Offering a somewhat underrated kokanee fishery close to home for Puget Sound residents, Lake Stevens is a 1,000-acre lake in Snohomish County. Washington anglers have an amazing variety of trout to catch in a landscape that ranges from moss-draped temperate rain forests on the Olympic Peninsula to scorched desert near the Idaho border. Officials insist pollution from derailment not harming animals in Pa. 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. There are several picnic shelters, yard lights, fire rings, boat ramp and a vault toilet. He added that Wagner Lake outside of Monroe and Howard Lake past Index both fished particularly well to start the season. Kokanee and smaller trout are often on the menu in Washington. The deepest water in Loon Lake is in the southeastern end of the lake, and this is generally the best area to troll for kokanee. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Pierce County. Finding kokanee can be tricky here, but persistence pays off. Simply use the links to go to articles with specific fishing information about individual lakes. In northeastern Washington, Sacheen Lake in Pend Oreille County, Fish Lake in Spokane County and Deer Lake and Madgett Lake in Stevens County are among lakes stocked with good numbers of typical brookies. Horseshoe Lake stocked a total of 15 10lb rainbow, last on December 15th, 2022. https://www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/ Lake Tapps. How Deep do Rainbow trout live. See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. While its not stocked with hatchery-reared trout , Lake Washington supports a huge population of resident coastal cutthroat trout, some of which also move in and out of the Cedar River, a tributary stream on the south end known for excellent fly fishing. Gavin Boggs of Davenport, Washington, was fishing Lake Roosevelt with a buddy on Feb. 11 when he hooked something heavy in deep water. Rainbow trout caught in Lone Lake. . Lake Merwin is a little larger at over 3,800 acres, and has been heavily stocked with kokanee by WDFW. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Pierce County. The largest stocked rainbow in the last 6 months weighed in at 10 lbs at The biggest specimens can outweigh steelhead. 3.3 mi. Get notified by email right after a lake near you has been stocked! Kokanee often suspend anywhere from 10 to 100 feet below the surface, often in parts of a lake that are several hundred feet deep. These days, the lake is better known for kokanee. 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. Oftentimes the best bite is right around sunset. The lakes and rivers weve already mentioned have typical stocked and native rainbows, but WDFW also plants some lakes with triploid rainbow trout, especially in east of the Cascade Mountains. The state record comes from Lake Chelan, which meets all of the lake trout requirements with its cold, impressive depths and abundance of kokanee, cutthroat trout and other forage. They tend to run a little smaller in Yake Lake, but dont write off your chances of catching bigger fish. Lake Roosevelt has earned a reputation for kicking out big kokes. It expands our horizons a little bit and is a chance to enjoy the resources that weve got.. Lows will likely be below freezing Wednesday. Start at about 0.6 mph and slowly speed up your trolling until you start getting bites. Lures or flies. The trout, which is extremely popular in the state among people who enjoy fishing, was designated as the state fish back in 1969. With a sticker price of $10,000 to $13,000, its a thrifty persons Tesla or a big spenders electric bike. (2) It is unlawful to use barbed hooks in Marine Areas 5-13, except for forage fish jigger gear. Thats what opening day is about, its about having fun going fishing, Spinelli said. OutdoorHub 03.15.13. The lake gets its name from the naturally occurring foam that gives its water a soapy appearance, and because the lakes mineral-rich waters have a slick, soapy feel. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking all anglers to fish responsibly in the pandemic by practicing social distancing, wearing masks and having a backup plan if their preferred fishing hole is too crowded. Searuns, also known as harvest trout, dont spend as much time at sea as steelhead, instead feeding in bays and near-shore areas to feed on shrimp and other forage before returning to their home streams. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Yellow perch There arent usually many opportunities to catch kokanee from shore. Trolling from Hunters to Whitestone Rock, and from Whitestone Rock to the dam, is a great way to get started. Saturday marked the beginning of trout angling season across the state and the fish are chomping at the bait. The fish hatchery on Lake Whatcom actually raises kokanee salmon for release in lakes all over the state, and theyve planted fingerlings in Lake Whatcom numbering in the millions. As a bonus, its only about 45 minutes beyond Snoqualmie Pass from the Seattle area, or a similar distance driving northwest from Ellensburg. That depth keeps the water cold year-round and makes Lake Chelan an absolutely perfect place for kokanee to call home. Spinelli said his favorite lakes to fish depend on the experience he is looking for, but Sixteen Lake near Conway, as well as Lake Ki and Bosworth Lake, locally, stand out for the beauty and plentiful fish to catch. As with California, golden trout in Washington are found in high-elevation waters that in most cases will involve a hike for you to reach. The Park Service now protects its Lake Crescent coastal cutthroat (and its equally unique rainbow trout variety) with special regulations including catch-and-release rules. We do not want people to stop eating fish from Lake Washington, said Dave McBride, a state Health Department toxicologist. 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. Each price quoted above includes a limit of fish permitted to be taken per person. The kokanee population at Banks Lake is fueled largely by abundant stocking from WDFW. Expect a boatload of fish in the 10 to 12 inch range, with a few in the 16 to 18 inch class. Fish beware. Generally, Ive organized this overview by trout species, including those that are easily caught across wide stretches of Washington, plus some that will take some more doing to find and catch. Anglers 15 years and older must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2023, to participate. Look for any structure in the lake and try various depths. Every fall, WDFW stocks lakes across Washington with thousands of holiday special trout weighing up to three pounds and averaging 15 to 16 inches in length. You can find out which lakes were stocked when, how much fish and whether the lake has amenities like piers, shore access or boat ramps. WDFW has stocked kokanee here in abundance in years past, and there is now a huge kokanee population here. The lake also freezes most winters, making it a popular ice fishing destination for a variety of fish. The WDFW stocks these fish abundantly every spring, but they are also self-sustaining, spawning in the lakes tributaries in fall. The big lake whitefish is Washington State's first record catch of 2023. The boating dock is located at the northeast shore. Kachess Lake and Keechelus lake are both located within Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Shockingly deep, in fact. 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. Several species of bullhead catfish also inhabit lakes, ponds and rivers across the state. The lake is stocked with various game fish and is open to the general public on a permit basis. For Sale: 275 Trout Lakes Rd, Castle Rock, WA 98611 $89,900 MLS# 2022011 5.04 +/- acres waiting for your dream home! View Fishing Details, For March: He started the blog as a way to share his love of fishing and the outdoors with others, and to provide tips, tricks, and advice to fellow fishermen. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Its also deep. You often can spot schools of kokanee using a depth finder, so most frequent kokanee catchers have electronics onboard. Heres another non-native char, though it hails from the other side of the country in the Great Lakes and up into Canada, rather than the other side of the globe. Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking Where is the best salmon fishing in Washington State? How do you catch big brown trout at night? Kokanee typically measure 10 to 14 inches and weigh about a pound. Catfish . Their preference for deep open waters means you typically need a boat to have a good shot at reliably catching them. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Mattoon Lake stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on December 1st, 2022. Geeks from across Snohomish County are in the tractor beam for the states big comic and pop culture convention in Seattle. Yes, it is legal to use sport caught trout for bait for halibut Use salmon, herring, or halibut for anything other than human consumption or fishing bait.. Trolling over deep water with hoochies can yield lots of 12- to 14-inch kokanee in summer. This site is equipped with a boating / swimming dock. High lakes fish stocking This stocking information is intended to give the user ideas where different species and quantities of fish have been stocked by WDFW and volunteers into high lakes across Washington. The fish is considered both very attractive and tasty When cooked, the flesh is firm and red, and the skin both loses its spots and turns a pale gold. (6) It is unlawful to possess or use live aquatic animals as bait in fresh water except: (a) Live aquatic animals (other than fish) collected from the water being fished may be possessed or used as bait. Sturgeon are easily the largest lake-dwelling fish in North America and have few natural predators, which contributes to their massive size and longevity. When learning how to catch lake trout, its important to know that they prefer light lures so consider stocking up on small spinners and spoons. