Need a fishing license? If the trout arent biting, Spinelli said it may be worthwhile to cast a line for bass or perch. Adult rainbow trout and steelhead range in size. Lake Tapps. Start at about 0.6 mph and slowly speed up your trolling until you start getting bites. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This article briefly highlights some of Washingtons very best trout fishing for a variety of trout species found across the state. Some of those stocked waters (many covered with in-depth articles) include: As mentioned, coastal cutthroat including the sea-run variety also are widely distributed in streams around Western Washington. Kachess Lake and Keechelus Lake are also great kokanee fishing destinations, and despite the seemingly remote landscape that surrounds them, both are located a stones throw from I-90 downhill from Snoqualmie Pass. Several species of bullhead catfish also inhabit lakes, ponds and rivers across the state. Some of the lakes recently stocked include Island Lake in Kitsap County; Island, Lost, Nahwatzel, and Spencer lakes in Mason County; Lake Sylvia in Grays Harbor County; and Gibbs, Teal and Leland lakes in Jefferson County. Theres another link toward the bottom that will take you to a simple guide to the most effective trout fishing methods. away The 6.25-pound state record was caught here in 2003. What Is The Best Place To Go Bass Fishing, Fish Lake, Leavenworth, WA. What follows are our carefully curated selection of the very best kokanee lakes in Washington. . Kokanee at Lake Roosevelt tend to hold a little shallower than in many lakes, often within 10 to 20 feet of the surface, especially in spring. Its an enormous impoundment on the Columbia River, stretching 150 miles from Grand Coulee Dam into Canada. Yellow perch The deepest water in Loon Lake is in the southeastern end of the lake, and this is generally the best area to troll for kokanee. The largest rainbow ever stocked is 10 lbs. We will also show you which kinds of fish you're likely to catch this month. At first he thought the fish was a big walleye. Search for stocked lakes near you by entering your zip code or address. Catfish . Consider adding a rubber snubber to the line to create more cushion and avoid ripping the hook out of the fishs mouths. (Merwin also is one of the select number of lakes in Washington planted with tiger muskies.). The lakes and rivers weve already mentioned have typical stocked and native rainbows, but WDFW also plants some lakes with triploid rainbow trout, especially in east of the Cascade Mountains. Some of the lakes recently stocked include Island Lake in Kitsap County; Island, Lost, Nahwatzel, and Spencer lakes in Mason County; Lake Sylvia in Grays Harbor County; and Gibbs, Teal and Leland lakes in Jefferson County. Fishing straight down with jigging spoons like a -ounce Gibbs Minnow or Bomber Slab can be one of the most enjoyable ways to fish because you really get to feel the bites. The Herald brings our community together in sometimes surprising ways. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Petrie caught the trout in Twizel, New Zealands (South Island) Ohau Canal on Oct. 27, 2020. Theres a solid late winter/early spring koke season here too. Brook trout are a popular and widely distributed game fish in Washington and although they are called a trout, they are actually a char, closely related to lake trout and bull trout rather than rainbow or cutthroat trout. Expect a boatload of fish in the 10 to 12 inch range, with a few in the 16 to 18 inch class. Depths from 15 to 40 feet are productive early in the season, but you may need to set your sites as deep as 60 feet in summer. There are no fish in the lake, due to the high PH and mineral content. This site is equipped with a boating / swimming dock. In northeastern Washington, Sacheen Lake in Pend Oreille County, Fish Lake in Spokane County and Deer Lake and Madgett Lake in Stevens County are among lakes stocked with good numbers of typical brookies. Do you need a fishing license for catch and release in Washington? 3.3 mi. In addition, the lake has developed a fairly good . Shrimp and krill scents are favorites, and bright colors like red, orange and hot pink are often the most effective. Lakes scheduled to be stocked this year include: Additionally, the following lakes on the eastside have been stocked with fry plants in recent years and promise great fishing for Black Friday: Hatch and Williams lakes in Stevens County; Fourth of July Lake in Lincoln and Adams counties; and Hog Canyon Lake in Spokane County. Potholes Reservoir. Another hot spot closer to home for many is near the fish hatchery at Minter Creek, located near the end of Carr Inlet less than 20 minutes from Gig Harbor. With a sticker price of $10,000 to $13,000, its a thrifty persons Tesla or a big spenders electric bike. The lakes in this first section are places where youre very likely to do well dunking some bait such as a nightcrawler or PowerBait, trolling around with some pop gear like flashers ahead of a Wedding Ring lure, or sometimes casting lures or flies. Loon Lake is arguably the best. Heres another non-native species in Washington, but one that hails from just a few states south in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Washington anglers have an amazing variety of trout to catch in a landscape that ranges from moss-draped temperate rain forests on the Olympic Peninsula to scorched desert near the Idaho border. View Fishing Details, For March: It took years of mental health treatment for the case to proceed against Alan Dean in the killing of Melissa Lee. Rainbow trout Finding kokanee can be tricky here, but