Lowland lakes trout season to open Saturday

Thousands of anglers are expected to turn out for the statewide lowland lakes trout opener this weekend, and the predicted warmer weather should have fish eager to bite.

"If it is a beautiful day we'll get a lot of people out there fishing, but there will always be the 200,000 anglers who will go out rain or shine," said Jon Anderson, a state Fish and Wildlife fish program manager. "Opening day of trout fishing is still the biggest draw for any type of fishing and hunting during the whole year, and people have always geared up for this event."

More than 24 million trout are being stocked into lakes and streams, and a majority of those are set aside for opening day.

While plenty of small catchable-sized trout — 8 to 10 inches long — will make up the bulk of the catch, the larger triploid rainbow trout have gained the most interest in recent years. They can grow to trophy size if they are not caught in the first year.

A total of 95 lakes statewide will be stocked with 42,196 triploid trout averaging 1 ½ pounds apiece. For a list of statewide lakes planted with triploid trout, go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/triploid/index.htm

Add to that another 33,900 jumbo trout averaging 1 ½ to 5 pounds that will be stocked in 113 lakes, and you've got some quality-sized fish waiting to be caught.

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

While success may vary from year to year, here were the best producers during last year's opener, and this year's trout plants: Cottage, 5.0 fish per rod (10,000 catchables); Langlois, 2.8 (6,000); Steel, 3.3 (10,000); Pine, 2.5 (20,000); Geneva, 2.1 (6,000); Wilderness, 2.2 (15,000); Rattlesnake, 2.2 (12,000 and 500 triploids); Deer, 3.6 (9,000); Goss, 4.5 (6,000); Clear in Pierce County, 3.1 (15,200 and 183); Tanwax, 2.6 (15,200 and 231); Rapjohn, 2.7 (5,500 and 80); Erie, 4.1 (10,000); Heart (10,000) and McMurray, 4.2 (17,000 and 109); Armstrong, 4.3 (5,000); Bosworth, 3.5 (11,500); Howard, 4.0 (3,000); Ki (15,000) and Martha at Alderwood Manor, 3.1 (10,000); Cain, 4.3 (6,000); Padden, 4.0 (17,000); and Toad, 4.4 (5,500).

Other good producers include Mineral (29,321 and 720), McIntosh (10,250 and 176), Munn (2,900 and 265), Ward (6,425 and 147), Hicks (15,200 and 176), Clear in Thurston County (17,325 and 176), Aberdeen (9,000 and 125), Kapowsin (16,500 and 96), Ohop (22,200 and 307), Pattison (20,300) and Wagner (3,000).

Anglers making the drive east of the Cascades should also find decent fishing.

"I am expecting the eastside lakes to be a pretty hot and heavy fishery again on the opener," Anderson said.

"A good share of the lakes in the eastside are fry plants [2- to 3-inch long fingerling trout], and the lakes we treated are generally going to be pretty good this year," Anderson said. "When we planted those lakes in late spring and early fall there was a zooplankton [trout feed] in them, so I am sure those fish are pretty fat right now."

Some of the rehabilitated lakes expected to be good are Park, Blue and Vic Meyers in the Sun Lakes State Park Chain [Grant County], Pearrygin, Long in Aenas Valley and Sprague and McDowell in Stevens County.

Other eastside lakes worth trying: Jameson in Douglas County; Wapato in Chelan; Diamond in Pend Oreille; Ellen in Ferry; Fishtrap in Lincoln; Starvation, Waitts, Deep and Rocky in Stevens; Badger, Clear, Fish, West Medical and Williams in Spokane; Warden east of the Potholes Reservoir; Conconully, Alta, Round, Wannacut and Spectacle in Okanogan.

Nibbles and bites

Basic strategies and tips can help make your fishing outing a success:

Those targeting freshly planted trout should keep their presentations up near the surface and keep the fishing gear simple.

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

After a few weeks, the trout will go deeper and start to feed on bugs and other small creatures closer to the bottom.

One key to success is covering a fair amount of water to find groups of fish 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 wide variety of Berkley Power Baits or other scented dough baits. Night crawlers, salmon eggs and marshmallows are old-school favorites. Use an 18-inch leader and a single hook attached to a bobber or slip sinker to raise the floating bait off the bottom.

Fisheries biologists say 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 work best.

Notes

• 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 $8 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 is hosting a free kids trout-fishing event 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Lake Tye, west of the Fryelands in Monroe. Open to all kids under age 12. There will be an adult derby from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; it costs $10. Details: 360-794-6378 or 360-563-1399.

• The Maple Valley Opening Day Fishing Derby and Fishermen's Breakfast is 12:01 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lake Wilderness. Cost is $2 for the family trout derby and $5 for the tagged fish derby (tagged ticket must be purchased by midnight on Friday).

Overnight camping is allowed for this event only, and spaces are limited. To reserve a campsite, call 425-432-0222 or www.maplevalley.com.

• The Black Lake Kids Fishing Derby in Ilwaco is Saturday. Children ages14 and under can participate in a variety of contests and activities. Details: 800-451-2542 or www.funbeach.com.

• Residents ages 16 to 69 need a license, which costs $21.90 for freshwater only. Licenses are available at dealers across the state, by phone at 866-246-9453 or online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.

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