Cool fishing season opener will prolong catch at area lakes

FISHING — Anglers who gave the opening weekend of the lowland fishing season a shot had pretty good luck an most area lakes.

The cool weather helped keep angling pressure relatively low at many lakes, such as Badger, but that means there are higher than normal numbers of hatchery-raised trout remaining to be caught in the lakes as the weather turns more comfortable.

Some highlights from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife creel check stats indicate that anglers caught and released fish at many lakes to avoid hitting the five-fish keeper limit and having to stop. Some standout stats include:

STEVENS COUNTY

Cedar Lake — 8.32, average fish caught per angler checked.  Virtually everyone checked when home with a limit.

Waitts Lake — 6.13, average fish caught per angler checked. Good fishing with one state derby-tagged trout caught.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Williams Lake — 7.3, average fish caught per angler checked.

Clear Lake — 5.9, average fish caught per angler checked. Note: Overall, the fish were notably large and full-bodied.

Diamond Lake — 4.56, average fish caught per angler checked.

Fish Lake — 3.40, average fish caught per angler checked. Note: Beautiful brook trout being caught.