The Washington trout season begins in earnest Saturday, April 23, when hundreds of lakes stocked with catchable trout open for business and the 2022 statewide trout derby kicks off.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) stocks lakes throughout the year, and while many lakes are open for fishing year-round, the annual opening day offers an opportunity for anglers to fish on thousands of trout planted over the winter and spring.
To participate in the opener and the derby, Washington anglers must have an annual freshwater, combination, or Fish Washington fishing license valid through March 31, 2023.
Licenses can be purchased online; by telephone at 1-866-246-9453; or at hundreds of license dealers across the state.
“Opening day is truly a statewide celebration,” said Steve Caromile, Inland Fish Program manager with WDFW. “It’s a great opportunity to get back out on the water after a long winter, to spend time with friends and loved ones, bring home a healthy meal, and even possibly win some prizes.”
Those prizes come from the annual statewide trout derby, where anglers can catch tagged trout in lakes across Washington, each of which comes with a prize. There are more than 800 prizes available in 2022, with a total value of more than $37,000. The derby runs through Oct. 31.
Clark County lakes with tagged trout are Battle Ground Lake, Klineline Pond and Lacamas Lake.
Cowlitz County includes Horseshoe Lake, Kress Lake and Lake Sacajawea.
Skamania County has Icehouse Lake and Swift Power Canal, and Klickitat County has Rowland Lake and Spearfish Lake.
Visit the derby website to see the complete list of lakes containing tagged fish.
Fishery reports
Counts for the week of April 19:
COLUMBIA RIVER TRIBUTARIES
SALMON/STEELHEAD
Cowlitz River from Interstate 5 Bridge downstream — 96 bank rods kept two Chinook and eight steelhead.
Cowlitz River above Interstate 5 Bridge — 92 bank rods kept three Chinook, 22 steelhead and released six steelhead; 10 boats/26 rods kept one steelhead.
Kalama River — 60 bank rods released five steelhead; 32 boats/72 rods kept seven Chinook, four steelhead and released eight steelhead.
Lewis River — 49 bank rods kept two Chinook and released one Chinook; 28 boats/54 rods kept nine Chinook, three jacks, one steelhead and released two Chinook and two steelhead.
Wind River — One bank rod had no catch; four boats/seven rods kept one Chinook.
Drano Lake — Two bank rods had no catch; 43 boats/84 rods kept nine Chinook and released one Chinook.
Recent trout plants
Horseshoe Lake, April 14 — 3,361 rainbow, 2.50 fish per pound from Goldendale Hatchery.
Battle Ground Lake, April 13 — 2,500 rainbow, 2.00 fish per pound from Vancouver Hatchery.
Horseshoe Lake, April 13 — 3,360 rainbow, 2.60 fish per pound from Mossyrock Hatchery.
Kress Lake, April 13 — 3,360 rainbow, 2.60 fish per pound from Mossyrock Hatchery.
Klineline Pond, April 12 — 2,500 rainbow, 2.50 fish per pound from Vancouver Hatchery.
