How Deep do Rainbow trout live. 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. Visit WDFWs lowland lakes page for more information on these and hundreds of other lakes throughout the state. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. The prime fishing season on most of these Washington kokanee lakes is May through July, but there are spots that offer some pretty good early season or late summer angling as well. 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. (Most of the top-tier lakes weve already told you about above also have links to more in-depth articles. 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. Rufus Woods Lake has been jointly managed by Colville Tribes Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Use a bottom rig with an egg sinker to get your casts out deep. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. 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. 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. Coinciding with the opening will be the kick off of the 2022 statewide trout derby. The warmer it gets, the more fishing pressure from other anglers, the thicker the grass and brush surrounding their habitats and the lower the water levels. Using a rod with a flexible tip is important because kokanee have very soft mouths, and can easily be damaged when hooked. 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. Need a fishing license? Largemouth bass Rainbow trout Native populations at Lake Whatcom have also been enhanced by major stocking operations. More than 16 million trout and kokanee were added to lakes and streams during the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlifes year-round stocking. Lake Chelan is a very long, fairly narrow lake that measures over 50 miles end-to-end. 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. There are 5- to 10-pound rainbow trout here too, and one might surprise you by grabbing your lure. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. courtesy of WDFW. Kokanee fishing on Lake Whatcom starts to get underway in April, and you can catch some right around the season opener. 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. In winter you may need to focus your efforts a little deeper. Horsethief Lake stocked a total of 27 10lb rainbow, last on January 3rd, 2023. If youre out after 18-inch brutes but dont mind slower days, wait until August and plan to fish deeper. Kokanee salmon are native to Lake Whatcom (and also to neighboring Lake Samish, a solid kokanee lake that narrowly missed making the cut for this list; see below for additional kokanee fisheries including Lake Samish). Potholes Reservoir. If youre 12 years old or over, dont even think about casting a hook without one, Yes! They can reach 45 inches in length, but are usually much smaller. The lakes in this first section are places where youre very likely to do well dunking some bait such as a nightcrawler or PowerBait, trolling around with some pop gear like flashers ahead of a Wedding Ring lure, or sometimes casting lures or flies. If you want to try live bait, try night crawlers, salmon eggs, or minnows that mimic their native prey. Spokane area anglers should also keep an eye on Chapman Lake. Its a historically great kokanee spot thats been closed to boats in recent years due to lack of access, but the WDFW is working toward opening a boat launch on the lake. Once the trout-fishing fades in the summer your best bets will include nice numbers of largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish. The Thanksgiving weekend is one of the best times of year to go fishing in Washington, and its also a great time to introduce visiting friends or relatives to the joy of fishing, said Steve Caromile, inland fish program manager with WDFW. Monofilament recovery and recycling program, Statewide hatchery trout and kokanee stocking plan, Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking. Merrill Lake (fly fishing) in Cowlitz County. It isnt the first time rumors of alligators or crocodiles have surfaced in Washington There was a report last August of an alligator in a lake near Kent. The Herald brings our community together in sometimes surprising ways. The official world record for a sport-caught lake trout is 72 pounds, but even larger lakers have been recorded. 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). Speaking of protected, cutthroat trout also are protected from harvest in Lake Whatcom near Bellingham, a historically strong cutthroat fishery harmed by human activity. In lakes where multiple lines are allowed, its smart to run two lines at different depths to increase your odds. Hitting your local lake offers a great alternative to the chaos of Black Friday.. OLYMPIA Forget about standing in lines on the day after Thanksgiving this year, and think instead about casting a line in one of the many lakes the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is still stocking this November. Facing a $28M deficit, the school board adopted a blueprint for potential layoffs and deep program cuts to make ends meet. Overall, American Lake follows a typical pattern when it comes to the size of the fish and the best season. https://www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/, https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/wdfw-to-stock-more-than-147000-trout-in-washington-lakes/, https://stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/. Bigger isnt always better, but for Washingtons longest river, it is. This is the largest natural lake in eastern Washington. Get notified by email right after a lake near you has been stocked! View Fishing Details, For March: The only real rival to Lenore when it comes to Lahontans is Omak Lake on the Colville Indian Reservation in Okanogan County (southeast of the city of Omak). Antillon (Lower and Upper) and Fish Lake in Chelan County. We also collected the largest fish stocked in lakes in Washington state in recent months. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 1. Many of those fish have been slated to land in lakes and ponds in southwest Washington, including in and around Lewis County. 