persistence pays off. Lake Roosevelt is more properly known as Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. Geographic range. Wild populations of coastal cutthroat trout are found scattered around the streams and lakes of Western Washington, and a fair number of lakes in this region are stocked with hatchery-reared cutthroat. Overall, American Lake follows a typical pattern when it comes to the size of the fish and the best season. https://www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/, https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/wdfw-to-stock-more-than-147000-trout-in-washington-lakes/, https://stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/. Its actually a subspecies of the rainbow trout adapted for extreme mountain conditions. Visit WDFWs lowland lakes page for more information on these and hundreds of other lakes throughout the state. Depending on data and requests, that could change. Sturgeon are easily the largest lake-dwelling fish in North America and have few natural predators, which contributes to their massive size and longevity. Heres the quick answer: You can use frog baits, How much does it cost to go charter fishing in Cape Cod? Kokanee feed primarily on plankton. The lake is stocked with various game fish and is open to the general public on a permit basis. See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. View Fishing Details. Millions of kokanee fingerlings have been stocked in recent years, and anglers are catching more and more of these silvery landlocked salmon. Cranberry Lake in Island County (on Whidbey Island). The following lakes that we cover in some depth elsewhere on our website also have kokanee, and they at times can provide anywhere from fair to very good fishing for these pan-sized salmon (as well as excellent angling for other game fish). This fish stocking information is from the year 2000 to present. Bobbers (or, floaters) Swivels, to keep fishing line from twisting. Be sure to read up on the fishing rules and limit your harvest of native trout where allowed. Lake Sammamish, just outside Seattle, was historically one of the areas go-to kokanee lakes, but kokanee fishing here has been closed in recent years following a major population collapse. For June: Tiger muskie Yellow perch Black crappie Largemouth bass Smallmouth bass. At 27 miles end-to-end, its dwarfed by its neighboring reservoir, but still offers some great kokanee fishing. Its also deep. Additional east-side lakes with some mackinaw reported are Bonaparte Lake in Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in Pend Oreille County. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Simply use the links to go to articles with specific fishing information about individual lakes. Horsethief Lake stocked a total of 27 10lb rainbow, last on January 3rd, 2023. If youd like to dive deeper into these deep-running freshwater salmon, read Kokanee Fishing: Simple How-To Tips and Techniques. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife expects to stock or has stocked more than 16.6 million trout and kokanee into over 500 water bodies across the state to provide for excellent trout and kokanee fishing opportunities during 2021. At 1,486 feet, lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes. You can catch a lot of 8- to 12-inch kokanee in June and July, with size generally increasing as the season progresses. Fish Lake is one of the regions most popular fishing spots, catch your quota of brook trout, rainbow trout and tiger trout. Those ages 15 and older need to buy an annual fishing license. Kokanee Most years, anglers have a shot at some good-sized fish. June is the prime month here, and kokanee tend to be 30 or 40 feet down, sometimes shallower early in the day. Bull trout are also present in both lakes, but must be released immediately if caught. Merrill Lake (fly fishing) in Cowlitz County. What lakes in Washington have tiger trout? Sinkers. The prime fishing season on most of these Washington kokanee lakes is May through July, but there are spots that offer some pretty good early season or late summer angling as well. Trout marked with orange tags have been stocked in Washington lakes, offering prizes valued at $38,000. A full list of participating lakes is available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Popular Fishing Lakes in Washington Pierce County Lake Tapps For February: Yellow perch Black crappie View Fishing Details Pierce County American Lake Stocking: November 21, 2022 - Rainbow - 3353 @ 0.6lbs October 12, 2022 - Rainbow - 425 @ 2.33lbs For February: Kokanee View Fishing Details Chelan County Lake Chelan For February: The best chum salmon fishing in Washington is typically in Hood Canal, and in particular around the hatchery at Hoodsport. Fiorito North stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on January 25th, 2023. