ARCHIVED NEWS RELEASE
This document is provided for archival purposes only. Archived documents
do not reflect current WDFW regulations or policy and may contain factual
inaccuracies.
News release April 27, 2010
Patricia Michael (360) 902-2628 or
Robert T. Nelson (360) 902-2262
Robert T. Nelson (360) 902-2262
OLYMPIA - Anglers are hearty folks, but cold weather, wind, rain and occasional snow flurries reduced the number of fishers on both sides of the state who turned out Saturday for the opening day of the lowland lakes season.
East of the Cascades, wind kept the number of boats down on some lakes, and many anglers waited until the wind died down in the afternoon to fish. At Wapato Lake, it appeared angler turnout was about a third of what it's been in recent years. Those who did show up were rewarded. Creel counts indicated that the catch per angler was improved over a year ago, and that all fish were healthy and robust.
West of the mountains, anglers were excited about the size of the fish caught, but they, too, were kept in check by inclement weather. The catch in Pierce and Thurston counties was dominated by jumbo rainbow trout. Anglers reported that the quality of fish was good, and at Anderson Lake in Jefferson County, most rainbows measured in at a whopping 15-17 inches.
In a few areas, persistent wintery conditions, ice and mud delayed Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hatchery crews from stocking some lakes before the opener.
"Hatchery stocking will continue," said WDFW Fish Biologist Patricia Michael. "With the season on most opening-day waters running through September or October, there will be plenty of fish to catch."
WDFW staff and volunteers reported checking 4,801 anglers with 11,100 trout from 116 lakes statewide. Anglers checked statewide averaged 2.2 trout kept per fisher, with many more trout caught and released during the day.
The top 10 lakes for angler success were: Cedar and Rocky lakes in Stevens County; Hart, McMurray and Erie lakes in Skagit County; Storm Lake in Snohomish County; Geneva and Steele lakes in King County; Swift Reservoir in Skamania County and Bay Lake in Pierce County.
WDFW staff and volunteers provided the following information from opening day creel checks:
| 2010 Lakes Opening Day Data | ||||||
| County | Lake | Anglers Checked | Fish Kept | Species | Fish/Angler | Comments |
| Chelan | Clear Lake | 79 | 237 | 3.00 | A few 18-20" fish. | |
| Wapato Lake | 42 | 155 | 3.69 | Some large carryover rainbows. | ||
| Clark | Battleground Lake | Not surveyed - not an Opening Day lake. | ||||
| Klineline Lake | Not surveyed - not an Opening Day lake. | |||||
| Cowlitz | Horseshoe Lake | Not surveyed - not an Opening Day lake. | ||||
| Kress Lake | Not surveyed - not an Opening Day lake. | |||||
| Douglas | Jameson Lake | 55 | 137 | 2.49 | Yearling rainbow 10". Carryover rainbows 14". | |
| Ferry | Trout Lake | 6 | 15 | 2.50 | Largest fish was a 10" rainbow. Cool and windy - one tree down. | |
| Grant | Blue Lake | 61 | 112 | 1.84 | Plus 4 released, total CPUE= 1.9. Yearling rainbows averaged 12.5 - 13 inches. Tiger and brown trout in the catch. | |
| Deep Lake | 71 | 61 | 0.86 | Plus 14 released, total CPUE=1.1. Shoreline anglers near the boat ramp fared well. Boat anglers were severely hampered by high winds. | ||
| Park Lake | 19 | 55 | 2.89 | Plus 10 released, total CPUE= 3.4. Yearling rainbows averaged 12.5 - 13 inches. Tiger and brown trout in the catch. | ||
| Perch Lake | 46 | 43 | 0.93 | Plus 14 released, total CPUE= 1.2. Rainbow trout ranged from 11-15 inches. | ||
| Vic Meyers | 15 | 18 | 1.20 | Brown and brook trout reported in catch. | ||
| Warden Lake | 31 | 105 | Rb & Tiger trout | 3.39 | Plus 6 released, total CPUE=3.6. Yearling rainbows averaged 12 inches. | |
