Post by: X-Force on November 17, 2014, 02:08:47 PM
WDFW to release torrent of trout;
nearly four times more fish stocked this fall
OLYMPIA - With some 340,000 trout scheduled for stocking in western Washington lakes, area anglers should have an excellent chance at phenomenal fishing this fall and through the holiday season.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will stock 47 western Washington lakes with catchable-size trout. That includes 19 lakes where the catch limit will be increased to 10 trout beginning Oct. 18.
"Our fish stocking plans entail releasing nearly four times more fish than were released last fall in western Washington," said Chris Donley, WDFW's inland fish program manager. "Fishing at dozens of lakes throughout the region should be great over the next few months."
Lakes stocked as of Oct. 1 include Island, Lost, Nahwatzel, and Spencer Lake in Mason County, Kitsap Lake in Kitsap County, Rattlesnake Lake in King County, and Gibbs, Leland and Teal Lakes in Jefferson County. Additional stocking efforts will focus on different regions and counties in western Washington and will continue through October and November.
A list of lakes to be stocked, those lakes offering the bonus bag limit, and the department's recently updated stocking plan is available for viewing at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/fall-into-fishing/. (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/fall-into-fishing/.)
WDFW has a higher number of fish to stock into lakes this fall because of a legal settlement last spring that prevented releasing early winter hatchery steelhead into most Puget Sound rivers in 2014.
More than 300,000 of those steelhead, an ocean going form of rainbow trout, will instead be released into western Washington lakes in the coming weeks.
"We realized these fish presented a unique opportunity for Washington's anglers," said Donley. The department held the steelhead over the summer and reared them to "catchable trout size" to be released into lakes in the Puget Sound area for harvest this fall.
Donley said he expects angling to be great throughout the fall and winter months at all of these lakes. "Most of the trout are 11 to 13 inches long, with a few larger ones in the mix," he said.
The fall fish plants are in response to anglers' requests to increase fall and winter trout fishing opportunities in western Washington, said Donley. That effort also includes stocking lakes in southwest Washington for the Nov. 28 Black Friday opener, which offers anglers the opportunity to skip the shopping malls, get outside, and enjoy fishing on the day after Thanksgiving.
For those fishing closer to the Puget Sound area, thousands of trout are available in lakes that can be pursued throughout fall and winter, said Donley. "We encourage anglers young and old, inexperienced or well-seasoned, to get out and take advantage of these great fisheries," he added.
For up-to-date stocking information this fall, anglers should follow the department on Twitter or Facebook, accessible from http://wdfw.wa.gov (http://wdfw.wa.gov), or see the department's weekly catchable trout stocking report at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/weekly/. (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/weekly/.)
Anglers must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2015, to participate in these events.
Licenses can be purchased online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov; (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov;) by telephone at 1-866-246-9453; or at hundreds of license vendors across the state. For details on license vendor locations, visit the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors/. (http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors/.)
Post by: Dhoey07 on November 17, 2014, 02:20:57 PM
"The fall fish plants are in response to anglers' requests to increase fall and winter trout fishing opportunities in western Washington, said Donley."
Post by: Band on November 17, 2014, 02:54:38 PM
When did people say this?Who knows? What I want is a few fly fishing catch and release lakes on the west side. It's pretty sad when you're surrounded by lakes but you can't find a quality lake fishing experience (with the possible exception of Pass Lake) without having to travel several hours. It doesn't take but a few days for the local lakes to get fished out of those itty bitty fish they plant these days. I'd like to see those fish grow up a little rather than letting lakes get decimated immediately after they plant them. :twocents:
"The fall fish plants are in response to anglers' requests to increase fall and winter trout fishing opportunities in western Washington, said Donley."
Post by: Dhoey07 on November 17, 2014, 03:03:04 PM
When did people say this?Who knows? What I want is a few fly fishing catch and release lakes on the west side. It's pretty sad when you're surrounded by lakes but you can't find a quality lake fishing experience (with the possible exception of Pass Lake) without having to travel several hours. It doesn't take but a few days for the local lakes to get fished out of those itty bitty fish they plant these days. I'd like to see those fish grow up a little rather than letting lakes get decimated immediately after they plant them. :twocents:
"The fall fish plants are in response to anglers' requests to increase fall and winter trout fishing opportunities in western Washington, said Donley."
If you want a quality fishing experience then I'd suggest you concentrate more on small streams rather than lakes. Their around, you just got to find them.
Post by: hunt_fish on November 17, 2014, 06:47:38 PM
When did people say this?Who knows? What I want is a few fly fishing catch and release lakes on the west side. It's pretty sad when you're surrounded by lakes but you can't find a quality lake fishing experience (with the possible exception of Pass Lake) without having to travel several hours. It doesn't take but a few days for the local lakes to get fished out of those itty bitty fish they plant these days. I'd like to see those fish grow up a little rather than letting lakes get decimated immediately after they plant them. :twocents:
"The fall fish plants are in response to anglers' requests to increase fall and winter trout fishing opportunities in western Washington, said Donley."
I believe Teal Lake, just past the Hood Canal bridge is an artificial lure lake, there's also Cady Lake in Belfair for fly-fishing. Also there is the Puget Sound for cutthroat. I know people do decent up in the Bremerton area for them.
Post by: HunterStrait on November 17, 2014, 07:33:07 PM
Steelhead fishing is anything but a joke anymore in this state. :bash:
Barbless, must be hatchery, of course, but we already know the Steelhead hatchery's will purposely not clip off the adipose fin.
Post by: duckmen1 on November 17, 2014, 07:46:37 PM