Local lakes stock up for fishing season

In a gush of water, out of a spout poised above the lake, in groups and alone, they fell. Some went in head first, others tail first. A few belly-flopped.

On Tuesday morning, 1,784 rainbow trout were transported to their new home in Clear Lake in preparation for the start of the lowland lake fishing season opener on April 30.

These fish are among more than 880,000 that have been stocked in Spokane County lakes over the past year. Fry trout were put into lakes last spring and fall, and catchable-size trout were unloaded earlier this spring.

The 1 ½ -pounders that will be released into area lakes through Thursday are the last additions before the fishing season begins, said Madonna Luers, spokeswoman for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“To sweeten the pot – because people love to catch big fish – we put in some of these,” said Luers, adding that some of the trout can grow to 3-4 pounds by the end of the season in October.

For 50 years, the WDFW has supplemented lakes’ naturally reproduced fish with those that are grown in hatcheries. Otherwise, the supply would not meet the high demand: Luers estimates that at least a third of Spokane residents fish.

The final dumping is earlier this year than previous years, though, because of drought conditions. The department wanted to get the fish out before the water level gets lower, should no rain fall in the next few weeks.

Low water levels also mean that launching boats is trickier and possibly more hazardous, Luers said. As such, she advises people to “pack a little extra patience and a little extra caution” along with their sandwiches and fishing gear.

At Clear Lake, Julie Meacham was wowed by the sight of the fish jetting out of a semitrailer. A self-described catch-and-release fisherwoman, Meacham said she was glad to see none of them floating on the lake surface after landing. “That would be sad,” Meacham said.

Meanwhile, her husband, Steve Meacham, looked at the fish as his potential catch. He plans to be out on the lake, near where he lives, by midnight the day of the season opener. “I’m a-waiting.”