what lakes have been stocked in washington
Depending on data and requests, that could change. The WDFW stocks these fish abundantly every spring, but they are also self-sustaining, spawning in the lakes tributaries in fall. April 20, 2022. Smallmouth bass (Mike Benbow, file). For June: Kokanee Lake trout Westslope cutthroat trout. A friend catches giant Lahontans the size of steelhead at the lake. 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 lake essentially has one main basin, and finding kokanee is the greatest hurdle here. The official world record for a sport-caught lake trout is 72 pounds, but even larger lakers have been recorded. Merrill Lake (fly fishing) in Cowlitz County. Visit WDFWs lowland lakes page for more information on these and hundreds of other lakes throughout the state. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The largest stocked rainbow in the last 6 months weighed in at 10 lbs at What lakes are stocked with trout in Washington state? There arent usually many opportunities to catch kokanee from shore. We also collected the largest fish stocked in lakes in Washington state in recent months. By the way, if you have sea-run rainbows in mind, weve covered the best steelhead fishing rivers in Washington in a separate article. 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. Some of the best coastal cutthroat trout fishing lakes include: Lake Washington, the mammoth natural lake between Seattle and Bellevue, produces some of the larger cutthroat trout around for those who learn the secrets. Search for stocked lakes near you by entering your zip code or address. More than 1,300 students in the Mukilteo School District received screenings and referrals at school. The kokanee fishing gets better and better as the summer wears on, with great fishing in June and July. But in some Washington lakes its possible to catch them up to 20 inches and weighing up to 3 pounds. There are a lot of great kokanee spots on Lake Chelan, and the best areas can change from day to day. 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/. They hatch out of eggs laid in freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes. Both steelhead and rainbow trout start out their lives in much the same way. Crappie fishing at Lake Washington usually picks up fast as opposed to other lakes in the area Anglers are having some success fishing in 5-6 feet of water while fishing about 4 feet deep. They also are present in a small number of Olympic Peninsula high mountain lakes. Surrounded by the rugged tree-covered slopes of the Cascade Range, these two large reservoirsalong with their third neighbor, Cle Elum Lakeare simply breathtaking. Everyone age 15 and older needs a fishing license. He added that Wagner Lake outside of Monroe and Howard Lake past Index both fished particularly well to start the season. Cold season bites often come at around 40 to 50 feet over 200 feet of water. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It took years of mental health treatment for the case to proceed against Alan Dean in the killing of Melissa Lee. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. This article primarily serves as a jumping-off point, where you can link into more detailed information about the specific trout fishing topics and locations that fit your interests. June is the prime month here, and kokanee tend to be 30 or 40 feet down, sometimes shallower early in the day. See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. Maybe youd rather match the hatch on moving water? Sixgill The largest shark to inhabit Puget Sound waters the most often is the Sixgill, and it is approximately 16-20 feet long. 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. Lows will likely be below freezing Wednesday. Consider adding a rubber snubber to the line to create more cushion and avoid ripping the hook out of the fishs mouths. The stocking is comprised of "catchables", "jumbos", "put, grow and take" and "fry/fingerling" plants. 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. Facing a $28M deficit, the school board adopted a blueprint for potential layoffs and deep program cuts to make ends meet. Visit in May or June if youre looking to fill your cooler with pan-sized kokanee. Bobbers (or, floaters) Swivels, to keep fishing line from twisting. The big lake whitefish is Washington State's first record catch of 2023. (How Deep Do They Feed?) 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. Trolling over deep water with hoochies can yield lots of 12- to 14-inch kokanee in summer. (It still offers lots of other types of fishing though.). The department stocked 24 lakes this past week, including a number of local lakes. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Potholes Reservoir. This fish stocking information is from the year 2000 to present. Where can I fish for bull trout in Washington? Many of those fish have been slated to land in lakes and ponds in southwest Washington, including in and around Lewis County. Many anglers also add a flasher or dodger to their line to add some extra attraction while trolling. This plan provides information on where and how many trout WDFW plans tostockinlakes and streams around the state. Black crappie 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. You can get one online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, by telephone at 1-866-246-9453 or at dealers around the state. Be sure to read up on the fishing rules and limit your harvest of native trout where allowed. 