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Washington Weather Limits Anglers, Not Takes
#1
OLYMPIA -Anglers are hearty folks, but cold weather, wind, rain and occasional snow flurries reduced the number of fishers on both sides of the state who turned out Saturday for the opening day of the lowland lakes season.

East of the Cascades, wind kept the number of boats down on some lakes, and many anglers waited until the wind died down in the afternoon to fish. At Wapato Lake, it appeared angler turnout was about a third of what it's been in recent years. Those who did show up were rewarded. Creel counts indicated that the catch per angler was improved over a year ago, and that all fish were healthy and robust.

West of the mountains, anglers were excited about the size of the fish caught, but they, too, were kept in check by inclement weather. The catch in Pierce and Thurston counties was dominated by jumbo rainbow trout. Anglers reported that the quality of fish was good, and at Anderson Lake in Jefferson County, most rainbows measured in at a whopping 15-17 inches.

In a few areas, persistent wintery conditions, ice and mud delayed Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hatchery crews from stocking some lakes before the opener.

"Hatchery stocking will continue," said WDFW Fish Biologist Patricia Michael. "With the season on most opening-day waters running through September or October, there will be plenty of fish to catch."

WDFW staff and volunteers reported checking 4,801 anglers with 11,100 trout from 116 lakes statewide. Anglers checked statewide averaged 2.2 trout kept per fisher, with many more trout caught and released during the day.

The top 10 lakes for angler success were: Cedar and Rocky lakes in Stevens County; Hart, McMurray and Erie lakes in Skagit County; Storm Lake in Snohomish County; Geneva and Steele lakes in King County; Swift Reservoir in Skamania County and Bay Lake in Pierce County.

WDFW staff and volunteers provided the following information from opening day creel checks:

2010 Lakes Opening Day Data CPUE means Catch Per Unit Effort (fish per rod)

County

Lake

Anglers Checked

Fish Kept

Fish/Angler

Comments

Chelan

Clear Lake

79

237

3.00

A few 18-20" fish.

Wapato Lake

42

155

3.69

Some large carryover rainbows.

Douglas

Jameson Lake

55

137

2.49

Yearling rainbow 10". Carryover rainbows 14".

Ferry

Trout Lake

6

15

2.50

Largest fish was a 10" rainbow. Cool and windy, one tree down

Grant

Blue Lake

61

112

1.84

Plus 4 released, total CPUE= 1.9. Yearling rainbows averaged 12.5 - 13 inches. Tiger and brown trout in the catch.

Deep Lake

71

61

0.86

Plus 14 released, total CPUE=1.1. Shoreline anglers near the boat ramp fared well. Boat anglers were severely hampered by high winds.

Park Lake

19

55

2.89

Plus 10 released, total CPUE= 3.4. Yearling rainbows averaged 12.5 - 13 inches. Tiger and brown trout in the catch.

Perch Lake

46

43

0.93

Plus 14 released, total CPUE= 1.2. Rainbow trout ranged from 11-15 inches.

Vic Meyers

15

18

1.20

Brown and brook trout reported in catch.

Warden Lake

31

105

3.39

Plus 6 released, total CPUE=3.6. Yearling rainbows averaged 12 inches.

Grays Harbor

Aberdeen Lake

80

162

2.03

Plus 102 released, total CPUE=3.3. largest fish 19".

Duck Lake

11

4

0.36

Plus 1 released, total CPUE=.45. Bad weather, water was turbid. N end of the lake has been good for crappie.

Failor Lake

58

105

1.81

Plus 101 released, total CPUE= 3.6. Largest fish 6 lb 7 oz, 24 3/8 inches.

Sylvia Lake

24

87

3.63

Plus 7 released, total CPUE=3.9. Largest fish 16".

Vance Creek Pond #1

60

63

1.05

Derby winning fish were 4.55 and 5.35 lbs.

Vance Creek Pond #2

35

56

1.60

Largest fish 19".

Island

Deer Lake

12

31

2.58

Plus 3 released, total CPUE= 2.8. Low turnout, cold.

Jefferson

Anderson

74

246

3.32

Hot fishing, mostly 15-17" rainbows; largest 20" carryover.

Horseshoe Lake

3

2

0.67

Ludlow Lake

15

29

1.93

Plus 20 released, total CPUE=3.3. Some hi-grading for jumbos; largest 17".

Sandy Shore Lake

54

146

2.70

Good mix of catchables and jumbos; largest 23" broodstock.

Silent Lake

16

28

1.75

Plus 47 released, total CPUE=4.7. Some hi-grading for jumbos to 14".

Tarboo Lake

25

33

1.32

Plus 15 released, total CPUE=1.9. Largest 20" broodstock.

King

Cottage Lake

32

52

1.63

Plus 20 released, total CPUE= 2.25. Short trips due to weather.

Geneva Lake

15

75

5.00

Plus15 fish released, total CPUE=6. Everyone caught limits, satisfied with size and condition of fish.

Langlois Lake

39

122

3.13

Plus 88 released, total CPUE=5.4. Cold and rainy, anglers were satisfied with numbers and size of fish.

