Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
CHENEY – Several local and nearby lakes have an abundance of trout available to catch, just in time for opening day Saturday, April 22.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has planted thousands of trout in area lakes, including West Medical Lake, Clear Lake, Badger Lake and Williams Lake.
Williams Lake received the most fish, with the first plant taking place March 20.
The state added 10,701 rainbow trout weighing less than a half-pound each that day.
Then on March 29, the state added another 500 trout weighing about 3 pounds each.
Williams Lake is located off
Between Cheney and Medical Lake, Clear Lake also received two plants.
On March 21, 7,902 rainbow trout less than a half-pound in size were planted in the lake. The state followed up that adding another 250 trout weighing about 3 pounds each on March 29.
The fish came from the Spokane Hatchery.
The state added a similar number of rainbow to Fishtrap Lake in two plantings from the Spokane Hatchery.
The state planted 8,000 rainbow trout weighing less than a half-pound each on March 22. Two days later, Fishtrap receive 500 rainbow weighing an average of 3 pounds.
West Medical Lake also received a large number of fish in two plantings.
On March 22, 5,255 rainbow of less than a half-pound were planted. Then on March 24, another 250 weighing about 3 pounds were added from the Spokane Hatchery.
Badger Lake, located about 8.5 miles south of Cheney on Badger Lake Road, had a small planting of 150 fish weighing about 3 pounds each.
Trout derby
Last week’s announcement of the fish plantings comes just 10 days before the opening of the lowland lake fishing season statewide on Saturday, April 22.
According to the state, the 196-acre lake has the highest average catch rate in the region on opening day.
The lake is location off Interstate 90 Exit 254, near the intersection of East Fishtrap Lake Road and West Scroggie Road in Spokane County.
Opening day also corresponds with the opening of the annual agency trout derby; more than 100 lakes contain prize fish.
“Opening day is the result of a huge annual effort to provide fishing at lakes throughout the state, for people of all ages and backgrounds,” agency Inland Fish Manager Steve Caromile said. “Our fish and hatchery staff work tirelessly throughout the year to offer accessible fishing in diverse settings across Washington, and the trout derby means you might even win a prize while doing it.”
This year, the annual statewide trout derby boasts more than 800 prizes worth more than $40,000, which anglers can claim by catching tagged trout.
The derby runs through Oct. 31.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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