The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
62°F
Current Conditions
Overcast clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Go Fishing 2015

A guide to fishing lakes and streams in the Inland Northwest.

‹ Newer Older ›

Search

Sports >  Outdoors

Northeastern Washington lakes should satisfy fishing demands on opening day

Northeastern Washington lakes have been well tended to satisfy the demand for good fishing when the lowland lake season opens on Saturday. Periodic problems with fish die-offs at lakes usually can be compensated to some degree by changes in stocking, such as a one-time increase of catchable-size hatchery fish, said the fisheries manager for Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties.
Sports >  Outdoors

Hundreds of lakes open Saturday for lowland trout season

Fishtrap and West Medical lakes will provide some of the best Spokane-area fishing among the lakes opening Saturday for the lowland trout fishing season, state biologists say. They are traditional favorites that lure generations of angling friends and families year after year, and this year should be no exception. Some Washington lakes are open to fishing all year. Dozens opened in March primarily in the Columbia Basin, and even more lakes opened to fishing in April.
Sports >  Outdoors

Fly fishermen find exclusive waters in select fisheries

A small portion of Washington’s managed fisheries are designated fly-fishing only. Many high-quality trout lakes, such as Amber Lake in Spokane County, are designated “selective fisheries,” where single-barbless hooks are required, bait is prohibited and catch limits and use of motors are restricted.
Sports >  Outdoors

Nine Mile Reservoir drawdown set for May

Changes underway at Nine Mile Dam are creating better access for paddlers and a temporary reason for caution to boaters and anglers. The water level of Nine Mile Reservoir will be lowered about 6 feet starting in May to accommodate work on a barge landing at the dam.
Sports >  Outdoors

In brief: Repairs at Wanapum Dam help reopen boat launches

With about $69 million in repairs to a cracked spillway completed at Wanapum Dam, water levels on the Columbia River reservoir are being brought up to normal levels and boat ramps are being readied to use for the first time in more than a year. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reopened two boat launches and nearly 20 miles of the remaining shoreline above the Wanapum reservoir to public use on Wednesday.
Sports >  Outdoors

Field reports: Razor clamming hits peak season

SHELLFISHING – Razor clam digs proposed for April and May would cap a season packed with more “beach days” than any time in the past 25 years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says. State shellfish managers are planning another 24 days of digging on morning low tides at various beaches from April 4 through May 17.
Sports >  Outdoors

Tribal fisheries beckon anglers to the Rez

A group of excellent fishing waters will open April 11 for non-tribal members on the Colville Indian Reservation, but anglers don’t have to wait that long to wet a line. The tribe released 10,000 triploid rainbow trout weighing about 2 pounds each in the year-round fishing waters of Lake Rufus Woods on Thursday, making the reservoir between Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams a likely hot spot for anglers this weekend.
Sports >  Outdoors

In brief: Idaho spring chinook season opens April 25

The earliest spring chinook fishing to be approved for Idaho waters will begin April 25. The state Fish and Game Commission Tuesday approved seasons and rules for the spring salmon season during its meeting in Boise. The 2015 returns are expected to be about the same as last year.
Sports >  Outdoors

Wild redband trout could disappear without protection

Wild redband trout in Lake Roosevelt need more distinction to survive, researchers say. Without a little more protection, the native redbands could disappear from the fishery dominated by the abundant hatchery-produced rainbow trout released in the Columbia River reservoir each year.
Sports >  Outdoors

NW Walleye circuit expands fishing waters

Competitive walleye anglers have a longer trail to trek through the region this season. Walleyes Unlimited Northwest has assembled a new tournament trail that provides a more diverse selection of fisheries.
‹ Newer Older ›

Search

Blog Posts

Sports >  Outdoors

Emphasize fun while fishing with kids

FISHING -- Fishing is a time-tested, generations-approved way to have quality time with kids. But keep it cool. Going fishing is a way to get away from the pressure kids feel in mainstream sports and school. Idaho Fish and Game staffers have assembled some kid-fishing...
Sports >  Outdoors

Video: Prep inflatable life vest for boating season

WATERSPORTS -- With their small, comfortable size, inflatable life jackets make it easy and convenient for boater to wear a PFD while on or around the water. But these self-inflating vests require a little preparation for the season that’s best done at least a day...
Sports >  Outdoors

Video helps anglers connect with North Idaho pike study

FISHING -- A northern pike monitoring project on Idaho Panhandle waters helps biologists work to strike a balance between the species popularity with anglers as well as the toothy predator's potential to impact other fish species if its numbers are not kept in balance. Fish...
Sports >  Outdoors