Margaret Lake

48

141

2.94

Plus 206 released, total CPUE= 7.2. Cold and windy.

North Lake

22

21

0.95

Plus 14 released, total CPUE= 1.6.

Pine Lake

45

105

2.33

Plus 117 released, total CPUE=4.9.

Rattlesnake Lake

51

88

1.73

Plus 331 released, total CPUE=8.2.

Steel Lake

38

148

3.89

Plus 93 released, total CPUE=6.3.

Walker Lake

24

33

1.38

Plus 53 released, total CPUE=3.6. Weather was cold.

Wilderness Lake

43

118

2.74

Plus 32 released, total CPUE= 3.5. Kids got some big fish, largest 23". Rainy and cold.

Kitsap

Buck Lake

15

34

2.27

Plus 18 released, total CPUE 3.5.

Horseshoe Lake

19

40

2.11

Largest 20" broodstock.

Mission Lake

28

55

1.96

Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 18" carryover.

Panther Lake

46

92

2.00

Lots of triploids and jumbos.

Wildcat Lake

41

68

1.66

Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 23" (6 lb) broodstock.

Wye Lake

31

107

3.45

Plus 73 released, total CPUE=5.8. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 23" broodstock.

Bainbridge Island Pond

Juvenile derby - great event - report pending

Poggie derby

Juvenile derby - great event - report pending

Klickitat

Horsethief Lake

16

45

2.81

Windy, rainy, cold.

Rowland Lake

45

116

2.58

Plus 197 released, total CPUE=6.9. People were happy to catch and release. Most fish were 15" and over diploids. Two broodstock caught, one over 12 lbs.

Spearfish Lake

2

2

1.00

Too cold, rainy, and windy to fish.

Lewis

Carlisle Lake

61

45

0.74

Many small coho caught and released.

Fort Borst Park Pond

66

99

1.50

Plus 58 fish released, total CPUE=2.7. Cold and rainy

Mineral Lake

154

258

1.68

Plus 133 released, total CPUE=2.53. Rain/snow.

Mason

Aldrich Lake

14

46

3.29

Plus 22 released, total CPUE=4.8. Some high-grading for jumbos to 14".

Benson Lake

54

130

2.41

Plus 83 released, total CPUE=3.94. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 19" triploid.

Clara (Don) Lake

15

24

1.60

Plus 23 released, total CPUE=3.13. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 20" carryover.

Devereaux Lake

24

16

0.67

Low catch rate likely due to early stocking and predation by cormorants; largest 22" broodstock.

Haven Lake

25

90

3.60

Largest 18" triploid.

Howell Lake

21

20

0.95

Plus 42 released, total CPUE=2.95. - many catch-and-release anglers.

Panhandle Lake

0

0

NA

4-H Camp closed and limited angler access.

Phillips Lake

36

44

1.22

Plus 30 released, total CPUE=2.05. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 16".

Robbins Lake

20

20

1.00

Largest 14" jumbo.

Stump Lake

38

97

2.55

Plus 56 fish released, total CPUE=4.0. Light pressure, anglers were satisfied.

Tiger Lake

66

107

1.62

Plus 45 released, total CPUE=2.3. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 16" triploid.

Wildberry Lake

10

1

0.10

Lakeside owners happy with fish stocked.

Wood Lake

8

8

1.00

Plus 12 released, total CPUE=2.5. Some high-grading for jumbos to 14".

Wooten Lake

56

138

2.46

Plus 67 released, total CPUE=3.66. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 17" cutthroat and 18" rainbow.

Okanogan

Alta Lake

127

332

2.61

Yearling rainbow 9". Carryover rainbow 13".

Conconully Lake

121

251

2.07

Yearling rainbow 10-11". Carryover rainbow 14". Largest fish 24".

Conconully Res.

65

130

2.00

Yearling rainbow 11". Carryover rainbow 14". Largest fish 20".

Fish Lake

93

272

2.92

Yearling rainbow 10-11".

Pearrygin Lake

33

146

4.42

Yearling rainbow 10". Carryover rainbow 14". Triploid rainbow 15-17 inches.

Pacific

Black Lake

28

11

0.39

Plus 3 released, total CPUE= .5. Largest fish 3.25 lbs, 19 3/8 inches.

Pend Oreille

Big Meadow Lake

8

22

2.75

Largest fish was a 14" rainbow. Cold and snowing, windy.

Yokum Lake

11

28

2.55

One 12.5" cutthroat. Cool and windy.

Pierce

Bay Lake

107

401

3.75

253 catchables, 100 jumbos, 48 carryovers; largest 16".

Clear Lake

91

290

3.19

Plus 205 released, total CPUE=5.4. Kokanee up to 13", many fish greater than 12, a few greater than 16".

Ohop Lake

11

17

1.55

Plus 16 released, total CPUE=3.0. Lots of anglers, bite a little slow, cold and windy.

Rapjohn Lake

68

219

3.22

Plus 30 released, total CPUE=3.7.Happy anglers, most fish greater than 12", many greater than 16". A few crappie.

