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+--- Thread: Washington Weather Limits Anglers, Not Takes (/showthread.php?tid=585090)
Washington Weather Limits Anglers, Not Takes - FishNews - 05-05-2010
OLYMPIA -Anglers are hearty folks, but cold weather, wind, rain and occasional snow flurries reduced the number of fishers on both sides of the state who turned out Saturday for the opening day of the lowland lakes season.
East of the Cascades, wind kept the number of boats down on some lakes, and many anglers waited until the wind died down in the afternoon to fish. At Wapato Lake, it appeared angler turnout was about a third of what it's been in recent years. Those who did show up were rewarded. Creel counts indicated that the catch per angler was improved over a year ago, and that all fish were healthy and robust.
West of the mountains, anglers were excited about the size of the fish caught, but they, too, were kept in check by inclement weather. The catch in Pierce and Thurston counties was dominated by jumbo rainbow trout. Anglers reported that the quality of fish was good, and at Anderson Lake in Jefferson County, most rainbows measured in at a whopping 15-17 inches.
In a few areas, persistent wintery conditions, ice and mud delayed Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hatchery crews from stocking some lakes before the opener.
"Hatchery stocking will continue," said WDFW Fish Biologist Patricia Michael. "With the season on most opening-day waters running through September or October, there will be plenty of fish to catch."
WDFW staff and volunteers reported checking 4,801 anglers with 11,100 trout from 116 lakes statewide. Anglers checked statewide averaged 2.2 trout kept per fisher, with many more trout caught and released during the day.
The top 10 lakes for angler success were: Cedar and Rocky lakes in Stevens County; Hart, McMurray and Erie lakes in Skagit County; Storm Lake in Snohomish County; Geneva and Steele lakes in King County; Swift Reservoir in Skamania County and Bay Lake in Pierce County.
WDFW staff and volunteers provided the following information from opening day creel checks:
2010 Lakes Opening Day Data CPUE means Catch Per Unit Effort (fish per rod)
County
Lake
Anglers Checked
Fish Kept
Fish/Angler
Comments
Chelan
Clear Lake
79
237
3.00
A few 18-20" fish.
Wapato Lake
42
155
3.69
Some large carryover rainbows.
Douglas
Jameson Lake
55
137
2.49
Yearling rainbow 10". Carryover rainbows 14".
Ferry
Trout Lake
6
15
2.50
Largest fish was a 10" rainbow. Cool and windy, one tree down
Grant
Blue Lake
61
112
1.84
Plus 4 released, total CPUE= 1.9. Yearling rainbows averaged 12.5 - 13 inches. Tiger and brown trout in the catch.
Deep Lake
71
61
0.86
Plus 14 released, total CPUE=1.1. Shoreline anglers near the boat ramp fared well. Boat anglers were severely hampered by high winds.
Park Lake
19
55
2.89
Plus 10 released, total CPUE= 3.4. Yearling rainbows averaged 12.5 - 13 inches. Tiger and brown trout in the catch.
Perch Lake
46
43
0.93
Plus 14 released, total CPUE= 1.2. Rainbow trout ranged from 11-15 inches.
Vic Meyers
15
18
1.20
Brown and brook trout reported in catch.
Warden Lake
31
105
3.39
Plus 6 released, total CPUE=3.6. Yearling rainbows averaged 12 inches.
Grays Harbor
Aberdeen Lake
80
162
2.03
Plus 102 released, total CPUE=3.3. largest fish 19".
Duck Lake
11
4
0.36
Plus 1 released, total CPUE=.45. Bad weather, water was turbid. N end of the lake has been good for crappie.
Failor Lake
58
105
1.81
Plus 101 released, total CPUE= 3.6. Largest fish 6 lb 7 oz, 24 3/8 inches.
Sylvia Lake
24
87
3.63
Plus 7 released, total CPUE=3.9. Largest fish 16".