Washington sets ocean salmon fishing seasons

FISHING -- The 2015 recreational ocean salmon fishing seasons have been announced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as follows: Effective dates and Locations: Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) May 30-June 12 - Open seven days per week, 2 salmon daily limit. Release wild...
Sports >  Outdoors

Williams Lake fishing derby benefits Shriners Hospital

FISHING -- The 12th annual Klink's Resort Charity Fishing Derby to benefit Shriners Hospital for Children is set for Saturday, May 17, at Williams Lake south of Cheney. In 11 years, the event has raised about $60,000 for kids in need of skilled medical attention....
Sports >  Outdoors

Pikeminnow reward season kicks off with higher bounties

FISHING -- Anglers can help save salmon and get paid to do it by going fishing. The Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program kicked off its 2015 season on the Snake and Columbia rivers this week, and anglers already are cashing in on a more lucrative pay-out...
Sports >  Outdoors

How fast can a salmon swim upstream to Idaho waters?

FISHING -- How long it takes for salmon to travel from Bonneville Dam to Idaho? Joe DuPont, Idaho Fish and Game regional fisheries manager in Lewiston looked at data and came up with answers to that often-asked question from curious anglers. On average, an adult...
Sports >  Outdoors

Low flows, slow fishing mark Yakima springer opener

FISHING -- Wishing was slow for lower Yakima River anglers out last weekend for the May 2 opening of spring chinook fishing. Flows averaged 1,800cfs and fishing was slow for both salmon and bass, said Paul Hoffarth, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist....
Sports >  Outdoors

Bassers catch load of lunkers in Lake Spokane charity event

FISHING -- Anyone with doubts about the lunker bass fishing potential of Lake Spokane (a.k.a. Lone Lake) should note the stats from the May 2-3 tournament organized by the Spokane Bass Club. Justin Cox and Ben Schilling weighed in a first-day, five-fish total of 29.05...
Sports >  Outdoors

Saturday was perfect fishing day for 700 kids

FISHING -- The cheerful squeals of kids catching their first fish was all the reward dozens of sportsmen and sportswomen needed for their hours of work organizing the annual Kids Fishing Day, May 2, at Clear Lake. More than 700 kids took part in the...
Sports >  Outdoors

Take a kid fishing, hook him/her for life

FISHING -- In Thursdays package of Fishing 2015 stories, I used a file photo of a successful young angler for a story about crappie fishing. It struck a chord with Mike Meseberg of Mar-Don Resort on Potholes Reservoir: Thephoto is of Levi Meseberg as a...
Sports >  Outdoors

Blustery weather doesn’t dampen opening day fishing success

FISHING -- Saturday's opening of Washington's lowland trout fishing season was blustery, wet and cold, but the anglers who toughed out the conditions were handsomely rewarded. Overall, Spokane-region lakes produced some of the best opening day fishing in years, according to Washington Department of Fish...
Sports >  Outdoors

Barbed hooks OKed for salmon in Wind River area

FISHING -- Anglers will be allowed to use barbed hooks through June at Wind River and Drano Lake while fishing for hatchery chinook and steelhead, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced. Location and effective dates: Wind River from mouth (boundary line markers)...
Sports >  Outdoors

Reader photo: Ospreys put on fishing clinic at Fernan Lake

OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY -- If you haven't been checking out The Spokesman-Review's Outdoor Reader Photo Gallery, you don't know what you're missing. Tim Colquhoun, for example, just posted a dramatic photo series of an osprey diving into Fernan lake to snatch a big fish. Awesome. Check...
Sports >  Outdoors

Anglers find big difference between Medical lakes

FISHING -- There's a big difference this week between Medical Lake and West Medical Lake near the Cheney. Fishing will open at West Medical with the general lowland lake season opener on Saturday, April 25. The daily limit will be five trout. Use of bait...
Sports >  Outdoors

Discarded fishing gear has fowl impacts

FISHING -- Anglers have a responsibility to gear up properly to reduce break offs and clean up line and tackle as much as possible, whether it's theirs or that of another fisherman. A lot of critters are out there making a living in and under...
Sports >  Outdoors

Big Hole brown trout survive threat in good shape

FISHING -- Fly fishermen will be interested in the latest news coming from Western Montana's Big Hole and Bitterroot rivers: Record brown trout numbers cited as reason for fungus in Montana river The spread of a fungal infection known as Saprolegnia in the Big Hole...
Sports >  Outdoors

First of Snake springer fishing seasons starts April 19

FISHING -- Two sections of the Snake River, below Ice Harbor Dam near Pasco and below Lower Granite Dam, will open to fishing for spring chinook salmon Sunday, April 19, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday. Two other sections of the river...