THERE IS ONE more important opening before halibut season takes off next week.
Starting Saturday the lowland lakes are open for business, and business should be good for anglers.
Thanks to the recent trout plantings, the lakes are packed with trout practically begging to swallow hooks.
“They’re ravenous,” Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said. “So if you go out, you’ll catch fish.”
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is filling the state’s lakes with more than 3 million hatchery-reared fish.
The news gets better: the planted fish average 11 inches long, up from 8 inches last year.
Anglers wanted to catch bigger fish, and the WDFW delivered.
“We have made some changes in our trout hatchery rearing programs in response to the feedback we heard from anglers who really enjoy catching larger fish,” WDFW Director Phil Anderson said.
“With these fish, our state’s biggest fishing day of the year just got better.”
Not just rainbow
Jumbo, broodstock and triploid trout highlight this year’s hatchery fish.
The WDFW will release 102,000 jumbo and broodstock trout that weigh between one and two pounds.
The triploids are sterile — though not genetically modified — rainbow trout that are privately grown and then purchased by the WDFW.
The 46,000 triploids will be planted in 117 lakes throughout the state.
Their average weight is one and a half pounds.
Washington’s lakes also will be stocked with more than 100,000 other fish, including black crappie, channel catfish, tiger muskie and walleye.
With this many fish, it should be an easy weekend for anglers.
“With all of these fish ready and waiting in statewide lakes, everyone has an excellent chance of catching some nice fish,” WDFW Inland Fish Program Manager Chris Donley said.
Where to go
As usual, Leland Lake, Anderson Lake and Lake Sutherland are expected to be the North Olympic Peninsula’s most popular destinations this weekend.
But other nearby lakes have been stocked with the hatchery fish, including Gibbs Lake and Teal Lake, which both received some of the coveted triploids.
The WDFW released hatchery trout in the following lakes:
■ Gibbs Lake: 70 triploid and over 100 rainbow.
■ Teal Lake: 30 triploid, over 625 rainbow.
■ Sandy Shore Lake: 2,146 rainbow.
■ Wentworth Lake: 1,583 rainbow.
■ Tarboo Lake: 1,438 rainbow.
■ Horseshoe Lake: 720 rainbow.
■ Ludlow Lake: 720 rainbow.
Safe toxin levels
Anderson Lake is always a worry, often closing because of bluegreen algae that produces potentially harmful toxins.
Right now, the news is good.
According to the Jefferson County Water Quality Department, Anderson has low toxin levels and no visible algae, so it should be open this weekend.
The Water Quality Department found similar results at Gibbs Lake and Lake Leland — no visible algae and low toxin levels.
Despite the positive results, these lakes can still be dangerous, so do not swim in areas of scum, don’t drink lake water, keep pets and livestock away from the water, clean fish well and discard the guts, and avoid scum when boating.
What to use
Hatchery fish tend to hang out near the top of the lake in the weeks following their planting, making them especially easy to hook.
Menkal recommends using worms, power bait or salmon eggs to harvest lake fish.
Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles advises those going to Lake Sutherland to bring spinners.
Aunspach adds that many live and artificial baits should do the trick, though.
Rivers closing soon
The few West-End rivers that are still open will close Monday, and there are still springers and steelhead to be had.
But Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said there currently isn’t much fishing because there has been too much rain, and the nearby rivers are too full.
“Anyone out there is either laughing or crying,” Gooding said.
He anticipates the water levels will be low enough to fish sometime in the next few days.
Anglers meeting
The East Jefferson Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers will hold its next meeting Tuesday, May 8, in the Marina Room at Hudson Point Marina in Port Townsend.
The discussion will focus on halibut fishing.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
Refreshments will be served, and there will be a raffle.
Final razor clam dig
Twin Harbors Beach will be the site of the last razor clam dig of the season May 5 through 7.
The dig will take place providing marine toxin tests show the clams there are safe to eat.
“Twin Harbors is the only beach with razor clams still available for harvest after the two openings in April,” Dan Ayres, the coastal shellfish manager for the WDFW, said.
“Assuming the marine toxin tests are favorable, this will be the last chance to dig fresh razor clams until fall.”
Twin Harbors Beach extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the south jetty at the mouth of Grays Harbor.
The dig is scheduled during morning tides only, with no digging allowed after noon.
Expected Morning low tides:
■ Saturday, May 5, 6:32 a.m., -1.5 feet.
■ Sunday, May 6, 7:19 a.m., -2.1 feet.
■ Monday, May 7, 8:07 a.m., -2.3 feet.
State law allows diggers to take 15 razor clams per day, and requires them to keep the first 15 clams they dig.
Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
To participate, diggers need a valid 2012-13 fishing license (all 2011-12 licenses expired March 31). Those under the age 15 may dig for free.
Licensing options range from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, which can be purchased on WDFW’s website (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov) and from license vendors around the state.
For best results, diggers should arrive at the beach an hour or two before low tide.
“With digging restricted to one beach, I’d recommend arriving early and getting your clams before it gets too crowded,” Ayers said.
Hunt permit deadline
Hunters have until May 18 to apply for special permits for fall deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep and turkey hunting seasons.
Permit winners will be selected through a random drawing conducted by the WDFW in late June.
These special permits qualify hunters to hunt at times and places beyond those authorized by a general hunting license.
Applications may be purchased from license vendors statewide or on WDFW’s website.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lee.horton@peninsuladailynews.com.