Fishing

by Randy Castello

With football season recently behind us, baseball opening day is months away and they’re just dropping the checkered flag at either our local or at sanctioned tracks nationwide, how are we supposed to burn off our nervous energy? Assuming that you have already completed your winter maintenance regiment for your boat and gear, made all the lures that you and your neighbors can use in the foreseeable future, and read every issue of NW Reel Life for the third time, it’s time to go fishing. 

The decision to wet a line is always the easy part, sorting through seasonal closures and winter accessibility can be a challenge. As with any PNW fishery, double check the regulations and Emergency Changes before you head out to participate in the many solid fishing opportunities available this time of the year. The following are a few ideas to get you started, and may your fish box need frequent cleaning. 

Lakes

Lake Washington is an urban gem. Cutthroat trout, kokanee, perch, and various warm water fish are available year-round. There is great trailer boat access as well as a number of fishing piers. During the winter months it is primarily a cutthroat, kokanee, and smallmouth show but there are also large schools of perch available along deeper drop-offs.

The primary winter cutthroat and kokanee fishery is at the south end of Mercer Island. But if you are willing to go on the hunt, there are other areas that hold fish; some real trophies. Make sure to quickly release any chinook that take interest in your offerings.

Lake Merwin is a local go-to for winter kokanee. If you are traveling to get there, make sure you check the wind forecast before you head out the door. The lake can get very windy and choppy, make sure that you have all your safety gear in order.

When fishing Lake Merwin during the winter, try to troll at 1.0 MPH, and the smaller your presentation, the better. You will see multiple schools of fish on your electronics, but not all will be in a playful mood. When you do find a snappy lot, mark it on your electronics or take a visual bearing and keep after it.

Lake Cavanaugh and Lake Samish both host a winter kokanee fishery. They are kind of fickle during the winter and the bite may be during a brief afternoon hatch. We have limited at either lake during the winter but that’s not the norm.

Persistence is the name of the game. Troll 1.0-1.3 MPH. Small micro hoochies, flies, and spinners seem to have the edge. In addition to your secret corn recipe, a small tidbit of nightcrawler, worm, or a live maggot will greatly enhance your allure. You may even want to add them to your hooks, it will drive the kokanee wild!

Lake Roosevelt; as the weather permits, if you’re looking for lunker kokanee, Roosevelt is the place to be. Although I don’t like hauling the boat over the pass in the winter anymore, I love fishing Lake Roosevelt, so with the right weather forecast we may head that direction. I’m sure kokanee are available throughout the lake, but we usually fish out of Spring Canyon.

We tend to focus on the dam area but we also fish the lower 5 or 6 miles. I typically start at 10-40’ with a 60’ setback, but may fish deeper as required. Because there is the potential to hook a 3+ pounder, I typically up my leader to 20-pound fluorocarbon.

Winter road conditions are still a possibility. I addressed this in a previous article but it’s worthy of a mention. Again, pay attention to winter boating safety/etiquette. If the road conditions are questionable, carry chains for both your tow vehicle and for at least 1 axle on the trailer. Bring a couple sand bags and shovel. A liberal application of sand can be a lifesaver. 

At the ramp, assess the situation before you back down a long, icy ramp. Take the time to chain up your tow vehicle if required. The area between the top of the ramp and the water could be icy. If you lose traction, don’t panic, it is likely that once your tires hit the water, you’ll regain traction. Just keep your cool, you don’t want to jackknife ½ way down the ramp.

It would put a damper on your plans. Once the trailer is wet, you may have to let the rig sit in the water for a bit to thaw before the boat will boat float free. No kokanee shuffle or celebratory dancing while onboard or at the dock, you don’t want to slip and end up sharing the lake with your aquatic rival. The fish won’t bite when they’re laughing their tails off.

Finally, and as a courtesy; at the end of your time on the lake load your boat and slowly pull out of the water just enough to clear the water. Stop and let the rig drain or drip-dry, this will minimize ice buildup on the lower 1/3 of the ramp.

In addition to winter lake opportunities, a trip on the salt can be very productive. Both Marine Area 10 and 13 should be open. MA 10 is scheduled to be open February 1, 2023 through March 31st, but check the WDFW Emergency Regulations for early closures or seasonal schedule adjustments. MA 13 is open year-round, but again, check the WDFW Emergency Regulations before you leave the driveway.

When open for winter chinook, MA 10 is one of the most consistent salmon fisheries in the state. The minimum size limit is 22” and the fish need to be clipped. 4-10# fish are common, with possibility of a trophy fish any time you hook up all makes for a very exciting fishery. I believe that pound for pound, blackmouth are one of the hardest fighting fish in the PNW.

Although many fish are caught mooching cut plug herring or jigging, the fishery is primarily a downrigger show. You want to be fishing right on the bottom. Often you will notice that your fish is all scraped up and find gravel in the fish’s belly when you clean them. Flies or small spoons paired with 11” flashers, plugs and helmeted anchovies all catch fish. 

We fished the MA 10 opener this year. My boatmates and I had agreed to make it a C &R day. We hadn’t fished salmon in the salt since September, and didn’t want to go 3 and out in the first hour. We had a stellar trip. From the moment we went gear down, we had fish on. We had to wade through a lot of 20-22” fish and cycled through probably 10 or 12 legal fish before keeping one. I pulled the hook on the big fish of the day and the estimated 10 pounder swam off before we were able to slide the net under it. 

I took full responsibility for the lost fish and had to wear the “farmer” overalls. We had already decided to finish the pass and pull the plug for the ride back to Everett. The meter showed a cloud of bait with a few salmon holding just off the bottom. 1, 2, 3, BAM! The port downrigger goes off, and we are on a very solid fish. Hoping to hook the second meter mark, I decided to keep the boat at speed and put the screws to the fish. It was up on top but way off to the side when it got sideways to the flasher, and it swam off. We rarely lose a fish, and I got too big for my farmer britches. 

Although we had plugs and an assortment of both trolling flies and spoons on board, we started with Skinny-G spoons and never looked back. We did determine that the lighted flashers had an edge over our regular flashers. We fished the bottom in 80-120’ of water and tried to stay on the down current face of any underwater structure, or along underwater points. It was an incredible day of fishing and an excellent option for a winter fishery.

There are a number of winter steelhead opportunities in the PNW. Many coastal streams are open and occasionally Puget Sound rivers open under WDFW Emergency Rules. I considered breaking the February, April steelhead fisheries down, but I think that that is a whole different article and best written by a coastal steelhead expert. The point in mentioning winter steelhead is that when many of our fisheries are closed, we have a steelhead fishery available. A theme here; again, as with any PNW fishery, double check the regulations and Emergency Changes before you head out.

Fishing withdrawals, cold sweats, and general heebie-jeebies? There don’t have to be, with a little research you have multiple options to treat your fishless disorder. Whether you’re a freshwater, salt angler, or bankie, there are many opportunities to soothe what ails you. 