| Grays Harbor | Aberdeen Lake | 80 | 162 | 2.03 | Plus 102 released, total CPUE=3.3. largest fish 19". | |
| Duck Lake | 11 | 4 | 0.36 | Plus 1 released, total CPUE=.45. Bad weather, water was turbid. N end of the lake has been good for crappie. | ||
| Failor Lake | 58 | 105 | 1.81 | Plus 101 released, total CPUE= 3.6. Largest fish 6 lb 7 oz, 24 3/8 inches. | ||
| Sylvia Lake | 24 | 87 | RB | 3.63 | Plus 7 released, total CPUE=3.9. Largest fish 16". | |
| Vance Creek Pond #1 | 60 | 63 | RB | 1.05 | Derby winning fish were 4.55 and 5.35 lbs. | |
| Vance Creek Pond #2 | 35 | 56 | RB | 1.60 | Largest fish 19". | |
| Island | Deer Lake | 12 | 31 | 2.58 | Plus 3 released, total CPUE= 2.8. Low turnout, cold. | |
| Jefferson | Anderson | 74 | 246 | 3.32 | Hot fishing, mostly 15-17" rainbows; largest 20" carryover. | |
| Horseshoe Lake | 3 | 2 | 0.67 | |||
| Ludlow Lake | 15 | 29 | 1.93 | Plus 20 released, total CPUE=3.3. Some hi-grading for jumbos; largest 17". | ||
| Sandy Shore Lake | 54 | 146 | 2.70 | Good mix of catchables and jumbos; largest 23" broodstock. | ||
| Silent Lake | 16 | 28 | 1.75 | Plus 47 released, total CPUE=4.7. Some hi-grading for jumbos to 14". | ||
| Tarboo Lake | 25 | 33 | 1.32 | Plus 15 released, total CPUE=1.9. Largest 20" broodstock. | ||
| King | Cottage Lake | 32 | 52 | 1.63 | Plus 20 released, total CPUE= 2.25. Short trips due to weather. | |
| Geneva Lake | 15 | 75 | 5.00 | Plus15 fish released, total CPUE=6. Everyone caught limits, satisfied with size and condition of fish. | ||
| Langlois Lake | 39 | 122 | 3.13 | Plus 88 released, total CPUE=5.4. Cold and rainy, anglers were satisfied with numbers and size of fish. | ||
| Margaret Lake | 48 | 141 | 2.94 | Plus 206 released, total CPUE= 7.2. Cold and windy. | ||
| North Lake | 22 | 21 | 0.95 | Plus 14 released, total CPUE= 1.6. | ||
| Pine Lake | 45 | 105 | 2.33 | Plus 117 released, total CPUE=4.9. | ||
| Rattlesnake Lake | 51 | 88 | 1.73 | Plus 331 released, total CPUE=8.2. | ||
| Steel Lake | 38 | 148 | 3.89 | Plus 93 released, total CPUE=6.3. | ||
| Walker Lake | 24 | 33 | 1.38 | Plus 53 released, total CPUE=3.6. Weather was cold. | ||
| Wilderness Lake | 43 | 118 | 2.74 | Plus 32 released, total CPUE= 3.5. Kids got some big fish, largest 23". Rainy and cold. | ||
| Kitsap | Buck Lake | 15 | 34 | 2.27 | Plus 18 released, total CPUE 3.5. | |
| Horseshoe Lake | 19 | 40 | 2.11 | Largest 20" broodstock. | ||
| Mission Lake | 28 | 55 | 1.96 | Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 18" carryover. | ||
| Panther Lake | 46 | 92 | 2.00 | Lots of triploids and jumbos. | ||
| Wildcat Lake | 41 | 68 | 1.66 | Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 23" (6 lb) broodstock. | ||
| Wye Lake | 31 | 107 | 3.45 | Plus 73 released, total CPUE=5.8. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 23" broodstock. | ||
| Bainbridge Island Pond | Juvenile derby - great event - report pending | |||||
| Poggie derby | Juvenile derby - great event - report pending | |||||
| Klickitat | Horsethief Lake | 16 | 45 | 2.81 | Windy, rainy, cold. | |
| Rowland Lake | 45 | 116 | 2.58 | Plus 197 released, total CPUE=6.9. People were happy to catch and release. Most fish were 15" and over diploids. Two broodstock caught, one over 12 lbs. | ||
| Spearfish Lake | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | Too cold, rainy, and windy to fish. | ||
| Lewis | Carlisle Lake | 61 | 45 | 0.74 | Many small coho caught and released. | |
| Fort Borst Park Pond | 66 | 99 | 1.50 | Plus 58 fish released, total CPUE=2.7. Cold and rainy | ||
| Mineral Lake | 154 | 258 | 1.68 | Plus 133 released, total CPUE=2.53. Rain/snow. | ||
| Mason | Aldrich Lake | 14 | 46 | 3.29 | Plus 22 released, total CPUE=4.8. Some high-grading for jumbos to 14". | |