Vance Creek Pond #1
60
63
1.05
Derby winning fish were 4.55 and 5.35 lbs.
Vance Creek Pond #2
35
56
1.60
Largest fish 19".
Island
Deer Lake
12
31
2.58
Plus 3 released, total CPUE= 2.8. Low turnout, cold.
Jefferson
Anderson
74
246
3.32
Hot fishing, mostly 15-17" rainbows; largest 20" carryover.
Horseshoe Lake
3
2
0.67
Ludlow Lake
15
29
1.93
Plus 20 released, total CPUE=3.3. Some hi-grading for jumbos; largest 17".
Sandy Shore Lake
54
146
2.70
Good mix of catchables and jumbos; largest 23" broodstock.
Silent Lake
16
28
1.75
Plus 47 released, total CPUE=4.7. Some hi-grading for jumbos to 14".
Tarboo Lake
25
33
1.32
Plus 15 released, total CPUE=1.9. Largest 20" broodstock.
King
Cottage Lake
32
52
1.63
Plus 20 released, total CPUE= 2.25. Short trips due to weather.
Geneva Lake
15
75
5.00
Plus15 fish released, total CPUE=6. Everyone caught limits, satisfied with size and condition of fish.
Langlois Lake
39
122
3.13
Plus 88 released, total CPUE=5.4. Cold and rainy, anglers were satisfied with numbers and size of fish.
Margaret Lake
48
141
2.94
Plus 206 released, total CPUE= 7.2. Cold and windy.
North Lake
22
21
0.95
Plus 14 released, total CPUE= 1.6.
Pine Lake
45
105
2.33
Plus 117 released, total CPUE=4.9.
Rattlesnake Lake
51
88
1.73
Plus 331 released, total CPUE=8.2.
Steel Lake
38
148
3.89
Plus 93 released, total CPUE=6.3.
Walker Lake
24
33
1.38
Plus 53 released, total CPUE=3.6. Weather was cold.
Wilderness Lake
43
118
2.74
Plus 32 released, total CPUE= 3.5. Kids got some big fish, largest 23". Rainy and cold.
Kitsap
Buck Lake
15
34
2.27
Plus 18 released, total CPUE 3.5.
Horseshoe Lake
19
40
2.11
Largest 20" broodstock.
Mission Lake
28
55
1.96
Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 18" carryover.
Panther Lake
46
92
2.00
Lots of triploids and jumbos.
Wildcat Lake
41
68
1.66
Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 23" (6 lb) broodstock.
Wye Lake
31
107
3.45
Plus 73 released, total CPUE=5.8. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 23" broodstock.
Bainbridge Island Pond
Juvenile derby - great event - report pending
Poggie derby
Juvenile derby - great event - report pending
Klickitat
Horsethief Lake
16
45
2.81
Windy, rainy, cold.
Rowland Lake
45
116
2.58
Plus 197 released, total CPUE=6.9. People were happy to catch and release. Most fish were 15" and over diploids. Two broodstock caught, one over 12 lbs.
Spearfish Lake
2
2
1.00
Too cold, rainy, and windy to fish.
Lewis
Carlisle Lake
61
45
0.74
Many small coho caught and released.
Fort Borst Park Pond
66
99
1.50
Plus 58 fish released, total CPUE=2.7. Cold and rainy
Mineral Lake
154
258
1.68
Plus 133 released, total CPUE=2.53. Rain/snow.
Mason
Aldrich Lake
14
46
3.29
Plus 22 released, total CPUE=4.8. Some high-grading for jumbos to 14".
Benson Lake
54
130
2.41
Plus 83 released, total CPUE=3.94. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 19" triploid.
Clara (Don) Lake
15
24
1.60
Plus 23 released, total CPUE=3.13. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 20" carryover.
Devereaux Lake
24
16
0.67
Low catch rate likely due to early stocking and predation by cormorants; largest 22" broodstock.
