Fishtrap lake ready for opening day of fishing season

LAMONT– A nearby lake has been stocked in advance of opening day of lowland lake fishing season.

According to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fishtrap Lake was planted twice last month with trout 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.

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.

And it’s not the only area lake to receive fish.

Just off state Highway 26 west of LaCrosse, Pampa Pond in Whitman County received 2,645 rainbow in three plants.

On March 15, the pond receive 2,520 trout smaller than a half-pound each. Then on March 25, the state planted an additional 25 trout weighing about 1.3 pounds each.

Both of those plants were trout from the Lyons Ferry Hatchery.

Most recently, on April 5, another 100 trout weighing an average of about 1.3 pounds were planted. These trout came from Tucannon Hatchery.

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.

More than 16 million trout and kokanee were planted statewide in the past year.

Fishtrap Lake closes to fishing Sept. 30.