Despite rain, fog, anglers flock to area lakes for opening-day fishing

Saturday’s 2018 opening day for lowland trout fishing was a success, despite rainy and foggy weather statewide, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The weather kept some anglers inside, especially kids, according to Bruce Bolding WDFW’s warm-water fish program manager.

The other statewide theme, in addition to the weather, was that a number of tagged derby fish were caught across the state, Bolding said in an email.

At Waitts Lake, 50 anglers checked in and caught 136 fish, releasing 13 of them. The largest fish caught there was a 19-inch rainbow trout. Waitts was the busiest Stevens County lake on Saturday.

“Good fishing, but angler turnout was low due to rainy, cool weather,” WDFW notes said of the lake. “Catch was a pretty even mix of rainbows and browns. One WDFW Fishing Derby-tagged fish was caught.”

A 23-inch rainbow was caught at Starvation Lake. That was the largest fish caught in Stevens County.

In Spokane County, the largest fish caught was a 25-inch rainbow. That fish and a 24-inch rainbow were caught by a mother and son.

Spokane County’s busiest lake was Fishtrap, which is partially in Spokane County and partially in Lincoln County.

Overall, 204 anglers checked in at Spokane County lakes, catching more than 370 fish.

In Stevens County, 131 anglers checked in, catching more than 350 fish.

For full results: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/creel/lowland/