Haven Lake
25
90
3.60
Largest 18" triploid.
Howell Lake
21
20
0.95
Plus 42 released, total CPUE=2.95. - many catch-and-release anglers.
Panhandle Lake
0
0
NA
4-H Camp closed and limited angler access.
Phillips Lake
36
44
1.22
Plus 30 released, total CPUE=2.05. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 16".
Robbins Lake
20
20
1.00
Largest 14" jumbo.
Stump Lake
38
97
2.55
Plus 56 fish released, total CPUE=4.0. Light pressure, anglers were satisfied.
Tiger Lake
66
107
1.62
Plus 45 released, total CPUE=2.3. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 16" triploid.
Wildberry Lake
10
1
0.10
Lakeside owners happy with fish stocked.
Wood Lake
8
8
1.00
Plus 12 released, total CPUE=2.5. Some high-grading for jumbos to 14".
Wooten Lake
56
138
2.46
Plus 67 released, total CPUE=3.66. Some high-grading for jumbos; largest 17" cutthroat and 18" rainbow.
Okanogan
Alta Lake
127
332
2.61
Yearling rainbow 9". Carryover rainbow 13".
Conconully Lake
121
251
2.07
Yearling rainbow 10-11". Carryover rainbow 14". Largest fish 24".
Conconully Res.
65
130
2.00
Yearling rainbow 11". Carryover rainbow 14". Largest fish 20".
Fish Lake
93
272
2.92
Yearling rainbow 10-11".
Pearrygin Lake
33
146
4.42
Yearling rainbow 10". Carryover rainbow 14". Triploid rainbow 15-17 inches.
Pacific
Black Lake
28
11
0.39
Plus 3 released, total CPUE= .5. Largest fish 3.25 lbs, 19 3/8 inches.
Pend Oreille
Big Meadow Lake
8
22
2.75
Largest fish was a 14" rainbow. Cold and snowing, windy.
Yokum Lake
11
28
2.55
One 12.5" cutthroat. Cool and windy.
Pierce
Bay Lake
107
401
3.75
253 catchables, 100 jumbos, 48 carryovers; largest 16".
Clear Lake
91
290
3.19
Plus 205 released, total CPUE=5.4. Kokanee up to 13", many fish greater than 12, a few greater than 16".
Ohop Lake
11
17
1.55
Plus 16 released, total CPUE=3.0. Lots of anglers, bite a little slow, cold and windy.
Rapjohn Lake
68
219
3.22
Plus 30 released, total CPUE=3.7.Happy anglers, most fish greater than 12", many greater than 16". A few crappie.
Silver Lake
69
166
2.41
Plus 47 released, total CPUE=3.1. Anglers happy to see resort open, brown bullhead catch higher than normal this time of year.
Spanaway Lake
9
13
1.44
Cold, wet and windy. Not much effort.
Tanwax Lake
60
126
2.10
Plus 57 released, total CPUE=3.1. Lots of anglers, fishing a little slow. Anglers familiar with the lake caught limits - lots of fish still in lake!
Skagit
Erie Lake
46
186
4.04
Plus 57 released, total CPUE=5.3. Happy anglers enjoyed triploid trout.
Heart Lake
31
146
4.71
Plus 49 releases, total CPUE=6.3. Best fishing in a long time, anglers liked triploid trout.
McMurray Lake
74
281
3.80
Plus 35 released, total CPUE=4.3. Anglers liked size, catch rate and condition of fish.
Sixteen Lake
35
71
2.03
Plus 22 released, total CPUE=2.7. 4 holdovers (16").
Skamania
Kidney Lake
36
47
1.31
Plus 99 released, total CPUE=4. Anglers happy to catch and release fish. One large brown trout 2+ lbs caught.
Northwestern Reservoir
9
28
3.11
Plus 114 released.
Swift Reservoir
46
175
3.80
Plus 23 released, total CPUE=4.3. 109 of the catch were coho, plus 66 rainbow.