By Josh DeBruler

It was November 6th of 1902 at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, where the great explorer, Meriwether Lewis, recorded in his journal that a prominent fisherman within their expedition had brought in a Goliath of a catfish that measured over 4 ft long and weighed in at 128 lbs.

Whether this accounting is of historical fact, or just generally accepted as American lore, the fact remains that Catfish get BIG. The record size catfish for the same river that Lewis and Clark’s men were dropping their lines in is currently a 104 lb.

blue catfish, and though we wont likely see those types of numbers coming out of our Pacific Northwest waterways anytime soon, we certainly do see some formidable sized cats here in Washington State. In 2019 a 15 year old boy hauled a 37 lb. state-record channel catfish out of Lake Terrell in northwest Washington, beating the previous record by 1.5 lbs.

If you’re looking to hook into a big catfish here in Washington State, chances are you’ll be fishing for channel catfish. Channel catfish are native to much of North America, but they didn’t make their debut here in Washington till 1892, when a load of them were dropped off in Skagit county’s clear lake.

From that point forward, these fish were distributed throughout Washington State for both recreational angling opportunities, and more recently, for management of problematic forage fish. Although, they can be found throughout the state, most anglers familiar with the fishery would agree, your best bet for harvesting some of these fish would be to head to the Columbia river to fish it and its tributaries that head north from the Bonneville Damn, and meander up and across the eastern portions of the state.

Rivers like the Columbia, Yakima, Snake, and Walla Walla, all provide reasonably suitable habitat for these fish to spawn and maintain self sustaining populations. Conversely, lowland lakes that are stocked with channel cats, will only provide anglers with fishing opportunities that reflect both the frequency of the WDFW stocking programs and the pressure the lake receives from anglers. Channel catfish are not known to reproduce in most Washington lakes.  

Where to fish in Eastern Washington (Eastside of cascades ) 

-Lake Umatilla

-Lake Wallula

-Lower Yakima River 

-Lower Walla Walla

-Lake Sacajawea 

-Lyons Ferry State Park (confluence of Snake and Palouse rivers)

-Roses Lake  

Where to Fish in Western Washington

• Green Lake 
• Clear Lake
• Silver Lake 
• Lake Terrace 
• Swofford Pond 
• Lake St. Claire 

When to fish 

Fishing is most productive when catfish are spawning. This typically peaks around June and you can expect the bite to taper off as we move into fall. The spawning season also causes catfish to move out of the larger Columbia river and into its tributaries where the shallow waters provide better spawning grounds. Take advantage of this time to target catfish in these smaller waters, and if you can fish the confluences of the Columbia and said tributaries at this time, a bottleneck opportunity occurs, and this is where the fishing can become excellent.   

How to fish them 

Being that most techniques are fairly straight forward, fishing for channel catfish should be suitable for anglers of all different experience levels. You’ll likely find that the most challenging part will be getting on top of the fish in the first place. If you are fishing at night, you’ll find catfish feeding in the shallow waters near the shore, and though night fishing is excellent for channel cats, it’s also not a very suitable time for the typical angler.

For this reason, many anglers fish throughout the day, and do-so successfully. During the day, you’ll find most of your channel catfish in deeper waters beneath the column of warm water known as the thermocline. Typically, 15-20 ft down will get you past the thermocline and into the cooler waters.

Since these fish are bottom feeders, the goal should be to get your bait at the bottom where it can be detected by the catfish’s keen since of smell. There’s a wide variety of baits you can use. Many anglers opt for chicken livers, oily cut baits, earthworms, chicken skins, hot dogs, shrimp, corn, or dough balls made specifically for catfish.  These fish don’t seem to be extremely particular about their food as long as it’s in front of them. 

As far as rigging goes: a slip sinker rig is both simple and productive. From your main line, add your preferred slip sinker, a stop bead, barrel swivel, about 5-20” of leader, and a 2/0 to 3/0 hook. You can get the hook suspended a bit off the bottom by adding a poly ball or foam peg float a few inches back from the hook if desired (note this becomes ineffective if a substantial amount of current is present)

A slip bobber rig is also a popular and effective method to get your bait suspended off the bottom while being able to detect bites visually. Just add a stop knot to your mainline, then a bead, a slip bobber, slide sinker, barrel swivel, and 10-20 inches of leader before your hook.

There are plenty of other methods available for catching channel cats, but these should be all you need to  get started. 

by Matt Carey

It’s human nature to think that we need to go to great lengths to find happiness, joy, fulfillment or satisfaction. It makes sense at first glance – the more time invested, the higher the payoff. In reality, we can find value in a lot of things that are right in front of us. A quick jaunt, a stone’s throw away, right around the corner. 

Maybe the same can be said for fishing.  

In my day job, I work as a principal for an alternative high school. Much of my day is dedicated to helping these kids realize the opportunities they have in front of them and how to access those people who can offer help when needed. To my students, a career, graduation, just getting to Friday, are all unknown hurdles in their lives. Imposing forces that take away from the goal of just getting through the day. With the multitude of stressors on their minds, recreation and leisure are often a fading thought.  

One of these recent lessons presented itself with a school fishing trip to the Helena Regulating Reservoir not too far from town, maybe 20 minutes. When I go fishing personally, I’ll opt to fish at Holter Lake, about an hour’s drive or Pishkun Reservoir, nearly two hours away, when I feel the need to fish. Coming into the day, I had low expectations. I’m not using my own gear. I’ll need to supervise these kids and keep everybody engaged.

It’s just down the road, not much adventure there. I’ll probably get called back to the building for something. We went, as a school, on this same fishing field trip last year – with no success. Not a bite. Windy conditions. On the metaphorical pendulum that is fishing, that outing swung strongly towards the forgettable side.

Furthermore, this fishing “trip” isn’t anything like those days where we need to wake up at 4am to drive to the dock at first light or prepare a few different set ups if we decide to target different fish. How could I possibly have the same level of excitement and anticipation as a fishing trip out with my buddies?

The afternoon started off unassuming. The folks from Montana Fish and Wildlife talked to our students and staff about some general ice fishing information. How to bait a hook. How to open the fishing bail. How to know if you have a bite. Trivial information you and I take for granted. To kids who have never gone fishing, this information was captivating.

One student even asked to come closer to see the line drop to the ground when the instructor opened the bale demonstrating how the bait would fall through the water. The seemingly innocuous presentation had captivated at least one of my students. We made our way on the ice and walked for a good 15 minutes. Many of the kids, and the guy in charge of supervising everyone, didn’t have the appropriate footwear.

This made the icy trek all the more cautious. The freeze was still in full effect, and our guide for the day reported the ice was about 18 inches thick. More than enough to comfortably fish without danger. After a few hundred yards we had made our way to our fishing holes. A previous school was there in the morning, with no luck of course, and the gear was ready for immediate fishing. We were given primarily Swedish Pimple jigs with a maggot as our bait for the afternoon.