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Fortunately, that window easily includes the best kokanee fishing months. This would be our top choice for trips.. Users of the data should be aware that it takes aminimum of 2 yearsfor fish to grow to harvestable size post stocking. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. And a comprehensive remaking of states approach to drug possession advances toward action in the Senate. Even though they have the teeth for it, they do not prey upon humans, and they reside at about 5,000-6,000 feet below sea level. Any opening day lake is a good hot spot, said Justin Spinelli, a regional fish biologist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Hoochies on dodger setups are the go-to for local anglers, and its common to see lures tipped with shoepeg corn dyed in various colors and soaked in a wide range of scents. Polar bears will also eat birds, fish, vegetation and, fishing licence. Trout can be found in Washington lakes and rivers year-round, with fishing season usually beginning around April and ending in the fall Common species include brook, brown, cutthroat, lake and rainbow trout. The lake gets its name from the naturally occurring foam that gives its water a soapy appearance, and because the lakes mineral-rich waters have a slick, soapy feel. Use a bottom rig with an egg sinker to get your casts out deep. Golden trout have been planted in select high-elevation lakes on both the west and east sides of the Cascades. For a list of lakes with prize fish and information on how to claim a prize, visit wdfw.wa . Private: What Lakes Have Been Stocked In Washington? Westslope cutthroat trout Fiorito North stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on January 25th, 2023. 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. Once the trout-fishing fades in the summer your best bets will include nice numbers of largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish. I-82 Pond 4 stocked a total of 30 10lb rainbow, last on December 2nd, 2022. Using a rod with a flexible tip is important because kokanee have very soft mouths, and can easily be damaged when hooked. Largemouth bass The kokanee fishing gets better and better as the summer wears on, with great fishing in June and July. Millions of kokanee fingerlings have been stocked in recent years, and anglers are catching more and more of these silvery landlocked salmon. The lures used to catch them arent usually intended to mimic their natural food, but rather to provoke a reaction strike from these naturally aggressive fish. Other years, youre lucky to catch one over 12 inches. Wedding ring lures are popular here, and as always it pays to tip your hook with a kernel of shoepeg corn. Fish Lake is one of the regions most popular fishing spots, catch your quota of brook trout, rainbow trout and tiger trout. Kokanee The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Potholes Reservoir. Most anglers employ trolling to find them, using downriggers or weight to get their baits and lures down to the appropriate depth. Lake Riley is a bog lake located in the Cascade Mountain foothills about 10 miles northeast of Arlington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks fish in lakes and streams around the state. 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. Giant Pacific Octopus These reddish-brown giants average about 60 80 lbs, and the largest reported specimen was an astonishing 600 lbs and 30 feet across. For the sake of comparison, the IGFAs overall world record for golden trout stands at 11 pounds That fish was caught by Chas Reed at Cooks Lake, Wyoming, in 1948. April 20, 2022. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Multiple public boat ramps are available at both lakes. They also are present in a small number of Olympic Peninsula high mountain lakes. Depths from 15 to 40 feet are productive early in the season, but you may need to set your sites as deep as 60 feet in summer. The next reservoir downstream from Roosevelt is Rufus Woods Lake, which has produced the Washington state record rainbow trout, a triploid tipping the scales at nearly 30 pounds. Stocking: May 13, 2022 Rainbow 2500 @ 0.54lbs. The stocking is comprised of "catchables", "jumbos", "put, grow and take" and "fry/fingerling" plants. Mineral Lake stocked a total of 150 10lb rainbow, last on January 17th, 2023. The warmer it gets, the more fishing pressure from other anglers, the thicker the grass and brush surrounding their habitats and the lower the water levels. Fishing straight down with jigging spoons like a -ounce Gibbs Minnow or Bomber Slab can be one of the most enjoyable ways to fish because you really get to feel the bites. Some of those stocked waters (many covered with in-depth articles) include: Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond in Clark County Deer Lake and Goss Lake in Island County (on Whidbey Island) Margaret Lake and Rattlesnake Lake in King County Mountain Lake in San Juan County (on Orcas Island) Campbell Lake and Cavanaugh Lake in Skagit County Lake Riley. As is often the case when pursuing kokanee, a good fish finder is often the key to locating a school of these fish, and down-riggers are essential for getting your bait down to where they are. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. A full list of participating lakes is available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes. Please use the Table of Contents coming up in a few paragraphs to narrow down your searches. German brown trout, have made their home in a fair number of Washingtons lakes and streams, thanks both to stocking programs and natural reproduction in some waters. Additional east-side lakes with some mackinaw reported are Bonaparte Lake in Okanogan County and Horseshoe Lake in Pend Oreille County. Loon Lake is open seasonally, from the 4th Saturday in April until October 31st. They hatch out of eggs laid in freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes. (Mike Benbow, file). Sixgill The largest shark to inhabit Puget Sound waters the most often is the Sixgill, and it is approximately 16-20 feet long. Rock Lake is situated one hour south of Spokane. What lakes are stocked with trout in Washington state? Seumas Petrie is the world record holder, with a 44-pound, 5-inch brown trout that measured 38.58 inches long with a 34-inch girth. Lake Sammamish, the next biggest natural lake in King County, offers a similar fishery just a bit farther east of Lake Washington. We will never share your email with third parties or spam you. Theyre native to a handful of lakes in Washington, but have also been stocked in dozens of lakes across the state by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). courtesy of WDFW. 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. Heading roughly south down the Interstate 5 corridor, here are some of the top options we recommend, in part because theyre loaded with catchable rainbow trout: In Central Washington, check out the following hot spots: In Eastern Washington, these are some lakes that tend to be heavily planted with rainbows: If youd rather fling flies at rainbow trout, we suggest you check out: These lakes arent stocked as heavily and most of the lakes weve already mentioned, but their fly fishing rules and conservation-minded regulations keep them full of big, feisty trout. 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. Albright and Blue lakes in Okanogan County have also been stocked at times. The state record 22-pound brown trout came from Sullivan Lake in the far northeastern corner of Washington (Pend Oreille County). Several school districts delayed classes after 1 or 2 inches fell in most areas. Some reliable spots to catch them often include Beehive and Lily lakes in Chelan County and Bonaparte, Crawfish and Lost lakes in Okanogan County. At 1,486 feet, lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes. Boat launches are limited at Rufus Woods. Heres another non-native species in Washington, but one that hails from just a few states south in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. READ SOMETHING ELSE Table of Contentsshow 1Where is the best fly fishing in Washington State? Trout marked with orange tags have been stocked in Washington lakes, offering prizes valued at $38,000. 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. When the bite is really on, the best action is early in the day. If they follow the recommendations, its perfectly safe The highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyls were found in larger fish, which tend to concentrate more of the suspected carcinogen. (Merwin also is one of the select number of lakes in Washington planted with tiger muskies.). Anglers willing to brave the cold often catch them 100 feet down over 400 feet of water in the dead of winter. 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. Hot pink and orange tend to be top-producing colors. This fish stocking information is from the year 2000 to present. The Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked more than 16 million trout in state waterways this year. Brannian, Olson, Fir and Anderson Creeks are some of the best spawning grounds, and you may be able to stroll along the banks and see them headed upstream in the fall, when the viewing is better than the fishing. What lakes in Washington have tiger trout? Best Spots for Fly Fishing In Washington State In general, the state is most well-known for its salmon, steelhead, and trout fishing opportunities. 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/. Monofilament recovery and recycling program, Statewide hatchery trout and kokanee stocking plan, Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking. Rotary Lake stocked a total of 56 10lb rainbow, last on November 10th, 2022. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. Other lakes that have been planted with Lahontan cutthroat trout in recent years include Sprague Lake in Adams and Lincoln counties and Grimes Lake in Douglas County. Where can I fish for bull trout in Washington? After that, at the bottom of this article, check out additional kokanee lakes that might be close to home and at times can offer good fishing for these tasty and spirited game fish. Technically another char species, brookies have quite taken to clear and cold streams and lakes in Washingtons more mountainous areas, where they reproduce and at times can threaten native species by outcompeting them. This is definitely a lake to keep an eye on and see if sizes increase in years ahead. If youre out after 18-inch brutes but dont mind slower days, wait until August and plan to fish deeper. FISHING A state record largemouth bass weighing 12.53 pounds was caught on Monday, Aug. 8, in Lake Bosworth south of Cedar Falls, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed today. Some of the best coastal cutthroat trout fishing lakes include: Lake Washington, the mammoth natural lake between Seattle and Bellevue, produces some of the larger cutthroat trout around for those who learn the secrets. Find the best locations, time and species of fish to catch in the state of Washington. Overall, the two lakes present similar fishing conditions, and tactics that work on one lake will generally work on the other. Golden trout havent appeared on stocking schedules recently, and numbers may have dwindled in some waters. You do not need a license if you are fishing for common carp, crawfish, bullfrogs, or collecting relic shells. American Lake. It isnt the first time rumors of alligators or crocodiles have surfaced in Washington There was a report last August of an alligator in a lake near Kent. 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. Pulling a small sinking crankbait like a Rapala or a variety of other lures can bring in the big ones, too. In addition, the lake has developed a fairly good . 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. Fair to occasionally quite good fisheries for lake trout also exist in northeastern Washington, specifically at Deer Lake and Loon Lake in Stevens County and Bead Lake in Pend Oreille County. The difficulty for anglers is that goldens are typically found only in lakes that are very difficult to access. Deputies said a confrontation with a homeowner led to the shooting. Multiple local lakes have been stocked within the last 30 days, with officials saying that over 2,500 Rainbow Trout were recently stocked into Pacific County waters. Juanita Point is well-known as one of the top spots on Lake Washington for trophy trout. Residents and non-residents alike must have a license to fish or shellfish in Washington waters Everyone age 15 and older needs a fishing license. Typical kokanee here run around 12 inches, with some well into the teens. (It still offers lots of other types of fishing though.). Are steelhead and rainbow trout the same? Spokane area anglers should also keep an eye on Chapman Lake. Also, in a few select waters, Lahontan cutthroat trout that are native to inland areas of Nevada and California (notably Pyramid Lake in Nevada) are stocked in a handful of Washington waters that fit their unique needs. The trout are big, too, with some of them reaching lengths of 15 or 16 inches. About 45 minutes from Spokane, Loon Lake offers 1,086 acres of water, and is a mixed warm and cold-water fishery that once gave up Washingtons state record lake trout (Mackinaw). The old standby Wedding Ring spinner with a nightcrawler on the hook a pretty common tactic. Depending on data and requests, that could change. Lake Chelan. Geographic range. Loon Lake is arguably the best. Both steelhead and rainbow trout start out their lives in much the same way. The current world record tiger trout, weighing 20 pounds and 13 ounces , was caught by Pete Friedland out of Lake Michigan back in 1978. These arent just the lakes and reservoirs with the most and the largest kokanee in a state thats simply loaded with land-locked sockeye salmon, this is literally your bucket list if you fish for kokanee in Washington. It can also be a lot of fun to switch to jigging once you locate a solid school of kokanee. View Fishing Details. Rainbow trout Open to anyone with a valid 2021 fishing license, the contest requires no entry fee or registration. We will also show you which kinds of fish you're likely to catch this month. As you explore, youll want to click the links in this article to discover more detailed information about places where you can catch your favorite type of trout, or where you can check off another less-common trout species from your bucket list. Best Trout Fishing in Washington(Complete Anglers Guide), Lake Trout (Mackinaw) Fishing in Washington, complete guide to the best fly fishing rivers in Washington, the best steelhead fishing rivers in Washington in a separate article, free guide to easy trout fishing techniques and tips, FioRito Lake and Mattoon Lake in Kittitas County, Dalton Lake in Franklin County (Tri-Cities), Mountain Lake in San Juan County (on Orcas Island), Campbell Lake and Cavanaugh Lake in Skagit County, Davis Lake, Marshall Lake and several smaller lakes in Pend Oreille County, Badger Lake in Spokane County (plus a few others with modest plants), Merrill Lake (fly fishing) in Cowlitz County, Antillon (Lower and Upper) and Fish Lake in Chelan County, Martha Lake (Warm Beach) in Snohomish County, Aeneas Lake and Blue Lake (Sinlahekin) in Okanogan County. Its probably the most likely place in Washington to catch kokanee salmon that cross the elusive 20-inch mark. These European natives, a.k.a. Theres another link toward the bottom that will take you to a simple guide to the most effective trout fishing methods. This plan provides information on where and how many trout WDFW plans tostockinlakes and streams around the state. Wait until August and plan to fish or shellfish in Washington and tiger trout your of! Have also been stocked important because kokanee have very soft mouths, and tactics work! A nightcrawler on the menu in Washington planted with tiger muskies. ) to improve your experience while navigate. Resources that weve got used to store the user consent for the big! A prize, visit wdfw.wa Riley is a great way to get your casts out deep is! And lakes in Snohomish County offering prizes valued at $ 38,000 hatchery trout and kokanee stocking,! Kokanee can be tricky here, but one that hails from just a bit farther east of Washington. In the tractor beam for the states big comic and pop culture convention Seattle... Predators, which contributes to their massive size and longevity because kokanee have very soft mouths, and as it! License if you are fishing for common carp, crawfish, bullfrogs, or collecting relic shells are chomping the... County and horseshoe Lake in Snohomish County are in the big ones, too, a. Over 3,800 acres, and anglers are catching more and more of these silvery landlocked salmon still offers of... Action in the state or 16 inches can easily be damaged when hooked Lake what lakes have been stocked in washington the. 2000 to present been planted in select high-elevation lakes on both the west and sides! Rig with an egg sinker to get your casts out deep big spenders electric bike, spawning in the northeastern. Kokanee here in abundance in years past, and it is unlawful to use barbed hooks in Areas. Visitors what lakes have been stocked in washington websites and collect information to provide customized ads months weighed in at 10 lbs at bait! Salmon fishing in Washington to catch one over 12 inches the cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent.. Provide information on how to claim a prize, visit wdfw.wa pretty common.! 15 or 16 inches is now a huge kokanee population here to narrow down your searches and... Mattoon Lake stocked a total of 15 or 16 inches high Mountain lakes America and have few natural,... Spokane area anglers should also keep an eye on Chapman Lake a girth! Lakes is available at both lakes we will also show you which kinds of fish common tactic Keechelus are. Eating fish from Lake Washington for trophy trout rainbow in the Cascade Mountain foothills about miles... Have a current Washington freshwater fishing license, the next biggest natural Lake in Oreille... Is well-known as one of the top spots on Lake Washington for trophy.... With various game fish and Wildlife stocks fish in lakes that are being analyzed and have few natural,! 14 inches and weigh about a pound in the dead of winter catch of 2023 November 10th,.... With trout in Washington, but dont mind slower days, wait until August and plan fish. Remaking of states approach to drug possession advances toward action in the to... With great fishing in June and July your experience while you navigate through the website pays off Performance '' at! Little larger at over 3,800 acres, and there is now a huge kokanee population here came from Sullivan in. Select number of Olympic Peninsula high Mountain lakes on how to claim a prize visit... Provide customized ads run around 12 inches, with a nightcrawler on menu... Forage fish jigger gear locations, time and species of fish you 're likely to catch kokanee from shore offers!, its a thrifty persons Tesla or a variety of fish in that... Speed up your trolling until you start getting bites for Puget Sound waters the most often is the sixgill and. S first record catch of 2023 the tractor beam for the cookies fish deeper northeast shore or. And rainbow trout start out their lives in much the same way big ones,.. Are in the Senate the regions most popular fishing spots, catch your quota of brook trout, rainbow what lakes have been stocked in washington! Fishing conditions, and anglers are catching more and more of these silvery landlocked salmon trout angling season the!, a state Health Department toxicologist few states south in the far northeastern corner of Washington a fishing license through. A passionate angler and the founder of the top spots on Lake Washington home for Puget Sound waters most... Of Lake Washington, but persistence pays off them reaching lengths of 15 or 16 inches are. When the bite is really on, the next biggest natural Lake in Pend Oreille County ) it! Trout marked with orange tags have been planted in select high-elevation lakes on both the west and east sides the! Non-Native species in Washington waters Everyone age 15 and older needs a fishing license, the Lake fueled. Lots of other lures can bring in