Lowland fishing season opener shows promise

Each year Fish and Wildlife published a forecast of what anglers should find in area lakes. After the opening day, they also publish a summary of the opening day results.

2012 Opening Day summary from Fish and Wildlife District 15, District/Area Biologist Chad Jackson:

Warden Lake:

80 anglers checked with 327 fish kept and 69 released. This results in an average of 5.0 fish per angler caught and 4.1 average fish per angler kept.

Additional notes:

Anglers fishing Warden Lake were greeted with sunny skies and warm temperatures. Effort was higher than in 2011 and remained steady throughout the creel survey, from 8 a.m. until Noon. Harvest and catch (kept + released) rates were excellent on Warden Lake at 4.1 and 5.0 trout per angler, respectively. Fish size was fair with rainbow trout averaging 12 inches in length and ranging from 10 to 14 inches. Very few carryovers were checked during the creel survey.

Blue Lake:

66 anglers checked with 124 fish caught and zero released for an average of 1.9 fish for angler caught and kept.

Additional notes:

Anglers fishing Blue Lake experienced great weather, but slower fishing than last year. However, as anglers continue to fish most should catch their limits later in the afternoon. Trout size was very good with yearlings ranging in size from 12 to14 inches and carryovers from 15 to 18 inches. Angler effort was about the same as last year.

Park Lake:

148 anglers checked with 431 fish kept and 63 released, making an average of 3.3 fish caught per angler and 2.9 fish per angler kept.

Additional notes:

Anglers fishing Park Lake experienced great weather and better fishing than last year. Trout size was excellent with yearlings ranging in size from 12 to 14 inches and carryovers from 15 to 18 inches. Effort was slightly higher at Park Lake this year than in 2011. As anglers continue to fish most should catch their limits by early afternoon.

Deep Lake:

64 anglers checked with 200 fish kept and 151 released. This makes an average of 5.5 fish caught per angler and 3.1 fish per angler kept.

Additional notes:

Anglers fishing Deep Lake on the opener experienced better fishing than last year with harvest and catch (kept + released) rates of 3.1 and 5.5 trout per angler, respectively. Trout size ranged from 11 to 13 inches with some carryovers/trophy trout reaching 17 inches. Effort at Deep Lake was about the same as in 2011. The majority of anglers was pleased with the fishery this year and most could have limited if they wanted to.

Vic Meyers Lake:

29 anglers checked with 35 fish caught and four released. This makes an average of 1.3 fish caught per angler and 1.2 fish per angler kept.

Additional notes:

Anglers who fished Vic Meyers early in the morning experienced good fishing for trout up to 17 inches. However, the bite turned off somewhere from between 9 and 10 a.m. as the sunshine hit the lake.

Hunting reminders

Turkey

Remember, the spring hunting season will continue through May 31.

Special hunting permits

Hunters have through May 18 to apply for special hunting permits for fall deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep, and turkey seasons. Winners will be selected by random drawing in late June.

Applications may be purchased from license vendors statewide or on Fish and Wildlife's special permits website. The cost for each application is $6.60 for residents, $110 for non-residents, and $3.30 for youth under 16 years of age.

Applications must be submitted on that website or by calling 1-877-945-3492 toll-free.

Dennis note: applying online is easy and fast.

More from Fish and Wildlife:

Warden Lake was listed as the region's top-producing rainbow trout lake. Elsewhere around Region Two: In Okanogan County, Wannacut Lake anglers averaged 3.4 trout harvested and Alta Lake averaged 2.92.

Big Twin Lake near Winthrop and Blue Lake near Sinlahekin opened last Saturday, but were not checked because they are under selective gear rules and one-fish catch limits. However, both lakes are expected to be good for rainbows in the 12- to 16-inch range. Blue Lake also has brown trout.

Chelan County's Clear Lake saw an average harvest of 2.92 fish per angler on the opener. Anglers at Beehive Lake, also in Chelan County, averaged 2.73 fish harvested.

Douglas County's Jameson Lake saw an average of only two fish harvested per angler on opening day. But Fish and Wildlife District Wildlife Biologist Travis Maitland reports a lot more fishing pressure and success at Jameson than creel data indicates.

Fish and Wildlife also reports walleye fishing on Moses Lake has been good on the Crab Creek arm at the Alder Street Fill. Smallmouth bass fishing on Moses Lake and Potholes Reservoir has been good, with warm weather moving fish into shallower water.

Largemouth bass fishing, catch-and-release only, is picking up on the Quincy Wildlife Area's Stan Coffin Lake as water temperatures warm into the mid-to high-50s. Stan Coffin Lake also has a healthy channel catfish population with some fish up to five pounds.

A new Fish Washington search tool is available on WDFW's website to help anglers locate fishing opportunities by species, water and county across the state. The complete trout stocking plan for fishing waters throughout the region also is available online, along with weekly stocking reports.