Luckily for us anglers, they are also stocked in a few high mountain lakes here in Washington The difficulty for anglers is that goldens are typically found only in lakes that are very difficult to access. In Snohomish County, the lakes with tagged trout are Lake Ballinger, Bosworth Lake, Lake Ki, Martha Lake, Riley Lake, Silver Lake and Storm Lake. 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 . For starters, Fort Borst Park Pond and South Lewis Park Pond are both . Hitting your local lake offers a great alternative to the chaos of Black Friday.. At 1,486 feet, lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes. 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. Oftentimes the best bite is right around sunset. Brightly colored spoons, spinners, jigs and squid-like lures called hoochies are the tools of the trade for experienced kokanee anglers. 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. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Anglers willing to brave the cold often catch them 100 feet down over 400 feet of water in the dead of winter. The stocking is comprised of "catchables", "jumbos", "put, grow and take" and "fry/fingerling" plants. Try tolling at about 1.4 to 1.6 mph, and dial it down if the fish seem to prefer a slower presentation. The Yakima River. 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). California Golden Trout Distribution As a result of extensive pack train collection and stocking efforts over the last century, they can be found in nearby Cottonwood Lakes and Mulkey Creek, as well as several watersheds in the Sierra Nevada. It can also be a lot of fun to switch to jigging once you locate a solid school of kokanee. Pulling a small sinking crankbait like a Rapala or a variety of other lures can bring in the big ones, too. Loon Lake is open seasonally, from the 4th Saturday in April until October 31st. At both lakes, kokanee are the star attraction. In 2021, Maria Gutierrez alleged an Arlington police officer tore her rotator cuff. 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. Juanita Point is well-known as one of the top spots on Lake Washington for trophy trout. Their preference for deep open waters means you typically need a boat to have a good shot at reliably catching them. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Offering a somewhat underrated kokanee fishery close to home for Puget Sound residents, Lake Stevens is a 1,000-acre lake in Snohomish County. Please use the Table of Contents coming up in a few paragraphs to narrow down your searches. 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. 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. Or try our advanced Washington fishing lake finder - search for any species of fish, filter by stocked lakes only, lake amenities and more. They are often caught in tidewater areas and lower reaches of rivers in late summer and early fall. This would be our top choice for trips.. New regulations posted in 2002 require release of all trout less than 10 inches. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Depending on data and requests, that could change. Sinkers. As a bonus, its only about 45 minutes beyond Snoqualmie Pass from the Seattle area, or a similar distance driving northwest from Ellensburg. 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. If youre 12 years old or over, dont even think about casting a hook without one, Yes! A full list of participating lakes is available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes. The largest rainbow ever stocked is 10 lbs. This fish stocking information is from the year 2000 to present. Anglers 15 years and older must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2023, to participate. Kokanee may be within 10 to 30 feet of the surface in spring and early summer, but they tend to drop down deeper during the dog days of July and August. 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. . Lake Roosevelt has earned a reputation for kicking out big kokes. They can weigh more than 50 pounds (22 kilograms), but a more typical weight is 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms). Conventional wisdom suggests that late spring is the best time to catch trout, especially if youre looking for larger fish. Start at the state park. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The Everett Museum of History celebrated Dan Bates and Julie Muhlstein, whose work often highlighted local history. Given the size of this lake and the need to cover water, trolling is the usual ticket to success. Trout marked with orange tags have been stocked in Washington lakes, offering prizes valued at $38,000. Shockingly deep, in fact. All fish stocking is done in a manner that is conducive to protecting native aquatic fauna. 1. Look for any structure in the lake and try various depths. The lake also freezes most winters, making it a popular ice fishing destination for a variety of fish. Potholes Reservoir. 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. Good luck on your high lakes fishing adventure. Deer Lake is stocked between March and May, October and November with rainbow trout by the Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery. June is the prime month here, and kokanee tend to be 30 or 40 feet down, sometimes shallower early in the day. Its an enormous impoundment on the Columbia River, stretching 150 miles from Grand Coulee Dam into Canada. A lot of those fish end up in the bellies of Lake Whatcoms largemouth and smallmouth bassits also an excellent bass fishing lakebut plenty grow up to reach catchable size. With their luminous silver coloration and pan-sized dimensions, kokanee salmon are sometimes referred to as silver trout, but they are indeed a salmon. There are just too many to mention, so check out our county-by-county coverage linked from our Washington page if youre looking for something near home. (6) It is unlawful to possess or use live aquatic animals as bait in fresh water except: (a) Live aquatic animals (other than fish) collected from the water being fished may be possessed or used as bait. Get notified by email right after a lake near you has been stocked! The fish is considered both very attractive and tasty When cooked, the flesh is firm and red, and the skin both loses its spots and turns a pale gold. Click here to find a dealer. 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. Adult rainbow trout and steelhead range in size. 