Snohomish
Armstrong Lake
26
66
2.54
Plus 48 released, total CPUE=4.4. Light rain.
Bosworth Lake
27
68
2.52
Plus 83 released, total CPUE=5.6. Cold.
Echo Lake (Maltby)
Not surveyed.
Howard Lake
65
182
2.80
Plus 64 released, total CPUE=3.8.
Ki Lake
51
95
1.86
Plus 59 released, total CPUE=3.0. Cold and breezy.
Martha Lake (AM)
30
70
2.33
Plus 55 released, total CPUE= 4.2. Good mix of adults and kids.
Riley Lake
32
95
2.97
Plus 52 released, total CPUE=4.6. Anglers satisfied with fish size.
Serene Lake
17
25
1.47
Plus 15 released, total CPUE=2.4. Some limits, some 100% released.
Stickney Lake
1
2
2.00
Plus 2 released, total CPUE=4. Cold and windy.
Storm Lake
10
43
4.30
Plus 14 released, total CPUE=5.7. Lower effort, trout healthy.
Wagner Lake
1
1
1.00
Windy and cold.
Spokane
Badger Lake
64
109
1.70
Largest rainbow caught was 23".
Clear Lake
38
22
0.58
Fish Lake
104
105
1.01
Several 22-27" tiger trout caught.
Fishtrap Lake
35
77
2.20
West Medical Lake
81
180
2.22
Williams Lake
90
211
2.34
Stevens
Cedar Lake
10
50
5.00
Largest fish was a 13' rainbow. Cool and windy.
Deep Lake
7
25
3.57
11" rainbow and 11" cutthroat checked. Cool and windy.
Mudgett Lake
8
20
2.50
Largest fish was a 19" rainbow. Cool and windy.
Rocky Lake
19
84
4.42
Largest fish was a 14" rainbow. Very windy - some trees down.
Starvation Lake
13
43
3.31
Largest fish was a 13" rainbow. Cool and windy.
Waitts Lake
27
64
2.37
Largest fish was a 20" brown trout. Cool and windy.
Thurston
Clear Lake
64
237
3.70
Plus 83 released, total CPUE=5.0. Best fishing in last few years. Catch was mostly 12-14" diploid fish with a few legal plants at 9-11".
Deep Lake
64
131
2.05
Plus 29 released, total CPUE= 2.5. Fishing good for most anglers but effort was lower due to weather.
Hicks Lake
38
32
0.84
Plus 5 released, total CPUE= 1. Fishing relatively poor. Most fish caught were 12-14" jumbo diploids, few legal plants observed.
Long Lake
37
111
3.00
Plus 19 released, total CPUE= 3.5. Great fishing relative to recent years. Rainbows up to 18".
McIntosh Lake
70
124
1.77
Plus 127 released, total CPUE= 3.6. Good fishing with many rainbows up to 14".
Pattison Lake
60
106
1.77
Plus 66 released, total CPUE= 2.9. Many large fish in creel. Several brood stock up to 20" observed. About 40% of the catch was legal plants.
Summit Lake
65
174
2.68
Plus 48 released, total CPUE= 3.4. Many carryover fish observed in the creel (14-17") Effort down due to weather.
Whatcom
Cain Lake
28
75
2.68
Plus 32 released, total CPUE=3.8. Catch rates a little low, but anglers happy with size and condition of fish.
Padden Lake
46
156
3.39
Plus 15 released, total CPUE=3.7. 46 of the 156 fish kept were triploids. Lots of families despite crowded boat ramp and harsh weather.
Silver Lake
192
316
1.65
Plus 113 released, total CPUE=2.2.
Toad Lake
43
110
2.56
Plus 101 released, total CPUE=4.9. Lots of triploids caught.
Media Contact
Patricia Michael (360) 902-2628 or Robert T. Nelson (360) 902-2262