Amber, Coffeepot top selective lakes

For anglers who prefer quality to quantity, the top selective fisheries in the Spokane region are Amber and Coffeepot lakes, both of which opened March 1.

Bait is prohibited on these lakes and anglers must use artificial lures or flies with single barbless hooks.

Boyd Matson of the Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club fishes throughout the region and British Columbia. He says few places have rainbows of higher quality.

The trout at Amber were suffering from parasites in the 1990s and into 2002, he said. The number of triploid trout stocked in the lake has been reduced in recent years. The result has been healthier fish with the muscle power of linebackers.

“Good experienced fly fishers can do very well at Amber now,” he said. “But even they can get skunked. We don’t go out there expecting to catch fish like this,” he added showing a photo of a 23-inch rainbow that was weighed at 6 pounds before it was released.

Coffeepot rainbows also appear to have benefited by stocking reductions, according to Chris Donley, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife district biologist.

“Fish we planted a few years ago would be 15 inches long by this time of year,” he said. “Now there’s a good selection of fish ranging from 13-20 inches. With the higher water we have this year, those fish are really taking off.”

Coffeepot Lake’s daily catch limit will be reduced to one trout over 18 inches starting May 1. The closing date will be extended to Sept. 30. “We’re managing Coffeepot as a trophy trout fishery,” Donley said. “The only other lake around with a one-fish limit is Lake Lenore.”

North Silver Lake, formerly one of the most productive trout lakes in the region, has suffered from water levels too low for fish plants. The water level is up this year, however, and Donley has stocked 2,500 catchable-size rainbows.

“Given the growth rates in that lake, they could be pretty good size fish this season,” he said.

Medical Lake will offer decent fishing for browns ranging to 20 inches plus big rainbows and tiger trout.