Discover North Central Washington

Spring is an exciting time for anglers in Central Washington, with multiple trout fisheries opening, excellent year-round waters to explore, and special events like the statewide trout derby. Here’s what you need to know for a great season on the water.  

Trout: spring openers and hotspots

March marks the opening of several highly anticipated trout fisheries. Martha and Upper Caliche Lakes are top producers on opening day, with near-limit catches of quality-sized fish. These lakes received 750 catchable-sized rainbow trout in fall 2024 and will receive an additional 1,500 in March 2025. Quincy and Burke Lakes, located in the Quincy Lakes Unit of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area, should provide excellent fishing, with rainbow trout averaging 13 to 16 inches.  

The Quincy Lakes Unit also offers multiple walk-in lakes opening March 1. Dusty Lake, a selective gear fishery, holds rainbow, brown, and tiger trout. Nearby Cliff, Crystal, Cup, and the Spring Lakes are small, walk-in options stocked with fingerling rainbow trout, producing 12- to 14-inch fish.

Anglers looking for a challenge can head to Lake Lenore, a selective gear fishery north of Soap Lake, known for large Lahontan cutthroat trout. Spring surveys found the average fish size at 18 inches, with pre-spawn fish cruising the shallows in late March.  

Lenice and Nunnally Lakes, near Beverly, are consistent producers of 13- to 18-inch rainbow trout. These lakes have limited shore fishing, requiring anglers to carry float tubes or prams about a quarter-mile to launch. Both lakes received 3,000 catchable-sized trout in fall 2024 and will get an additional 2,337 (Lenice) and 2,750 (Nunnally) in April.  

The statewide lowland lakes opener is set for April 26-27, when millions of stocked trout will be available for anglers. Top opening day destinations in Region 2 include:  

• Chelan County: Beehive, Lilly, and Wapato Lakes  
• Douglas County: Jameson Lake  
• Grant County: Blue, Park, Deep, and Warden Lakes  
• Okanogan County: Alta, Conconully Lake and Reservoir, Fish, Leader, Long, Pearrygin, and Wannacut Lakes. 

Year-round open waters  

For anglers looking to fish outside of the seasonal openers, several year-round waters provide excellent opportunities:  

• Rocky Ford Creek (near Soap Lake): A fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release stream with plenty of 16- to 20-inch rainbow trout.  
• Lake Roosevelt and Rufus Woods Lake: These Columbia River reservoirs offer large rainbow trout and kokanee. Rufus Woods was recently stocked with over 23,000 triploid rainbow trout averaging 1.4 pounds, with more plants scheduled for April and May.  
• Lake Chelan: Springtime is prime for kokanee, lake trout, and the occasional Chinook salmon. The Rock Island Ponds (Putters, Pit, Big Bow, and Hammond) will also be stocked with catchable and jumbo rainbow trout in March.  
• Sprague Lake (Adams County), Fish and Roses Lakes (Chelan County), and Banks, Billy Clapp, and Long Lakes (Grant County) are excellent year-round trout options.  

Trout Derby

Anglers can participate in the 2025 statewide trout derby, where thousands of tagged fish are stocked in over 100 lakes. The derby is expected to begin in April. Catching a tagged fish could win you one of 800 donated prizes, worth a total of $37,000! Lakes in Region 2 with tagged trout include:  

• Chelan County: Beehive Reservoir, Wapato Lake  
• Douglas County: Jameson Lake  
• Grant County: Corral, Deep, and Rainbow/Vic Meyers Lakes  
• Okanogan County: Alta, Conconully Lake and Reservoir, Pearrygin, Spectacle, and Wannacut Lakes. 

Boating safety

As more anglers hit the water, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s Boating Program reminds boaters to complete a boater safety education course. Washington law requires operators of vessels with **15-horsepower engines or greater** to carry a Boater Education Card.  

New license reminder  

Spring also means it’s time to renew your fishing and hunting licenses. **Current licenses expire on March 31, 2025**, so be sure to purchase your 2025-2026 recreational fishing license before heading out. Those aged 15 and older need a valid fishing and/or shellfish license.  

With plenty of opportunities this spring, grab your gear, check regulations, and enjoy a great fishing season in Central Washington!

Goose hunting

A late season hunt in Goose Management Area 4 will end after March 2 and is open all days during this season. Before you go, check the WDFW pamphlet and/or website for specific areas where hunting is allowed, dates, rules and bag and possession limits. For more information, visit the Waterfowl hunting webpage.

Small game hunting

The statewide cottontail and snowshoe hare season is open through March 15. For more information, visit the Small Bird & Small Game hunting webpage. Fox, raccoon, coyote and bobcat seasons are also open through March 15. Successful

 bobcat hunters/trappers must contact their local WDFW office for a pelt sealing appointment and submit the associated harvest report to the department by April 20, 2025. Submission of the dried lower jaw is required at the time of pelt sealing to receive your pelt seal.  For more information regarding the new jaw submission regulation and how to remove the lower jaw, visit  WDFW’s Bobcat webpage or review the Removing a lower bobcat jaw (PDF) factsheet. 

Wild turkey hunting

The statewide spring wild turkey hunting season runs April 15 to May 31 for the general season, and a special youth only hunt takes places April 1-7. For more information, visit the Wild Turkey hunting webpage, and click here for hunting prospects.

Multi-season tag

Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their names into the drawing for a 2025 multi-season tag, which can greatly increase the opportunity for success in the field.