| Benson Lake | 54 | 130 | 2.41 | Plus 83 released, total CPUE=3.94. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 19" triploid. | ||
| Clara (Don) Lake | 15 | 24 | 1.60 | Plus 23 released, total CPUE=3.13. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 20" carryover. | ||
| Devereaux Lake | 24 | 16 | 0.67 | Low catch rate likely due to early stocking and predation by cormorants; largest 22" broodstock. | ||
| Haven Lake | 25 | 90 | 3.60 | Largest 18" triploid. | ||
| Howell Lake | 21 | 20 | 0.95 | Plus 42 released, total CPUE=2.95. - many catch-and-release anglers. | ||
| Panhandle Lake | 0 | 0 | CT & RB | NA | 4-H Camp closed and limited angler access. | |
| Phillips Lake | 36 | 44 | 1.22 | Plus 30 released, total CPUE=2.05. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 16". | ||
| Robbins Lake | 20 | 20 | 1.00 | Largest 14" jumbo. | ||
| Stump Lake | 38 | 97 | Rb | 2.55 | Plus 56 fish released, total CPUE=4.0. Light pressure, anglers were satisfied. | |
| Tiger Lake | 66 | 107 | 1.62 | Plus 45 released, total CPUE=2.3. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 16" triploid. | ||
| Wildberry Lake | 10 | 1 | 0.10 | Lakeside owners happy with fish stocked. | ||
| Wood Lake | 8 | 8 | 1.00 | Plus 12 released, total CPUE=2.5. Some high-grading for jumbos to 14". | ||
| Wooten Lake | 56 | 138 | 2.46 | Plus 67 released, total CPUE=3.66. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 17" cutthroat and 18" rainbow. | ||
| Okanogan | Alta Lake | 127 | 332 | 2.61 | Yearling rainbow 9". Carryover rainbow 13". | |
| Conconully Lake | 121 | 251 | 2.07 | Yearling rainbow 10-11". Carryover rainbow 14". Largest fish 24". | ||
| Conconully Res. | 65 | 130 | 2.00 | Yearling rainbow 11". Carryover rainbow 14". Largest fish 20". | ||
| Fish Lake | 93 | 272 | 2.92 | Yearling rainbow 10-11". | ||
| Pearrygin Lake | 33 | 146 | 4.42 | Yearling rainbow 10". Carryover rainbow 14". Triploid rainbow 15-17 inches. | ||
| Pacific | Black Lake | 28 | 11 | 2 RB, 1 Triploid | 0.39 | Plus 3 released, total CPUE= .5. Largest fish 3.25 lbs, 19 3/8 inches. |
| Pend Oreille | Big Meadow Lake | 8 | 22 | 2.75 | Largest fish was a 14" rainbow. Cold and snowing, windy. | |
| Yokum Lake | 11 | 28 | 2.55 | One 12.5" cutthroat. Cool and windy. | ||
| Pierce | Bay Lake | 107 | 401 | 3.75 | 253 catchables, 100 jumbos, 48 carryovers; largest 16". | |
| Clear Lake | 91 | 290 | Kokanee & rainbow | 3.19 | Plus 205 released, total CPUE=5.4. Kokanee up to 13", many fish greater than 12, a few greater than 16". | |
| Ohop Lake | 11 | 17 | Rainbows & some bullheads | 1.55 | Plus 16 released, total CPUE=3.0. Lots of anglers, bite a little slow, cold and windy. | |
| Rapjohn Lake | 68 | 219 | 3.22 | Plus 30 released, total CPUE=3.7.Happy anglers, most fish greater than 12", many greater than 16". A few crappie. | ||
| Silver Lake | 69 | 166 | RB - Brn | 2.41 | Plus 47 released, total CPUE=3.1. Anglers happy to see resort open, brown bullhead catch higher than normal this time of year. | |
| Spanaway Lake | 9 | 13 | 1.44 | Cold, wet and windy. Not much effort. | ||
| Tanwax Lake | 60 | 126 | 2.10 | Plus 57 released, total CPUE=3.1. Lots of anglers, fishing a little slow. Anglers familiar with the lake caught limits - lots of fish still in lake! | ||
| Skagit | Erie Lake | 46 | 186 | 4.04 | Plus 57 released, total CPUE=5.3. Happy anglers enjoyed triploid trout. | |
| Heart Lake | 31 | 146 | 4.71 | Plus 49 releases, total CPUE=6.3. Best fishing in a long time, anglers liked triploid trout. | ||
| McMurray Lake | 74 | 281 | 3.80 | Plus 35 released, total CPUE=4.3. Anglers liked size, catch rate and condition of fish. | ||
| Sixteen Lake | 35 | 71 | 2.03 | Plus 22 released, total CPUE=2.7. 4 holdovers (16"). | ||