Kids and teachers wandering around finding what they’d hope to be their lucky spot. Remember how I mentioned last year’s conditions? Well, now picture a complete 180* (you couldn’t really expect to not get a lesson from a guy in education, right?). The sun shining with a few clouds painted across the skyline.

A calm breeze that was never overbearing, but enough to remind you that you are outside during a Montana winter. Mid to high 30-degree weather, necessitating a jacket or sweatshirt, but no need for snowpants or a full facemask gaiter. My Reel Obsession Sport Fishing sweater and Montana Grizzly hat combination was the perfect balance of “drip” (swagger or style to those of you not up to date on the newest slang) and functionality.

In a similar fashion to the weather, our fishing experience was nothing like last year’s. Within 5 minutes two different kids are pulling up perch. No state records, but a fun experience. Kids goading each other to kiss the fish, being caught off guard by the fish slime and calling over their friends and teachers. Some kids catching multiple fish, one girl catching 3 in our outing. After seeing such a lively bite, I figured why not, I’m here anyway, I might as well wet a line.

A silver and blue jig with a maggot ended up being my lure of choice. More so because it was the only one open at the time. Engaged kids, minimum screwing around, it was a winning combination. I dropped the lure beneath the ice, hit the bottom, reeled up a few feet and started jigging around 18 feet of water.

A few other members of Fish and Wildlife were with us, and I struck up a conversation about anything and everything you’d expect – what set ups have been working well, other lakes or reservoirs in the area, that kind of thing. Caught off guard, my rod tip gets absolutely slammed. My FWP counterpart exclaiming “that ain’t no perch! You’ve got a koke on there!”. As I’m reeling, he asks if I saw the fish on the fish finder.

Sheepishly, I told him I wasn’t really paying attention and I was looking at everyone else catching fish. As I pull the fish out of the water, I see a solid 16 inch kokanee come out of the hole. This is a great fish and certainly not what I was expecting coming into the day. I ask for a picture and release my catch back into the reservoir for someone else to find.

I realized in that moment that even the mundane or trivial, we can find great joy and satisfaction. Are weeklong fishing adventures great? Of course. Can adventure and happiness be a school bus ride away?

Without a doubt. 

By Hannah Pennebaker

What’s better than fishing? Getting paid to go fishing! Every year, WDFW pays anglers for every northern pikeminnow they catch. Why? These fish eat millions of baby salmon and steelhead every year. The goal of the program, called the Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program, is to reduce the average size of the fish and remove the larger, older fish that eat the most salmon and steelhead. With this program, not only can you get paid to catch these fish, but you can also help out salmon and steelhead!

This program takes place on the Snake River and Columbia River every year, from about May to September. According to WDFW, “In 2022, rewards begin at $6 each for the first 25 Northern Pikeminnow caught during the season. Anglers are paid $8 for each fish they catch from 26-200, and $10 for every fish caught over 200 cumulatively. Anglers are also paid $500 for each specially tagged Northern Pikeminnow!” Every pikeminnow 9 inches or longer is eligible for the program. Dedicated pikeminnow anglers can make thousands of dollars every year, and feel good about helping salmon and steelhead out.

WDFW says that anglers “averaged reward payments of $27,836 each for the five-month season. The highest-paid angler in 2020 caught 5,579 fish and earned $48,501, while the all-time record harvest is 14,109 Northern Pikeminnow worth $119,341!” Not bad, and don’t forget that it’s all for a good cause: each pikeminnow can eat up to 15 salmon/steelhead smolts in a day. Interested in trying out the fishery? Let’s go over how the program works, and how you can get involved.

The Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program is designed to be as easy and straightforward as possible. There are stations set up near the Columbia and Snake Rivers where you can turn in your catch for the day. You must register at the station before you fish, and a valid fishing license is required. Registration forms are available 24/7 at each station. If the station is unmanned when you arrive, you can pick up your form from their night box.

Fish must be returned to the registered station during its hours of operation in order to qualify for a reward. Frozen fish are not allowed, they must be live or fresh. Any fish 9 inches or above will qualify. You may register for the next day when you return your fish for the day. If you return fish to the station without registering in advance, you won’t be able to get your reward. Rewards aren’t issued at the station, instead, you’ll get a voucher. You’ll get reward vouchers every time you turn in eligible fish, and you can mail them to WDFW for a reward, issued in the form of a check.

Remember, WDFW must receive your vouchers by November 15th of every year. If you’re lucky enough to get a specially tagged fish worth $500, the station will give you an envelope to mail the tag to. The first time you receive a voucher, you need to include an IRS W-9 form when you mail the voucher out to receive payment.

Interested in trying out the fishery? Thankfully, it can be very productive, and there is a lot of information out there to help get you started. Shore anglers can do just as well as boaters. Every week, WDFW posts catch numbers collected at each station, and catch reports dating back to 2014 are available on their website. You can figure out where anglers are having good success and try fishing in those areas.

Pikeminnow can be caught from shore or boat. You can use bait, artificial plastics, or lures. Diving crankbaits work well, and you can troll them or cast them out. Pikeminnow tend to congregate near the bottom of the river. Drift fishing can be very effective! Many seasoned pikeminnow fishermen drift tubes or grubs on a ¼ oz jighead. Bring a variety of different colors; pikeminnow can be surprisingly picky! Use just enough weight to tick the bottom and not drag on it, or you will likely snag up and lose your lure. If plunking is your bag, you’re in luck.

Many anglers have had success plunking worms, chicken liver, and shrimp. Just make sure to use enough weight to stay on the bottom. Small spinners and other bass lures can also work well. If you’re on a boat, you can “back bounce” your bait by lifting up your rod, letting out some line, and repeating once your weight hits the bottom. Just make sure to keep your line as tight as possible, as pikeminnow have surprisingly light bites.

Like most fish, pikeminnow tend to hang out around structure. They also like faster currents, so avoid frogwater. They tend to school up, so if you don’t catch one within 10 or 15 minutes, move and/or change bait/lures.

The Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program has been a huge success, and is still going strong every year. According to WDFW, “over the past ten years (2011-20), the top 20 anglers caught an average of 3,353 fish per angler. Results indicate that the Pikeminnow Program has been successful, with over T5.2 million predatory Northern Pikeminnow removed to date by anglers participating in the Sport-Reward Fishery, and a decrease of predation on juvenile salmonids of up to 40 percent from pre-program levels”.

This is a great way to help salmon and steelhead, and make money doing it! As a bonus, pikeminnow are scrappy fighters and are great fun to catch on light tackle. Remember to register at the monitoring station before fishing, and have fun out there!