Silver Lake

69

166

2.41

Plus 47 released, total CPUE=3.1. Anglers happy to see resort open, brown bullhead catch higher than normal this time of year.

Spanaway Lake

9

13

1.44

Cold, wet and windy. Not much effort.

Tanwax Lake

60

126

2.10

Plus 57 released, total CPUE=3.1. Lots of anglers, fishing a little slow. Anglers familiar with the lake caught limits - lots of fish still in lake!

Skagit

Erie Lake

46

186

4.04

Plus 57 released, total CPUE=5.3. Happy anglers enjoyed triploid trout.

Heart Lake

31

146

4.71

Plus 49 releases, total CPUE=6.3. Best fishing in a long time, anglers liked triploid trout.

McMurray Lake

74

281

3.80

Plus 35 released, total CPUE=4.3. Anglers liked size, catch rate and condition of fish.

Sixteen Lake

35

71

2.03

Plus 22 released, total CPUE=2.7. 4 holdovers (16").

Skamania

Kidney Lake

36

47

1.31

Plus 99 released, total CPUE=4. Anglers happy to catch and release fish. One large brown trout 2+ lbs caught.

Northwestern Reservoir

9

28

3.11

Plus 114 released.

Swift Reservoir

46

175

3.80

Plus 23 released, total CPUE=4.3. 109 of the catch were coho, plus 66 rainbow.

Snohomish

Armstrong Lake

26

66

2.54

Plus 48 released, total CPUE=4.4. Light rain.

Bosworth Lake

27

68

2.52

Plus 83 released, total CPUE=5.6. Cold.

Echo Lake (Maltby)

Not surveyed.

Howard Lake

65

182

2.80

Plus 64 released, total CPUE=3.8.

Ki Lake

51

95

1.86

Plus 59 released, total CPUE=3.0. Cold and breezy.

Martha Lake (AM)

30

70

2.33

Plus 55 released, total CPUE= 4.2. Good mix of adults and kids.

Riley Lake

32

95

2.97

Plus 52 released, total CPUE=4.6. Anglers satisfied with fish size.

Serene Lake

17

25

1.47

Plus 15 released, total CPUE=2.4. Some limits, some 100% released.

Stickney Lake

1

2

2.00

Plus 2 released, total CPUE=4. Cold and windy.

Storm Lake

10

43

4.30

Plus 14 released, total CPUE=5.7. Lower effort, trout healthy.

Wagner Lake

1

1

1.00

Windy and cold.

Spokane

Badger Lake

64

109

1.70

Largest rainbow caught was 23".

Clear Lake

38

22

0.58

Fish Lake

104

105

1.01

Several 22-27" tiger trout caught.

Fishtrap Lake

35

77

2.20

West Medical Lake

81

180

2.22

Williams Lake

90

211

2.34

Stevens

Cedar Lake

10

50

5.00

Largest fish was a 13' rainbow. Cool and windy.

Deep Lake

7

25

3.57

11" rainbow and 11" cutthroat checked. Cool and windy.

Mudgett Lake

8

20

2.50

Largest fish was a 19" rainbow. Cool and windy.

Rocky Lake

19

84

4.42

Largest fish was a 14" rainbow. Very windy - some trees down.

Starvation Lake

13

43

3.31

Largest fish was a 13" rainbow. Cool and windy.

Waitts Lake

27

64

2.37

Largest fish was a 20" brown trout. Cool and windy.

Thurston

Clear Lake

64

237

3.70

Plus 83 released, total CPUE=5.0. Best fishing in last few years. Catch was mostly 12-14" diploid fish with a few legal plants at 9-11".

Deep Lake

64

131

2.05

Plus 29 released, total CPUE= 2.5. Fishing good for most anglers but effort was lower due to weather.

Hicks Lake

38

32

0.84

Plus 5 released, total CPUE= 1. Fishing relatively poor. Most fish caught were 12-14" jumbo diploids, few legal plants observed.

Long Lake

37

111

3.00

Plus 19 released, total CPUE= 3.5. Great fishing relative to recent years. Rainbows up to 18".

McIntosh Lake

70

124

1.77

Plus 127 released, total CPUE= 3.6. Good fishing with many rainbows up to 14".

Pattison Lake

60

106

1.77

Plus 66 released, total CPUE= 2.9. Many large fish in creel. Several brood stock up to 20" observed. About 40% of the catch was legal plants.

Summit Lake

65

174

2.68

Plus 48 released, total CPUE= 3.4. Many carryover fish observed in the creel (14-17") Effort down due to weather.

Whatcom

Cain Lake

28

75

2.68

Plus 32 released, total CPUE=3.8. Catch rates a little low, but anglers happy with size and condition of fish.

Padden Lake

46

156

3.39

Plus 15 released, total CPUE=3.7. 46 of the 156 fish kept were triploids. Lots of families despite crowded boat ramp and harsh weather.

Silver Lake

192

316

1.65

Plus 113 released, total CPUE=2.2.

Toad Lake

43

110

2.56

Plus 101 released, total CPUE=4.9. Lots of triploids caught.

Media Contact

Patricia Michael (360) 902-2628 or Robert T. Nelson (360) 902-2262

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