| Skamania | Kidney Lake | 36 | 47 | 1.31 | Plus 99 released, total CPUE=4. Anglers happy to catch and release fish. One large brown trout 2+ lbs caught. | |
| Northwestern Reservoir | 9 | 28 | 3.11 | Plus 114 released. | ||
| Swift Reservoir | 46 | 175 | 3.80 | Plus 23 released, total CPUE=4.3. 109 of the catch were coho, plus 66 rainbow. | ||
| Snohomish | Armstrong Lake | 26 | 66 | 2.54 | Plus 48 released, total CPUE=4.4. Light rain. | |
| Bosworth Lake | 27 | 68 | 2.52 | Plus 83 released, total CPUE=5.6. Cold. | ||
| Echo Lake (Maltby) | Not surveyed. | |||||
| Howard Lake | 65 | 182 | N/A | 2.80 | Plus 64 released, total CPUE=3.8. | |
| Ki Lake | 51 | 95 | 1.86 | Plus 59 released, total CPUE=3.0. Cold and breezy. | ||
| Martha Lake (AM) | 30 | 70 | 2.33 | Plus 55 released, total CPUE= 4.2. Good mix of adults and kids. | ||
| Riley Lake | 32 | 95 | 2.97 | Plus 52 released, total CPUE=4.6. Anglers satisfied with fish size. | ||
| Serene Lake | 17 | 25 | 1.47 | Plus 15 released, total CPUE=2.4. Some limits, some 100% released. | ||
| Stickney Lake | 1 | 2 | 2.00 | Plus 2 released, total CPUE=4. Cold and windy. | ||
| Storm Lake | 10 | 43 | 4.30 | Plus 14 released, total CPUE=5.7. Lower effort, trout healthy. | ||
| Wagner Lake | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | Windy and cold. | ||
| Spokane | Badger Lake | 64 | 109 | 1.70 | Largest rainbow caught was 23". | |
| Clear Lake | 38 | 22 | 0.58 | |||
| Fish Lake | 104 | 105 | 1.01 | Several 22-27" tiger trout caught. | ||
| Fishtrap Lake | 35 | 77 | 2.20 | |||
| West Medical Lake | 81 | 180 | 2.22 | |||
| Williams Lake | 90 | 211 | 2.34 | |||
| Stevens | Cedar Lake | 10 | 50 | 5.00 | Largest fish was a 13' rainbow. Cool and windy. | |
| Deep Lake | 7 | 25 | 3.57 | 11" rainbow and 11" cutthroat checked. Cool and windy. | ||
| Mudgett Lake | 8 | 20 | 2.50 | Largest fish was a 19" rainbow. Cool and windy. | ||
| Rocky Lake | 19 | 84 | 4.42 | Largest fish was a 14" rainbow. Very windy - some trees down. | ||
| Starvation Lake | 13 | 43 | 3.31 | Largest fish was a 13" rainbow. Cool and windy. | ||
| Waitts Lake | 27 | 64 | 2.37 | Largest fish was a 20" brown trout. Cool and windy. | ||
| Thurston | Clear Lake | 64 | 237 | 3.70 | Plus 83 released, total CPUE=5.0. Best fishing in last few years. Catch was mostly 12-14" diploid fish with a few legal plants at 9-11". | |
| Deep Lake | 64 | 131 | 2.05 | Plus 29 released, total CPUE= 2.5. Fishing good for most anglers but effort was lower due to weather. | ||
| Hicks Lake | 38 | 32 | 0.84 | Plus 5 released, total CPUE= 1. Fishing relatively poor. Most fish caught were 12-14" jumbo diploids, few legal plants observed. | ||
| Long Lake | 37 | 111 | 3.00 | Plus 19 released, total CPUE= 3.5. Great fishing relative to recent years. Rainbows up to 18". | ||
| McIntosh Lake | 70 | 124 | 1.77 | Plus 127 released, total CPUE= 3.6. Good fishing with many rainbows up to 14". | ||
| Pattison Lake | 60 | 106 | 1.77 | Plus 66 released, total CPUE= 2.9. Many large fish in creel. Several brood stock up to 20" observed. About 40% of the catch was legal plants. | ||
| Summit Lake | 65 | 174 | 2.68 | Plus 48 released, total CPUE= 3.4. Many carryover fish observed in the creel (14-17") Effort down due to weather. | ||
| Whatcom | Cain Lake | 28 | 75 | 2.68 | Plus 32 released, total CPUE=3.8. Catch rates a little low, but anglers happy with size and condition of fish. | |
| Padden Lake | 46 | 156 | 3.39 | Plus 15 released, total CPUE=3.7. 46 of the 156 fish kept were triploids. Lots of families despite crowded boat ramp and harsh weather. | ||
| Silver Lake | 192 | 316 | 1.65 | Plus 113 released, total CPUE=2.2. | ||
| Toad Lake | 43 | 110 | 2.56 | Plus 101 released, total CPUE=4.9. Lots of triploids caught. | ||