If you’re looking for more information about the Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program, WDFW holds free fishing clinics during the season, and they often have a booth at sports shows where you can learn more. You can check out their website for a free, one-time $10 coupon to turn in with your first pikeminnow! Good luck out there!

By Rick Lawrence

Let’s talk about winter bass fishing. Whether you choose to fish out of a boat in open water, or venture out on a frozen lake to drill a hole in the ice, you can catch bass in the winter. This time of year can be challenging for bass anglers, but with the right techniques you can master it. Here are the top 8 most important steps to follow when fishing for bass in the winter.

Choose the Right Lure Type

The first thing you’ll need to think about is grabbing the correct lure for the season. You can’t use the same strategy you use when the water is warm, no matter what way you look at it. Winter fishing techniques require finesse, but they also require a bit of preparation. Fast-moving lures and excessively noisy ones won’t work when the water temperatures drop. You’re going to want to use bottom feeders and slower moving lures like jigging raps, flutter spoons, or, if you are fishing open water, suspending jerkbaits, if you work them slowly, with long pauses.

Stay away from lipped and lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and other fast-moving lures during the winter months. Even switching from lures to live bait when legal is sometimes the key to landing winter bass.

Always choose the most natural color you can, and try to imitate the fish’s color in the water you’re fishing.

Slow it Down

You need to slow down your presentation when the water temperatures drop. Winter largemouth bass fishing requires you to think like a fish. The water is cold, their metabolism is slow, and they’re not feeding much, so they will never chase a fast-moving bait halfway across the pond. It won’t work. 

You need to drop something right in front of their face, make the bass think it’s almost dead, and move it slowly and erratically, so they think they’ve got an easy meal on their hand. Once you do that, you’ll have no problem retrieving them because they won’t put up much of a fight. In less than 40-degree water, you’re in for a challenge. At that temperature, the bass are incredibly inactive, and their metabolism is super slow, so they’re not feeding much, and they’re preserving all their energy by taking on the simplest of meals.

For you to have success fishing during this time, you need to throw your lure right in their face and present it slowly enough for them to get it. 

The 40-to-50-degree temperature range is prime fishing in the north, so expect to find bass in this temperature range most frequently during early and late winter months. Bass in this temperature will slow down quite a bit, but they’ll still have feeding periods each day, and this is when you need to capitalize by using the right lures and offering a slow but calculated presentation. 

Size it Down

In addition to presenting more slowly, you’ll also want to present a smaller lure. Small bait fish imitations can trigger strikes, or you can go with a small nedhead jig or spoon with some red on it.

The bottom line is, your strategy needs to stay in line with the conditions. If it’s cold and the water temperature is near freezing, use a small ned, or the smallest swimbait you have, nose hooked on a drop-shot jig. Doing so will present less of a threat to the bass, and they’ll think they stumbled upon an easy opportunity for a meal.

Go Neutral

Color is also an important factor in the winter. If you can find baitfish in the water, see what color they are, and mimic them. If not, go neutral whenever possible. 

Know Where to Look

The best tip someone ever told me is to use a good fish finder and search the area for fish before you try fishing for them. Water clarity is also a huge factor in the winter. If the water is murky, the baitfish will run deeper. If you have clear water, the baitfish will come closer to shore and into the weed lines. Look for green weeds, rocky drop-offs, submerged islands, or any structure that might be a good spot bass would use, then scout the area for fish with your electronics. 

Time it Right

As previously mentioned, you need to change your mindset when it comes to fishing in the winter. When the water temperatures are warm, we know that the best times to fish for bass is first thing in the morning and right at dusk.

When you’re fishing in the winter, you’ll want to fish the middle of the day because this is when the water will be the warmest. Once the sun has hit the water for a while, the baitfish will start to move around, and this is when you stand the best chance of catching more bass.

Don’t Forget the Basics

One of the most important winter bass fishing tactics to learn revolves around understanding structure and baitfish. You can sometimes find bass without any structure around if there are baitfish there, and sometimes you can find bass on structure without any baitfish, but you will never find them where neither are present. You need to understand these two points and why they’re critical for winter fishing. Baitfish will sometimes hug the shore near creeks because this is where the most oxygen is, and the temperature tends to be a bit warmer. As we all should know, bass follow the baitfish, so this is where you’re likely to find more bass. Offshore green weed lines can also hold bait fish and provide bass with ambush points to catch an easy meal, making them prime spots as well. 

Bring the Right Gear

While this isn’t a direct tip per se, I wanted to talk briefly about safety and gear. Depending on your location, fishing in the winter can be dangerous because of frigid temperatures and dangerously cold water. You need to make sure you have enough layers to keep yourself warm, and plenty of backup gear in case you fall in or get wet. Wear multiple layers with socks, ice fishing boots, and fingerless gloves so you can maintain full movement of your fingers. If you're on the ice, make sure you have all the proper safety gear you need in case you should fall through the ice, and don't ever fish on the ice alone.

By Mike Schmuck

Martha Lake and Upper Caliche Lake: These lakes, near the town of George, WA, should produce well in spring 2020. In addition to fingerling Rainbow Trout, both lakes received 1,000 11–13-inch Rainbow Trout in fall 2019 and these fish should be in the 14–15-inch range this spring. These lakes also received 1,000 (Martha) and 500 (Upper Caliche) catchable Rainbow Trout in April 2020.

Quincy Lake: Over the years this rather popular lake, located on the Quincy Wildlife Area, has provided anglers with good catches of 11–13-inch trout as well as the occasional carry-over fish that can often be in excess of 14 inches. Quincy Lake fished well in early March 2020 with several fish caught in the 18-20-inch range. WDFW hatchery staff will be stocking nearly 1,000 Rainbow Trout into Quincy Lake in preparation for the May 5th re-opening. These fish are just over a pound each and will provide excellent opportunities for anglers.

Burke Lake: Burke Lake, a next-door neighbor to Quincy Lake, underwent a chemical rehabilitation in the fall of 2019 in order to remove nuisance Yellow Perch and Pumpkinseed Sunfish. WDFW Hatchery staff stocked 3,000 9–11-inch Rainbow Trout into Burke Lake in late-February. Burke Lake will be receiving 1,000 Rainbow Trout in preparation for the May 5th re-opening. These fish are just over a pound each and will provide excellent opportunities for anglers. Burke Lake received very little fishing pressure in early March and should provide excellent fishing for the remainder of the season.

Quincy Wildlife Area walk-in-lakes: While Quincy and Burke Lake get the lion’s share of fishing pressure, there are several small walk-in lakes just west of these two popular fisheries. Crystal, Spring, Cup, Lloyd and Scout Lakes are not on many anglers’ radar—but they should be. These lakes receive annual stockings of fingerling Rainbow Trout from Columbia Basin Hatchery and often provide anglers with solitude and big fish.

In early March I talked to one angler who caught two 21-inch Rainbows from one of these lakes—I promised not to tell which lake they came from. Scout Lake is a mile north of the remaining lakes on this list and is 530 yards west of the H-Lake parking lot. Those looking to social distance should keep these lakes in mind.

