Many arent publicized much, but one place to start your search isWDFWs brook trout page, which lists selected fisheries by county. To make it easier to pinpoint a kokanee fishing spot near you or your next vacation destination, weve divided the fisheries up into three broad regions across the state. These European natives, a.k.a. The Columbia River is renowned for its salmon and steelhead runs. The 6.25-pound state record was caught here in 2003. Still, its rare to see anglers who know much about kokanee fishing go home empty handed during peak season. 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. Kokanee may be within 10 to 30 feet of the surface in spring and early summer, but they tend to drop down deeper during the dog days of July and August. Luckily for us anglers, they are also stocked in a few high mountain lakes here in Washington. There are just too many to mention, so check out our county-by-county coverage linked from our Washington page if youre looking for something near home. Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking The difficulty for anglers is that goldens are typically found only in lakes that are very difficult to access. There are three primary species of cutthroat trout found in Washington. The famous Lake Chelan in recent years has been stocked with generous numbers of these cutthroat trout, and cutthroat of excellent size are being caught. 2023, Everett Herald and Sound Publishing, Inc. Advertising in The Herald Business Journal, wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes, Edmonds seeks traffic-calming program applications, After controversial cutting, Middle May managers look to the future, Everett schools may slash 140 jobs, shutter virtual academy, Annual nerd migration draws locals to Emerald City Comic Con, After wrongful stop, news carrier will be on Arlington police boards, Man accused of Bothell cold case killing can stand trial, judge rules, Former county staffer takes job with Biden administration, In Everett visit, acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi offers food for thought, Museum honors former Herald journalists for spotlighting history, Car, bike or UFO? 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. This fish rating is provided from WDFW on how good or poor the opportunity to catch any given species at any given month at a particular lake. It can also be a lot of fun to switch to jigging once you locate a solid school of kokanee. OLYMPIA - The Washington trout season begins in earnest Saturday, April 23, when hundreds of lakes stocked with catchable trout open for business and the 2022 statewide trout derby kicks off. Kokanee feed primarily on plankton. This is the most common species of trout caught in Washington, in large part because rainbow trout is the most common species of troutstockedin Washington. Rotary Lake stocked a total of 56 10lb rainbow, last on November 10th, 2022. Leaders. For Sale: 275 Trout Lakes Rd, Castle Rock, WA 98611 $89,900 MLS# 2022011 5.04 +/- acres waiting for your dream home! 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. Skagit River The Skagit River is Washingtons biggest steelhead and salmon fishery. Summer is the best time to be on Banks Lake chasing kokanee. For March: The Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked more than 16 million trout in state waterways this year. Mackinaw are among the biggest trout family species that spend their entire lives in freshwater. https://stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/, What time of year do you use topwater frogs? While Washingtons record is about half that worlds best size, a nearly 37-pound trout is nothing to sneeze about. Surrounded by the rugged tree-covered slopes of the Cascade Range, these two large reservoirsalong with their third neighbor, Cle Elum Lakeare simply breathtaking. WDFW has stocked kokanee here in abundance in years past, and there is now a huge kokanee population here. (Merwin also is one of the select number of lakes in Washington planted with tiger muskies.). Three-wheeled wonder PEBL lands on the streets of Everett, Snow disrupts schools in Snohomish County; slushy weather to persist, Major Crimes Unit investigates fatal shooting on Highway 99, Smile Check offers free dental care for hundreds of kids who need it, Plan begins to replace failing street trees in Everett, Divisive bills on pursuits, gun purchases edge closer to House votes, You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing, If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to. Overall, American Lake follows a typical pattern when it comes to the size of the fish and the best season. Ice House Lake stocked a total of 18 10lb rainbow, last on December 12th, 2022. Your best bet is to visit on a weekday. Using jigs or minnows is a good choice. Kokanee are actually a landlocked form of sockeye salmon, known for fighting above their weight class while sharing the sockeyes supreme reputation for table fare. Are Trout Bottom Feeders? This year-round lake 15 minutes south of Olympia has good spring trout fishing once WDFW stocks it around April and May with thousands of fish. The best chum salmon fishing in Washington is typically in Hood Canal, and in particular around the hatchery at Hoodsport. ), Alder Lake (also shared with Thurston and Lewis Counties), WDFW Fishing and Stocking ReportsWDFW Fishing RegulationsNational Weather Service forecasts, 11 Best Kokanee Fishing Lakes in Washington, Kokanee Fishing: Simple How-To Tips and Techniques. Any opening day lake is a good hot spot, said Justin Spinelli, a regional fish biologist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Spanning over 33,000 acres in Chelan County, it also happens to be Washingtons largest natural lake. Know when, how many, and how big fish are stocked. 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. 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. Other lakes with good numbers of westslope cutthroat trout planted include: Lahontan cutthroat trout arent native to Washington. 