The Fishin' Magician: April Fools Opener

Monday April 1st is the Annual "April Fools Opener", with a couple dozen lakes becoming available to anglers in the Columbia Wildlife Refuge. This region is dotted with lakes that are spread across the high desert from Potholes Reservoir down to Othello. Many of the lakes are managed for trout and offer great fishing in the spring, whole others are excellent spiny ray fisheries.

There is very good shore access to most of these lakes, and areas for camping. According to Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Chad Jackson in the Ephrata office, a couple of exceptionally good prospects for this opener are North and South Teal lakes. These lakes on the southern edge of the refuge were rehabilitated in 2011 and should offer excellent trout fishing.

Traditionally, the Pillar-Widgeon Lake Chain, which are walk-in lakes provide very good fishing, but are in need of rehabilitation and won't be as good this year. The same is true with the popular Hampton lakes, which are in need of rehabilitation.

I would suggest that anglers new to this area stop by MarDon Resort on Potholes Reservoir and pick up a map. They have the best one I have found that identifies these lakes and the species they offer.