Columbia Basin has hot lakes
Managing trout fisheries is not a slam dunk, even in the fabled fishing waters of the Columbia Basin. Even fisheries biologists are surprised to see what opening day delivers after factoring in the effects of weather and competition from cormorants and pelicans and illegally introduced species.
But once again, there are plenty of great reasons to head to Grant County with a fishing rod. The best of these waters are “selective fisheries” that opened March 1 or April 1.
Dusty Lake, a selective fishery in the Quincy Wildlife Area, rated a “phenomenal” assessment from Jeff Korth, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department district fisheries biologist.
The 80-acre lake was rehabilitated in 2003 and stocked with triploid rainbows, the survivors of which are in the 5- to 6-pound range. Brown trout fry planted at that time are 14 inches and growing, and several age groups of rainbows are going to 22 inches.
“A bad day at Dusty is five to 10 fish,” Korth said. “But on a good day, fly-fishermen are catching and releasing 20 or 30 a day, and they’re all quality fish.”
Lake Lenore’s Lahontan cutthroat population continues to be in top form, with the “average” fish running 2-4 pounds. The trout are just starting to come out of their spawning mode, which concentrates them at north end of the lake. Soon they will be spreading back into the lake, and they’ll be more interested in feeding. Best fishing at Lenore is April-May and in the fall.
“Lenore is about as chuck full of trout as it can get,” Korth said. “We’re seeing the occasional fish up to 8 pounds.”
Lenice and Nunnally lakes, both down a little from past years because of a growing sunfish population, have been getting good reports for quality rainbows. The lakes were scheduled for plants of 1.5-pound triploid trout in mid April.
Dry Falls Lake was a “pleasant surprise” when it opened April 1, Korth said. “It hasn’t fished well in the past few years, but we’ve been getting good reports this year. Most of the rainbows and browns are in the 17- to 18-inch range, which is good for fishermen, but we’re a little concerned at why the smaller fish aren’t showing up.”
The water level is up a little and anglers are able to fish the shallow flats as well as the deep water, he said.
At Hampton Lakes, rehabbed in 2004, the yearling trout were running a 15 inches long and 3.5 inches deep when the season opened April 1. Don’t wait. Word is out and the fishery may not last long. Upper Hampton, which requires a short walk, is a good bet for float-tubers.
Park and Blue lakes are among the few Basin waters that don’t open until the last Saturday in April. These lakes have become infested with non-trout species in recent years. They’ll be stocked with small catchable-size rainbowns for the opener, plus a few big carryovers.
Spiny-ray standouts
Potholes Reservoir and Moses and Banks lakes provide excellent fishing at certain time of the year for a variety of species, including trout, bass, panfish, walleye and more. These big waters are the darlings of competitive bass and walleye fishermen.
In fact, the smallmouth and walleye populations are getting so big in these productive waters, new liberal catch limits take effect on May 1 to encourage anglers to reduce the numbers of young bass.
Small-water options for spiny-ray anglers include:
“Shiner and Hutchinson lakes on the Columbia Wildlife Refuge are good for bass and bluegill. Bring a personal pontoon or canoe.
“Stan Coffin Lake is the state’s only catch-and-release quality bass fishery. Studies indicate it has about 40 largemouths per acre. Most fish are 1.5-2 pounds, but lunkers go to 5 pounds.