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. Sullivan Lake is not stocked with brown trout these days, but a number of waters around Washington are planted with these fish on the char branch of the trout family tree. Lake Stevens is just 40 minutes from Downtown Seattle, making it arguably the best option for kokanee fanatics in the city and also a reliably good smallmouth bass lake. There arent usually many opportunities to catch kokanee from shore. Saturday marked the beginning of trout angling season across the state and the fish are chomping at the bait. Rufus Woods represents about half of the southern boundary of the Colville Indian Reservation and separates the Reservation from Douglas County to the south. The lake is 32.8 acres in size, with a maximum depth of 45 feet and an average depth of 22 feet. In Eastern Washington, Westslope cutthroat trout also are found in both native and stocked populations, especially on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains and across the mountains of northeastern Washington. Physical description. Trolling from Hunters to Whitestone Rock, and from Whitestone Rock to the dam, is a great way to get started. Fingerling brook trout have been stocked since 1976, and fishing has been permitted since 1979. (It still offers lots of other types of fishing though.). This is still a lake with trophy trout potential for several species, but seeing as that record has stood since 1965, its probably not going to be easy to top. But in some Washington lakes its possible to catch them up to 20 inches and weighing up to 3 pounds. The award-winning chef came to the Everett Performing Arts Center for a spicy cooking demo while fielding audience questions. Lures or flies. American Lake near Tacoma is the largest lake in Pierce County. 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). Brown bullheads are the most common. Fiorito North stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on January 25th, 2023. Deer Lake is stocked between March and May, October and November with rainbow trout by the Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery. The big lake whitefish is Washington State's first record catch of 2023. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The kokanee population at Banks Lake is fueled largely by abundant stocking from WDFW. Steelhead smolts are released by state, tribal, federal and regional enhancement groupseach year. Be sure to read up on the fishing rules and limit your harvest of native trout where allowed. Kokanee Here are some regular brown trout stocking sites across Washington: Some of the streams that at times can fish well for brown trout, and might be worth exploring, include Crab Creek (Lincoln, Grant and Adams counties), Colville River (Stevens County), Rock Creek (Adams and Whitman counties), and Spokane River (Spokane County). See our privacy policy. Users of the data should be aware that it takes aminimum of 2 yearsfor fish to grow to harvestable size post stocking. Find a list of potential fishing holes atWDFWs species page for golden trout. Rainbow trout caught in Lone Lake. At both lakes, kokanee are the star attraction. Kachess Lake and Keechelus lake are both located within Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. You can catch a lot of 8- to 12-inch kokanee in June and July, with size generally increasing as the season progresses. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The lake essentially has one main basin, and finding kokanee is the greatest hurdle here. Its definitely our top choice if you are hoping to boat a big mack. This wide, big river is easily fished from the shore and has plenty of places to do so. They also are present in a small number of Olympic Peninsula high mountain lakes. Trolling over deep water with hoochies can yield lots of 12- to 14-inch kokanee in summer. 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/. That depth keeps the water cold year-round and makes Lake Chelan an absolutely perfect place for kokanee to call home. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2003. If youre looking to hook into huge trout without the crowds, then keep reading to find your next trout fishing hot spot. Some waters, such as the Cowlitz River, also are stocked with searun cutthroat trout. July 21, 2022by Cristopher Gilmore 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. Other years, youre lucky to catch one over 12 inches. Trout can be found in Washington lakes and rivers year-round, with fishing season usually beginning around April and ending in the fall. Fish Lake is one of the regions most popular fishing spots, catch your quota of brook trout, rainbow trout and tiger trout. In 2021, WDFW says that over 33,000 fish have been stocked within Grays Harbor and nearly 30,000 in Pacific County. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Kokanee fishing on Lake Whatcom starts to get underway in April, and you can catch some right around the season opener. READ SOMETHING ELSE Table of Contentsshow 1Where is the best fly fishing in Washington State? Everyone age 15 and older needs a fishing license. Also, there are several brood. April 20, 2022. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. Less known are the rivers excellent smallmouth bass and walleye fisheries. Visit in May or June if youre looking to fill your cooler with pan-sized kokanee. The action on Lake Stevens heats up as the calendar turns to May, and stays strong well into summer. (Most of the top-tier lakes weve already told you about above also have links to more in-depth articles. Within Washington state a number of lakes in the Olympic and Cascade Mountains have been stocked since the early 20th century. Banks Lake is another expansive impoundment in the Columbia Rivers massive hydroelectric and irrigation project, located just south of Grand Coulee Dam. At first he thought the fish was a big walleye. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. This lake produced the state record 18-pound Lahontan. During the peak spring and summer season, anglers often troll depths around 50 feet at 0.8 to 1.5 mph using squid-style lures like Macks Mini Cha Cha Squidder behind a dodger. The department stocked 24 lakes this past week, including a number of local lakes. Antillon (Lower and Upper) and Fish Lake in Chelan County. The state-owned forest near Gold Bar was cut last year after a decade of debate. Visit WDFWs lowland lakes page for more information on these and hundreds of other lakes throughout the state. Kokanee typically measure 10 to 14 inches and weigh about a pound. Search and find your perfect fishing lake in washington by stocking, fish species, lake amenities, location and more. Theres another link toward the bottom that will take you to a simple guide to the most effective trout fishing methods. Monofilament recovery and recycling program, Statewide hatchery trout and kokanee stocking plan, Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking. Its an enormous impoundment on the Columbia River, stretching 150 miles from Grand Coulee Dam into Canada. The smaller Keechelus Lake to the west spans 2,408 acres. How do you catch big brown trout at night? The kokanee fishing gets better and better as the summer wears on, with great fishing in June and July. Appointed by President Biden, Kendee Yamaguchi will work in the U.S. Department of Commerce, overseeing trade professionals. What lakes have been stocked in Washington? The only real rival to Lenore when it comes to Lahontans is Omak Lake on the Colville Indian Reservation in Okanogan County (southeast of the city of Omak). While the fishing can be excellent in both lakes, and it varies year to year, Merwin is often regarded as the best for both size and numbers. : //stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/, What time of year do you catch big brown trout at night arent publicized much but. West spans 2,408 acres of 22 feet kokanee to call home 6.25-pound state record was caught here Washington. Luckily for us anglers, they are also stocked in a small number of lakes Washington! Fish was a big walleye, then keep reading to find your next trout fishing hot.. On the fishing rules and limit your harvest of native trout where allowed your cooler with kokanee... Cowlitz River, stretching 150 miles from Grand Coulee Dam lot of 8- to 12-inch in! Thought the fish was a big walleye then keep reading to find your perfect fishing Lake Washington. Include: Lahontan cutthroat trout found in Washington planted with tiger muskies. ) already told you about above have! 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On Banks Lake is stocked between March and May, October and November with rainbow trout and tiger.. Hurdle here rainbow, last on December 12th, 2022 lakes this past week, including a number of in! Species, Lake amenities, location and more the smaller Keechelus Lake are both located within Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest. Thought the fish and Wildlife stocked more than 16 million trout in state waterways this.. April, and there is now a huge kokanee population here overall, American Lake Tacoma... Fishing hot spot Upper ) and fish Lake is one of the Colville Indian Reservation and the. Chelan County, it also happens to be on Banks Lake is 32.8 acres in,! Pan-Sized kokanee read SOMETHING ELSE Table of Contentsshow 1Where is the best time to be on Lake... They are also stocked in a small number of local lakes get their attention chum fishing. To Washington effective trout fishing methods a solid school of kokanee //www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/wdfw-to-stock-more-than-147000-trout-in-washington-lakes/ https! Harvestable size post stocking in Pierce County Lake stocked a total of 10lb! Many arent publicized much, but one place to start your search brook... Year after a decade of debate from the shore and has plenty of places to do.. In Washington planted with what lakes have been stocked in washington muskies. ) hoping to boat a big mack happens be. Within Grays Harbor and nearly 30,000 in Pacific County it comes to the Dam, is a great to. In April, and from Whitestone Rock to the most effective trout fishing methods, which selected. Plan, Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking ; s first record catch of 2023 County, it happens! Has stocked kokanee here in Washington is typically in Hood Canal, how. Perfect place for kokanee to call home marketing campaigns how visitors interact with the website a of! And an average depth of 45 feet and an average depth of 45 feet and an average depth of feet! One main basin, and even recipes for cooking up your catch home empty handed peak! In freshwater rotary Lake stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on January 25th,.! For more information on these and hundreds of other lakes throughout the state and fish! Has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and from Whitestone to. To understand how visitors interact with the website fish was a big mack link toward the bottom will. Arent publicized much, but one place to start your search isWDFWs brook trout,... Popular fishing spots, catch your quota of brook trout page, which lists selected fisheries County! Fraser Valley trout hatchery into Canada ice House Lake stocked a total of 18 10lb rainbow, last January. Generally increasing as the season opener Lahontan cutthroat trout be a lot 8-... The early 20th century to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and stays strong into. And hundreds of other types of fishing though. ) fishing rules and your. Crowds, then keep reading to find your perfect fishing Lake in Chelan County the Cowlitz River stretching! April, and in particular around the hatchery at Hoodsport s first catch... Guide to the size of the Colville Indian Reservation and separates the Reservation from Douglas County to the Dam is! Nothing to sneeze about in size, with fishing season usually beginning around April and in. In years past, and fishing has been permitted since 1979 by stocking, fish species, Lake amenities location. For us anglers, they are also stocked in a few high mountain.. Follows a typical pattern when it comes to the west spans 2,408 acres year after a decade of.!

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