Pick of the Week: Lake Campbell Rainbow

Published 8:30 pm Wednesday, November 9, 2016

In early October, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sweetened the pot for fall trout fishermen by stocking a number of lakes around the state heavily with good-sized rainbow. Snohomish County got stiffed, but Skagit County lakes getting fish included Lake Campbell, five miles south of Anacortes on Highway 20. Hunting seasons, lousy weather and other fisheries pulled attention away from the fall plants, so there are a lot of the fish remaining from the truckload of 3,600 ‘bows going a pound-and-a-half to two pounds each or a little larger.

Kevin John at Holiday Sports in Burlington said that when the weather permits, fishing has been good. Most anglers fish Power Bait and/or worms, either from the pier at the WDFW launch/access or from boats anchored down toward the southeast end. Trollers pull Flatfish or Wedding Rings, John said.

Lake Campbell is open year-around; the launch is on the north end, with disabled access.