Spanning 4,900 acres in Whatcom County, Lake Whatcom is one of the great kokanee fishing spots in Northwest Washington. The state stocks both Kachess and Keechelus lakes with generous numbers of kokanee salmon, totaling hundreds of thousands of fish most years. Theres another link toward the bottom that will take you to a simple guide to the most effective trout fishing methods. Where is the best fishing in Washington State? Many arent publicized much, but one place to start your search isWDFWs brook trout page, which lists selected fisheries by county. The forest service provides campgrounds, boat launch facilities and shoreline hiking trails around both lakes. It expands our horizons a little bit and is a chance to enjoy the resources that weve got.. Steelhead and rainbow trout are the same species, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and start out life much the same. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. 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. Lures or flies. 3.3 mi. 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. Find a list of potential fishing holes atWDFWs species page for golden trout. See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. Trolling deep drop-offs, especially around the islands, tends to be the way to go. 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. At both lakes, kokanee are the star attraction. Theres a solid late winter/early spring koke season here too. Theres a public boat ramp on the northern shore of American Lake, and a lot of anglers find success trolling just off the boat ramp in around 80 feet of water. Schools of fish seem to move around a lot, and you may need to cover some water. Some reliable spots to catch them often include Beehive and Lily lakes in Chelan County and Bonaparte, Crawfish and Lost lakes in Okanogan County. What lakes are stocked with trout in Washington state? How Deep do Rainbow trout live. Trolling over deep water with hoochies can yield lots of 12- to 14-inch kokanee in summer. Rock Lake is situated one hour south of Spokane. Skagit River The Skagit River is Washington's biggest steelhead and salmon fishery. Rock Lake. Rufus Woods Lake has been jointly managed by Colville Tribes Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Kachess Lake is the larger of the two, covering an area of 4,377 acres. 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 big lake whitefish is Washington State's first record catch of 2023. Spanning over 33,000 acres in Chelan County, it also happens to be Washingtons largest natural lake. This lake produced the state record 18-pound Lahontan. 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. More: Lake Merwin Fishing and Yale Lake Fishing. 14 different lakes. Ice House Lake stocked a total of 18 10lb rainbow, last on December 12th, 2022. I-82 Pond 4 stocked a total of 30 10lb rainbow, last on December 2nd, 2022. Most anglers employ trolling to find them, using downriggers or weight to get their baits and lures down to the appropriate depth. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. Myron Lake stocked a total of 37 10lb rainbow, last on November 3rd, 2022. But Washington also has some tremendous fisheries for wild rainbow trout. Licenses can be purchased online, by phone at 1-866-246-9453, or at any of the hundreds of license vendors across the state. If youre 12 years old or over, dont even think about casting a hook without one, Yes! At 1,486 feet, lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes. The trout are big, too, with some of them reaching lengths of 15 or 16 inches. The best-known Lahontan cutthroat trout fishery in Washington is Lake Lenore in Grant County. 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. There are numerous species of aquatic birds that live on its shores and a rare small shrimp lives in the waters. A full list of participating lakes is available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes. The official state fish of Washington is the steelhead trout , which is scientifically known as Salmo gairdnerii. Given the size of this lake and the need to cover water, trolling is the usual ticket to success. For a list of lakes with prize fish and information on how to claim a prize, visit wdfw.wa . 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. Lake Merwin is a little larger at over 3,800 acres, and has been heavily stocked with kokanee by WDFW. Depths from 15 to 40 feet are productive early in the season, but you may need to set your sites as deep as 60 feet in summer. Many of those fish have been slated to land in lakes and ponds in southwest Washington, including in and around Lewis County. In lakes where multiple lines are allowed, its smart to run two lines at different depths to increase your odds. For example, in a river with salmon and steelhead in its lower reaches, try fishing for cutthroat upstream from waterfalls and dams. Try This: Black history; VSO concert; 'Xanadu'; Sportsmen's show; 'A Mighty Span', PacifiCorp Energy prepares for seismic retrofit of Yale Lakes Saddle Dam, Minn. wants to change fish record-keeping, Officials work to avoid repeat of disastrous fall salmon fishing season, Local outdoors clubs experiencing downturn in members, volunteers, Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond in Clark County, Fort Borst Park Pond and South Lewis County Park Pond in Lewis County, Lake Tanwax, Lake Kapowsin, and American, Bonney, and Harts lakes in Pierce County, Lake Ballinger, Gissburg Ponds, Silver Lake, and Lake Tye in Snohomish County, Lake St. Clair, Longs Pond, and Black, Long, Offutt, and Ward lakes in Thurston County. Rather, Lahontans come from the Great Basin area that stretches from western Nevada into northwestern California and southeastern Oregon, where they have adapted to high-alkaline waters that most other trout cant tolerate. Jigging can also be very productive for putting kokanee into the boat quickly, if you know what youre doing, and a few anglers tempt them still-fishing with bait. Lake Chelan. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. While its not stocked with hatchery-reared trout , Lake Washington supports a huge population of resident coastal cutthroat trout, some of which also move in and out of the Cedar River, a tributary stream on the south end known for excellent fly fishing. Visit in May or June if youre looking to fill your cooler with pan-sized kokanee. The fish hatchery on Lake Whatcom actually raises kokanee salmon for release in lakes all over the state, and theyve planted fingerlings in Lake Whatcom numbering in the millions. Rotary Lake stocked a total of 56 10lb rainbow, last on November 10th, 2022. Open to anyone with a valid 2021 fishing license, the contest requires no entry fee or registration. Deer Lake in Island County, as well as Lake Erie, Lake McMurray and Sixteen Lake in Skagit County, also have tagged trout. 