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Pulling a small sinking crankbait like a Rapala or a variety of other lures can bring in the big ones, too. Washington Fishing Lakes Search Washington Lakes . Lake Roosevelt has earned a reputation for kicking out big kokes. American Lake. Soap Lake is a meromictic soda lake in the town of Soap Lake, Washington formed by the Missoula Floods at the foot of the Grand Coulee. STEVENS COUNTY, Wash., In what the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is calling a massive catch, a 24-pound tiger trout was pulled from Loon Lake by angler Caylun Peterson on June 26, shattering a state record. Trolling over deep water with hoochies can yield lots of 12- to 14-inch kokanee in summer. Visit in May or June if youre looking to fill your cooler with pan-sized kokanee. Sixgill The largest shark to inhabit Puget Sound waters the most often is the Sixgill, and it is approximately 16-20 feet long. Lake Merwin is a little larger at over 3,800 acres, and has been heavily stocked with kokanee by WDFW. Some additional central and eastern Washington lakes that have boatloads of triploid rainbow trout include: On the west-side, Riffe Lake on the Cowlitz River was stocked with some surplus triploids a few years ago and are good-sized and still numerous at last report, mixing in with the lakes famous landlocked coho salmon. They can reach 45 inches in length, but are usually much smaller. The current world record tiger trout, weighing 20 pounds and 13 ounces , was caught by Pete Friedland out of Lake Michigan back in 1978. To prepare for the opener, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's fish hatchery crews have been stocking more than 12 million trout and kokanee in lakes statewide. You can get one online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, by telephone at 1-866-246-9453 or at dealers around the state. There are a small handful of lakes that match that description in Washington where these jumbo-sized cutthroat species can thrive. Get notified by email right after a lake near you has been stocked! Banks Lake is another expansive impoundment in the Columbia Rivers massive hydroelectric and irrigation project, located just south of Grand Coulee Dam. See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. At 1,486 feet, lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes. The WDFW stocks these fish abundantly every spring, but they are also self-sustaining, spawning in the lakes tributaries in fall. Some years, 16-inch kokes are par for the course. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. Heres another non-native char, though it hails from the other side of the country in the Great Lakes and up into Canada, rather than the other side of the globe. Deer Lake in Island County, as well as Lake Erie, Lake McMurray and Sixteen Lake in Skagit County, also have tagged trout. If not, youre still like to catch brook, rainbow or cutthroat trout along the way. Heading roughly south down the Interstate 5 corridor, here are some of the top options we recommend, in part because theyre loaded with catchable rainbow trout: In Central Washington, check out the following hot spots: In Eastern Washington, these are some lakes that tend to be heavily planted with rainbows: If youd rather fling flies at rainbow trout, we suggest you check out: These lakes arent stocked as heavily and most of the lakes weve already mentioned, but their fly fishing rules and conservation-minded regulations keep them full of big, feisty trout. How Deep do Rainbow trout live. Little Ash Lake stocked a total of 18 10lb rainbow, last on December 12th, 2022. Trout prefer to wait and cruise in the bottom 2-3 feet of water to intercept any food that drifts by. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This would be our top choice for trips.. The fishing slows down in the fall as the weather gets colder and the largest class of fish prepares to spawn. For a list of lakes with prize fish and information on how to claim a prize, visit wdfw.wa . Other years, youre lucky to catch one over 12 inches. Users of the data should be aware that it takes aminimum of 2 yearsfor fish to grow to harvestable size post stocking. Kachess Lake has also been stocked with cutthroat trout. Kachess Lake is the larger of the two, covering an area of 4,377 acres. The forest service provides campgrounds, boat launch facilities and shoreline hiking trails around both lakes. No matter what lure you use, its universally agreed that the best way to tempt kokanee is to add a kernel of shoepeg corn (or sometimes other small tidbit of bait) to the hook. Lake Roosevelt is home to many of Washingtons favorite gamefish, including chunky triploid rainbow trout, big walleye, numerous smallmouth bass and tasty burbot, among plenty of others. https://www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/ The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Appointed by President Biden, Kendee Yamaguchi will work in the U.S. Department of Commerce, overseeing trade professionals. This stocking information is intended to give the user ideas where different species and quantities of fish have been stocked by WDFW and volunteers into high lakes across Washington. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. For a list of lakes with prize fish and information on how to claim a prize, visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby. You often can spot schools of kokanee using a depth finder, so most frequent kokanee catchers have electronics onboard. Rainbow trout caught in Lone Lake. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. Angler success has been good, with most fish in the 8-14 inch range and an occasional large brook trout of 2-3 pounds. South Central Washingtons Best: Yakima River The Yakima is without a doubt considered by most veteran anglers to be the best trout fly fishing river in Washington, and its one of the only trout streams in the state that fly fishermen from Oregon and Idaho will travel to Washington to fish. German brown trout, have made their home in a fair number of Washingtons lakes and streams, thanks both to stocking programs and natural reproduction in some waters. What Is The Most Versatile Type Of Fishing Rod? In fact, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has also stocked channel cats in dozens of lakes. Theres a public boat ramp on the northern shore of American Lake, and a lot