Catch all you want: McDowell Lake fishing limits dropped

FISHING — If you can catch them at McDowell Lake this weekend you can keep ‘em.

The state wants anglers to harvest all the fish they can from the lake in the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge southeast of Colville before biologists rehab the lake next month.

Normally McDowell is a fly-fishing-only water, but anything goes for the next two weeks.

Here’s the just-posted release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Action: Remove catch-and-release and fly-fishing-only restrictions. No size or daily catch limits.

Effective Dates: Immediately through Sept. 30, 2014.

Species affected: All game fish.

Location: McDowell Lake in Stevens County.

Reason for action: This lake is scheduled for rehabilitation, utilizing rotenone. Licensed anglers may harvest game fish prior to rehabilitation.

Other information: Motors prohibited. Closed Oct.1, 2014, until April 25, 2015.