Fishing on opener lakes still good
Cold temperatures just before the March first fishing season opener caused many of the lakes to be ice covered or to have ice on part of the lake. These anglers found a section of Martha Lake worthy of fishing through the ice and they were catching fish. Any remaining ice as of this week would be too rotten to support people. Stay off the ice from now on.
Deer near Moses Lake: This deer herd was spotted and photographed by Don Justesen. More and more deer are accepting Moses Lake and the greater Columbia Basin as their home.
Brief summary of March 1 opening lakes:
Last week we didn't have room for all of the summaries, so we will continue today.
Burke Lake:
About 70 percent of Burke Lake was ice free and fishable on the opener. The far east, the most productive section of the lake, and west ends of the lake were ice covered and unfishable. Harvest and catch rate were the same at 2.0 trout per angler. Trout size was a little better at Burke Lake than Quincy Lake ranging between 12 to 15 inches, with one 20-inch trout reported in the creel. As this lake thaws, harvest and catch rates should improve.
Quincy Walk-in lakes:
An opening day creel survey was not performed on the Quincy Walk-In Lakes.
Upper Caliche Lake:
Only about 40 percent of Upper Caliche Lake was ice free and fishable. Effort was low with a total of 31 anglers fishing the lake. Catch rates were low at 0.25 trout per angler, however, several anglers fished for only a short time, between one and two hours, due to the weather or relocated to fish another lake.
Trout, as predicted, were smaller than other lakes ranging between 7 to 10 inches. The small trout is the result of not being able to plant last fall due to the early freeze in the basin. Instead, such trout were planted a week before opening day. Stocked trout will continue to grow and should be closer to 12 inches by late spring/early summer.
Lenice and Nunnally lakes:
Only seven anglers were observed fishing on Lenice Lake. Fishing was slow with only one trout observed caught-and-released. However, another half-dozen anglers were observed driving to the lake after 12 p.m. Only one angler was observed at Nunnally Lake with no fish caught.
Dusty Lake:
Only one angler was observed fishing Dusty Lake on the opener. This angler caught-and-released three rainbow trout.
Lake Lenore:
No anglers were observed fishing Lake Lenore on opening day. Currently, about 40 percent of the lake, the northern half, is ice free and fishable.
Trout derby
The first annual Quincy Valley Tourism Association fishing derby was held last Saturday. Info from the Quincy City Hall indicates over 500 people participated, with a net of around $4,000 and the tagged winning fish was not caught. Apparently it was so much fun the organizers are planning to hold another derby next year.
Congrats to the coordinators. Perhaps we will wet a line in the derby next year.
First Youth Outdoors Unlimited fund raising dinner and auction
From Cindy Carpenter:
"We are having our first official dinner and auction at Sporty's Steakhouse on Thursday, March 31st. Dinner starts at 6:30 and auction to follow. Tickets are available at Sporty's and are $40 per person with $25 being donated to Youth Outdoors Unlimited. 100 percent of the auction proceeds to benefit Y.O.U. If you would like to donate an auction item please contact Cindy Carpenter at (509) 431-1604."
Spring turkey season three weeks away for youth
The youth spring turkey season will take place on April 2 and 3 with a limit of two male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards in Eastern Washington. The exception is only one may be killed in Chelan, Kittitas or Yakima counties.
The general spring turkey season is scheduled from April 15 through May 31.
Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service:
What's hot is trolling for lake trout on Lake Chelan for numbers of eating size lakers along the face of Manson Bay and in the trench. Troll the trench with Silver Horde's Kingfisher Lite spoons in Chartreuse Splatterback. Silver Horde's new Hootchie Hooker in a glow pattern is another great choice. These fish are in scattered clumps.
You need to give it three hours or more to make it worth your while. We will go through extended blank spells then have multiple hook ups. In addition to nice numbers, there are some nice sized fish in the mix.
If the laker bite slows move to the face of Manson Bay and fish with Worden's Lures F7 flatfish in Luminous Chartreuse and Purple Glow. Mack's Lures Cha Cha Squidders baited with red Pautzke's Fire Corn also have caught fish there.
Look for depths between 175 and 200 feet to find piles of fish, as the fish are incredibly concentrated. You can troll along for five or six minutes without seeing a fish on your sonar and then just have your screen covered in fish.
By the way, if our sonar sightings of big schools of fish in the mid-depths are any indication, we should be in for a great kokanee season on Lake Chelan.
Watch for that surface water to warm to 50 degrees for the kokanee bite to turn on.
Contact Anton at 866-360-1523.