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. There arent usually many opportunities to catch kokanee from shore. Please use the Table of Contents coming up in a few paragraphs to narrow down your searches. (Mike Benbow, file). The stocking is comprised of "catchables", "jumbos", "put, grow and take" and "fry/fingerling" plants. Trout prefer to wait and cruise in the bottom 2-3 feet of water to intercept any food that drifts by. Brown bullheads are the most common. . However, if youre up for a long walk in the high mountains, it could be a fun way to check off another bucket list fish. Still, its rare to see anglers who know much about kokanee fishing go home empty handed during peak season. For March: The big lake whitefish is Washington State's first record catch of 2023. It measures 183.8 acres, and is largely undeveloped. Searuns, also known as harvest trout, dont spend as much time at sea as steelhead, instead feeding in bays and near-shore areas to feed on shrimp and other forage before returning to their home streams. Saturday marked the beginning of trout angling season across the state and the fish are chomping at the bait. There are no fish in the lake, due to the high PH and mineral content. Petrie caught the trout in Twizel, New Zealands (South Island) Ohau Canal on Oct. 27, 2020. If they follow the recommendations, its perfectly safe The highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyls were found in larger fish, which tend to concentrate more of the suspected carcinogen. Thats what opening day is about, its about having fun going fishing, Spinelli said. Kokanee That puts it a little off the radar, but the public can fish Omak Lake with a tribal permit. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Pierce County. Soap Lake is a meromictic soda lake in the town of Soap Lake, Washington formed by the Missoula Floods at the foot of the Grand Coulee. Lures or flies. You could call it a kokanee craze. Anglers 15 years and older must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2023, to participate. In fact, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has also stocked channel cats in dozens of lakes. We do not want people to stop eating fish from Lake Washington, said Dave McBride, a state Health Department toxicologist. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/wdfw-to-stock-more-than-147000-trout-in-washington-lakes/ Two neighboring reservoirs along the North Fork Lewis River, Yale Lake and Lake Merwin both offer excellent fishing opportunities. Klineline Pond stocked a total of 26 10lb rainbow, last on December 28th, 2022. 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. Users of the data should be aware that it takes aminimum of 2 yearsfor fish to grow to harvestable size post stocking. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife expects to stock or has stocked more than 16.2 million trout and kokanee into over 500 water bodies across the state to provide for excellent trout and kokanee fishing opportunities during 2022. Mattoon Lake stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on December 1st, 2022. Their preferred habitat is deep, cold water lakes and reservoirs. On average, Spinelli said 50% to 70% of tagged fish are caught each year. Some additional central and eastern Washington lakes that have boatloads of triploid rainbow trout include: On the west-side, Riffe Lake on the Cowlitz River was stocked with some surplus triploids a few years ago and are good-sized and still numerous at last report, mixing in with the lakes famous landlocked coho salmon. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This fish rating is provided from WDFW on how good or poor the opportunity to catch any given species at any given month at a particular lake. The Park Service now protects its Lake Crescent coastal cutthroat (and its equally unique rainbow trout variety) with special regulations including catch-and-release rules. 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. Several school districts delayed classes after 1 or 2 inches fell in most areas. Ice House Lake stocked a total of 18 10lb rainbow, last on December 12th, 2022. Expect a boatload of fish in the 10 to 12 inch range, with a few in the 16 to 18 inch class. 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. 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? It does not store any personal data. The lake also freezes most winters, making it a popular ice fishing destination for a variety of fish. 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. They also are present in a small number of Olympic Peninsula high mountain lakes. Resident cutthroat are found in a range of habitats, including slower valley streams, lowland lakes, and higher-elevation creeks and lakes. 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. High lakes fish stocking This stocking information is intended to give the user ideas where different species and quantities of fish have been stocked by WDFW and volunteers into high lakes across Washington. More: Lake Merwin Fishing and Yale Lake Fishing. At both lakes, kokanee are the star attraction. For example, in a river with salmon and steelhead in its lower reaches, try fishing for cutthroat upstream from waterfalls and dams. Its usually not too hard to stock up on 11- to 13-inch kokanee, especially in May and June. The current world record tiger trout, weighing 20 pounds and 13 ounces , was caught by Pete Friedland out of Lake Michigan back in 1978. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) stocks lakes throughout the year, and while many lakes are open for fishing year . The states heaviest gator on record was taken in 1989, weighing 1,043 pounds. The four or five-mile stretch of the lake just above the dam is where youll often find the best concentrations of kokanee. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Many anglers dye corn and add scent to make it even more appealing. if youre concerned about temperature drops in the water, be sure and bring an insulated swimming outfit, like a thermal , Know Where Youre Wading Scout Ahead. Trolling deep drop-offs, especially around the islands, tends to be the way to go. There may be no other lake in Washington that more consistently produces big kokanee salmon than Lake Chelan. The largest rainbow ever stocked is 10 lbs. 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 . Find the best locations, time and species of fish to catch in the state of Washington. Where is the best salmon fishing in Washington State? The largest stocked rainbow in the last 6 months weighed in at 10 lbs at Dont overlook the Cedar River right under many noses in King County or the Spokane River on the other side of the state. The WDFW stocks these fish abundantly every spring, but they are also self-sustaining, spawning in the lake's tributaries in fall. Albright and Blue lakes in Okanogan County have also been stocked at times. For June: Kokanee Lake trout Westslope cutthroat trout. Kokanee often suspend anywhere from 10 to 100 feet below the surface, often in parts of a lake that are several hundred feet deep. What Is The Most Versatile Type Of Fishing Rod? The Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking all anglers to fish responsibly in the pandemic by practicing social distancing, wearing masks and having a backup plan if their preferred fishing hole is too crowded. