04/26/2008: "Time To Go Lake Fishing"

Great trout fishing for anglers throughout Washington gets under way April 26, when several lakes in San Juan County open for a four-to five-month-long season.

Traditionally the annual opening day of the state’s lowland-lake trout fishing season draws more than 300,000 anglers of all ages – the largest turnout of any fishing season opener in Washington.

“With travel costs up this year, lowland lake fishing is a great recreational opportunity for people looking to stay close to home,” said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Jeff Koenings, and added: “Anglers of all ages should find good fishing at any of the lakes stocked with trout."

Where and how listed below:

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For those who may want to cast a line in any or all of the lakes listed below, research has shown that trout tend to stay in the top three to five feet of water for the first weeks after stocking.

This makes them easy prey for cormorants and other avian predators, which can take a significant bite out of our stocking efforts. Where avian predation is prevalent, your best chance for success may come in the first couple of weeks after trout are stocked. Angler activity tends to disrupt the feeding birds and can save the fish for a longer period of good fishing.

Because of this tendency of stocked trout to remain shallow for a while after stocking, fishing on the bottom may not be as productive early as it will be later. Troll shallow with small lures, flies, or spinner-and-bait combinations early in the season. When fishing from shore, use a float to keep your bait up in the feeding zone.

After a few weeks, the trout will cue in on natural food items and be found where the food is, and this tends to be deeper. At this time, try fishing on or just off the bottom, using floating paste type baits or other buoyant baits. Also, natural baits such as worms, fish eggs, or flies and lures that imitate natural trout food work well. This will also be the case in lakes managed primarily with fry plants where the fish have grown up on natural food.

Lakes in San Juan County (North Puget Sound – Region 4)

Cascade Lake (171 acres): On Orcas Island, three and a half miles southeast of East Sound. Last Saturday in April through October 31 open season. Primary species are rainbow, cutthroat, and kokanee. Some largemouth bass and pumpkinseed sunfish are also available in the lake. Moran State Park provides public access and a boat launch.

Egg Lake (7 acres): This small lake is located 900 feet west of Sportsman’s Lake on the northeast end of San Juan Island. The season is open year-round. Eggshells out largemouth bass and rainbow trout, with good fishing in May for three-quarter pound rainbows, and bass from late spring to early fall. Rainbow stocking has been moved to May to reduce cormorant predation. There is a WDFW access with boat ramp on the west side.

Hummel Lake (36 acres): Located on the north end of Lopez Island. This lake has a yearround open season. Anglers here can expect to catch three-quarter pound rainbow trout during April and May. Largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish are also available. The WDFW access at the north end of the lake provides a boat ramp with toilets. (See Washington State Parks website: http://www.parks.wa.gov/ada-rec for ADA accessibility information.)

Hunter Bay County Park: Located on Lopez Island, this park offers a year-round opportunity for taking surf smelt on the DNR public beach immediately east of the county park launch ramp.

Mountain Lake (189 acres): On Orcas Island, four and a half miles southeast of East Sound, this location has a year-round open season. Mountain is good for kokanee in late May, early June, and in the fall. Some cutthroat and eastern brook trout are also available, and 447 triploid rainbows will be stocked this year. The trout daily limit can include only one fish over 18 inches. Moran State Park provides public access and a boat launch.

Shellfish and Marine Fish: Good shrimp fishing exists throughout much of the interior San Juan Islands. To minimize pot loss from the strong tidal currents, add extra weight to shrimp pots here.
Popular clam beaches are found at Spencer Spit State Park and at English Camp on Garrison Bay.

Crab fishing is available in Mud Bay and Fisherman Bay (Lopez Island), Blind Bay (Shaw Island), Dear Harbor (Orcas Island) and Garrison Bay (San Juan Island).

Marine fishing is available at Friday Harbor Marina docks. To check on shellfish and crab seasons and emergency closures, call the toll-free Shellfish Hotline at 1-866-880-5431.

Sportsman’s Lake (66 acres): On San Juan Island, 3-1/2 miles northwest of Friday Harbor and has a year-round open season. Good fishing for largemouth bass during the summer. The WDFW access has a boat launch.