Fishing | Abundant supply of trout

If you missed out on last weekend's trout fishing opener don't fret about it.

While fishing was good statewide, angler turnout on the opener in Western Washington was down significantly, which means there are still a bunch of trout in lakes and ponds.

The number of anglers varied from lake to lake, but overall participation across the region was lower than in recent years, according to state Fish and Wildlife staff members Kirt Hughes and Chad Jackson, who monitored the opener from Pierce north to Whatcom counties. Hughes and Jackson agreed that anglers seemed to have enjoyed their fishing experience, and are increasingly practicing catch-and-release.

The best action in King County were at: Cottage, 5.0 fish per rod; Langlois, 2.8; Steel, 3.3; Pine, 2.5; Geneva, 2.1; Wilderness, 2.2; and Rattlesnake, 2.2 (81 anglers kept 114 trout, but released 319).

In Island County, Deer lake anglers averaged 3.6 per rod, and Goss gave up 4.5. The hotspots in Mason County were Benson, 3.2; Stump, 2.4; and Wooton, 2.2. In Pierce County, Clear Lake anglers averaged 3.1 per rod, Tanwax was 2.6, and Rapjohn was 2.7.

In Thurston County, McIntosh, Munn and Ward lakes were the good spots, and fair fishing was found at Clear, Hicks and Summit lakes.

Mineral Lake Resort in Lewis County reported good fishing with some rainbows in the 3- to 9-pound range.

Jackson said the further north anglers traveled the better the trout fishing was, in places such as Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties.

In Skagit County, Erie anglers averaged 4.1 per rod; Heart and McMurray, 4.2; and Sixteen, 2.6. In Snohomish County, Armstrong, 4.3; Bosworth, 3.5; Howard, 4.0; and Ki and Martha at Alderwood Manor, 3.1. In Whatcom County, Cain, 4.3; Padden, 4.0; and Toad, 4.4.

East of the Cascades, the Spokane and Lincoln County lakes did well, with Badger, Williams, West Medical and Fishtrap generating excellent fishing.

"Fishing was awesome, and last year's plants of fish were running a bit small in size, but massive of amounts of fish were caught," said Ginger Merritt at Jack's Resort on Jameson Lake in Douglas County.

Last year, undesirable fish were removed from some lakes in Grant County, and trout fishing was considerably improved.

Jeff Korth, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist reported great fishing at Perch (4.3 per rod), Warden (2.5) and Deep (4.2) lakes, but lower catches at Vic Meyers (0.8), Park (2.1) and Blue (2.0) lakes.

Chelan County lakes provided excellent catches of trout on opening day at Beehive (5.0), Clear (5.0), Lilly (3.2) and Wapato (4.4).

In the Okanogan, state Fish and Wildlife biologist Bob Jateff reported good, solid catches at Alta, Conconully Lake and Reservoir, Fish, Leader, Pearrygin, Spectacle and Wannacut lakes.

Top spots of the week

1. Spot shrimp in Hood Canal and Puget Sound: A strong tidal exchange may make for tough fishing on Saturday's opener.

The popular Hood Canal spot shrimp fishery will be open Saturday, and May 9, 12 and 16 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. each day. South-central Puget Sound is open this Saturday only from 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Shrimp fishing also opens Saturday in Saratoga Passage, and northern and central Puget Sound. Fishing is allowed from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays only.

2. Razor clams at Twin Harbors and Long Beach: Expect excellent digging when Twin Harbors opens tomorrow, and Saturday and Sunday at Twin Harbors and Long Beach. No digging will be allowed past noon each day.

3. Halibut and lingcod in open marine areas: Westport is open for halibut Sundays through Thursdays, and anglers will find very good lingcod and rockfish fishing, which are open daily. Ilwaco is open daily for halibut fishing.

Halibut fishing has been fair, and strong minus-low tides this weekend could make it tougher. Try Mutiny Bay, the old Navy bombing range off Fort Casey, Green Point, Freshwater Bay, and Hein, Salmon, Partridge, Dallas, Eastern and Middle banks.

Lingcod fishing opened Wednesday in Puget Sound, and places to try are south of Alki Point near the green buoy markers, off Edmonds Marina, Point Evans, Toliva Shoal, Burrows Island, Smith Island and the west side of San Juan Island.

4. Spring chinook and steelhead in Columbia River tributaries and Soleduck River: "Still seeing some decent catches in the Kalama, Lewis and Lower Cowlitz for spring chinook, and there is also a sprinkling of summer steelhead around," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "At the Wind [River] and Drano [Lake] it is off and on for spring chinook with some days better than others. "There are also a few sturgeon down near Kalama."

On the North Coast, the Soleduck is open for spring chinook and hatchery steelhead.

5. Hatchery-marked chinook in southern Puget Sound: The only show in town is south of the Narrows Bridge.

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