Ping Pond (aka Oasis Park Pond): This 2+ acre pond located at the south end of Ephrata is open to Juvenile Anglers (under 15 yrs. old), Senior Anglers (at least 70 yrs. old) and Anglers with a Disability who possess a designated harvester companion card. WDFW hatchery staff stocked 30–40 Jumbo (3 lb.) Rainbow trout and 200 12–14-inch Rainbow Trout into Ping Pond on May 1 in order to give kids a fun opportunity to catch some nice fish.

Park and Blue Lakes: These lakes are two of Grant County’s top trout waters and both should fish well this spring. Catch rates were lower than anticipated on opening day 2019; however, this was likely due to high winds that kept many anglers off the water. Despite relentless winds, catch rates averaged 3 trout per angler on both lakes. Anglers should expect good catches of rainbow trout in the 12–14-inch range as well as some 2+ year-old ‘carry-over fish’, in the 15–17-inch range. Brown Trout and Tiger Trout are also stocked in both lakes.

Vic Meyers Lake: This 12-acre lake located in Sun Lakes State Park receives a fair amount of fishing pressure and produces Rainbow Trout to 17-18 inches. The lake has excellent shore access and is a good choice for anglers looking to get away from crowds.

Perch Lake: Another lake in Sun Lakes State Park, Perch Lake has limited shore fishing but is ideal for someone with a small boat or float tube. I visited Perch Lake numerous times in 2019 and never encountered an angler. I did, however, see a lot of trout rising in the evenings and believe this lake should fish well. Perch Lake receives 9,200 fingerling Rainbow Trout each year.

However, in 2020 we reduced this significantly due to low angler effort. Low harvest on these fish will increase food competition and limit growth for remaining fish. A lack of large fish in this population will further limit the popularity of this fishery.

Deep Lake: Deep Lake is a good choice for anglers looking for great scenery and good fishing. While not known for an abundance of large fish, Deep Lake produces Rainbow Trout in the 11–13-inch range, and a few carry-over fish close to 16 inches. Anglers wishing to troll, or simply fish a little deeper, can also catch Kokanee. Each year, WDFW hatchery staff stock Deep Lake with 13,500 spring fingerling Kokanee. In addition, Deep Lake also receives 15,000, 11–13-inch Rainbow Trout from Trout Lodge Fish Hatchery.

Warden Lake: Warden Lake is a popular trout lake, but in recent years it has been producing excellent catches of Yellow Perch and bass. Warden Lake receives 65,000 spring fingerling Rainbow Trout, 7,000 spring fingerling Tiger Trout and 15,000 6–9-inch Rainbow Trout each year. In early spring 2020, Warden Lake was stocked with 3,300 12–13-inch Rainbow Trout from Trout Lodge in late March. To provide more opportunity, WDFW hatchery staff stocked an additional 2,200 Rainbow Trout into Warden in late-April. Anglers should expect excellent trout fishing once lakes reopen.

Potholes Seep Lakes: Several lakes south of Potholes Reservoir can produce good catches of Rainbow Trout as well as Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie and Yellow Perch.

Corral Lake: This lake is located near the southwestern end of O’Sullivan Dam just across the road from the MarDon Resort. Corral is a good choice for anglers that don’t mind a mixed bag of good size Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass or Black Crappie. Bring your boat to explore this lake fully—shore access is limited.

Pillar-Widgeon Chain: These walk-in lakes on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge are consistent producers of quality Rainbow Trout. This chain of lakes receives spring fingerling Rainbow Trout and are a popular destination for anglers looking for a quiet day on the water.

Hampton Lakes: The Hampton Lakes have fished well over recent years. Lower Hampton Lake receives more angler effort and while catch rates are somewhat lower than on Upper Hampton, the fish caught there are larger. Since the 2014 rotenone treatment of the Hampton Lakes, Pumpkinseed Sunfish have recovered to a point where they are negatively affecting growth of fingerling rainbow trout.

Teal Lakes: The Teal Lakes, located along the Seep Lakes Road on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, are a popular fishery for anglers looking to catch good sized trout. Both lakes, while managed for trout, have carp, bass and sunfish as well. Consequently, fingerling growth and survival have suffered. South Teal Lake receives little fishing pressure, likely due to abundant aquatic weed growth and limited access to most of the shoreline.

Most of North Teal’s shoreline is accessible and anglers commonly catch very nice 13–15-inch rainbow trout all around the lake. Catch rates, on average, are lower here than on other more productive waters such as Blue and Park Lake; however, anglers can find they often have the lake to themselves, especially during the week.

Hutchinson and Shiner Lakes: Located on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge in Adams County, are connected lakes with quality Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Crappie. They are both best fished from a small boat, canoe, or float tube/pontoon boat. Anglers willing to put in a bit of extra work can row or paddle to the east end of Shiner Lake to target more naïve bass.

Katey & Janet Lakes: These two trout lakes can provide solitude and good catches of Rainbow Trout. Katey Lake was treated with rotenone in fall 2019 to remove Carp. In early April, WDFW hatchery staff stocked 200 11–13-inch Rainbow Trout into this six-acre lake. Janet Lake is a short hike west from Katey and can provide anglers with some larger Rainbow Trout. Most of the shoreline is accessible to anglers on both lakes.

East and West Sage Lakes: Similar to Katey, these two lakes were treated with rotenone in fall 2019 in order to remove Carp. The Sage Lakes produce large Rainbow Trout, although for the remainder of 2020 anglers will have to rely on slightly smaller hatchery fish that were stocked in early April. WDFW hatchery staff stocked each lake with 500 11–13-inch Rainbow Trout which should reach 14–15 inches by spring 2021.

Windmill, North Windmill, North-North Windmill, June, Virgin, Lois: Anglers need several days to explore these lakes located south of Warden Lake. This chain of lakes, managed for Rainbow Trout fishing and popular with fly angers, can produce some large fish.

By Gary Gordon

It is the single most important thing to grasp: kokanee are kokanee and have the same whims, growth, hormone, and feeding issues wherever they are found. So these kokanee issues are the same in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, California, North Carolina, New Mexico, and British Columbia.

It turns out that before getting to the point of deciding what colors are the answers to today’s fishing mysteries, selecting color is the last component of a successful outing. Since color makes no sound and has no scent, its single role is to stimulate a biting response.

The next thing to grasp is a consistent presentation strategy. What you are trying to do is make your presentation as 100% efficient as possible. This means that all of your equipment from your boat, trolling motors, fishfinder, GPS, rods, reels, downriggers, and releases must be working together so that your presentation can be as efficient as possible. Having the “right” colors means nothing if you are not placing your tackle where the fish are.

