Trout Season | Lakes stocked, anglers eager

Opening day of trout fishing is a rite of spring.

Rain or shine, it's when parents introduce kids to the sport, friends catch up on gossip, and the cheers or laughter over a fish caught or lost vibrate across lakes

This weekend, those scenarios will play out as thousands of anglers try to bring home some of the millions of trout milling in lakes and ponds on both sides of the Cascades.

"Every opening day is little different, success-wise, and some of it depends if the weather is nice, but no matter what happens everyone looks forward to it," said Jon Anderson, a state Fish and Wildlife fish program manager.

While plenty of small catchable-sized trout, 8 to 10 inches long, were planted in lakes for opening day, the larger triploid rainbow trout have garnered the most interest in recent years. They can grow to trophy size if they are not caught in the first year.

About 104 lakes and ponds statewide will be stocked with triploid trout averaging ¾ to 1 ½ pounds.

A total of 75,700 triploid trout will be stocked this month. In May, 66 lakes will receive additional triploid plants, bringing the total plant to more than 115,000. For a list of statewide lakes planted with triploid trout, go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/triploid/index.htm.

Bird predation by cormorants has been a problem with lakes that have been open year-round, so some west-side lakes are being planted as close to opening day as possible, Anderson said.

Some top west-side choices: Wilderness, Pine, Langlois, Cottage, Geneva, Steel and Rattlesnake lakes in King County; Deer in Island; Clear, Ohop, Rapjohn and Tanwax in Pierce; Mineral in Lewis; Erie, Heart, McMurray and Sixteen in Skagit; Armstrong, Howard, Riley, Ki and Bosworth in Snohomish; Cain, Padden, Toad and Silver in Whatcom.

Anglers heading east of the Cascades should also find excellent fishing.

"Park and Blue lakes [in Grant County] are looking good for the opener, and both should see some of the best fishing in the past three or four years," Anderson said. "Both got decent plants of triploid trout [Blue got 5,901 fish, Park got 3,752]. Other lakes that received fry-trout plants on the east side should bang out about five fish for every angler."

Other east-side lakes worth trying: Jameson in Douglas County; Wapato in Chelan; Ellen in Ferry; Fishtrap in Lincoln; Conconully, Alta, Round, Wannacut and Spectacle in Okanogan; Starvation, Waitts, Deep and Rocky in Stevens; Badger, Fish, West Medical and Williams in Spokane.

Tips and strategies

There are some basic guidelines to make your outing a success.

Those targeting freshly planted trout should keep their presentations near or just below the surface.

Hatchery fish tend to stay in the top 3, 4 or 5 feet of the water column the first couple of weeks after they're planted. Fishing on the bottom will not be as productive until later in the season.

One key to success is covering a fair amount of water to find groups of schooled-up fish, or those willing to bite.

Troll shallow with gear such as small spoons, spinners, flies or a gang flasher with a worm, maggot or salmon eggs laced with scent or a small piece of Power Bait.

Bank anglers should try a variety of Berkley Power Baits or other scented dough baits. Nightcrawler worms, salmon eggs and marshmallows are old-school favorites.

Many anglers use tackle that is too heavy; a simple light spinning rod and reel with fishing lines in the 4- to 6-pound range works best.

Fishing events

and derbies

• The Pioneer Kiwanis Club of Mason County is hosting the Spencer Lake Fishing Derby Saturday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. . Cost is $7.50 for adults, $5 for children under 11. A tagged fish is worth $250; the longest fish is $200. Details: 360-426-2505.

• The Sky Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Lavro Boats host a free kids trout-fishing event, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Lake Tye in Monroe. There will also be an adult derby from 2-5 p.m. Cost is $10. Details: 360-794-6378 or 360-794-5525.

• The Maple Valley Opening Day Fishing Derby and Fishermen's Breakfast is 12:01 a.m.-noon Saturday at Lake Wilderness. Cost is $2 for the family trout derby, $5 for the tagged fish derby.

Overnight camping is allowed for this event only, and spaces are limited. Contact the Maple Valley Chamber of Commerce to reserve a campsite. Details: 425-432-0222 or www.maplevalley.com.

• The Black Lake Kids Fishing Derby in Ilwaco is Saturday. Children 14-and-under can participate in a variety of contests and activities. Details: 800-451-2542 or www.funbeach.com.

Kids fishing events

State Fish and Wildlife and the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation are hosting Fishing Kids events through June.

During each event about 500 kids will get a chance to fish, and can go home with a T-shirt, Zebco rod and reel, and maybe a fish or two. Cost is just $5.

Upcoming local dates: May 12, Silver Lake Park in Everett; May 19, Lake Washington at Seward Park; May 19, American Lake in Lakewood; June 2, Lake Washington at Coulon Park in Renton; June 16, Island Lake in Bremerton.

Pre-registration is required. Details: 425-251-3202 or 206-684-4075 or www.castforkids.org.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com