Lake Fishing in Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington, fed by the Columbia River, features some of the best freshwater fishing in the state. The area is known for its rainbow trout, silver trout, salmon and steelhead. Thanks to the state’s fisheries and hatcheries programs, millions of these fish can be caught year round. The eastern half of the state also has the state’s largest lake and the state’s highest-rated lake, according to one state fishing resource.
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The Top-Rated Lake
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According to "Washingtonlakes.com," a comprehensive website that offers information, reviews and fishing reports of lakes throughout the state, Williams Lake in Spokane County, near the Washington-Idaho border, is the state’s top-rated lake. Williams Lake has several resorts in the area, which provide lodging and other activities. It also offers access to nearby Cheney, just 12 miles away. Williams Lake is known for its rainbow trout and sees its peak fishing around the middle of May, which coincides with the hatching of mayflies.
The Largest Lake
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Lake Roosevelt isn’t just Eastern Washington’s largest lake, it’s also the largest lake in the state. It has the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam to thank for its size. Lake Roosevelt is fed by the Columbia and stretches from the Grand Coulee to the Canadian border, a length of 150 miles that creates 630 miles of shoreline. Lake Roosevelt is also a national recreation area where visitors can watch wildlife and birds, boat, water ski, sail, swim and fish. Like Williams Lake, Roosevelt Lake has a reputation for rainbow trout, which are best caught near the dam. Other popular species of fish in Lake Roosevelt include kokanee (another name for silver trout).
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The Man-Made Haven
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If you head to southeastern Washington and into Columbia and Garfield counties, you’ll find the William T. Wooten Wildlife area. This 16,000-acre state-run facility features 17 miles of the Tucannon River, and the state created eight artificial lakes in the 1950s, of which seven are still in use: Beaver, Big Four, Blue, Deer, Rainbow, Spring and Watson. What’s important about these lakes is that they are home to the state’s larger fish hatcheries, Tucannon and Lyons Ferry. While these lake areas are stocked with some of the state’s more prevalent catches, such as Rainbow Trout, they are also home to three of the state’s more precious finds: steelhead, Chinook salmon and bull trout. The area is a critical habitat for these fish, which are on the federal endangered species list.
Licensing
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Fishing on a lake in the state of Washington is by permit only. In other words, you can’t just pick up a fishing pole and troll for dinner, whether you live in or are visiting the Emerald State. For residents, yearly licenses are the way to go. The state provides different prices for residents, seniors, youths and the disabled. If you’re a nonresident, it depends on where you live and your needs. Nonresidents who live close to Washington, in states like Idaho or Oregon, might consider a yearly license priced for nonresidents. If you’re just in the state for vacation, you can choose from a range of short-term licenses lasting one to five days. The state offers a list of vendors that sell licenses. Additionally, if you’re traveling and want to get your license before you enter the state, you can do so through the state’s department of fish and wildlife’s e-commerce website.
Season and Regulations
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You should note that the open fishing season in Washington is from the middle of April to September. Some lakes are open year around, but the majority of lakes, due to weather, observe the open-season schedule. The state also has a wealth of regulations regarding bait use, catch limit and minimum size. Those regulations can change from species to species, so it’s important to know those regulations before you fish. Fines can be assessed if you are found in violation of these regulations.
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