, shattering a state record. Visit WDFWs lowland lakes page for more information on these and hundreds of other lakes throughout the state. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Still, its rare to see anglers who know much about kokanee fishing go home empty handed during peak season. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The first step will be a demonstration planting Wednesday and Thursday on Colby Avenue. In Western Washington, literally hundreds of lakes are stocked with trout. Deer Lake in Island County, as well as Lake Erie, Lake McMurray and Sixteen Lake in Skagit County, also have tagged trout. Most years, anglers have a shot at some good-sized fish. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. 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. Its actually a subspecies of the rainbow trout adapted for extreme mountain conditions. Washington Fishing Lakes Search Washington Lakes . Kachess Lake is the larger of the two, covering an area of 4,377 acres. Fishing straight down with jigging spoons like a -ounce Gibbs Minnow or Bomber Slab can be one of the most enjoyable ways to fish because you really get to feel the bites. Another lake with established lake trout populations is Cle Elum Lake in Kittitas County, where WDFW truly wants you to catch and keep as many mackinaw as possible because they eat the baby sockeye salmon that biologists are trying to restore. Its probably the most likely place in Washington to catch kokanee salmon that cross the elusive 20-inch mark. Do you need a fishing license for catch and release in Washington? The 6.25-pound state record was caught here in 2003. Or try our advanced Washington fishing lake finder - search for any species of fish, filter by stocked lakes only, lake amenities and more. 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. Rotary Lake stocked a total of 56 10lb rainbow, last on November 10th, 2022. Kachess Lake has also been stocked with cutthroat trout. The stocking is comprised of "catchables", "jumbos", "put, grow and take" and "fry/fingerling" plants. Millions of kokanee fingerlings have been stocked in recent years, and anglers are catching more and more of these silvery landlocked salmon. That depth keeps the water cold year-round and makes Lake Chelan an absolutely perfect place for kokanee to call home. What Is The Most Versatile Type Of Fishing Rod? Geeks from across Snohomish County are in the tractor beam for the states big comic and pop culture convention in Seattle. Several school districts delayed classes after 1 or 2 inches fell in most areas. Wedding ring spinners are popular trolling lures, and hoochies can work well too. Rufus Woods represents about half of the southern boundary of the Colville Indian Reservation and separates the Reservation from Douglas County to the south. There is a primitive launch near the community of Seatons Grove, Washington near the east end of the reservoir Bridgeport State Park offers another boat launch on the west end of the reservoir near Chief Joseph Dam. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Sturgeon are easily the largest lake-dwelling fish in North America and have few natural predators, which contributes to their massive size and longevity. The kokanee fishing gets better and better as the summer wears on, with great fishing in June and July. The big lake whitefish is Washington State's first record catch of 2023. Banks Lake is another expansive impoundment in the Columbia Rivers massive hydroelectric and irrigation project, located just south of Grand Coulee Dam. Other years, youre lucky to catch one over 12 inches. The official state fish of Washington is the steelhead trout , which is scientifically known as Salmo gairdnerii. As with California, golden trout in Washington are found in high-elevation waters that in most cases will involve a hike for you to reach. Fiorito North stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on January 25th, 2023. . This fish stocking information is from the year 2000 to present. Where can I fish for bull trout in Washington? Ian Davis-Leonard: 425-339-3448; idavisleonard@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @IanDavisLeonard. Despite inauspicious weather, Spinelli said anglers reported a successful opening weekend. WDFW has stocked kokanee here in abundance in years past, and there is now a huge kokanee population here. Where is the best salmon fishing in Washington State? 2023, Everett Herald and Sound Publishing, Inc. Advertising in The Herald Business Journal, wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes, Edmonds seeks traffic-calming program applications, After controversial cutting, Middle May managers look to the future, Everett schools may slash 140 jobs, shutter virtual academy, Annual nerd migration draws locals to Emerald City Comic Con, After wrongful stop, news carrier will be on Arlington police boards, Man accused of Bothell cold case killing can stand trial, judge rules, Former county staffer takes job with Biden administration, In Everett visit, acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi offers food for thought, Museum honors former Herald journalists for spotlighting history, Car, bike or UFO? And kokanee tend to be 30 or 40 feet down, sometimes shallower early in the ``... Lake Merwin is around 13 to 15 inches rate, traffic source, etc Lake is the usual to! Despite inauspicious weather, Spinelli said anglers reported a successful opening weekend `` Performance '' 2013, Brent to... 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