CONFUSION ABOUNDS IN the lake-naming game.
There are two types of people in this world:
Those who say Lake Anderson, and those who say Anderson Lake.
In the end, one of these two people wins out whenever a lake is named, and we must live by that decision for eternity.
The Name before Lake folks got the upper hand quite a bit on the North Olympic Peninsula.
We have Anderson Lake, Gibbs Lake, Leland Lake and Beaver Lake, just to name a few. While the Lake before Name people have Lake Sutherland and that’s just about it.
Go ahead and put me solidly in the Lake before Name crowd.
Maybe it’s just my Midwestern sensibilities talking, but it just sounds better that way.
Our country’s greatest lakes (aptly called the Great Lakes) were all named that way: Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Superior.
Switch any one of those around and say it real quick. Michigan Lake? Hurts the ears, doesn’t it?
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Schubert, this might just be the stupidest thing you have ever written about.”
You’re right.
On the list of all-time dumb arguments, this one falls somewhere between “Tastes great! Less Filling!” and “What is the proper protocol for calling ‘shotgun?'”
(For the record, shotgun always goes to the person who calls it once everyone is outside.)
That brings us to our good friends, the state trout plants.
They are the fishing equivalent of the first eight inches of this column.
For few fish have a lower IQ than those millions of fish currently being dumped in lakes across the state for Saturday’s state lowland lakes opener.
They are dumber than a dirigible full of dodo birds . . . and they’re really hungry.
All you’ve got to do is show up, throw out some power bait, artificial worms or a nymph, and one of these Gomers will surely give it a look.
Once they do . . . it’s hook, line and sinker. (Or for you overly sensitive fly guys, hook, line and strike indicator.)
What follows is a breakdown of a few North Olympic Peninsula lakes that might just produce the desired results during this weekend’s opener.
Anderson Lake
• Size: 68 acres.
• Location: One mile west of Chimacum off Anderson Lake Road.
• Fish: This lake has been planted with rainbow trout, but not fished for nearly two years. Expect a lot of holdovers.
An additional 30,000 trout fry plants are slated for planting this spring. Also holds cutthroat and eastern brook trout.
• Few facts: Better get while the getting is good.
Once the most popular trout lake in Jefferson County, Anderson has been subject to early closures (or no opening at all) due to toxic blue-green algae blooms since 2006.
(For more on the lake’s opening and blue-green algae problems, see today’s story on Page A1.)
A trail runs around the lake and provides numerous bank angling opportunities (unless one is fly fishing).
There is also a public boat launch (for boats with 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 40 broodstock rainbows (3.5-pound fish) and 400 jumbos (one pounders) two weeks ago.
This is a catch-and-release lake for trout, so there should be all sorts of holdovers swimming around as well.
• Few facts: Much like Anderson, this one could close at any time due to the presence of toxic algae.
As long as you have a boat, and don’t mind throwing back fish, this is one of the premiere fly fishing lakes on the Peninsula.
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: Received 4,620 catchable trout and 527 rainbows 14 inches or larger in mid March.
There’s also a nice mix of resident fish, including bass, blue gill, crappie and brown bullhead catfish.
• Few facts: There are few lakes that offer the sort of variety Leland does.
Anglers can fish from a public dock (with plenty of back-casting room), and there’s numerous holes to fish by boat. Just make sure to cook the hell out of whatever you keep.
The lake is open year-round . . . as long as there isn’t a severe toxic algae bloom.
Ludlow Lake
• Size: 15 acres.
• Location: Four miles west of Port Ludlow off Highway 104.
• Fish: Received 707 catchable trout last week, and is set to get 80 jumbos later this month.
Resident largemouth bass and eastern brook trout (planted long ago) also call Ludlow home.
• Few facts: This lake once laid claim to the state record for brown bullhead catfish (caught in 1997).
That being said, Ludlow is much more well known for its trout and bass. In fact, this can be a top notch bass lake during the summer.
Most of the action focuses on the trout plants in late April and early May. Once that dies down, go after the bass.
Make sure to bring a small boat or float tube.
Bank access is limited.
Sandy Shore Lake
• Size: 36 acres.
• Location: Five miles southwest of Port Ludlow off Sandy Shore Road.
• Fish: Will receive 1,600 catchable trout and 255 jumbos rainbows averaging one pound in size this month.
There are claims of eastern brook trout and largemouth bass as well.
• Few facts: Trolling works pretty well early in the morning at just before dusk.
Silent Lake
• Size: 12 acres.
• Location: Sits five miles southeast of Quilcene on the east side of Dabob Bay.
• Fish: Scheduled to receive 550 catchables, 85 jumbos and 3,000 cutthroat fry sometime this month.
There should be loads of holdovers from last year’s cutthroat plant (3,000) and maybe even a few kokanee.
• Few facts: People generally don’t like talking about this lake (at least with me).
The reports I’ve received say the north end of the lake is a decent place to troll flies and rooster tails.
Since the lake is lined by mostly private land, one has few choices for bank angling.
Beaver Lake
• Size: 44 acres.
• Location: Four miles north of Sappho along the east side of highway SR-113.
• Fish: Resident cutthroat, largemouth bass and yellow perch are present.
• Few Facts: If aesthetic beauty is your thing, this is not the lake for you. Basically, this is a glorified pond.
But there are a fair amount of 6-10 inch cutthroat around, and even a few 12-15-inchers.
Fishing by float tube would work, and bank angling is possible if you bring waders.
Mills Lake
• Size: 451 acres.
• Location: Just south of Altair Campground off Olympic Hot Springs or Whiskey Bend roads.
• Fish: Resident bull trout, Dolly Varden, rainbow trout and eastern brook trout all call Mills home.
• Few facts: This season will be anglers’ last chance to enjoy a serene day of fishing at the 451-acre reservoir.
Olympic National Park will close fishing to Mills after this year in order to prepare for the removal of Glines Canyon Dam.
It is primarily a catch-and-release fishery, with only artificial single barbless hooks allowed.
Eastern brookies are the only fish that can be retained.
Ozette Lake
• Size: 7,787 aces
• Location: About 20 miles south of Neah Bay off Hoko-Ozette Road.
• Fish: Resident cutthroat, yellow perch, largemouth bass, yellow bullhead catfish and northern pikeminnow are present. Anadromous species like sockeye and steelhead also migrate through the lake.
• Few facts: We’ll call Ozette the anti-Beaver.
The state’s third-largest natural lake is worth a visit for its untouched beauty as much as its fishing.
Ozette is catch-and-release for all trout (with single barbless hooks). There is no size, daily or possession limits on bass, perch, catfish and pikeminnow.
Fishing can be productive on a calm day (from a float or kayak), and awful on a windy one (which happens often).
Lake Sutherland
• Size: 370 acres.
Location: A few miles east of Lake Crescent off U.S. Highway 101. It’s open year-round.
• Fish: Received 7,000 catchable rainbows last week, and should get 3,000 more within the next month.
Resident kokanee and cutthroat are also present.
• Few facts: Trolling is the method of choice for most anglers at Sutherland.
If you’re lucky enough to know someone with a dock, you can catch trout on a chironomid or woolly bugger year-round.
Wentworth Lake
• Size: 54 acres.
• Location: About 7.7 miles northwest of Forks, accessed via logging roads off Dickey River Road.
• Fish: Will receive 3,000 catchable rainbows this month.
Leftover trout from the Forks Kids Fishing Day will also be planted.
• Few facts: Again, a boat is a must. Internal-combustion motors are prohibited.
Fly guys in particular like to fish this lake, with olive green woolly buggers a favorite.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors and sports columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column regularly appears on Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.