This Saturday (April 27), the “single biggest fishing season in the state” according to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, gets underway.
What that means for local fishermen is that some of the most popular waters in the valley will once again roll out the welcome mat to anglers – and a few have even been stocked.
The closest of those, Pearrygin Lake north of Winthrop, received over 350 rainbow trout on April 2 and has holdovers that are worth the trip if results from the annual kid’s fishing derby serve as any example. Alta Lake west of Pateros also received over 350 catchable rainbows earlier this month that the WDFW says average one-and-a-half pounds.
Elsewhere, Conconully Lake and Reservoir have received several plantings this month numbering over 5,500 fish, according to the WDFW’s plant reports. A complete list of stocking numbers can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/statewide/.
Davis Lake, between Twisp and Winthrop and accessible off Bear Creek Road, is still locked in ice thanks to the cold spring weather. Davis, along with nearby Campbell and Cougar lakes, is catch-and-release only as of April 1 and selective gear rules apply.
Anglers must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2014. Licenses can be purchased online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov; by telephone at 1-866-246-9453; or at hundreds of licensed dealers across the state.
BY MIKE MALTAIS
