FISHING -- In preparation for the scheduled summer removal of the Mill Pond Dam downstream from Sullivan Lake, some fishing restrictions are being lifted so anglers can catch virtually any fish that are in the pond before it's drained.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department will lift the daily catch limit for brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and burbot in Mill Pond from April 22 through July 16.   Those species are not native to the Sullivan Creek system, said Bill Baker, department biologist.

Specificallly, the rule says Mill Pond anglers can keep:

• Brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and burbot – No min size/daily limit.
• All other game fish – Statewide min size/daily limit.

In other words, anglers must still adhere to publish limits in the odd chance that they would catch a cutthroat.

Mill Pond Dam, located on Sullivan Creek in Pend Oreille County, is being removed as a mitigation measure for relicensing of Boundary Dam.  Baker said the agency has had requests from anglers to provide liberalize the harvest opportunity for non-native fish in Mill Pond prior to dam removal.    

All other current WDFW fishing regulations for the Sullivan Creek system remain in effect.