Fishing limits dropped on five trout lakes tabbed for rehabilitation

FISHING — Anglers can keep all the trout they want for the next five weeks at five Eastern Washington lakes scheduled for rehabilitation this fall.

Seasons have been extended and size and daily limits suspended for gamefish at three lakes in Stevens County and two lakes in Spokane County that will be treated with rotenone.

Here are the specifics from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Spokane County:

• Effective immediately through Oct. 22, 2017, Hog (a.k.a. Hog Canyon) and Fishtrap lakes are open to fishing with no daily limits and no size limits for all game fish.
• Fishtrap Lake will be closed to fishing from Oct. 23, 2017, until April 28, 2018. Hog Lake will be closed from Oct. 23, 2017, until Nov. 23, 2018.

Stevens County

• Effective immediately through Oct. 15, Rigley , Rocky and Williams lakes are open to fishing with no daily limits and no size limits for all game fish and no selective gear rules.
• Rigley and Rocky will be closed to fishing from Oct. 16, 2017, until April 28, 2018. Williams Lake will be closed from Oct. 16, 2017, until Nov. 23, 2018.

These lakes are scheduled to be treated with the rotenone, a naturally occurring pesticide commonly used to remove undesirable and illegally stocked fish species from lakes and streams managed primarily for trout fishing

Fishermen have a chance to harvest as many gamefish as possible before the lakes are closed and rotenone treatments begin.