Ice led to chilly fishing season opener at reservation

Last weekend’s fishing season opener on Colville Indian Reservation was a little short on open water at some of the best fishing lakes.

The only ice-free trout waters for the opener were McGinnis for brook trout, Buffalo for rainbow, brookies and other species plus Bourgeau for rainbows and bass.

Omak Lake, a trophy Lahontan cutthroat fishery, also was open with some restrictions.

“Twin Lakes should be good when they are free of ice,” said Ed Shallenberger, tribal biologist. “We put in fall plants of brook trout and rainbow trout, including native redbands and coastal-stock triploids. Twin has great fall production, but we tend to have problems with the fishing in the summer when the water gets warm.”

The lake also has good bass fishing, with a few 6-pounders caught each year, he said.

A tribal fishing license is required for fishing on the reservation. Those licenses are available in the Spokane area at the Airway Heights Exxon, 244-9906.

The licenses also area available at Coulee Playland Resort in Electric City, Midway Mini-Mart in Grand Coulee and Jackson’s Chevron in Nespelem.