Fish Columbia Basin hot spots
The waters along Highway 17, and the species of fish that call them home, are as varied as the crops grown on the fields of central Grant County.
Depending on mood, you can pursue largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, three species of trout, several types of panfish and catfish. You can fish big reservoirs and small lakes, or try fly fishing a spring creek.
“We do have a great diversity,” said Jeff Korth, district fish biologist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. “The waters are very fertile. The desert is a very fertile place. It just needed water.”
Darce Knobel, who owns the Desert Angler in Ephrata, said he has fished lakes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. But he prefers the lakes a short drive from his fly shop. “I’ve fished all over, and I never find any more consistent trout fishing than we have here. They’re real rich lakes, they have great insect populations.”
Following are some angling options within a 30-minute drive of Moses Lake:
Lake Lenore
Location: On Highway 17 south of Coulee City.
Type of water: 1,670-acre lake.
Unique features: Sits at the end of the Grand Coulee bounded by high cliffs. Fishing is best in spring and fall. Fly anglers do best using chironomid patterns in the spring and then damsel, dragonfly nymph, callibaetis and caddis patterns in the fall.
Common species: Lahontan cutthroat trout.
Access: Four access areas, three with restrooms. Three boat launches are suitable only for very small boats and float tubes because of the shallow shoreline. One launch has a handicap access. No internal combustion motors allowed.
Of note: Lahontans here can reach 10 pounds. Fishing is catch-and-release only March 1-May 31. Selective fishery regulations apply for the entire open season, which runs to Nov. 30.
Info: Desert Fly Angler in Ephrata; (509) 754-4070.
Columbia Wildlife Refuge
Location: South of Moses Lake off Highway 262.
Type of water: Home to numerous “seep lakes” created by irrigation seepage after the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project and Potholes Reservoir were established.
Unique features: Light fishing pressure spread over 30 lakes and lower Crab Creek. Most popular lakes Upper and Lower Hampton, Soda, Teal, Quail (fly fishing only), Hutchison and Coyote.
Common species: Rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, whitefish and walleye.
Access: Some lakes have boat ramps, others require a short hike to reach them.
Of note: Rattlesnakes commonly found on the refuge during warm weather.
Info: (509) 488-2668; www.fws.gov/columbiarefuge.
Moses Lake
Location: Runs through city of Moses Lake.
Type of water: 6,800-acre lake fed by Rocky Ford Creek.
Unique features: A top lake for walleyes 16-18 inches, with plenty of bigger fish, and it’s still a good trout fishery.
Common species: Brook and rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, catfish, walleye and panfish.
Access: Six boat ramps around the lake and plenty of bank-fishing opportunities.
Of note: While surveying the waters with electroshocking gear, state fisheries biologists netted a walleye that topped 19.6 pounds. The state record is 19.3 pounds.
Info: Tri-State Outfitters, 1224 S. Pioneer Way, Moses Lake; (509)765-9338.
Rocky Ford Creek
Location: Northwest of Moses Lake on Troutlodge Road off Highway 17.
Type of water: Shallow spring creek.
Unique features: Slow-moving, high-desert fishery holding large, wary rainbow trout. Fish topping 20 inches are not uncommon.
Common species: Rainbow trout.
Access: Walk-in allowed for several miles, but no wading allowed. Handicapped-angler pier at the north end near hatchery.
Of note: The fish can be very picky. Bring plenty of different fly patterns, from scuds to small dry flies like Parachute Adams to woolly buggers. Fly-fishing only. Stay on state land.
Info: Pat’s Atomic Fly Shop, 1019 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake; (509) 764-9359; www.patsatomic.com.