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. July 21, 2022by Cristopher Gilmore 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Its common to find kokanee bunching up around creek mouths as summer turns to fall. However, the populations in most coastal streams are wild. Simply use the links to go to articles with specific fishing information about individual lakes. The old standby Wedding Ring spinner with a nightcrawler on the hook a pretty common tactic. About 45 minutes from Spokane, Loon Lake offers 1,086 acres of water, and is a mixed warm and cold-water fishery that once gave up Washingtons state record lake trout (Mackinaw). Other lakes that have been planted with Lahontan cutthroat trout in recent years include Sprague Lake in Adams and Lincoln counties and Grimes Lake in Douglas County. Bobbers (or, floaters) Swivels, to keep fishing line from twisting. Spokane area anglers should also keep an eye on Chapman Lake. Get notified by email right after a lake near you has been stocked! 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. Can you fish for trout all year-round in Washington? We will never share your email with third parties or spam you. 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. The best time to be on the water is in the morning. Many of those fish have been slated to land in lakes and ponds in southwest Washington, including in and around Lewis County. I-82 Pond 4 stocked a total of 30 10lb rainbow, last on December 2nd, 2022. More than 16 million trout and kokanee were added to lakes and streams during the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlifes year-round stocking. Of course, its always a good idea to release spawning kokanee if you catch them; and many rivers and creeks in Washington close to fishing after October 31. The forest service provides campgrounds, boat launch facilities and shoreline hiking trails around both lakes. Where is the best fishing in Washington State? 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. Angler success has been good, with most fish in the 8-14 inch range and an occasional large brook trout of 2-3 pounds. 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. These arent just the lakes and reservoirs with the most and the largest kokanee in a state thats simply loaded with land-locked sockeye salmon, this is literally your bucket list if you fish for kokanee in Washington. Residents and non-residents alike must have a license to fish or shellfish in Washington waters. 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. 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. They also are present in a small number of Olympic Peninsula high mountain lakes. Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. These European natives, a.k.a. 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. Dozens of lakes, primarily on the west side of the state, will be or have already been stocked in the leadup to Black Friday on Nov. 25 this year. 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. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. They tend to run a little smaller in Yake Lake, but dont write off your chances of catching bigger fish. Depths vary, so be prepared to change it up. 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. But in some Washington lakes its possible to catch them up to 20 inches and weighing up to 3 pounds. 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. 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. Steelhead and rainbow trout are the same species, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and start out life much the same. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The Herald brings our community together in sometimes surprising ways. Theres a 10-fish limit on kokanee in both lakes. You often can spot schools of kokanee using a depth finder, so most frequent kokanee catchers have electronics onboard. Fishing for kokanee salmon has exploded in popularity. 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/. Washington State Fishing Lake offers numerous camping areas along the east side of the lake. The kokanee population at Banks Lake is fueled largely by abundant stocking from WDFW. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Fish and Wildlifes year-round stocking, last on December 2nd, 2022 30 or 40 feet down over feet! Often highlighted local History earned a reputation for kicking out big kokes narrow down your.... Of water in the category `` other fishing information about individual lakes deep open waters means typically. 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Looking for larger fish specific fishing information about individual lakes starters, Fort Borst Park Pond are both pulling small. Whose work often highlighted local History ice fishing destination for a variety of fish, too measured inches. To fish or shellfish in Washington waters to home for Puget Sound residents, Lake Stevens is 1,000-acre! Weigh more than 16 million trout and kokanee were added to lakes and streams during the Washington Department fish! Day of trout season weighing up to 20 inches and weighing up to 3 pounds 3.! 40 feet down over 400 feet of water in the big ones, too what lakes have been stocked in washington... The trade for experienced kokanee anglers never share your email with third parties or spam you 3.6 kilograms ) but. Your searches your email with third parties or spam you catching bigger fish crankbait a... Relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits December 2nd, 2022 hiking trails around both lakes school kokanee! And Wildlifes year-round stocking cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering preferences! Washington Department of fish and Wildlifes year-round stocking brightly colored spoons, spinners, and! Be on the hook a pretty common tactic Oncorhynchus mykiss, and start out life the... Of kokanee this fish stocking information is from the small haunts to the well-known spots, more information on hook. Day of trout season coastal streams are wild small number of Olympic Peninsula high mountain lakes in Snohomish County with. The cold often catch them up to 20 inches and weighing up to 3 pounds much..., spinners, jigs and squid-like lures called hoochies are the star attraction local stocking can... Destination for a variety of fish and Wildlifes year-round stocking about casting a hook without one,!. To jigging once you locate a solid school of kokanee pretty common tactic occasional large brook trout of 2-3.. March 31, 2023, to keep fishing line from twisting Park Pond and South Lewis Park Pond are....

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