Cool Weather Slows Basin Fishing

Only a few lakes in the Columbia Basin will be opened April 27. Most trout lakes opened March 1, but cool weather has contributed to mediocre fishing at most of them.

The lakes that will open April 27 include selective fishery lakes in the Lenice-Nunnally chain, Jameson in Douglas County, Dry Falls southwest of Coulee City and several lakes around Sun Lakes State Park. Grimes will open June 1.

The best producer of big trout in Sun Lakes State Park is Dry Falls, expected to yield 12- to 20-inch rainbows and browns. Dry Falls, as well as the Lenice-Nunnally lakes, along the lower Crab Creek channel, will attract opening-day crowds. Jameson could be high and dirty for the opener.

Biologists expect 346-acre Park Lake in Sun Lakes State Park to provide good fishing for small trout despite poor survival of trout fry plants. About 60,000 rainbow yearlings are being planted for the opener.

Nearby Blue Lake, now full of perch, likely will provide mediocre fishing for large numbers of anglers on opening weekend.

Selective fishery and fly fishingonly lakes in Okanogan County are the places to go to catch bragging-size trout. Sidley, now a selective fishery lake, won’t be crowded on opening day. It’s best fished in May and June.

Several popular lakes in Okanogan County will yield 8- to 10-inch rainbows. Among them are Alta, Conconully Lake and reservoir, Fish, Patterson, Pearrygin and Wannacut.

, DataTimes