LAST SATURDAY’S LOWLAND lake trout opener was held in gray, rainy conditions across much, if not all of western Washington.
“One of the common themes statewide was the weather … which seemed to keep some anglers indoors, however, the other common theme was lots of happy anglers because fishing, for the most part was very good,” said Bruce Bolding, warmwater fish program manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Reports from fishing at Sandy Shore, Silent and Tarboo lakes in Jefferson County show anglers were catching plenty of fish — even if they weren’t all that big.
Fish and Wildlife checkers counted 28 people fishing at Sandy Shore, with 27 fish kept, 35 released. The largest was a 25-inch rainbow trout.
“Fairly slow fishing and most fish were smaller than 12 inches,” reports said. “There were several large rainbow trout in the 20-25-inch range. All fish looked very healthy with good fins.”
The 10 fish kept by two anglers at Silent Lake near Quilcene also “looked very healthy.” The biggest landed there was 12 inches.
Fishing success was good at Tarboo, despite constant rainfall in the morning and afternoon.
Thirteen anglers kept 13 fish at Tarboo, the largest a 22-inch rainbow trout.
“The other common theme, which seemed more pronounced than last year, was the number of tagged derby fish that were caught, all across the state,” Bolding said. “This was really great news. There were tagged fish caught in each district throughout the state (with the exception of Region 3, where we have no creel data because there are no opening Day lakes. There are however, tagged fish in Region 3).”
None of the tagged fish in Jefferson County were landed on opening day, however.
“Another effect of the gloomy weather were some comments about seeing fewer kids fishing with their families,” Bolding said.
Kids Fishing Day
There will be an opportunity to remedy opening day’s lack of kids fishing in Forks on Sunday.
The Bogachiel Hatchery Rearing Pond will host the annual Forks Kids Fishing Day from 6 a.m. to noon.
All children ages 12 and younger are welcome to participate.
Coffee, hot chocolate and donuts will be provided free of charge (donations appreciated).
The West End Sportsmen Club will loan out poles on a first-come, first-served basis and will provide assistance to youth anglers.
There is a five fish limit per angler (the first five fish caught).
Fly Fishers meet
Representatives of two area conservation groups, the North Olympic Land Trust and the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, will speak at Monday’s meeting of the Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers.
The meeting will be held in the Campfire USA Clubhouse, 619 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles, at 6 p.m.
Alana Linderoth of the North Olympic Land Trust will discuss the group’s involvement in projects such as the Lyre Conservation Area at the mouth of the Lyre River west of Joyce.
Olivia Vito will talk about improving local salmon habitat and recovery of salmon populations on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The group also has some members’ outings planned, including a trout fishing challenge and a smelting trip later this month.
Hoh River opens June 1
The Hoh River will open to fishing for hatchery chinook and trout, including hatchery steelhead beginning Friday, June 1.
This opening is for the stretch of the Hoh River from the Olympic National Park boundary upstream to the boat launch at the Department of Natural Resources’ Oxbow Campground.
Fish and Wildlife is opening the river because wild spring/summer chinook are projected to return in sufficient strength to allow incidental impacts that will occur during the June hatchery chinook and trout fishery.
Anglers are required to release all wild salmon, wild steelhead, and wild rainbow trout (wild are defined as those fish with an intact adipose fin).
In addition, bait is prohibited and only one barbless hook with up to three points may be used.
The daily limit is one hatchery chinook (no size limit). The daily trout limit, including hatchery steelhead, is two fish (minimum size of 14 inches).
Daily salmon limit is one hatchery chinook. Daily limit for trout, including hatchery steelhead, is two fish (minimum size of 14 inches).
Like last summer, the Hoh River will be open to fishing for trout, including hatchery steelhead in July and August under rules listed in the 2018-19 sport fishing rules pamphlet, available in June.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