WDFW will hold the drawing in mid-April, randomly selecting names for 8,500 multi-season deer tags and 1,000 multiple-season elk tags.

A multi season application can be purchased from authorized license dealers, through the online licensing system, or by calling 866-246-9453. The application costs $7.10 for residents and $110.50 for nonresidents.

For more information, visit the Deer and elk Multi-season tags webpage, or call the Licensing Division at 360-902-2464.

Hunter education

Hunting season may be in the rear-view mirror for the most part, but it is best to prepare ahead on taking the hunter education course. These courses reinforce important firearm and hunting safety principles, hunting ethics, basic survival and first aid, wildlife identification and conservation. For more information, visit the Hunter Education webpage.

Sandhill Cranes

The annual migratory stopover of nearly 35,000 sandhill cranes happens in the Columbia Basin in March and April along with lots of other early spring wildlife activity. Sandhill cranes are large, prehistoric-looking birds that migrate through the

Pacific Flyway, stopping to feed and rest in the Columbia Basin on their way to nesting sites in Alaska. The greatest concentration of cranes can be found in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge marsh units: Frenchmen Reserve, Potholes Reservoir, Scootney Reservoir, and Winchester Reserve.

Bird migration

In addition to cranes, bird watching will be picking up throughout the region as migrants move into and through northcentral Washington. 

Grant and Adams counties in the Columbia Basin are teeming with waterfowl of all kinds including Canada geese, tundra swans, and various duck and shorebird species.

WDFW’s Sinlahekin Wildlife Area is particularly good in early spring for bird watching, with trumpeter swans, goldeneye,  bufflehead, ring-neck ducks, hooded mergansers, and more.

Open waterways throughout Okanogan and Chelan counties draw a variety of waterfowl, too. Osprey will begin trickling into the area in late March with most arriving in April to partner with mates and build their familiar and highly visible stick nests near waterways throughout North Central Washington. Also in April, blue grouse will begin mating. Give the birds some space to conduct their courtship displays by using binoculars and scopes to watch. Other migrants- including bluebirds, blackbirds, grosbeaks, killdeer, and robins- are also being spotted throughout the region. Backyard birders will notice hummingbird activity picking up as the spring progresses. While native flowering plants are the best source of nectar for hummingbirds- such as those featured on this list (PDF) offered by the Washington Native Plant Society-  supplementing with a well-tended sugar-water feeder can provide additional sustenance during nesting season and migration and be a fun way to enjoy these beautiful little birds right from your porch or kitchen window. Review these handy Hummingbird Feeding FAQs posted by experts at the Audubon Society for more information on best practices for hummingbird feeders including the proper sugar water recipe, tips on cleaning frequency and technique, and more. Remember to keep cats indoors to protect birds and other wildlife. 

A great way to celebrate the return of migratory birds to North Central Washington is to participate in the annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest! Put on by the Wenatchee River Institute and North Central Washington Audubon Society every 3^rd weekend in May, this years’ festivities will be held May 15^th-18^th. Dozens of exciting birding fieldtrips and workshops will be offered throughout Chelan County as well as speaker events, music, visual arts, picnics, and activities for all ages and abilities. Bird Fest happens in association with World Migratory Bird Day and contributes a list of all birds seen during the festival to eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity-related community science project.

Negative wildlife interactions

Small animals like raccoons, skunks, and marmots are abundant throughout the region in rural and urban environments this time of year. They can create negative interactions with humans when they make nests in places such as crawl spaces, under porches or corners of garages or sheds in which to give birth. Learn how to enjoy these wildlife neighbors without problems at WDFW’s Living with Wildlife webpages.

Spring is a busy month for the birth of baby animals. A reminder that if you run into fawns, baby birds, or other young animals, please leave them be, even if they appear to be orphaned or abandoned. Most animals have a parent foraging or hunting nearby. Read our blog to learn about when not to rescue wildlife.

Practice bear awareness this spring

Black bears are common throughout Washington, including suburban areas. Both when preparing for hibernation and

 awakening from it, they look for high-calorie foods that are easy to obtain. These may include garbage, bird feeders (both seed and liquid), fruit trees, and pet food.

As human populations encroach on bear habitat, people and bears have greater chances of encountering each other. Food sources provided by humans, whether intentionally or not, can attract bears. Removing these attractants is the best way to encourage bears to move along and focus on natural food sources.

Ask your local waste management company if bear-resistant containers are available or if individually purchased bear-resistant containers are compatible with the company’s equipment. Secure your garbage cans, such as in a shed or garage, and put them out the morning of pickup — not the night before. To help reduce odors, freeze meat and fish waste before disposing of it and spray garbage cans with disinfectants.

More information on living with bears is available on our website.

To read reports published prior to 2024, visit the Biweekly Wildlife Program activity reports page.

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Photo by WDFW

Brock Hoenes is the North Central Region (Region 2) Director. Brock started his career with WDFW in 2008 and has held positions with the department including ungulate section manager, assistant district wildlife biologist, district wildlife biologist, statewide WDFW elk specialist, and deer and elk section manager.

Prior to moving to Washington, Hoenes worked for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and the New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit on a variety of research projects focused on mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk, cougars, black bears, and pronghorn. Hoenes received his B.S. in Fish and Wildlife Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his M.S. in Wildlife Sciences from New Mexico State University.