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Winter-only trout season brightens day It may be gloomy and gray across Eastern Washington, but there's no reason you can't brighten your day with a rainbow or two. December marks the opening of several Eastern Washington winter-only trout lakes, and anglers wasted little time wetting a line. Fourth of July and Hog Canyon lakes in Region I near Sprague opened Dec. 1 for rainbow trout, and the fishing was excellent, said Madonna Luers, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. "It was a circus opening day at Fourth of July Lake," she said. "We counted over 228 cars in the parking lot." But it was well worth the effort as anglers averaged almost two fish a rod, with an average size of 15 to 16 inches. Luers said 119 anglers - mostly boaters - were checked opening day. Fourth of July, which straddles the Lincoln-Adams county line, was stocked with 65,000 fry and 12,000 catchable-size trout last spring. The 110-acre lake was sampled before the season started and 97 percent of the fish were larger than 14 inches, with the largest being over 21 inches. "Even though Fourth of July has a five-fish limit, it has a special limit of no more than two fish over 14 inches, so it was difficult to retain a full five-fish limit," she said. The fishing was so hot anglers spent less than three hours to creel their fish. While opening day was hot as a firecracker at Fourth of July, Luers said the lake remains productive all winter, even after it freezes over. "In some ways, the lake is even more popular when it ices over because more anglers without boats tend to fish the lake," she said. Fourth of July, which has only a primitive boat launch, is open to fishing through March 31. Gas-powered motors are prohibited on Fourth of July. At nearby Hog Canyon, anglers caught about 3.5 fish per rod with an average catch size of 13 inches. Hog Canyon was stocked last spring with 22,000 fry and 12,000 catchable rainbow. Fish and Wildlife Department biologist Chris Donley said anglers can catch lots of smaller and skinner trout at Hog Canyon. The lake also has a limit of two fish over 14 inches. "So, if you want to take home a five-fish limit, this is your lake," he said. Hog Canyon, which is in Spokane County, is about 10 miles northeast of Sprague. Farther north in Stevens County is Hatch Lake. Although it has a winter-only trout season, most of the catch there will be yellow perch. On the plus side, the rainbow trout that are caught there should be hefty since they fed on perch all summer. Luers said Williams Lake in Stevens County opened Dec. 1, but since it was rehabilitated this fall to rid it of undesirable fish species, there is nothing to catch. However, the lake will be restocked this spring and fishing should be dynamite next winter. Also opening Dec. 1 were a number of whitefish-only seasons on several rivers in the Yakima area, including the Bumping, Cle Elum, Klickitat, Naches and Tieton. Jim Cummins, a biologist in the Yakima region, said whitefish are perhaps one of the state's lesser-known salmonids. "Even though they are a member of the trout family, very few anglers fish specifically for them," he said. Anglers also can fish the upper Yakima River above Roza Dam for whitefish using bait. This stretch of the river is open year-round for catch and release trout fishing and bait is prohibited. However, through Feb. 28, anglers can use bait for whitefish - generally maggots pinned to a brightly colored whitefish fly - though any trout caught must be released. In general, trout and whitefish will feed on the same food items, but whitefish tend to take them in smaller sizes. New this year on nearly all smaller rivers open to winter whitefish is that anglers must use a single barbless 3/16-inch or smaller gap (size 14) hook. Cummins said the rule is designed to prevent the catch and release of endangered steelhead. Whitefish populations, Cummins added, are excellent on most streams, and the upper Yakima is loaded with these scrappy fish that average 12 to 14 inches, although fish up to 20 inches are not uncommon. Some of the largest mountain whitefish often are caught on the Columbia River in the Vernita Bridge area, including the state record of 5 pounds, 2 ounces. The whopper whitefish was caught by Steve Becken in 1983. Cummins said whitefish often school in deep holes during the winter months and once you find a hot spot you often will have little trouble filling your 15-fish limit. "Whitefish tend to be a bit bony and most of the fish I've eaten have been smoked. It makes for a nice winter treat," he said. Biologists also have spiced up winter trout fishing in the Yakima area by stocking 200, 7-pound excess hatchery rainbow broodstock in Mattoon and North Fio Rito lakes near Ellensburg. North Elton Pond in Yakima County near Selah opened Dec. 1 and has been stocked with a couple of thousand half-pound rainbows. North Elton has a two-fish daily catch limit. Closer to home, Ringold-area steelheaders have been averaging about one legal keeper for every six rods for bank anglers and almost one fish for every four boat rods, Cummins said. Fish and Wildlife biologists also report fair-to-good steelheading in the Wallula Gap area of the Columbia River as well as at Little Goose Dam on the Snake River. Boaters also are beginning to land some hefty B-run steelhead on the mid-Snake near Heller Bar. Moreover, the Nez Perce Tribe recently returned some of the large B-run steelhead to the Snake at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. The state did the same at Lyons Ferry Hatchery on the Snake, putting back 2,000 to 2,500 steelhead and giving anglers a second chance to catch a trophy-size steelhead.
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