Most anglers employ trolling to find them, using downriggers or weight to get their baits and lures down to the appropriate depth. At 1,486 feet, lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes. Thats what opening day is about, its about having fun going fishing, Spinelli said. In winter you may need to focus your efforts a little deeper. (1) It is unlawful to use more than two hooks to fish in saltwater, except for forage fish jigger gear and squid jig gear, and when fishing from the north jetty of the Columbia River. Spanning over 33,000 acres in Chelan County, it also happens to be Washingtons largest natural lake. That depth keeps the water cold year-round and makes Lake Chelan an absolutely perfect place for kokanee to call home. Spanning 4,900 acres in Whatcom County, Lake Whatcom is one of the great kokanee fishing spots in Northwest Washington. Do you need a fishing license for catch and release in Washington? What follows are our carefully curated selection of the very best kokanee lakes in Washington. 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. Ian Davis-Leonard: 425-339-3448; idavisleonard@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @IanDavisLeonard. Search and find your perfect fishing lake in washington by stocking, fish species, lake amenities, location and more. https://stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/, What time of year do you use topwater frogs? In fact, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has also stocked channel cats in dozens of lakes. Lake Riley is a bog lake located in the Cascade Mountain foothills about 10 miles northeast of Arlington. 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. Kokanee often suspend anywhere from 10 to 100 feet below the surface, often in parts of a lake that are several hundred feet deep. 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. Wild populations of coastal cutthroat trout are found scattered around the streams and lakes of Western Washington, and a fair number of lakes in this region are stocked with hatchery-reared cutthroat. Facing a $28M deficit, the school board adopted a blueprint for potential layoffs and deep program cuts to make ends meet. Several school districts delayed classes after 1 or 2 inches fell in most areas. 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. Visit in May or June if youre looking to fill your cooler with pan-sized kokanee. 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. 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). When the bite is really on, the best action is early in the day. Conventional wisdom suggests that late spring is the best time to catch trout, especially if youre looking for larger fish. Where is the best salmon fishing in Washington State? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. 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. While Washingtons record is about half that worlds best size, a nearly 37-pound trout is nothing to sneeze about. There are several picnic shelters, yard lights, fire rings, boat ramp and a vault toilet. Lake Riley. Geographic range. On average, Spinelli said 50% to 70% of tagged fish are caught each year. 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. Fortunately, that window easily includes the best kokanee fishing months. Chelan County. 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. 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. Licenses can be purchased online, by phone at 1-866-246-9453, or at any of the hundreds of license vendors across the state. The trout, which is extremely popular in the state among people who enjoy fishing, was designated as the state fish back in 1969. (Mike Benbow, file). 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. 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. Potholes Reservoir. Lake Tapps. Fluctuations in water level can make access challenging at times, and you can get up-to-date lake level information from PacifiCorp, the company that operates the dams. 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. This fish stocking information is from the year 2000 to present. For those who have their sights set on giant browns, look no further than Rock Lake. 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. Theres often some great fishing in deep water north shore Silcox Island. Rock Lake. There are 5- to 10-pound rainbow trout here too, and one might surprise you by grabbing your lure. What Is The Most Versatile Type Of Fishing Rod? Find the best locations, time and species of fish to catch in the state of Washington. 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. Their preferred habitat is deep, cold water lakes and reservoirs. And a comprehensive remaking of states approach to drug possession advances toward action in the Senate. But theres a great under-the-radar kokanee fishery here as well. courtesy of WDFW. The kokanee population at Banks Lake is fueled largely by abundant stocking from WDFW. Some years, 16-inch kokes are par for the course. Many anglers also add a flasher or dodger to their line to add some extra attraction while trolling. Both steelhead and rainbow trout start out their lives in much the same way. The Everett Museum of History celebrated Dan Bates and Julie Muhlstein, whose work often highlighted local history. Start at the state park. Several species of bullhead catfish also inhabit lakes, ponds and rivers across the state. But, they do feed predominantly near or just off the bottom. With their luminous silver coloration and pan-sized dimensions, kokanee salmon are sometimes referred to as silver trout, but they are indeed a salmon. 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. Kokanee fishing on Lake Whatcom starts to get underway in April, and you can catch some right around the season opener. 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. Better still, fish early in the morning. You could call it a kokanee craze. There are a small handful of lakes that match that description in Washington where these jumbo-sized cutthroat species can thrive. 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. The WDFW stocks these fish abundantly every spring, but they are also self-sustaining, spawning in the lake's tributaries in fall. I-82 Pond 4 stocked a total of 30 10lb rainbow, last on December 2nd, 2022. 14 different lakes. Offering a somewhat underrated kokanee fishery close to home for Puget Sound residents, Lake Stevens is a 1,000-acre lake in Snohomish County. Tims Ponds has been historically stocked with rainbow. 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. Visit WDFWs lowland lakes page for more information on these and hundreds of other lakes throughout the state. Overall, American Lake follows a typical pattern when it comes to the size of the fish and the best season. 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. Pierce County. Gavin Boggs of Davenport, Washington, was fishing Lake Roosevelt with a buddy on Feb. 11 when he hooked something heavy in deep water. 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. All fish stocking is done in a manner that is conducive to protecting native aquatic fauna. If youre out after 18-inch brutes but dont mind slower days, wait until August and plan to fish deeper. These days, the lake is better known for kokanee. Most years, anglers have a shot at some good-sized fish. 3.3 mi. Yakima County. The state-owned forest near Gold Bar was cut last year after a decade of debate. How do you catch big brown trout at night? Where can I fish for bull trout in Washington? However, these triploids will run their course unless more are stocked. Rainbow trout caught in Lone Lake. Theyre most likely to come closer to the surface in spring and fall. Need a fishing license for catch and release in Washington also happens to be Washingtons largest natural lake is! Best locations, time and species of fish and the movement of these creatures will get baits! 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