Anadromous rainbow trout are commonly known as steelhead. If fishing picturesque mountain lakes teaming with large rainbows, brook trout and record sized tiger trout isn’t your thing, then you should skip this lake. Trolling with spinners, flies, and spoons is a common tactic as well as suspending bait from the surface.
FISHING -- An 18.49-pound tiger trout caught in Bonaparte Lake near Tonasket on May 5 has been confirmed as a Washington state record, the Washington Department of … Part of their popularity as a game fish is because they are so willing to take a variety of baits, both natural and artificial, including but not limited to: corn, salmon eggs, dough, cheese, night crawlers and powerbait.
See the Annual Statewide Hatchery Trout Stocking Plan for expected future plants. Artificial lures such as spinners, spoons, jigs, flies, wedding rings and plugs are also very effective.
In the heat of the summer, anglers can find trout deeper in lakes – where the fish have retreated to colder water – or they can cast for trout at the cooler high mountain lakes.In rivers, spring and fall also are the best seasons to fish for trout, which can often be found resting or feeding near rocks or other structures, and in deep pools with slow moving water.
(See Explanation of size of Catchable Trout Plants for more information).
For fish 3 per pound or larger, including broodstock. Jan. 1 - end February: Thursday; Mar.
There is a unique form of the coastal rainbow trout that is only found in Crescent Lake and it is known as the Beardslee rainbow trout.
Steelhead also have dark spots scattered over the entire fish, including the tail, with slight to pronounced rainbow coloring.There are three subspecies of rainbow trout that occur in Washington, but only two are native; the coastal rainbow trout (Like chinook salmon, steelhead have two runs, a summer run and a winter run. Rainbow trout average 11-18 inches in length, but can grow to more than 20 inches in quality populations.Generally people think of rainbow trout as only inhabiting cold clear rivers, streams and lakes but both of the subspecies can be anadromous (seagoing). Bonaparte Lake produces some huge trout indeed. Rainbow trout are an excellent game fish for their willingness to bite bait and lures, their scrappy nature when on the end of a fishing line, and the fact that they are excellent table fare. The coastal rainbow trout occurs in western Washington and in the lower Columbia River.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks fish in lakes and streams around the state. Report schedule. Dry hands will remove the protective coating and make the fish vulnerable to bacterial or fungal infections, which can kill them. Actually, Lake Chelan is Washington state’s premier lake trout fishery.
Trolling is the name of the game for these fish and downriggers are a must as these fish typically occupy depths of 80 feet to 200 feet deep. The state record has been broken here, repeatedly, over the years with the most recent coming in 2013 and weighing over 35 pounds.
For the latest WDFW closures, restrictions, and updates see the Whether you are an experienced angler or a just getting started, fishing for trout is a great way to get outdoors and reel in some tasty fish.In Washington, fishery managers stock millions of trout in lakes each year.
When fishing lakes during the spring and fall, the water is cooler and the rainbow trout will often be found near the surface and also more active.
When the water warms during the summer months, the rainbow trout become a little more sluggish and seek deeper, cooler water, so fishing will need to occur at or near the bottom. Bill Evans with the state record for largemouth bass in 2016. Steelhead are also highly regarded game fish and the steelhead is the state fish of Washington.Rainbow trout can be identified by their bluish-green back, silver sides and belly, and black spots on the body and on the caudal, dorsal, and adipose fins. A few western Washington rivers also have established runs of summer steelhead. Steelhead can weigh 40 pounds or more, but average between 8 and 11 pounds. Winter runs spawn closer to the ocean, and require less travel time. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. Here's how to verify your catch: The most important step is to get the fish weighed as soon as possible on a certified scale.
At many of the state’s lowland lakes, the best time of year to fish for trout is in spring and fall when the water is cooler and the fish tend to be more active.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. To catch the bottom dwellers you will want to fish with bait slightly suspended off the bottom, or troll with your lure near the bottom as well.Remember, when handling any fish you intend to release, wet your hands first so you don't take off the fish's protective slippery coating. Catchable trout plant reports See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. ; Obtain the signatures of the scale operator and one other witness to the weighing. In 2015, this small 151 acre lake produced the Washington State record tiger trout that weighed in at 18.49 pounds.