Fishtrap Lake Rates Best Bet For Pan-Sized Trout
The fastest fishing for pan-sized trout in the Spokane region this spring and early summer likely will be at Fishtrap Lake.
Although the long, narrow lake has a fast-growing population of spinyrayed species, fishing this year should be good, fisheries biologist Bob Peck said.
Fishtrap was treated with rotenone seven years ago and is gradually filling up again with unwanted species that will compete with trout, he said.
Williams and Badger now have big populations of bass and tench and growing numbers of goldfish. They are scheduled for the rotenone treatment next fall.
Fishing should be excellent this year at Amber Lake, a selective fishery lake. Peck said he caught 13 rainbows and two cutthroat when he test-fished the lakes in March. All were about 14 inches long. Fry planted last year are about 10 inches.
Silver and Clear are now year-round lakes. Fishing should be fair for rainbow and brown trout, as well as for bass. Some of the brown trout are pushing 18 inches.
Each year, these lakes are scheduled to receive 15,000 jumbo rainbow fry, 200 broodstock rainbows, 7,000 jumbo brown trout fry and 200 broodstock browns.
Fishing may be poor this spring at West Medical Lake. Nearly all the rainbow fry released into the lake last spring and most of the carryover trout died last fall because of low water and extremely low oxygen levels, Peck said. The lake will be planted with 47,000 jumbo rainbow fry and 690 broodstock rainbows this spring.
Medical Lake may be more productive. The Fish and Wildlife Department has been releasing 3,500 to 5,000 catchable-size brown trout into the lake each year. The department will release about 25,000 jumbo rainbow fry into Sprague Lake this spring. However, predator fish will eat many of the fish. Most of the fish that anglers will catch at Sprague will be largemouth and smallmouth bass, perch, walleyes and bluegills.
Liberty is scheduled for 10,000 rainbow fry, 150 broodstock rainbows and 7,000 brown trout fry this spring. Fish Lake will get 11,500 brown trout fry and 3,000 brown trout fry.
Rock Lake in south Whitman County is planted with jumbo rainbow fry and some brown trout every year, and often provides excellent fishing. The state will release about 38,000 rainbows into the lake this month.
The top kokanee producers in the Spokane region this year should be Loon and Chapman. Deer holds some big kokanee, but not enough for good fishing. Loon holds large numbers of kokanee. Chapman is a consistent producer of kokanee in the 10- to 12-inch class.
Anglers will catch mackinaw trout and bass at Loon and Deer this spring. Trolling for the macks usually is better at Loon than at Deer.
Sacheen, once one of the top brookie lakes in the state, will provide fair fishing for brookies and rainbows. The lake will be planted with 15,000 brook and 10,000 rainbow fry this month.
Anglers will catch some browns and rainbows at Waitts, as well as small perch. The lake will be planted with 16,000 rainbow fry, 400 broodstock rainbows and 5,000 brown trout fry.
Jump-off Joe now gets an annual plant of jumbo brook trout fry. About 9,500 will be released this spring.
Diamond Lake is traditionally a slow starter. However, fishermen will catch some rainbows and cutthroat trout during the first week of the season.
Three fly fishing-only lakes - Bayley, McDowell and Browns - will provide fair to good fishing at times. McDowell holds some big rainbows, but also has a growing population of tench. Water level at Browns, which holds cutthroat, has been extremely low the last few years, but could be almost normal this spring.
Lakes of the Little Pend Oreille chain, Marshall, Yocum, Ellen and Swan will provide fair fishing for small trout.
xxxx Tigers in the tank Tiger muskies released into Newman Lake the last two years aren’t large enough to interest serious fishermen. The hybrid fish, which are expected to grow to more than 20 pounds, are in the 13- to 14-inch range and growing. The lake, which also holds bass and bluegills, will be planted with about 10,000 rainbow and 5,000 brown trout fry this spring.