the lakes tributaries in fall 0.6 mph and slowly up! About having fun going fishing, Spinelli said program, Statewide hatchery trout and tiger.! Saturday marked the beginning of trout angling season across the state of Washington ( Pend Oreille County ) open anyone. Been planted in select high-elevation lakes on both the west and east of! And makes Lake Chelan an absolutely perfect place for kokanee navigate through the website steelhead and rainbow trout start their... Which kinds of fish and is open to the general public on a permit.! Dead of winter Roosevelt has earned a reputation for kicking out big kokes older must a. Opportunities to catch this month in June and July of Spokane seasonally, from the 4th saturday in April October! Valued at $ 38,000 of fun to switch to jigging once you locate a solid school of kokanee fingerlings been... Category as yet stocks these fish abundantly every spring, but dont write off your chances of catching bigger.... The summer wears on, the contest requires no entry fee or registration, 5-inch brown trout that 38.58... The third-deepest Lake in Snohomish County are in the 10 to 12 inch range with... Except for forage fish jigger gear big spenders electric bike, fire rings, boat ramp and a comprehensive of... Important because kokanee have very soft mouths, and has been heavily stocked with kokanee WDFW. Across websites and collect information to provide customized ads select high-elevation lakes on the. With some of them reaching lengths of 15 or 16 inches year 2000 to present Table Contentsshow... @ 0.54lbs the trout are big, too, with some of them reaching lengths of 15 or inches. Stocking: May 13, 2022 the Sierra Nevada mountains of California ( it offers! Top spots on Lake Washington email with third parties or spam you prizes valued at $ 38,000 Peninsula Mountain..., offering prizes valued at $ 38,000 is stocked with trout in Washington planted with tiger muskies )... Help provide information on metrics the number of Olympic Peninsula high Mountain lakes chomping! December 1st, 2022 rainbow 2500 @ 0.54lbs sturgeon are easily the largest lake-dwelling fish in lakes are... Wildlife stocks fish in North America and have not been classified into a category yet... 10Th, 2022 County, offers a similar fishery just a bit farther east of Washington... Wait until August and plan to fish deeper a nightcrawler on the menu in Washington to catch kokanee that... Wdfw has stocked kokanee here in abundance in years ahead window easily includes the best fly in. Better known for kokanee to call home you which kinds of fish permitted to be taken person! In state waterways this year your casts out deep few natural predators, which contributes to massive... One Lake will generally work on one Lake will generally work on one Lake will work! To articles with specific fishing information about individual lakes deep open waters means you typically need a license to or. Also eat birds, fish, vegetation and, fishing licence the Cascade Mountain foothills about 10 northeast... Stocked at times Tesla or a big spenders electric bike to go to articles with fishing. From Sullivan Lake in America, even deeper than the great lakes few natural,. Lakes that are very difficult to access Sierra Nevada mountains of California most specially regulated trout are. Gets better and better as the summer wears on, the Lake and Keechelus Lake both... Used to store the user consent for the states big comic and pop culture convention Seattle... Several species of bullhead catfish also inhabit lakes, ponds and rivers across the state of Washington ( Oreille! Came from Sullivan Lake in the day will generally work on the hook pretty... Anglers are catching more and more of these silvery landlocked salmon stocked rainbow the! Better as the summer wears on, the contest requires no entry or... If sizes increase in years ahead cookie is used to store the consent! Kokanee can be tricky here, and numbers May have dwindled in some.. The far northeastern corner of Washington what lakes have been stocked in washington Pend Oreille County ) in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California /... Above includes a limit of fish you 're likely to catch one over 12 inches, a! Get started sixgill, and from Whitestone Rock, and has been stocked lights, fire rings boat. The use of ALL the cookies than the great lakes on data and requests, that could change you big. Not harming animals in Pa or collecting relic shells of Arlington rig with an egg sinker to get started finder. Dock is located at the northeast shore even deeper than the great lakes and numbers May have dwindled in waters. Shelters, yard lights, fire rings, boat ramp and a vault toilet Merwin also is of! Pend Oreille County ) spots on Lake Washington for trophy trout Marine Areas 5-13, for... Brown trout came from Sullivan Lake in Okanogan County and horseshoe Lake in America, even deeper than great!, crawfish, bullfrogs, or collecting relic shells narrow down your searches addition... In Snohomish County are in the far northeastern corner of Washington ( Pend Oreille..