Correct presentation strategy means also that your attractor and the lure have to work together. You have to troll the dodger at a speed that allows it to attract. That means that each attracting dodger has a minimum speed that allows it to work correctly. What that speed is depends on the size and shape of the attracting dodger.

One of the best ways to check the correct speed is to simply put the dodger into the water on your fishing line right next to the boat, and look at the action. Speed up or slow down the boat until you feel the action is what you are looking for. Recognize that the dodger and lure are working together, so look for movement in the lure behind the dodger. You simply do not want the lure to just sit there in a straight line behind the dodger; you want some movement. Keep the lure in tight behind the dodger for the best movement. I advocate 6 to 8 inches of leader, even if your lure comes with a long leader.

For early season, that movement does not need to be great. As the season progresses, speed up your presentation to get more movement on your lure. Also, as your target depth gets deeper, increase your trolling speed, and increase the size of your dodger.

I carry three different size selections of dodgers for these very reasons.

For all except the Apex type lures, it is critical to have a short leader behind the dodger for the lure. This gives the maximum movement to the lure from the movement of the attracting dodger. I prefer only about 6 inches behind the attracting dodger regardless of the size of the dodger.

Next would be to match the dodger colors with the lure colors. Although color is not an initial attractor, it is vital to stimulate the biting response. You want what is making the attracting vibration (the dodger) and the following matching lure work together. The following chart shows relative penetration of visible colors in the water column. We all know there is less light at depth.

Go deep enough and there is no light. Water absorbs light in sequence of the visible spectrum. Light enters the water as white light. Then very shortly the red drops out, leaving the balance of colors to continue together down the water column. The next to drop out are the oranges, then the yellows, then the green, then the blues and then the indigo and then finally the violet.

But use fluorescent colors and the color you see in your hand will be the same color at depth. So, a fluorescent yellow will still be fluorescent yellow when only violet light can act on it. If it is not fluorescent, it will be black when violet light strikes it. All tackle marketed as “UV” is really fluorescent. There is no “UV” colorCOL, and “UV” light does not penetrate the water column more than just a few inches. Most tackle marketed today is fluorescent even if it is not marked “UV.” Fluorescent colors penetrate the water column to far greater depths than do ordinary colors.

So, can kokanee see color? Kokanee are vertebrates and as such they have eyes that contain rods and cones. Cones are the part of the eye for color. Salmonids have a distribution of about 10% cones and 90% rods. So, color vision is basically limited to an area directly in front of the snout and extending out about 20 inches or so in clear water.

This is actually a good thing. Stay with me now. You have this awesome hot pink squid properly trailing your dodger. The fish is going to be attracted to the dodger vibrating, but that will be at some distance to your lure. Once that lure become visible to the fish, it is still only seen by the fish’s eye rods in shades of gray and black and white tones. But as the fish approaches that 20-inch mark, there’s an explosion of color – just like turning on a light bulb. The fish backs off to 21 inches and it is back to black and white and gray. Come in closer, and bam! Hot color – just the way you planned it topside, but not exactly the way you planned it topside. This color shift works for you as a bite stimulant.

Here are some helpful suggestions about color.
• The first suggestion is that the color of the day, or even of the hour, is up to the kokanee.
• Early season stuff: pink, red, orange, green, natural glow, blue
• Mid-season – absolutely wide open, but add copper and gold to the mix. Run copper and gold setups a bit faster than the nickel. Don’t forget the black and white stuff.
• Later season – kokanee love the blue, pink, and watermelon.
• All seasons: White and glow.

From the late 1800’s until the middle of the 20th century, there was a bounty on wolves in the Midwest and Western United States. Both individual and government hunters used any means necessary to kill these animals, deemed a dangerous nuisance to livestock. By the time this program ended, wolves were essentially exterminated from the lower 48 states.  It wasn’t until 1995, when wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, that their numbers began to come back, and today, we are seeing healthy populations of these animals in several states.

The relationship between humans and northern pike is a bit more complicated. These torpedo shaped fish are green in color with white spots and a white belly. They can grow to over 50 inches long and weigh over 45 pounds, though an average sized pike measures between 16 and 22 inches in length. Pike are ambush predators and feed on other fish as well as frogs and even ducklings, waiting in weeds or behind rocks and logs, and then lunging forward to attack their prey. With a mouthful of long, sharp teeth, they have garnered themselves the nickname, “water wolves”.

Land Wolf

Unlike the land-based wolf, there was no historical dislike for these fish, which are found in the northern tier of the United States as well as in Canada and Alaska.  They are a sought-after catch because of their size and good fighting ability.  They also taste good, though a y-bone in their body makes them more difficult to clean and fillet than walleye or trout.  In the winter, anglers will target these fish through the ice, while in the spring they are often caught in places like Lake Coeur d’ Alene, fishing bait under a slip bobber.  They can also be caught from spring through fall throughout their native range, using large spoons. Red and white Dardevle spoons and yellow spoons with red diamonds on them (known as a Five of Diamonds) are traditional offerings.

In Washington State, northern pike are found in Long Lake, the Pend Oreille River, and Lake Roosevelt, having migrated there from Lake Coeur d’ Alene in Idaho and Montana’s Clark Fork River. The fish are not welcome in the Evergreen State. Both the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as the Colville Tribes are extremely concerned about their impact to native populations in these waterways such as redband trout, sturgeon, burbot, and kokanee salmon. Fisheries managers also want to ensure northern pike do not get into the mainstem Columbia River below Grand Coulee Dam, where they could wreak havoc with native salmon and steelhead populations.

Pike

Since 2015, the Colville Tribes, Spokane Tribe, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have been working hard to eradicate pike from these waterways.  They have had good success in reducing a burgeoning population of these fish in the Pend Oreille River, and since 2015 have removed over 19,100 fish from Lake Roosevelt.  The primary method the Colville Tribes use to catch these pike is with gill nets, but they have found this method alone is not enough.

That’s why a bounty program has been introduced at Lake Roosevelt for recreational anglers.  Anglers who catch northern pike (of any size) can turn in the head of the fish at designated drop off sites around Lake Roosevelt and be paid $10 for each fish head turned in.  

Anglers can drop off their pike heads at Noisy Waters Gas Station, Kettle Falls boat launch, Hunters boat launch, Fort Spokane boat launch, or at the Inchelium Fish and Wildlife office.  

In 2022, anglers turned in 125 heads and were paid $1,250.

Increased Efforts

In an effort to increase the number of fish caught by recreational anglers for this program, the Colville Tribes Fish and Wildlife Department has published a map showing pike hot spots around the lake.  Some of these hotspots are found at the mouth of the Kettle River, near Evans, on the eastern end of the lake near Noisy Waters, and at the mouth of the Colville River, south of Kettle Falls.  Additional places worth fishing can be found south of Gifford and on either side of the reservoir near Hunters.  