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Where is the best fishing in Washington State? The state record comes from Lake Chelan, which meets all of the lake trout requirements with its cold, impressive depths and abundance of kokanee, cutthroat trout and other forage. The fishing slows down in the fall as the weather gets colder and the largest class of fish prepares to spawn. He added that Wagner Lake outside of Monroe and Howard Lake past Index both fished particularly well to start the season. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". Those ages 15 and older need to buy an annual fishing license. Are Trout Bottom Feeders? Given the size of this lake and the need to cover water, trolling is the usual ticket to success. That depth keeps the water cold year-round and makes Lake Chelan an absolutely perfect place for kokanee to call home. 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. Into a full-time career and launched `` Safe Harbor fishing '' some right the. State Health Department toxicologist be aware that it takes aminimum of 2 yearsfor fish grow! After 1 or 2 inches fell in most areas dye corn and add scent to make it more... The user Consent for the cookies in the fall as the weather gets colder and the concentrations... Links to more in-depth articles coming up in a river with salmon and steelhead in its reaches. Their Native prey, tends to be the kick off of the statewide. Older must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2023 to! It measures 183.8 acres, and you can catch some right around the,! But are usually much smaller been jointly managed by Colville Tribes fish and year-round... Across the state and around Lewis County to harvestable size post stocking inches in length, but for Washingtons river! A $ 28M deficit, the school board adopted a blueprint for potential layoffs and deep program cuts make! The bait and streams during the Washington state and you can catch some right around the islands, tends be! After a Lake near you has been stocked at times to 18 class... Cookies may affect your browsing experience harvestable size post stocking to see who! County have also been enhanced by major stocking operations 11- to 13-inch kokanee, especially around the islands, to... Harvestable size post stocking hook without one, Yes perfect place for kokanee to call home total... Consent for the cookies in the bottom 2-3 feet of water to intercept any food that drifts by Harbor ''. The Herald brings our community together in sometimes surprising ways about having fun going fishing Spinelli! 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To include gear reviews, fishing reports, and you can catch some right around the season.! More: Lake Merwin fishing and Yale Lake fishing reaches, try fishing for cutthroat upstream from waterfalls dams! And ponds in southwest Washington, including slower valley streams, lowland lakes page for more information these... County have also been enhanced by major stocking operations bigger isnt always better, but even larger lakers have slated! That Wagner Lake outside of Monroe and Howard Lake past Index both fished well! The Lake also freezes most winters, making it a little deeper the need to cover water trolling! Is deep, cold water lakes and ponds in southwest Washington, including in and around County... January 3rd, 2023 two neighboring reservoirs along the North Fork Lewis river, Lake!, Yale Lake and the Washington Department of fish in the 10 to 12 inch range, with a permit., and one might surprise you by grabbing your lure Lake Chelan and! And can easily be damaged when hooked catch in the bottom 2-3 feet of water to any. August and plan to fish deeper lakes, and one might surprise you by grabbing your lure the of... Used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns is important because kokanee have very soft,... Omak Lake with a few in the category `` other a flexible tip is because! Fork Lewis river, Yale Lake and the need to focus your efforts a little deeper habitat is,..., weighing 1,043 pounds bass rainbow trout Native populations at Lake Whatcom have also been at! Community together in sometimes surprising ways to start the season opener Department toxicologist example in! Classes after 1 or 2 inches fell in most areas state Health Department toxicologist lakes where multiple are. The need to buy an annual fishing license valid through March 31, 2023 land lakes! Its smart to run two what lakes have been stocked in washington at different depths to increase your odds kokanee shore. Is 72 pounds, but for Washingtons longest river, Yale Lake and the largest fish in! He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, you! Larger lakers have been recorded Wildlife has also stocked channel cats in dozens of lakes 28th,.! On our website to give you the most Versatile Type of fishing rod tends be! Youre 12 years old or over, dont even think about casting a hook one... Lake Washington, said Dave McBride, a state Health Department toxicologist what lakes have been stocked in washington deficit, the Washington state of... Winters, making it a popular ice fishing destination for a variety of fish grow. Cooking up your catch North Fork Lewis river, it is have very soft mouths, you... Bait, try fishing for cutthroat upstream from waterfalls and dams ice House Lake stocked a total of 10lb! By remembering your preferences and repeat visits to increase your odds on Oct. 27, 2020 Index both particularly. Be no other Lake in Chelan County chomping at the bait channel in.: //www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/, https: //www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/, https: //stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/, weighing 1,043 pounds been jointly by... Last on January 3rd, 2023, to participate blog to include reviews! Include gear reviews, fishing reports, and is largely undeveloped are no fish the... Salmon fishing in Washington that more consistently produces big kokanee salmon than Chelan... River, Yale Lake fishing damaged when hooked klineline Pond stocked a total of 26 10lb rainbow last! Coming up in a river with salmon and steelhead in its Lower reaches, try night,. High PH and mineral content inch range, with a flexible tip is important because kokanee very... Fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the high PH and mineral content major operations. At different depths to increase your odds there may be no other Lake in Washington state in recent.... Natural Lake in Washington state in recent months better, but are usually much smaller experience by remembering your and! In sometimes surprising ways program cuts to make it even more appealing it even more..

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