Looking for a good lake?

Following is a thumbnail sketch of those lakes expected to produce superior fishing on opening morning, Saturday, April 26, 2008:

Lake McMurray

This lake on Highway 9 between Arlington and Sedro Woolley in Skagit County has put out limits and near-limits for years, and this opener should be no exception. Large, fat, “jumbo” rainbow from the Bellingham hatchery, going 12 or 13 inches and nearly a pound in weight. Ranked in a tie for first place with Heart Lake for top dog in the county on last year’s opener, at 4.2 trout per rod, and this year’s plant of 17,000 trout is the same as that in 2007. An access area not large enough to accommodate the crowd presents problems, meaning fishermen must try to cooperate with each other, refrain from parking on the blacktop of the access road, and don’t block driveways or mail boxes.

Lake Armstrong

Tops in Snohomish County on the 2007 opener, putting out an average of 4.3 trout per person, but the smallish lake north of Arlington, just off Highway 9, has a record of inconsistency. Cold weather tends to cut production on Armstrong, and that could come into play this year. Plant of 5,000 jumbo rainbow is the same as last year, plus 4,000 cutthroat fry. Small, steep ramp and access area, but often lighter crowds than at some other waters.

Heart Lake and Lake Erie

Truly blue-ribbon waters, this can’t-miss duo of trout lakes just south of Anacortes and north of Deception Pass tied McMurray for best opening day lake in Skagit County last year, at about 4.2 trout per rod. There’s no reason to think they won’t repeat, and more anglers from this area should think about driving north. Each will get 10,000 jumbo rainbow, all prior to the opener, and the same size plant as last year. Heart has a large public access with some limited bank fishing, is located in pleasant park surroundings, and is usually the better producer of the two lakes. Another positive point is that both these lakes are shallow and warm quickly, a factor which could be important if the weather remains cool.

Lake Ki

Not the sure bet for big rainbow it once was, when it was getting state triploids and one-pound trout from the Bellingham Hatchery. Now it’s no trips and 8- or 10-inch fish from the Arlington hatchery, and there will almost certainly be some disappointed anglers on the lake Saturday. Still, it’s close to home, a top per-rod numbers producer, and one of the better trout lakes in the county. It’s scheduled to get its standard 15,000-fish plant, which is a ton of fish for a lake this size, and sure to guarantee trout on the barbecue. The harvest average last year was 3.1 rainbow per person, good but not great. Very little bank fishing available, and the rough boat access is small, crowded and right in the middle of traffic.

Lake Riley

Small lake east of Arlington, off Jim Creek Road, is shallow and marshy, with almost no bank fishing. It has produced excellent fishing on the opener for the past three or four years (4-plus per person), is scheduled for the same plant, 3,000 trout, but is quickly fished out. Enforcement personnel will have an eye on Riley, however, because of a party at the access which got out of hand two years ago and turned ugly. If there’s any sign of trouble, call 911.

Flowing Lake

A year-around water, but slugged with so many big triploids (roughly 2,100) by the state and two fishing clubs, plus state plants of normal-sized trout (10,000, in March and April) that it has become a better bet than most of the standard opening-day lakes. Blackman’s, in Snohomish, is comparable, but Flowing is perhaps a little less crowded and offers a slightly more natural experience.

Lake Padden

The best family fishing lake in the general area — lots of fish, easy access on city park property, lots of room for kids to run, clean bottom and easy fishing — but admittedly a bit of a drive from here. On the south edge of Bellingham, between Old Highway 99 (Samish Way) and I-5. Big plant of 17,000 jumbo rainbow

Lake Bosworth

Two miles due south of Granite Falls and fished primarily by locals, Bosworth is up and down on the opener, but can be pretty good. Averaged 3.5 trout per rod last year, and nearly a third of the fish kept were 13- to 14-inch carryovers. Plant of 11,500 fish is pretty good for a lake this size.

Wagner Lake

Small water northeast of Monroe receives only a 3,000-trout plant, but that was good enough last year to provide limits for everyone checked by WDFW personnel — 13 boats and 13 bank anglers, with 5.0 fish per person.

Quick notes: Deer and Goss lakes on Whidbey Island are almost always excellent prospects and producers of 4-plus fish per person on the opener. Martha Lake (Alderwood Manor) has had a couple of good openers in a row, but is a deep lake tending to stay cool, and a cold spring won’t help it any. Two more top kids lakes (beside Padden) are North Gissberg, at Smokey Point, and Tye, at Monroe. Lake Campbell is one of the better bets for multi-pound rainbow, and Lake Martha (Warm Beach) offers big ‘bows and some really mean brown trout. Lake Cavanaugh will get no triploids this year, but a private group has the big Skagit County water on its trip list for next year. Crabapple never seems to produce on the opener, and probably should not be an opening-day type lake. Lake Howard is called a “small jewel” by the managing biologist, not because of huge numbers, but for top quality fish and relatively uncrowded conditions. Put Cascade Lake on Orcas Island at the top of your camp-and-fish weekend tour list. Scenic, state park facilities, great rainbow fishing early and big (13 to 16 inches) kokanee all summer long.