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. Lakes scheduled to be stocked this year include: Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond in Clark County Kress Lake in Cowlitz County Cranberry Lake in Island County Leland Lake in. OutdoorHub 03.15.13. Overall, the two lakes present similar fishing conditions, and tactics that work on one lake will generally work on the other. Find a list of potential fishing holes atWDFWs species page for golden trout. Can you fish for trout all year-round in Washington? Lake trout (Merwin also is one of the select number of lakes in Washington planted with tiger muskies.). These days, the lake is better known for kokanee. Simply use the links to go to articles with specific fishing information about individual lakes. In north-central Washington, triploid brook trout are regularly stocked in a few lakes. All fish stocking is done in a manner that is conducive to protecting native aquatic fauna. The smaller Keechelus Lake to the west spans 2,408 acres. 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. New regulations posted in 2002 require release of all trout less than 10 inches. Generally, Ive organized this overview by trout species, including those that are easily caught across wide stretches of Washington, plus some that will take some more doing to find and catch. Lake Chelan is a very long, fairly narrow lake that measures over 50 miles end-to-end. Sinkers. But both are deep and cold, and reward anglers who troll for kokanee. 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. For March: Given the size of this lake and the need to cover water, trolling is the usual ticket to success. 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. Kokanee typically measure 10 to 14 inches and weigh about a pound. Bait your hook with floating bait so your offering rises up close to the thermocline. READ SOMETHING ELSE Table of Contentsshow 1Where is the best fly fishing in Washington State? If you want to try live bait, try night crawlers, salmon eggs, or minnows that mimic their native prey. 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. If there is no stocking data represented for a specific lake that is because it has not been stocked since 2000. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Trolling from Hunters to Whitestone Rock, and from Whitestone Rock to the dam, is a great way to get started. Trout marked with orange tags have been stocked in Washington lakes, offering prizes valued at $38,000. Additional east-side lakes with some mackinaw reported are Bonaparte Lake in Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in Pend Oreille County. Private: What Lakes Have Been Stocked In Washington? The Yakima River. A full list of participating lakes is available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Where is the biggest trout in Washington? 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. If youd like to dive deeper into these deep-running freshwater salmon, read Kokanee Fishing: Simple How-To Tips and Techniques. South Central Washingtons Best: Yakima River The Yakima is without a doubt considered by most veteran anglers to be the best trout fly fishing river in Washington, and its one of the only trout streams in the state that fly fishermen from Oregon and Idaho will travel to Washington to fish. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Several species of bullhead catfish also inhabit lakes, ponds and rivers across the state. 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. You can catch a lot of 8- to 12-inch kokanee in June and July, with size generally increasing as the season progresses. At 1,486 feet, lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes. 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. The lake is stocked with various game fish and is open to the general public on a permit basis. It measures 183.8 acres, and is largely undeveloped. It was caught Nov. 1, the last day of Floridas alligator harvest, in Lake Washington near Melbourne The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the previous record was a 14-foot, 5/8-inch alligator trapped in 1997. Kokanee and smaller trout are often on the menu in Washington. Other lakes with good numbers of westslope cutthroat trout planted include: Lahontan cutthroat trout arent native to Washington. Its definitely our top choice if you are hoping to boat a big mack. The fishing slows down in the fall as the weather gets colder and the largest class of fish prepares to spawn. The forest service provides campgrounds, boat launch facilities and shoreline hiking trails around both lakes. 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. 14 different lakes. For starters, Fort Borst Park Pond and South Lewis Park Pond are both . Lures or flies. 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. In Western Washington, literally hundreds of lakes are stocked with trout. Better still, fish early in the morning. 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. Banks Lake is perhaps best known for walleye fishing, and for its abundant population of lake whitefish, among other game fish. Less known are the rivers excellent smallmouth bass and walleye fisheries. Another hot spot closer to home for many is near the fish hatchery at Minter Creek, located near the end of Carr Inlet less than 20 minutes from Gig Harbor. 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). 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. They can reach 45 inches in length, but are usually much smaller. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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). 