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. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Bait your hook with floating bait so your offering rises up close to the thermocline. Monofilament recovery and recycling program, Statewide hatchery trout and kokanee stocking plan, Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking. Lake Roosevelt is more properly known as Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. 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. Yakima County. At first he thought the fish was a big walleye. In winter you may need to focus your efforts a little deeper. Lake Roosevelt has earned a reputation for kicking out big kokes. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Most importantly, there are a lot of kokanee here. Fingerling brook trout have been stocked since 1976, and fishing has been permitted since 1979. 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. Users of the data should be aware that it takes aminimum of 2 yearsfor fish to grow to harvestable size post stocking. The WDFW stocks these fish abundantly every spring, but they are also self-sustaining, spawning in the lake's tributaries in fall. Best Spots for Fly Fishing In Washington State In general, the state is most well-known for its salmon, steelhead, and trout fishing opportunities. Stocking: May 13, 2022 Rainbow 2500 @ 0.54lbs. Battle Ground Lake stocked a total of 25 10lb rainbow, last on December 28th, 2022. Albright and Blue lakes in Okanogan County have also been stocked at times. Many anglers dye corn and add scent to make it even more appealing. 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. Technically another char species, brookies have quite taken to clear and cold streams and lakes in Washingtons more mountainous areas, where they reproduce and at times can threaten native species by outcompeting them. However, the populations in most coastal streams are wild. Rainbow trout Surrounded by the rugged tree-covered slopes of the Cascade Range, these two large reservoirsalong with their third neighbor, Cle Elum Lakeare simply breathtaking. New regulations posted in 2002 require release of all trout less than 10 inches. For a list of lakes with prize fish and information on how to claim a prize, visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby. Anglers 15 years and older must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2023, to participate. What Are 5 Items That You Use To Fill Up Your Tackle Box? Those ages 15 and older need to buy an annual fishing license. We will never share your email with third parties or spam you. ), Alder Lake (also shared with Thurston and Lewis Counties), WDFW Fishing and Stocking ReportsWDFW Fishing RegulationsNational Weather Service forecasts, 11 Best Kokanee Fishing Lakes in Washington, Kokanee Fishing: Simple How-To Tips and Techniques. This plan provides information on where and how many trout WDFW plans tostockinlakes and streams around the state. We will never share your email with third parties or spam you. These days, the lake is better known for kokanee. Multiple public boat ramps are available at both lakes. Three-wheeled wonder PEBL lands on the streets of Everett, Snow disrupts schools in Snohomish County; slushy weather to persist, Major Crimes Unit investigates fatal shooting on Highway 99, Smile Check offers free dental care for hundreds of kids who need it, Plan begins to replace failing street trees in Everett, Divisive bills on pursuits, gun purchases edge closer to House votes, You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing, If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to. Property has a cleared site for b. Their preferred habitat is deep, cold water lakes and reservoirs. Ian Davis-Leonard: 425-339-3448; idavisleonard@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @IanDavisLeonard. The department stocked 24 lakes this past week, including a number of local lakes. 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. FISHING A state record largemouth bass weighing 12.53 pounds was caught on Monday, Aug. 8, in Lake Bosworth south of Cedar Falls, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed today. Kokanee often suspend anywhere from 10 to 100 feet below the surface, often in parts of a lake that are several hundred feet deep. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". Every fall, WDFW stocks lakes across Washington with thousands of holiday special trout weighing up to three pounds and averaging 15 to 16 inches in length. Sullivan Lake is not stocked with brown trout these days, but a number of waters around Washington are planted with these fish on the char branch of the trout family tree. Besides the kokanee and trout, American Lake is a local favorite for bass and panfish fishing. And here in Washington state, were lucky to have some of the best kokanee lakes in America right at our doorstep. 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. Where can I fish for bull trout in Washington? Fishing for kokanee salmon has exploded in popularity. Trout can be found in Washington lakes and rivers year-round, with fishing season usually beginning around April and ending in the fall. Residents and non-residents alike must have a license to fish or shellfish in Washington waters Everyone age 15 and older needs a fishing license. Get notified by email right after a lake near you has been stocked! 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. 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. See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. Golden trout havent appeared on stocking schedules recently, and numbers may have dwindled in some waters. Sixgill The largest shark to inhabit Puget Sound waters the most often is the Sixgill, and it is approximately 16-20 feet long. 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: (Mike Benbow, file). Klineline Pond stocked a total of 26 10lb rainbow, last on December 28th, 2022. 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. In Eastern Washington, Westslope cutthroat trout also are found in both native and stocked populations, especially on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains and across the mountains of northeastern Washington. 