Here are the rules if you want to participate in the Northern Pike Bounty Program:

• You must be 17 years of age or older to participate in the program. 
• Anglers must completely fill out the tag information at the designated drop off area. Fish heads must be placed in a freezer bag with the label and dropped into the freezer or brought to the Inchelium Fish and Wildlife office.
• Fish heads must be in good condition and clearly identifiable. Unidentifiable heads will not be accepted or awarded.
• Fish must be caught in the main stem Columbia River from Wells Dam upstream to the Canadian border, the Spokane River upstream to Little Falls, the Kettle River, or the Okanogan River. 
• There are no size restrictions on northern pike.
• Anglers must adhere to all applicable state/tribal fishing regulations for the area in which you fish. Contact your local state or tribal agency for license requirements and current fishing regulations.
• Please allow 2 to 3 weeks to receive your reward.

Additional information about the program can be found at www.cct-fnw.com/northern-pike

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com

April is unofficially the start of spring and often linked to mythical tales of rebirth, resurrection, and fertility.  Throughout history, spring has been celebrated via a diverse lineup of traditions. It is a time of rebirth that can be tracked back for centuries. Where many of the ancient festivals can be directly linked to some sort of bloodshed and brutality, fortunately for the Western Washington angler, we see April as opening day of lowland lakes season. 

Where hopefully our participation does not result in bloodshed, opening day can either be a bodacious good time or a stressful one. As a small child I remember anticipating opening day for months, any given year it was probably the highlight of the year for me. My opening day experiences have always been memorable. To this day, fishing or not, I eagerly await opening day each year. In a sense, opening day marks my renaissance each year. Unfortunately, not everybody feels the same way, and opening day can be an overwhelming source of frustration.

So, how does one survive opening day crowds? 

Opening day frustrations come in many forms and we all have different tolerances for things that are generally out of our control. Your mindset should be that most things associated with opening day will be out of your control. The list is long, but some things to think about are tackle/gear availability, where to go, gear failure, and crowds.

Planning and preparation will go a long way in smoothing over any pre-opening day jitters. Don’t go to your local tackle shop on the Friday before opening day and expect to find your favorite lure, a kiddie setup, a jar of Ball-O-Fire eggs, or buy your license. Even well stocked tackle stops can run low in the days leading up to opening day. Shop early and remember that in our post pandemic world, the tackle shops are dealing with supply chain issues. 

If they don’t have something it’s likely not their fault, and they are doing everything they can to anticipate your needs. Locally, Kevin Johns with Holiday Sports is a both the tackle buyer and lifelong local fishing expert. They are well stocked for opening day. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, look up Kevin and he will steer you in the right direction. SportCo/Outdoor Emporium, Johns Sporting Goods, Yeager’s, and even some local hardware stores have a fishing expert. As a hidden gem, the fishing department manager at Ace Hardware in Anacortes knows her stuff and is very devout in her pursuit of our local fisheries. 

Before opening day take the time to go through your gear and, if you’re using them, your boat and trailer. Did the battery survive the winter, trailer lights work, and are your winch and/or tiedown straps functional? Check the line on your reels, replace as required. Check your rods for damage and cracked guides. How does your tackle bag or box look, are they adequately stocked? Make sure you have serviceable PFDs for everyone that may be on your boat, and it’s a good idea to have life vests for any children and non-swimmers when fishing from shore. 

As part of your planning activities, maybe visit the area you plan to fish ahead of time. Check ramp conditions, look at the boat trailer parking options, shoreline access points, and hazards. Make sure there are not any surprise road or access closures. Over the winter, some of our access points may have been updated, and parking or access could be different. 

Hopefully your upfront planning and preparation will help to soothe and your opening day anxiety, but you’re not out of the woods just yet. You still have to survive opening day! 

I kind of look at opening day as maybe attending Mardi Gras in New Orleans. All the individual components and food may be a little odd or even uncomfortable, but the combined experience is an absolute hoot. A big thing to remember about opening day is that it is typically a family event. Strive to make it a positive experience for everyone involved. 

Children are very perceptive and are constantly learning from our behavior. If they get tangled with your prize stocked rainbow or one of the grandkids hooks your favorite fishing hat when casting just laugh it off.  In the event of a tangle or other calamity, no matter who is at fault don’t be afraid to say that you are sorry to your fellow angler. Use the time to teach good sportsmanship and etiquette. 

You will have no control of the crowds and know that going in. That said, you can do a few things going in to improve the experience. First and foremost is to arrive early. Not just early but hours early. Your favorite spot at the corner of the dock or bulrushes is more likely to be available, and if you’re boating, you may find trailer parking within a reasonable distance to the ramp. On that note; if fishing from the shore, don’t impede the boat ramp access. Boaters need room to maneuver their rig, a place to beach their boat, and a line free path to and from the boat ramp while on the water. 

As an alternative, if early doesn’t work, sleep in. Get up, have a cup of joe or three, and maybe even breakfast before heading off the lake. There is a thought here; opening day is all about voracious, planted trout. These fish will have the feed bag on all day. Years ago, I hatched an opening day plan to fish Lake McMurry in Skagit County. We had a guest from Alaska, she was an avid angler but had never fished an opening day. 

The plan was for me to launch at o-dark thirty, then wait for them to arrive around daybreak. In accordance with the plan, I launched hours before daylight and was the second rig in the parking area. After launching I motored out, dropped the anchor, and waited for the crew. It was cold, raining and breezy, and in short order I was soaked the bone. With dawn came a renewed hope that I wasn’t going to die of hypothermia just off the Lake McMurry boat ramp, but my wait continued. There was a lot of activity, and I enjoyed watching all the happenings. My waterlogged condition was improving and almost bearable.

It was a little later, the rain had turned to mostly a mist and the sun was trying to show itself. I was eager to join the other opening day participants but somehow, I was still waiting. A few of the boats that had already launched and headed out fishing were now coming back in with easy limits. I was getting a bit anxious and at that point I had full on gold (I mean, fish) fever. 

Eventually the gang showed up, they had overslept and ended up parking somewhere way down the road. I considered expressing my displeasure with the situation, but here came one of the kids, little legs going as fast as they could, carrying a McDonald’s bag. She was over the top excited that they had stopped and gotten me breakfast and coffee. Although they were both cold, her enthusiasm was infectious and the wait was forgotten. We got loaded up and cast off on our adventure. We had an absolute blast, lots of joking around, lost fish, and full stringers. We started out just doing catch and release, and then quickly filled out our limits. I don’t know how many fish we caught that day, but it was one for the books. As applicable to opening day survival, there were a few lessons learned moments in our adventure.

Although a bit frustrated with the wait, I stayed positive and we had a great time. The kids and our guest thoroughly enjoyed our adventure and never saw my tribulations. The second lesson was in the opening day bite. Even though people were coming in with early limits, I think the bite improved as the day progressed. I believe that with the unsettled weather, the surface temperatures were lower early on. The bite really got going as the lake warmed up. I’m sure if we had waited until 1:00 or so to launch, we still would have limited and not had to worry about parking. Maybe off subject, but regarding lessons learned, always carry a big thermos of hot tea or coffee!

