THERE’S A REASON why people fought so hard to keep Lake Sutherland open to fishing.
As the state’s trout stocking report attests, Clallam County is already wanting for lake fishing opportunities.
Only two Clallam lakes are scheduled to receive trout plants this spring — Sutherland being one of them — compared to nine in Jefferson County.
Thus, any angler looking for instant gratification during Saturday’s lowland lakes opener is best served heading east.
Anderson Lake is back in business — if only for a short time because of its toxic algae woes — and plenty of other lakes will be teeming with not-so-bright trout as well.
As I’ve written before, the lowland lakes opener is all about reward.
We shell out the money for a combination fishing license, and the state rewards us with lakes freshly stocked with hatchery-bred rainbow trout that will take a half-smoked Marlboro Menthol if it’s presented right.
Yes, these fish are more Gump than Gandhi.
Post up at your favorite area lake with some power bait, and there’s a good chance you could be coming home with a trout dinner.
Of course, if it comes from Anderson, you might want to cook it thoroughly.
The following is a quick rundown of Peninsula lakes receiving trout plants for Saturday’s opener:
Anderson Lake
■ Size: 59 acres.
■ Location: One mile west of Chimacum.
■ Fish: No trout have been planted so far this year, but 30,000 fry were released into the lake last summer. Another 30,000 will be added in June.
Cutthroat and brook trout are also present.
■ Overview: This lake might be the biggest tease on the Peninsula. Just as things warm up, it closes.
Toxic blue-green algae blooms have forced the state to close Anderson for parts or all of lake fishing season each year since 2006.
Don’t expect this spring to be any different.
A trail wraps around the lake and provides good bank fishing access. There is also a boat launch (electric motors only).
Gibbs Lake
■ Size: 37 acres.
■ Location Three miles southwest of Chimacum off Gibbs Lake Road (accessed from West Valley Road).
■ Fish: Received 70 triploid trout averaging 1.6 pounds in size last week. Expected to get another 2,705 rainbow plants between 8-12 inches or larger by the end of May.
A catch-and-release lake only; there should be plenty of holdovers.
■ Overview: Technically, Gibbs is supposed to be open year round.
But just like Anderson, it’s been subjected to toxic blue-green algae blooms in recent years.
This lake is popular with fly fishers due to its catch-and-release status for trout, but one can hook keepers targeting largemouth bass and catfish.
Leland Lake
■ Size: 100 acres.
■ Location: Four miles north of Quilcene just off U.S. Highway 101 (a sign will point you to the lake).
■ Fish: Resident trout, bass, blue gill, crappie, yellow perch and brown bullhead catfish all call Leland home.
The lake received 100 one-pound cutthroat plants in early March and is expected to get 7,148 rainbows 8-12 inches in size by the end of May.
■ Overview: Unlike many of its Jefferson County counterparts, this lake offers decent bank access with its public dock.
The fly guys and power bait set can have a good time fishing this lake, especially given the wide variety of fish to target.
It is open year round.
Horseshoe Lake
■ Size: 13 acres.
■ Location: Four miles southwest of Port Ludlow.
■ Fish: Was planted with 325 rainbows 9-11 inches in size last week. Is slated to get another 375 by the end of the month.
■ Overview: The only way to access Horseshoe is via private roads on Olympic Resources property.
Gates are usually open throughout fishing season. If not, expect a “scenic” walk to the lake, as well as some decent trout fishing.
Ludlow Lake
■ Size: 16 acres.
■ Location: Four miles west of Port Ludlow off Highway 104.
■ Fish: Planted with 720 rainbows 9-11 inches in size last week. Also home to eastern brook trout, largemouth bass and brown bullhead catfish.
■ Overview: Ludlow once laid claim to the state record for brown bullhead catfish, caught in 1997.
That record has not been approached at Ludlow since — the current one (11.04 pounds) belongs to an unnamed lake in Snohomish County— but it can still turn out some nice catfish on warm days.
Sandy Shore Lake
■ Size: 36 acres.
■ Location: Five miles southwest of Port Ludlow off Sandy Shore Road.
■ Fish: Received 70 jumbo rainbows weighing three pounds each and 2,106 catchable trout 9-11 inches in size two weeks ago.
Largemouth bass and brown bullhead catfish are also present.
■ Overview: I’ve met many a local who will swear by Sandy Shore as a premier trout lake.
It was the second most productive lake in Jefferson County during last year’s lakes opener, turning out 2.70 fish per angler.
Troller fair pretty well early in the morning.
Silent Lake
■ Size: 12 acres.
■ Location: Five miles southeast of Quilcene on Toandos Peninsula.
■ Fish: Planted with 375 catchable rainbows 9-11 inches in size. Will receive nearly 4,000 trout fry plants by end of May.
Expect a few holdovers from fry plants in years past, including cutthroat.
■ Overview: Silent Lake lives up to its name.
Hidden on the often ignored Toandos Peninsula, it’s not as talked about as some of the other lakes in the area.
Trolling can produce some decent results on the north end of the lake.
Just make sure to bring a boat. Bank fishing opportunities are minimal.
Lake Sutherland
■ Size: 370 acres.
■ Location: Ten miles west of Port Angeles off U.S. Highway 101.
■ Fish: Received 3,200 catchable rainbow trout plants last week.
The lake is better known for its resident kokanee and cutthroat.
■ Overview: It’s always a good idea to befriend someone who happens to have a home on Sutherland.
Whatever it takes to get bank access to one of Clallam County’s most popular lake fisheries.
Of course, if you happen to have a boat, that works well too, especially for the trollers.
Tarboo Lake
■ Size: 24 acres.
■ Location: Three miles north of Quilcene.
■ Fish: Received 1,160 catchable rainbow trout 9-11 in size two weeks ago. Another 50 jumbos should be planted in the coming weeks.
Kokanee and cutthroat are also said to be available at the lake.
■ Overview: Either bring a boat or don’t show up at all.
This lake’s sweet spots — located along its wooded shoreline — can only be accessed by those who push off into its waters.
Teal Lake
■ Size: 15 acres.
■ Location: Two miles south of Port Ludlow.
■ Fish: Received three separate plants of large trout this spring.
That included 60 one-pound cutthroat, 50 jumbo rainbows 3.77 pounds in size and 30 more triploids weighing 1.43 pounds each.
Another 952 catchable trout should be planted in the near future.
■ Overview: It’s all about quality over quantity at Teal.
The selective gear, year-round fishery is mostly for the fly fishing set with sizeable trout to target.
Wentworth Lake
■ Size: 54 acres
■ Location: Eight miles northwest of Forks between the East and West forks of the Dickey River.
■ Fish: Scheduled to receive 3,000 catchable rainbow trout plants this month and usually gets whatever trout plants were not caught at the Forks Kids Fishing Derby.
■ Overview: Another hidden gem on the Peninsula.
This year-round lake can be worth the long drive to the rural West End.
The fly fishing set is particularly fond of this pond. Woolly buggers are a favorite.
Like so many other lakes in the area, a boat is all but required. Internal-combustion motors are prohibited.