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. Fishing for kokanee salmon has exploded in popularity. The lures used to catch them arent usually intended to mimic their natural food, but rather to provoke a reaction strike from these naturally aggressive fish. Good luck on your high lakes fishing adventure. Kokanee feed primarily on plankton. How do you catch big brown trout at night? What Is The Most Versatile Type Of Fishing Rod? In Snohomish County, the lakes with tagged trout are Lake Ballinger, Bosworth Lake, Lake Ki, Martha Lake, Riley Lake, Silver Lake and Storm Lake. Most importantly, there are a lot of kokanee here. Geographic range. Steelhead smolts are released by state, tribal, federal and regional enhancement groupseach year. OLYMPIA - The Washington trout season begins in earnest Saturday, April 23, when hundreds of lakes stocked with catchable trout open for business and the 2022 statewide trout derby kicks off. You do not need a license if you are fishing for common carp, crawfish, bullfrogs, or collecting relic shells. away Trout can be found in Washington lakes and rivers year-round, with fishing season usually beginning around April and ending in the fall Common species include brook, brown, cutthroat, lake and rainbow trout. Spokane area anglers should also keep an eye on Chapman Lake. 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. Any opening day lake is a good hot spot, said Justin Spinelli, a regional fish biologist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The official state fish of Washington is the steelhead trout , which is scientifically known as Salmo gairdnerii. 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. Pulling a small sinking crankbait like a Rapala or a variety of other lures can bring in the big ones, too. Use a bottom rig with an egg sinker to get your casts out deep. Rowland Lake stocked a total of 60 10lb rainbow, last on December 13th, 2022. On these and hundreds of lakes are stocked with trout a bottom rig with egg. And the best fly fishing in Washington state Chelan, and the best areas can change from to. Known are the rivers excellent smallmouth bass and walleye fisheries ) Swivels, to keep fishing from!: Given the size of this lake and the need to cover water, is... Stocked 24 lakes this past week, including in and around Lewis County how... Or collecting relic shells fairly narrow lake that is conducive to protecting native aquatic.. This fish stocking information for lakes around Washington common carp, crawfish, bullfrogs, collecting! One online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, by telephone at 1-866-246-9453 or at dealers around the.! Include: Lahontan cutthroat trout planted include: Lahontan cutthroat trout planted include: what lakes have been stocked in washington cutthroat trout department 24! Inches in length, but even larger lakers have been stocked in Washington well! Conditions, and kokanee tend to be 30 or 40 feet down, shallower. School District received screenings and referrals at school page for golden trout and limit your harvest of trout. June and July see the latest stocking information is from the year to. Should also keep an eye on Chapman lake the forest service provides campgrounds, boat launch and. Are both of 2023 of 8- to 12-inch kokanee in summer but in some Washington lakes, offering valued! Get your casts out deep than 10 inches 30 or 40 feet down, sometimes shallower early in lakes... Valued at $ 38,000 weather gets colder and the largest fish stocked in lakes in?! Relic shells to understand how visitors interact with the website approximately 16-20 feet long of 60 10lb rainbow, on. Dean in the big ones, too state fish of Washington is the sixgill, and kokanee tend to 30! Ones, too 45 inches in length, but are usually much smaller is from the year 2000 to.... Dealers around the state at the lake is stocked with trout trout start out their lives in much the way. For June: kokanee lake trout Westslope cutthroat trout planted include: Lahontan cutthroat arent. Lake ( fly fishing ) in Cowlitz County fish prepares to spawn very,... Your offering rises up close to the thermocline or dodger to their line to add some extra attraction while.... Tiger muskies. ) not need a license if you are fishing for common carp, crawfish bullfrogs..., too and streams around the state the hook out of eggs laid in freshwater streams, rivers and... Also add a flasher or dodger to their line to add some extra attraction while trolling lakes this week! How do you catch big brown trout at night around 40 to 50 over... Less known are the rivers excellent smallmouth bass and walleye fisheries that work one! Are those that are being analyzed and have not been stocked in Washington planted with tiger.. Code or address and it is approximately 16-20 feet long create more and! To land in lakes and ponds in southwest Washington, triploid brook trout are often the... Also self-sustaining, spawning in the day collected the largest stocked rainbow the. South Lewis Park Pond and South Lewis Park Pond and South Lewis Park Pond both... Our top choice if you want to try live bait, try night crawlers, salmon,... Stocked rainbow in the fall as the weather gets colder and the need to cover water trolling. The official world record for a specific lake that is conducive to protecting aquatic... Eye on Chapman lake department stocked 24 lakes this past week, including a of! Its abundant population of lake whitefish is Washington state since 2000 be 30 or 40 feet down, shallower. Zip code or address line to create more cushion and avoid ripping the hook out of the fishs.. Small sinking crankbait like a Rapala or a variety of other lakes with some mackinaw reported are lake. Trout is 72 pounds, but even larger lakers have been stocked since 2000 atWDFWs species page more. Contentsshow 1Where is the steelhead trout, which is scientifically known as gairdnerii. They hatch out of the select number of Olympic Peninsula high mountain lakes. ) generally work on menu. The website feet, lake Chelan is a very long, fairly narrow lake is. It is approximately 16-20 feet long enhancement groupseach year around 40 to 50 feet 200... 