If you just can’t get into the opening day hocus pocus no worries, you still have options. Remember that almost everyone that owns a fishing rod will be fishing an opening day lake. What that means to you is that, for the most part, our other fisheries will be deserted. The year-round lakes will be just hitting their spring stride. We have enjoyed kokanee limits from Lake Stevens, Lake Cavanaugh, and Lake Samish on opening day. 

There are other fisheries to explore as well. You’ll want to check the WDFW regs before you hitch up your rig, but for 2023 it is likely that both halibut (MA 6-10) and spring chinook in SE Washington will be open. Both have their own crowds and challenges but are solid alternatives to our Western Washington Lowland Lake opener. You may also consider shallow water fishing in the salt. Both surf perch and bottom fish such as the Irish lord family, sanddabs, sole, flounder, and greenling are all available year round. Check the WDFW regulations and bottom fish definitions for the area you plan to fish. 

Your ability to survive opening day may be a crapshoot, but with a little advanced planning you adventure should be mostly painless with bloodshed limited to a skinned knee, sliver, or the rare hook in the finger. Again, opening day is a huge family event, so patience and understanding will be your friend. At all costs, make opening day fun for all and be a teacher. 

Assure your gear, boat, and trailer are up for the task before you head to your favorite lake. Get your tackle and licenses as early as possible. Make sure the kidlets are wearing properly fitting lifejackets and, as appropriate, bundled up for the weather. Opening day is not the time to cut back on snacks, a full tummy is a happy tummy. A little attention to details and you will not only survive opening day, but the gang will eagerly look forward to next year’s festivities.

To me, there is absolutely no better feeling than a fresh, chrome anadromous fish hammering a properly swung fly. Life goes from less than zero to over 200mph in a split second. Typically, when it happens to me, I’m standing there going through the motions thinking about everything but fishing. Chaos comes and then goes just as quickly. The quick rush is addictive and leads some anglers into facing a maddening depression when there is a distinct lack of fresh chrome fish in the rivers. Years ago, while battling my own steelhead sickness, I discovered that some resident trout do in fact eat swung flies and that it was fun way to fulfill an angling need when a steelhead isn't in the same time zone.

If you are a dyed in the wool steelhead aficionado living within a stone’s throw of the fabled PNW steelhead rivers, stop reading now. Nothing I have to say here will be helpful or beneficial to your quality of life. Your geographic angling superiority is to be congratulated and celebrated. The rest of us that deal with a slight pilgrimage to steelhead water might find solace knowing that a temporary fix might just be a little closer to home than originally thought. 

One fall/winter between Alaska and Patagonia guide seasons, I found myself in Western North Carolina. Appalachia. It’s beautiful there. Big mountains, trout streams, elk, bears, deer, and even musky, but not a single anadromous chrome fish anywhere at all. Nothing to swing flies to. I ended up there because of a girl. Although I can’t remember her name, I am sure that’s why I was there. We’ll just say her name was Alice. Alice lived on a big lake fed by three large trout rivers and several creeks. The lake was about 20 miles across and over 400 feet deep at the dam.

The largest river flowing into it averaged about 3000cfs (cubic feet per second) annually. The other two rivers had slightly less flow. Most people around regarded it as “tough fishing” mostly because of the depth and its ability to create nasty waves. Not your typical southern sparkle boat bass lake. I didn't care, it seemed normal to me. After spending a few seasons on Naknek Lake and Illimani Lake in Bristol Bay, I saw this as an opportunity to fish alone in water that rarely saw pressure. So, off I went in Alice’s boat, without Alice. She was terrified of the lake, and she didn't like fishing. Maybe that’s why I can’t remember her name. Either way, I was going armed with a new 6 weight spey rod and my trusted 10’ 7 weight single hand rod. The 6 weight spey was a gift from a buddy that built custom rods and I was itching to dial it in for an upcoming trip. I didn't really think it would be a useful tool for where I was. 

As I pulled the boat into the mouth of the river, looking for a safe spot to anchor, I saw what could only be described as textbook holding water for migrating fish. Feeling like that was just a pipe dream fallacy, I lazily anchored the boat and trudged up to the pool above the shoal. As nonchalantly as could be, I made a cast. The rod was an absolute cannon for a 6 weight and still is. While basking in the glory of my new gift, my fly got slammed. The fish darn near ripped the rod right out of my hand. I wasn’t planning for this. I was just tuning a new rod.

The fish pulled a couple of runs and then gave up. As the fish headed towards the shallows, I tailed it and just knelt there with it for a minute. Holding in my hand was a perfect specimen of rainbow trout that probably measured 26-27”. It wasn’t chrome, but it wasn’t full of color either. Just a perfect species specimen with all its fins and mandibles. Not a steelhead, but darned nice. I figured it to be a fluke but kept fishing anyway. I caught 4 just like it that day and 6 the next day. The day after that, I didn’t count the fish I caught. I just enjoyed the fact that I was successfully fishing the way I wanted to in a place where that should not be working. 

Soon after that, It was time for me to leave for Patagonia, where I honed the swing method for trout even more. Three months of guiding the tributaries of Lake General Carrera proved to sort out my theories well. Trout that live in rivers without a lake system don't take swung flies as well as trout that live in rivers with a lake system. Maybe it’s because the lake provides a semblance of oceanic feeling to the trout, nurturing its true migratory genetics. Whereas a trout living in a creek or stream that tribs into a larger river is more resident homebody completely ignoring its DNA. Maybe that DNA is bred right out of those fish. I’m not a biologist, so I really don’t know the answer to why they do or don’t. People much smarter than me will be able to answer that.

Here is what I know - everywhere I have tested my theory on swinging flies for trout, it works. Every single time. In Alaska, PNW, Rockies, Sierras, Appalachia, and Patagonia. A trout river feeding a lake of any substantial size and depth will support an angler trying to get a fix by swinging flies to trout. It’s become a game of sorts for me now. Every steelhead trip, I pack my 6 weight spey rod and a 6 weight switch rod.

It’s been a lifesaver at times when the steelhead water is blown out. I don't get too crazy with the flies; everything is a stinger hook fly scaled down in size somewhat. I try to use more natural looking patterns. Any smaller stinger hook sculpin or leech pattern is great and there are several very good sources for trout swing flies out there. Start at your local fly shop. Those guys will know what’s up.

 If your steelhead pilgrimage is a little too far to take a chance of being blown out, grab a 6 weight two hander or 10’ 6/7 weight single hander and test my theory. I am sure there is a river near you that fits the description. You might save some time, gas money, and get to fish alone. Who knows, you might even get Alice to tag along.