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Trout opener a good tradition to land For those who have waited until today to go trout fishing, you've missed a lot of great angling. Nevertheless, for thousands of Evergreen State anglers, opening day of the lowland lake fishing season is a 50-year-old tradition. For years, the last Saturday in April was as eagerly anticipated as Christmas morning. "It's a tradition you can count on," said state Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Jeff Koenings. "Even during uncertain times, everyone can get outside with family and friends to enjoy an opportunity to catch a fish." By state estimates, as many as 300,000 people could be trying to catch nearly 22 million planted fish in Washington's 4,500 lowland lakes and reservoirs, 256 of which open today. However, in recent years the thrill of the traditional April opener has been muted by a long list of waters that are open year-round or open March 1, including several Columbia Basin's seep lakes near Othello, quality desert lakes Lenice and Nunnally near Vantage, the Tucannon River lakes near Dayton, and most recently, Fishhook Park Pond east of Burbank and Dry Falls Lake north of Soap Lake. Quarry Pond and Dalton Lake (Big Flat) near the Tri-Cities are open year-round but are not stocked until about March 1. But the state is holding out a carrot out today for anglers by stocking about 52,000 triploid rainbow trout, which average about 112 pounds each. The trout - purchased by the Fish and Wildlife Department following a Legislature directive three years ago - are sterile rainbows and voracious feeders. These trout have the potential to grow to trophy size if not caught and killed during the first season after stocking. This year, however, the state's triploid program is only 61 percent of what was stocked last year because of a reduced budget and increased costs. Also, wildlife officials said no triploids were purchased from the Columbia River Fish Farms net pens this year because whirling disease was confirmed in the Columbia River upstream of the facility. All of this year's triploids are coming from the Soap Lake Troutlodge facility on Rocky Ford Creek near Soap Lake. While 73 waters will be stocked with triploids, in our region only Quarry Pond, Bennington Lake in Walla Walla, the Family Fishing Pond at Columbia Park and Railroad Pond in Mesa will receive triploids. Quarry Pond and Bennington Lake will each get 600 of these large trout, while the juvenile-only Family Fishing Pond will get 300 and Railroad Pond will receive 420. Railroad Pond is open year-round. Beside the triploids and 8.2 million trout fry stocked last spring, about 3.1 million yearling or catchable (7- to 9-inch trout) have been planted for opening day anglers. And 39,670 excess brood trout, which can weigh anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds, have been planted at selected lakes for the opener. And if this is your first fishing outing of the spring, wildlife officials remind anglers to be aware of a few changes. Every angler buying a license will receive a free Vehicle Use Permit, which must be displayed on any vehicle parked at Fish and Wildlife Department access parking lots. Nonfishing users of state lands can buy the permits, which are transferable between up to two cars, for $10. Also, resident anglers 16 years and old must have a freshwater fishing license ($21.90), available at hundreds of dealers across the state, including Rite Aid, Fred Meyer, Griggs Department Store and Critters Outdoor World in Pasco. While most of our waters have been heavily fished for nearly two months now, there are a few top-notch opening-day prospects not too far from home. Curl Lake, one of the seven Tucannon River manmade impoundments - used as a steelhead smolt acclimation pond - will be well stocked with rainbow trout after the juvenile steelhead leave. And Fishtrap Lake (196 acres), in Lincoln County about 612 miles east of Sprague, should be excellent for yearling, fry-planted rainbow trout. Fishtrap was rehabilitated in 1998 and the lake often has the highest average catch rate in the Spokane region on opening day. Fishtrap has a private resort boat launch and a public launch available. The fishing season at Fishtrap runs through Sept. 30. North of the Tri-Cities, Blue and Park lakes near Soap Lake are perennial opening-day favorites. Blue Lake (532 acres) was rehabilitated in the fall of 1996, so the lake should still be relatively free of unwanted fish species such as sunfish. More than 200,000 rainbow trout fry should provide plenty of action for 10- to 12-inch yearlings with a fair catch of 14- to 16-inch rainbow and brown trout carryovers from previous seasons. The story is the same for nearby Park Lake (346 acres). Look for excellent fishing for yearlings and a good crop of 14- to 16-inch carryovers. Park Lake boasts a state park and a resort, both of which likely will be stuffed to the gills with anxious anglers reeling in limits of trout. Can't you almost smell trout sizzling in a pan of butter, onions and mushrooms over the hot coals of a campfire? |
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