Rig heavy or get thrashed by Sprague Lake trout

FISHING — How huge are the trout at Sprague Lake?

I witnessed three violent breakoffs on 10 pound leader on Wednesday, including one fish that ripped off the trailing hook on a fly rig.

Here’s the toll after Jim Kujala and Dave Ross finished a morning and short afternoon of trolling on Wednesday.

The biggest rainbow was 4.5 pounds, although Scott Haugen at Four Seasons Campground had weighed a 7.5 pounder earlier in the week.

Two Lahontan cutthroats were 21 and 17 inches long.

But all of the fish fought hard, especially the aerial and acrobatic ‘bows, which felt like salmon-munching sea lions whacking the flies behind our dodgers.

Sprague water temperatures were 54 degrees on Wednesday.  Chris Donley, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department fisheries biologist, says 55 degrees is the point that kicks rainbows into their most active feeding behavior. The Sprague fish also are in a prime eating condition that tends to deteriorate later in the season.

Rig heavy, and get out there now!