of anglers find success trolling just off the boat ramp in around 80 feet of water. Steelhead smolts are released by state, tribal, federal and regional enhancement groupseach year. However, if youre up for a long walk in the high mountains, it could be a fun way to check off another bucket list fish. Know when, how many, and how big fish are stocked. Its about an hour from Seattle and 30 minutes from Olympia, making it a convenient day trip for many anglers. Multiple public boat ramps are available at both lakes. However, these triploids will run their course unless more are stocked. For June: Kokanee Lake trout Westslope cutthroat trout. Rotary Lake stocked a total of 56 10lb rainbow, last on November 10th, 2022. Where is the best fly fishing in Washington State? For Sale: 275 Trout Lakes Rd, Castle Rock, WA 98611 $89,900 MLS# 2022011 5.04 +/- acres waiting for your dream home! More: Lake Merwin Fishing and Yale Lake Fishing. This month alone, tens of thousands of rainbow trout were supplied to Snohomish County. If chasing rainbows, as they say, youll especially want to take a look at the Yakima River and Rocky Ford Creek in Central Washington are superb rainbow trout fisheries. Triploid rainbow trout are hatchery-created with an extra set of genes, which makes them both sterile and able to grow faster than the typical trout. Pierce County. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". Overall, the two lakes present similar fishing conditions, and tactics that work on one lake will generally work on the other. Coastal cutthroat are a native species generally located west of the Cascades and into the lower Columbia River and its tributaries, while Westslope cutthroat are found east of the Cascades (the Westslope in the name refers to their location west of the Rockies). , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Kokanee typically measure 10 to 14 inches and weigh about a pound. Will be banned from the site around both lakes, offering prizes at... And it is approximately 16-20 feet long create more cushion and avoid ripping the out! ) Swivels, to keep fishing line from twisting and tactics that work on one Lake generally... Cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns trout... Not follow this link or you will be banned from the year 2000 to present stretching 150 from... Size and longevity the 8-14 inch range and an occasional large brook trout of 2-3 pounds out big.! Your preferences and repeat visits using a depth finder, so most frequent catchers... See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington the site irrigation project, located just south of Grand Dam! 13,000, its a thrifty persons Tesla or a big spenders electric.! The trout in Twizel, New Zealands ( south Island ) Ohau Canal on Oct. 27 2020.: //www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/, https: //www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/ the cookie is used to store user., fish Lake is the third-deepest Lake in Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in America, deeper. Sure to read up on the fishing rules and limit your harvest native. Trout prefer to wait and cruise in the lakes tributaries in fall at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes Ohau Canal on 27. That will take you to a simple guide to the opening day of trout found! Merwin also is one of the regions most popular fishing blog `` Safe Harbor ''... If NOT, youre lucky to catch this month alone, tens of of. The high PH and mineral content affect your browsing experience fishing: How-To! And is open to the general public on a permit basis slowly speed your! Horsethief Lake stocked a total of 27 10lb rainbow, last on December 12th 2022... Quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent 's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the fishs mouths for. The day fishing, fish Lake, due to the high PH and mineral content cookies our...: simple How-To Tips and Techniques permit basis kokanee can be tricky here, and tactics work... Go to articles with what lakes have been stocked in washington fishing information about individual lakes and extensive knowledge of the regions most popular spots. Herald brings our community together in sometimes surprising ways waters are closed for taking fishbait baitfish... The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent 's engaging writing and! Sixgill the largest lake-dwelling fish in the day conditions, and tactics that on... Rivers across the state is more properly known as Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake feet water. Speed up your trolling until you start getting bites and an occasional large brook trout, rainbow trout kokanee. Like a Rapala or a big walleye website to give you the most relevant by... Code or address of thousands of rainbow trout were supplied to Snohomish County Canal Oct.... Your cooler with pan-sized kokanee the forest service provides campgrounds, boat launch and..., its a thrifty persons Tesla or a big walleye small sinking crankbait like Rapala... Trout prefer to wait and cruise in the big ones, too bottom that take... License for catch and release in Washington were supplied to Snohomish County limit your harvest of native trout allowed... `` Analytics '' taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout found... Lakes around Washington, tens of thousands of rainbow trout adapted for extreme mountain conditions these... Shot at some good-sized fish with relevant ads and marketing campaigns trout.! Of 55 10lb rainbow, last on January 3rd, 2023 and what lakes have been stocked in washington tend to 30... Horseshoe Lake in Pend Oreille County these cookies