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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Columbia Basin gets head start

Rich Landers Outdoors editor

April 30 is only one of several “opening days” for Columbia Basin trout anglers, who have virtually no off-season. Indeed, a few of lakes that opened March 1 are already near being fished out.

“Caliche and Martha lakes near George were red hot in March for rainbows 11-15 inches and they’ll probably be pretty much depleted by early April,” said Jeff Korth, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist based in Ephrata.

But Grant and Douglas counties have no shortage of great fishing lakes still brimming with trout.

Jameson Lake continues to be one of the region’s most consistent producers, Korth said, noting that the lake west of Coulee City “should be as good as ever when it opens” on April 30.

Lake Lenore, a selective fishery south of Coulee City, is stocked with fast-growing Lahontan cutthroats that are in peak condition, as anglers have been finding out since it opened on March 1.

The selective fishery’s restrictive rules on gear and bag limits help maintain good season-long fishing for larger fish.

“Most of the Lahontans are 3-year-olds in the 3-pound category, but there are some in the 5- and 6-pound range,” he said. “The fishing has been good, but fall is probably the best time to fish Lenore. July and August are the doldrums.”

Other good Basin trout waters include Quincy and Burke lakes, plus the popular selective fisheries at Lenice and Nunnally lakes, all of which opened March 1.

“Unfortunately, the trout in Lenice and Nunnally are suffering from another boom in sunfish,” Korth said. “We put a thousand triploid rainbows in Lenice last fall and that really helped the fishing,” he added, noting that the fish should be running close to two pounds by May. Nunnally is scheduled to get a plant of 1.5-pound triploids this month.

Dusty Lake is the newest selective fishery in the Basin. The 83-acre lake on the Quincy Wildlife Area was rehabilitated in 2003 and the restocked trout fishery was in full swing last fall, Korth said. The bait ban and one-fish daily limit kicked in this year to prolong the fishery of rainbows averaging 14 inches with a good crop of 16-17 inchers and carryovers running to 22 inches.

Limited access also adds to Dusty’s allure. Anglers must hike in and carry their float tubes or boats for a half mile from the parking lot near Burke Lake. “I don’t think you’ll find a more scenic spot,” Korth said. “The setting rivals Dry Falls.”

Even in the current drought, Dusty ought to hold up well since much of the lake is more than 80 feet deep with depths to 130 feet.

Beda Lake west of Moses Lake is on the list of trout waters infested with scrap fish, Korth said. Tiger trout, which feed on the sunfish, have been stocked along with the rainbows.

The Hampton Lakes and the Pillar-Widgeon chain near Potholes Reservoir were rehabilitated last year and restocked with fry that won’t be large enough to catch until next spring, Korth said.