Lowland lakes opening day the best in years

By TIM ADAMS

Sports editor

The fish are in Island County’s many lowland lakes, now all you have to do is catch ’em.

Saturday, April 25, marks the opening of Washington’s single biggest fishing season opener and is one of the best bargains you can ever have for local family recreation.

In recent months, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has stocked lakes around the state with millions of hatchery-raised fish and April 25 kicks off a four-to five-month-long fishing season for rabid anglers.

“It’s our biggest fishing season opener because it traditionally draws more than 300,000 anglers of all ages,” said WDFW Director Phil Anderson. “With the annual freshwater fishing license still under $22 for adults and free for kids 14 and under, it’s a great bargain in outdoor recreation.”

Island County has received its fair share of stocked fish and anglers won’t have very far to travel to enjoy some hot fishing action.

Over 4.2 million trout, eight inches or larger, were scheduled for stocking in 370 Washington lowland lakes this year and 94 lakes have been stocked with 41,429 Triploid trout that average one-and-one-half pounds. In addition, more than 15.5 million trout fry and fingerlings, two-to-five-inch long trout, were stocked into 531 lakes and ponds, including 163 high lakes.

Here are a few of the local lakes that have been stocked with catchable fish you might want to check out on opening day.

In East and West Admiralty Bay Ponds a total 650 Cutthroat fry have been planted, while Cranberry Lake has been stocked with 10,000 Brown trout fry and 7,000 8-to-12-inch Rainbows.

Deer Lake has been stocked with 9,500 catchable Rainbows along with 10,150 fry, and Goss Lake has an additional 8,050 fry and 7,000 Rainbows in the 8-to-12-inch size.

Lone Lake has had 4,000 Rainbows in catchable size, in addition to 393 triploids stocked in the water.

“This may be best time ever for those who used to fish to get back into it with family and friends,” Anderson said. “Costs remain low and our hatchery stocking is at a peak.”

Folks, the fish are there and all you need to do is gather your family and friends together and get your lines wet. Why not take a trip out on Island County’s waters early Saturday morning and have some fun.