Washington state's wealth of freshwater lakes and streams are a trout anglers paradise. Six main varieties of trout and long seasons mean opportunities year round with nearly a limitless catch. Cast your line into just about any Washington lake or river and you are bound to find a beautiful trout.
Types
Rainbow trout are very common, distinguished by their pinkish streak on the side of their bodies. Their ocean-going counterpart are usually pure silver and more commonly called Steelhead. Coastal cutthroat trout are silver with dark backs and dense spots on the tail. Brown trout are not surprisingly brown with large black spots. Golden trout are the most vivid, bright gold with green backs. Eastern Brook trout have dark red bellies and equally dark green backs and sides. The standard lake trout are usually gray or green with lighter colored bellies. The larger bull trout is green and brown with pale red spots, often appearing as indistinct stripes. Finally, the Kokanee, or silver trout, is bright silver with heavy saturated blue and green backs and tails.
Geography
While you can find trout in nearly any body of freshwater in Washington, there are some areas that are more popular than others. Massive lakes like Lake Washington, Lake Cushman, Potholes Reservoir, Lake Chelan and Lake Roosevelt turn out big numbers every year. Lesser-known destinations include Anderson Lake near Port Townsend, Mineral Lake in Lewis County and Sullivan Lake in northeastern Washington. For river fishing, head to the trout laden waters of the Yakima River and the Pend Oreille River.
Season
There are opportunities year round to head out trout fishing in Washington state, but some species and areas are restricted to distinct seasons, designated to begin at different times every year. While many of the trout in Washington state are wild, the area relies heavily on planted hatchery trout. As of 2010, the usual date set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for open season is the last Saturday in April. This date allows hatchery trout to mature before the majority of anglers set out. Use this date as a general guideline for trout seasons, but always check with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations before you head out.
Techniques
The most common and effective technique for trout fishing is simple bait fishing. While bobbers, sinkers, spinners, artificial scents and other additives can work, nothing seems to beat the success of a simple hook and earthworm. Use a very light rod and cast into the calm pools of rivers or the shaded, shallow shores of lakes. Allow the bait to drift naturally and be patient. Fly fishing with light flies is also effective, particularly in early evening on a calm lake or above the gentle deep areas of streams and rivers.
Licensing
Any angler fishing in the state of Washington must buy and carry a fishing license from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. These licenses are made available at most hardware stores or sporting goods outlets. Most license locations also offer fishing rules and regulations in pamphlets issued by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, highlighting the various seasons and restrictions on trout and other Washington state fish. Licenses are available for both saltwater and freshwater or in a combo form. They are available in denominations of single or multiple days, up to a year.
Member Comments