FRANKLIN COUNTY -- About 40 adult hatchery steelhead have been planted in Railroad Pond here to give area anglers an extra fishing opportunity, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reported today.

Anglers do not need a steelhead license or punch card to fish for these steelhead, according to regional fisheries manager Keith Wolf. Only a valid Washington game fish license is required. The daily limit is two steelhead. Trout 20 inches or longer are considered steelhead.

Railroad Pond is located northeast of the Highway 17 viaduct in Equatzel Coulee near the city of Mesa.

The planted fish were raised at the department's Ringold Hatchery. To meet wild steelhead conservation needs, the fish were not placed in the Columbia River, where they might interact with wild steelhead.

"What we're trying to do is provide local anglers with as many diverse fishing opportunities as we can while working to meet our conservation goals for wild fish stocks," Wolf said.

Last month, WDFW personnel planted about 350 Ringold Hatchery steelhead in the Scootney Reservoir 13 miles southeast of Othello on Highway 17.

Anglers are asked to report their success-or lack of success-by calling the Ringold hatchery at (509)269-4327 and leaving a message.