Local fishing 2019 update

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Jan. 16 announced effective on that date through March 31, the daily limit of hatchery steelhead caught on the Snake River has been reduced from three to one.

Hatchery steelhead are identified by their clipped adipose fins on the lower back. Steelhead with those fins left unclipped are to be released immediately.

The catch limit reduction is due to concerns for the run returns being lower than expected and how they impact the wild fish.

“We’re making sure we’re not negatively impacting the wildlife in the river,” said Jeremy Trump, biologist for the department.

The run in general is low due to a variety of circumstances. When the runs were released between one and three years ago the numbers were low. A warm water ‘blob’ in the ocean has been affecting anadromous fish who migrate between the ocean to live and fresh water rivers to spawn.

Whitman County has several options for fishing enthusiasts.

For those who want to teach kids or grandkids the joy of fishing, about half way between Garfield and Elberton on Elberton Road is Garfield Pond, also known as Lasz Pond, which is strictly for anglers 14 years old and younger. There is always trout available in the pond according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, but between February and June are the best times for fishing with March and April giving excellent expectations.

Pampa Pond, about three miles southwest of LaCrosse on Highway 26, has more regulations than other Whitman County fishing grounds do, only open for fishing between March 1 and September 30. The pond also prohibits the use of any floating device to fish from.

One of the most common locations for locals to fish is Rock Lake, one mile north of Ewan, and about six miles northwest of St. John. Rock Lake is noted to be the largest lake in the ‘channeled scablands’ of eastern Washington, more than seven miles long, averaging a mile wide, with 20 miles of shoreline and depths exceeding 350 feet. The lake is opened year around for fishing with several species of panfish, trout and even some carp. January through May has good expectation of fishing for brown trout and rainbow trout in the lake.

Rainbow trout might be the most common fish to find in Whitman County’s ponds and lakes, but steelhead are what folks are fishing for in rivers right now. Caught steelhead must be at least 20 inches long. And while the limit of steelhead caught in the Snake River and several of its tributaries is limited to one a day, the Palouse River is not among them. The Palouse River doesn’t see the numbers of steelhead that the limited rivers do, and as such isn’t a common place to fish for steelhead. For those who do look for steelhead in the Palouse, the limit is still three fish a day. Other game fish in the Palouse River are allowed following state limits.

Other fishing locations include Riparia Pond, two miles west of Little Goose Dam in the southwest part of the county just north of the river, and Gilchrist Pond, five miles south of Colfax and five miles west of Albion. Rock Creek upstream of Jordan Knott Road allows for game fish all year-round following state limits.

In the Snake River, sturgeon and panfish are allowed all year long, so long as the sturgeon is catch and release and the panfish are within the state limits for each species.

Game fish are known for their size and their tastiness. Largemouth bass are known to become airborne while trying to escape the hook and are a favorite of many sports fisherman. Crappies, perch and bluegill are all panfish known for their taste and their size which allows them to be cooked in a single pan.

Free Fishing Weekend will be June 8-9 when no fishing license is required. Fishers will still need to know what fish are in season and what restrictions are applied to area, lures and permits for the size and number caught.