By Wayne Kruse
For The Herald
Warmer temperatures late last week helped, but the 300,000 or so folks who plan to be on the water for the state’s general trout opener Saturday are hoping for more sunshine this week. A cool spring not only delayed the Skagit delta tulip crop, but has water temperatures in many Western Washington lakes running colder than usual for this time of year.
So if you have any influence over such things, help us out here. Call in some credits or do whatever else you can to push the mercury upward this week. Warmer water means warmer, happier, more active trout, and much, much happier anglers.
Let’s assume sun will happen and that folks will enjoy an excellent opener, as they have the past two years on Snohomish/Skagit/Island county waters. Here’s a quick look at what may (or may not) be 10 of the area’s most productive lakes. All are April 27 openers except for Flowing, a year-rounder, and a special case:
1. Lake McMurray: The 160-acre lake on Highway 9 between Arlington and Sedro Woolley will be very crowded, with difficult, congested parking. It’s usually worth it, however, as the lake has a well-deserved reputation for producing consistently good catches of big, prime rainbow.
A large plant of 20,700 fry last fall will be running 8 or 9 inches, but anglers will be hoping for a limit of some of the 17,000 “jumbo” rainbow, going a half-pound apiece or better, planted before the opener (no multi-pound “triploids” for McMurray this year).
Avid angler and Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club member Jim Brauch has a tip: “If you want to avoid the massive crowds, show up about 10 a.m., after the early-risers have either boated their five trout and gone home happy, or have decided they will not catch their five trout and have gone home angry. Either way, parking will be easier and fishing will still be good.”
Stay in the half of the lake closest to the access area, Brauch advises, not the far end.
2. Lake Erie: A no-brainer. Erie is the larger of the two trout factories south of Anacortes in Skagit County, and always one of the best opening day rainbow producers in Western Washington. It and its neighbor, Heart Lake, are both shallow and will tend to warm faster than some of the deeper waters – a factor to consider on a chilly opener.
Its plant of 12,000 jumbo rainbow (half-pounders) is down by 2,000 fish from last year, it has little beach access and a small, poor quality launch, but it will still be one of the state’s outstanding trout lakes come Saturday. Studies by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife have shown that Snohomish County anglers aren’t adequately represented on Erie and Heart, which is a shame. Both lakes are well worth the drive.
3. Heart Lake: The smaller of the two premier trout lakes south of Anacortes has put out pretty close to limits on opening day for as far back as most anglers can remember. Beach fishing access is better than at Erie, making it a great opportunity for those without a boat. The plant of 11,500 jumbo rainbow is the same as last year.
4. Flowing Lake: This one, up north of Monroe, is the only lake on the list that’s open to fishing year-around and thus doesn’t really qualify as an “opening day” water. But, it has been stocked with one of the largest plants in Snohomish County, and should be producing top fishing for weeks to come, particularly for those who appreciate a little less company on the opener. The plant consists of 20,300 rainbow fry last fall, which will be running 8 or 9 inches; 10,000 “catchable” rainbow of 8 or 9 inches; 4,000 jumbo rainbow; and 300 triploid ‘bows, averaging a pound and a half apiece.
5. Martha Lake (Alderwood Manor): This Mill Creek-area lake is a consistent producer and the county park on the south end offers good dock fishing opportunity for those without boats. Small boat launch and limited parking. The plant of 6,000 standard size rainbow and 2,000 half-pounders is the same as last year, but the 950 multi-pound triploids planted this year is 350 over last year’s plant. Adjacent to 164th Street, about a mile east of I-5.
6. Lake Armstrong: This smallish lake north of Arlington and east of Highway 9 has put out opening day averages better than 3.4 fish per rod for two years in a row and could repeat. The plant of 5,000 half-pounders is the same as last year, but no triploids will be available Saturday. Very limited beach access; small, steep launch with limited parking.
7. Lake Riley: Difficult to fish except from a boat, this small, marshy lake east of Arlington, off the Jim Creek Road, has put out one of the best catch averages in the county on the past two opening days. That’s a little surprising, as Riley had a reputation for years as a producer of only average fishing for smallish rainbow. The difference has been the introduction of jumbo rainbow, going a half-pound each and the plant of 3,000 of these prime trout this year is the same as last.
8. Lake Ki: This “resort lakes” water east of Lakewood has been managed as the “key” lake in north Snohomish County for several years by longtime state biologist Jim Johnston. He has retired, however, and things have changed a little at Ki. The plant of 14,000 jumbo rainbow is still a good one, but is 4,000 fish below last year’s, and there will be no triploids this year. Ki has produced the best catch rate, except for Riley, in the county for two years running. Chaotic boat launch, right on the Lakewood-Warm Beach highway; difficult parking, and very limited bank fishing access.
9. Lake Bosworth: This Granite Falls-area lake is sometimes overlooked, but it can be very good. The catch rate for the past two openers has been between 3.5 and 3.7 trout per rod, and the plant this year – 7,000 standard rainbow, 2,000 jumbo rainbow and 700 triploids – is about the same as last.
10. Storm Lake: Right across the road from Flowing, north of Monroe, a trip to Storm offers the opportunity to fish both lakes or either. A nice plant of 7,000 standard and 2,000 jumbo rainbow has been sweetened with 700 triploids going 1 to 3 pounds.
Others of interest include Lake Martha (Warm Beach), a year-rounder which appeals to those looking for larger fish. Martha has been planted only with triploids for three years now (950 again this year), plus brown trout fry.
Lake Sixteen has been good on the past two openers, and is a bet if the weather is bad and you can’t get on McMurray, but it can be an up-and-down fishery. The plant of 6,000 jumbo rainbow is the same as last year.
Clear Lake, in Skagit County, got the largest triploid plant in the area, at 1,250 fish, plus 78,000 rainbow fry last fall.
Deer and Goss, on Whidbey Island, are top trout waters and well worth the trip. Plants there this year include 5,000 standard and 3,000 jumbos in Deer, plus 16,500 rainbow and 8,600 cutthroat fry; and 4,000 standard and 1,500 jumbo rainbow in Goss, plus 8,000 cutthroat fry.
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