Northeastern Washington fishing lakes to get more trout

FISHING — More fish will be stocked in northeastern Washington lakes this spring, a benefit of the relicensing agreement for Boundary Dam.

A new, long-term recreational fishing program that will increase fish numbers stocked in Pend Oreille and Stevens counties lakes kicks off  this month, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said.

The program, funded by Seattle City Light as part of its new operating license for Boundary Dam, will stock approximately 12,000 pounds of trout and kokanee in local lakes annually for the next 40 years.

“This enhanced fish stocking program will provide the additional springtime opportunity that northeast Washington anglers have been asking for,” said Bill Baker, WDFW fish biologist of Colville.

The program continues and expands stocking of rainbow trout, tiger trout, cutthroat trout, and kokanee in 17 lakes. Most fish will be stocked as spring and fall fry and fingerlings, but catchable-size fish  (10-12 inches) will also be stocked.

The 2014 stocking list includes:

• 11 lakes in Pend Oreille County — Big Meadow, Carls, Crescent, Deception, Frater, Lead King, Ledbetter, Leo, Little Lost, Nile, and Yocum;
• Six lakes in Stevens County — Cedar, Deep, Gillette, Heritage, Sherry and Thomas.

This new program also includes monitoring to help fine tune the effort. Anglers who see staff or creel counters on the lake or dockside are encouraged to tell them about catches so the program can be evaluated.