Northeastern trout lakes have nice variety

Northeastern Washington trout lakes have something for everyone, especially this year.

Here are the headliners for 2013, according to Bill Baker, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department fisheries biologist

Top opening day bets include Starvation and Mudgett lakes in Stevens County, with good numbers of 11-inch rainbows plus carryovers.

Year-round mixed-species lakes where trout fishing should pick up to a fast pace by the end of April include Cooks in Pend Oreille County for rainbows, Deer in Stevens County for rainbows, mackinaw and brook trout, and Curlew in Ferry County, where ice came off earlier than in recent years and rainbows are warming up for action.

Top fly-fishing only lakes in Stevens County include Bayley, which should be excellent for rainbows up to 24 inches, and McDowell, with rainbows up to 20 inches and brook trout up to 16.

Loon Lake, which holds rainbows, macks and tiger trout, is especially popular for kokanee, a summer fishery that tends to turn on late may or early June.