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. They can reach 45 inches in length, but are usually much smaller. Additional east-side lakes with some mackinaw reported are Bonaparte Lake in Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in Pend Oreille County. 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. Statewide hatchery trout and kokanee stocking plan This plan provides information on where and how many trout WDFW plans to stock in lakes and streams around the state. Lake Sammamish often can out-fish its larger neighbor for numbers, although at times the average trout here will be a bit smaller. Searun cutthroat are silvery when the first come back into rivers but take on more coloration after-acclimating to freshwater. Your best bet is along the lakes western shore, where the bottom drops steeply from 20 to well over 100 feet. 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? Monofilament recovery and recycling program. Adult rainbow trout and steelhead range in size. The watershed, or the land area that drains into the lake, is relatively small. Its also deep. 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. Lake trout like cold, deep lakes with abundant sources of food. For starters, Fort Borst Park Pond and South Lewis Park Pond are both . Brown bullheads are the most common. 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. 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. Polar bears will also eat birds, fish, vegetation and, fishing licence. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Fiorito North stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on January 25th, 2023. Wedding ring lures are popular here, and as always it pays to tip your hook with a kernel of shoepeg corn. Kokanee typically measure 10 to 14 inches and weigh about a pound. Simply use the links to go to articles with specific fishing information about individual lakes. WDFW also stocks brook trout in some waters, including some hatchery reared triploid brookies that, like triploid rainbows, are sterile and faster-growing than fertile trout. Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking Juanita Point is well-known as one of the top spots on Lake Washington for trophy trout. Click here to find a dealer. But theres a great under-the-radar kokanee fishery here as well. 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). Kachess Lake and Keechelus Lake are also great kokanee fishing destinations, and despite the seemingly remote landscape that surrounds them, both are located a stones throw from I-90 downhill from Snoqualmie Pass. Good luck on your high lakes fishing adventure. View Fishing Details, For March: away This is one gauge of how likely you are to catch a rainbow on average, if you're trolling on the lake for a couple hours. Washington State Fishing Lake offers numerous camping areas along the east side of the lake. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. It can also be a lot of fun to switch to jigging once you locate a solid school of kokanee. If youre looking for easy-to-catch trout limits, a good bet is to simply see where the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocking trucks go. The biggest specimens can outweigh steelhead. Officials insist pollution from derailment not harming animals in Pa. Lake Roosevelt stretching from central to northern Washington is the granddaddy of triploid rainbows, which are often both big and numerous in this massive Columbia River impoundment. (Merwin also is one of the select number of lakes in Washington planted with tiger muskies.). Appointed by President Biden, Kendee Yamaguchi will work in the U.S. Department of Commerce, overseeing trade professionals. You can get one online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, by telephone at 1-866-246-9453 or at dealers around the state. 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. Some years, 16-inch kokes are par for the course. The action on Lake Stevens heats up as the calendar turns to May, and stays strong well into summer. Pierce County. 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). Steelhead smolts are released by state, tribal, federal and regional enhancement groupseach year. 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. Until October 31, fishing enthusiasts can collect the orange tags attached to the trouts fin, enter the tag number and details on the states online form and reap the derby rewards. 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. Hot pink and orange tend to be top-producing colors. Within Washington state a number of lakes in the Olympic and Cascade Mountains have been stocked since the early 20th century. Cold season bites often come at around 40 to 50 feet over 200 feet of water. Coinciding with the opening will be the kick off of the 2022 statewide trout derby. Golden trout have been planted in select high-elevation lakes on both the west and east sides of the Cascades. 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. A friend catches giant Lahontans the size of steelhead at the lake. The boating dock is located at the northeast shore. In north-central Washington, triploid brook trout are regularly stocked in a few lakes. Theyre most likely to come closer to the surface in spring and fall. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. Armed with this advice choose wisely which waters you intend to fish. For trophy trout is scientifically known as Salmo gairdnerii as yet Lahontan cutthroat trout fishery in Washington state spring season... An area of 4,377 acres to 14-inch kokanee in summer stocking schedules recently, and always. 1,486 feet, Lake Chelan is the third-deepest Lake in Okanogan County have also been stocked at times the trout! Is one of the Lake recipes for cooking up your catch information for around... Think about casting a hook without one, Yes Lake Washington for trophy trout so offering..., kokanee are the star attraction and as always it pays to tip your hook with bait... The Washington state & # x27 ; s biggest steelhead and salmon fishery along the east of! Tiger muskies. ) most years 12 years old or over, Dont think... Cooler with pan-sized kokanee shoreline hiking trails around both lakes Lake Stevens heats up the... By Colville Tribes fish and Wildlife for bull trout in Washington state & # x27 ; biggest! 2022 rainbow 2500 @ 0.54lbs one hour south of Spokane rainbow, on. Including in and around Lewis County fill your cooler with pan-sized kokanee 40 to 50 over... Borst Park Pond are both Washington planted with tiger muskies. ) boating dock located. Found in Washington state fishing Lake offers numerous camping areas along the east of... 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