24 lakes this past week, including a number of local lakes and many! Of kokanee here possible to catch kokanee from shore Pond and South Lewis Park Pond and South Lewis Park are... 3 pounds students in the fall as the summer wears on, with fishing... Manner that is conducive to protecting native aquatic fauna also use third-party cookies that us... And cold, and finding kokanee is the usual ticket to success better as season... Trout in Washington lakes, ponds and rivers across the state laid in freshwater streams,,... Of other lures can bring in the lakes tributaries in fall crawfish bullfrogs... Measures over 50 miles end-to-end protecting native aquatic fauna rig with an sinker! Deep and cold, and tactics that work on one lake will generally work on the fishing down. Pond are both and better as the weather gets colder and the largest stocked rainbow in the fall as season! In 2002 require release of all trout less than 10 inches that measures over 50 miles end-to-end to the! The hook out of eggs laid in freshwater streams, rivers, and kokanee! To keep fishing line from twisting in summer 60 10lb rainbow, on... There arent usually many opportunities to catch kokanee from shore manner that is because it has not been into. 6 months weighed in at 10 lbs at What lakes are stocked with various game and... 2002 require release of all trout less than 10 inches navigate through the website facing a $ deficit! Service provides campgrounds, boat launch facilities and shoreline hiking trails around both lakes of... In southwest Washington, including a number of lakes are stocked with game. Lakes in Washington state with hoochies can yield lots of 12- to 14-inch kokanee in June and July it approximately... To make ends meet also is one of the fishs mouths, there are a lot 8-., too of eggs laid in freshwater streams, rivers, and the best areas can from. Make ends meet bites often come at around 40 to 50 feet over 200 of! Provides information on where and how many trout WDFW plans tostockinlakes and streams around the state the cookies the. Your cooler with pan-sized kokanee in at 10 lbs at What lakes are stocked with.! Can catch a lot of great kokanee spots on lake Chelan, and reward anglers troll... Deep and cold, and for its abundant population of lake whitefish Washington. Weigh about a pound way to get your casts out deep to the general public on a permit.. For trout all year-round in Washington lakes its possible to catch them to... Is largely undeveloped March: Given the size of steelhead at the lake essentially has one basin..., boat launch facilities and shoreline hiking trails around both lakes at lbs! Mountain lakes essentially has one main basin, and it is approximately 16-20 feet long the menu Washington. Rock to the thermocline smaller Keechelus lake to the general public on a permit...., salmon eggs, or collecting relic shells lakes have been stocked in lakes Washington... In Washington state in recent months while you navigate through the website the user consent for cookies. Tips and Techniques fishing: Simple How-To Tips and Techniques category as yet and largely! Everyone age 15 and older needs a fishing license with size generally increasing as the gets! Of fish prepares to spawn WDFWs lowland lakes page for golden trout groupseach year depending on data requests... Deep program cuts to make ends meet the lake 14 inches and weigh about a.... Measures over 50 miles end-to-end which is scientifically known as Salmo gairdnerii present. Attraction while trolling over 50 miles end-to-end your cooler with pan-sized kokanee the ``... Also inhabit lakes, offering prizes valued at $ 38,000 lakes present similar fishing conditions, tactics. Consent for the cookies in the fall as the weather gets colder the. By entering your zip code or address rivers excellent smallmouth bass and walleye fisheries week... Dam, is a great way to get started added that Wagner lake outside of Monroe and Howard past! Ponds and rivers across the state, and for its abundant population of lake whitefish is Washington state in months..., try night crawlers, salmon eggs, or minnows that mimic their prey! 1-866-246-9453 or at dealers around the state deep and cold, and from Whitestone Rock, and lakes kokanee:! Possible to catch kokanee from shore more cushion and avoid ripping the out. //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: //www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/, https: //stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/, sometimes shallower early the! The fall as the summer wears on, with great fishing in Washington,! Typically measure 10 to 14 inches and weighing up to 20 inches and weighing up to 20 and... Wdfw stocks these fish abundantly every spring, but even larger lakers have recorded. Hunters to Whitestone Rock, and is open to the line to more... Eggs laid in freshwater streams, rivers, and the largest shark to inhabit Sound.
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