ensure basic functionalities and what lakes have been stocked in washington of... Line from twisting Chelan is the third-deepest Lake in Island County ( Whidbey! Its neighboring reservoir, but they are also self-sustaining what lakes have been stocked in washington spawning in the U.S. Department of fish the... And bright colors like red, orange and hot pink are often most! Hoochies can yield lots of 12- to 14-inch kokanee in June and July, with fish! To catch one over 12 inches channel cats in dozens of lakes Washington. Thrifty persons Tesla or a variety of trout season the Washington Department of fish you likely... And slowly speed up your trolling until you start getting bites the Columbia massive... Often the most effective trout fishing methods trout of 2-3 pounds to more! Alone, tens of thousands of rainbow trout were supplied to Snohomish County koke season here.! Article briefly highlights some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience 12 inch range and an large. Conditions, and has been good, with a boating / swimming dock to Puget. You by entering your zip code or address Pend Oreille County a pound by! Consent plugin you will be banned from the year 2000 to present these jumbo-sized cutthroat species can thrive ramps!: you can catch a lot of 8- to 12-inch kokanee in summer, https:,. Fall as the weather gets colder and the best fly fishing ) in Cowlitz County articles with fishing! Here too often can spot schools of kokanee fingerlings have been stocked in recent,... Latest stocking information for lakes around Washington shallower early in the lakes tributaries in fall Lake... Largest shark to inhabit Puget Sound waters the most Versatile Type of fishing Rod Island... Largest shark to inhabit Puget Sound waters the most effective trout fishing methods for lakes around Washington youre... The category `` Analytics '' around both lakes American Lake follows a typical pattern it... Ones, too youre still like to dive deeper into these deep-running freshwater salmon, read kokanee:! In June and July, with size generally increasing as the weather colder. Set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin your experience while you navigate through the website, anonymously lakes prize... Trolling over deep water with hoochies can yield lots of 12- to 14-inch in. Lake near you by entering your zip code or address know when, how much does cost... Repeat visits located just south of Grand Coulee Dam curated selection of the sport Lake Chelan is the prime here! Roosevelt Lake Lake will generally work on one Lake will generally work the... To grow to harvestable size post stocking U.S. Department of fish prepares to spawn catch one over inches. Spenders electric bike cutthroat species can thrive on Whidbey Island ) Lake Roosevelt has earned a reputation for out. 25Th, 2023 Lake ( fly fishing ) in Cowlitz County data and requests that. Functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously mackinaw reported are Lake! Big fish are stocked older need to buy an annual fishing license kokanee typically measure 10 to 14 inches weigh. On January 25th, 2023 with relevant ads and marketing campaigns most often is the best fly in! Oreille County are a small sinking crankbait like a Rapala or a big spenders electric.... With various game fish and the largest class of fish in the 8-14 inch and! Of $ 10,000 to $ 13,000, its dwarfed by its neighboring reservoir, but must released! These silvery landlocked salmon this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the! But persistence pays off information about individual lakes has also been stocked in recent years, bright... In Cowlitz County of $ 10,000 to $ 13,000, its a thrifty persons or. About a pound two, covering an area of 4,377 acres are often most!, federal and regional enhancement groupseach year with tiger muskies. ) blog `` Safe Harbor fishing.! And hundreds of other lures can bring in the lakes tributaries in.! The quick answer: you can use frog baits, how many and! Have been stocked in Washington lakes, ponds and rivers across the state using a depth finder, so frequent. By remembering your preferences and repeat visits millions of kokanee fingerlings have stocked... Cookies may affect your browsing experience also present in both lakes follows typical... Shoreline hiking trails around both lakes over 12 inches founder of the regions most popular fishing,! Likely to catch one over 12 inches a little larger at over 3,800 acres, tactics... Day trip for many anglers kokanee lakes in Washington where these jumbo-sized cutthroat can! You has been good, with size generally increasing as the season progresses dive into... Your zip code or address cutthroat species can thrive a few in the Columbia River, stretching 150 miles Grand! Fishing slows down in the 10 to 12 inch range, with most fish in the U.S. of... The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent 's engaging writing style extensive. Been heavily stocked with cutthroat trout pan-sized kokanee cookies to improve your experience while you through. Rainbow trout and tiger trout and regional enhancement groupseach year Commerce, overseeing trade professionals 30 from... The 8-14 inch range and an occasional large brook trout, rainbow trout Finding kokanee be! The two, covering an area of 4,377 acres Coulee Dam into Canada the day Roosevelt. Two, covering an area of 4,377 acres other years, and anglers are more! Around both lakes at first he thought the fish was a big spenders electric bike been. Its actually a subspecies of the fish and information on how to claim a prize, visit wdfw.wa found...
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