The most constant factor in any opening day of fishing is the weather.

Good weather means lots of anglers and, most likely, a bunch of fish caught. Wind, rain and cold means fewer anglers and less fish caught.

The one good factor about having bad weather on an opening day is more fish will be in the lake the following day. Bad weather is unfortunate for anglers traveling long distances to experience the great fishing opportunities of Grant County.

Weather isn't the only reason a fishing trip might not be as fruitful as expected.  There are times when fish simply don't want to bite for whatever reason.

The managers at Fish and Wildlife who are in charge of providing fish for anglers are all smiles when limits or near-limits are experienced on opening weekend.

Fishing is a part of tourism. Anglers mean money to the Columbia Basin economy. Fish managers are assigned the task of making sure the fish in lakes are in excellent shape and there are plenty of them. There is little they can due about the weather.

The big fishing season opener is on the last Saturday in April each year, which will be April 30 this year. To fully appreciate the extent of fishing to our economy and as an interesting perspective on how many people travel to stay and fish in the Columbia Basin on the last Saturday in April, drive to Blue Lake on Saturday, April 30.

The camping trailers and other RVs will be bumper to bumper and sometimes two or three deep along the road. The resorts at Park and Blue lakes will be full and there will be a bunch of boats on the lakes.

Fishing is a lifetime sport. Don't miss out in teaching your children, nieces and nephews how to fish. If you don't know, learn. Then teach the children, for they are our future anglers.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes a document each year titled, "Washington Fishing Prospects." It provides a brief description of the fishing opportunities in the lakes and streams found within each county.

Anglers want to know, or at least get some idea, what they can expect when they cast their lines.

The prospects are just prospects and should be viewed as the best estimate Fish and Wildlife has to offer.

The 2011 fishing prospects by county and body of water:

Adams County

Bobcat Creek and Coyote Creek ponds: On the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge about five miles north of Othello. April 1 through September 30 open season. These small ponds support a few bluegills and some fair-sized largemouth bass. Access is by foot, south off of McManamon Road. 

Herman Lake (35 acres): About five miles north of Othello, on the east of Seep Lakes Road. April 1 through September 30 open season. Herman is stocked with catchable-size rainbow trout in the spring. However, carp and other spiny-ray fish have taken over these waters and depressed trout survival. An unimproved small-craft boat launch is available, but there are no toilet facilities or vehicle parking.

Hutchinson (49 acres) and Shiner (33 acres) lakes: On the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge seven miles north of Othello. April 1 through September 30 open season. Angling for largemouth bass and bluegill has been very good on these connected lakes. Crappie and perch can also be caught. Access is via a spur south off of McManamon Road. Hutchinson has a gravel boat launch and internal combustion engines are prohibited.

Lyle Lake (12 acres): Five miles north of Othello, on the west side of Seep Lake Road. April 1 through September 30 open season. Small boats can be launched, and toilet facilities and parking are available

Para-Juvenile Lake (12 acres): On the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge about seven miles northwest of Othello. This small lake shared by Adams and Grant counties is open to juveniles only, 14 years old and younger. It contains bass and panfish and is open from April 1 through September 30. Access is walk-in off of Morgan Lake Road.

Sprague Lake (1,840 acres): Sprawling across the Adams-Lincoln County line, this lake is co-managed with Adams and Lincoln County waters, and its prospects are also listed there. Sprague Lake was rehabilitated during the fall of 2007. The lake has been stocked with rainbow trout fingerlings and catchables since and these fish have grown fast, most reaching 15 to 16 inches by fall. Rainbow trout over 5 pounds have been reported as caught in Sprague Lake. Lahontan cutthroat trout fingerlings are also stocked into Sprague Lake in the fall. Bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish were also stocked; however, it will take three to five years for the fisheries for these species to develop. 

Grant County

Banks Lake (27,000 acres): Stretching almost 27 miles from Coulee City in the south to Grand Coulee in the north, this large reservoir is popular with anglers pursuing many species. Smallmouth bass up to 4 pounds are plentiful along rocky shoreline areas and largemouth bass fairly abundant in the northern part and weedy bays. The statewide regulation for smallmouth bass applies here: no minimum size, 10 fish bag, with no more than one over 14 inches.

The statewide regulation for largemouth bass is also in affect: no minimum size, but only fish under 12 inches except one over 17 inches and a daily bag of 5 fish. Walleye fishing is still very good.

A cooperative rearing project between Fish and Wildlife, an Electric City sportsmen's group, and Coulee City Chamber of Commerce offers improved fishing for rainbow trout up to 5 pounds.

Approximately one million kokanee have been stocked annually in recent years, some of which the net pens also help raise. Angling for kokanee up to 19 inches has been variable during mid to late summer. Chumming is permitted.

Yellow perch and crappie angling is good, but bluegill fishing will be poor-to-fair. There is a 25-fish daily limit on perch to prevent over harvest of this important forage and sport fish species. Lake Whitefish are a very abundant and overlooked game fish. Several public access areas are well developed, including a Steamboat Rock State Park about mid-way up the lake, a city park at Coulee City on the south end and several resorts at the north end

Beda Lake (50 acres): Situated about four miles south of I-90 just south of Winchester Wasteway and one half-mile east of Dodson Road, Beda Lake has a year-round open fishing season.

Selective gear rules and a one-fish daily limit are in effect. Beda was rehabilitated during the fall of 2010 to remove sunfish and restore the trout fishery. Beda was stocked October 2010 with 1100 catchable-size rainbow trout. These fish should be about 12 inches by late spring 2011.

Rainbow trout catchables and fingerlings will also be stocked during the spring of 2011. Access is by foot only.

Billy Clapp Lake (1,000 acres): Found two miles northeast of Stratford, this body of water has a year-round open season. This reservoir offers a good, but overlooked kokanee fishery. These tasty fish are not stocked, but drop down from Banks Lake. There is also a good fishery for 1- to 2-pound rainbow trout and walleye fishing is fair. Access at the southwest end, on the Stratford Wildlife Area, provides a boat launch, dock, and toilets. The steep shoreline provides very little foot access, so most fishing is done by boat.

Blue Lake (532 acres): North of the City of Soap Lake along the east side of Highway SR-17 and south of Park Lake in the Sun Lakes chain. Last Saturday in April through September 30 open season. This popular lake was rehabilitated in the fall of 2006 to remove perch and other warmwater species. The lake was stocked with 225,200 rainbow trout fingerlings for the 2011 opener and should produce an excellent fishery for 12-inch yearlings.

Blue Lake was also stocked with 8,500 brown trout and 6,856 tiger trout in 2010, which should provide a significant number of carryovers at 15 to 17 inches. The lake has three resorts and a public access with toilets.

Caliche Lakes: Three relatively small lakes right along I-90 and just west of the town of George, these popular lakes are open March 1 through July 30. Only Upper Caliche is stocked with rainbow trout, 3,500 catchable-size fish in February 2011. Early season limits should be plentiful, but the fishery only lasts for a short time.

Columbia Basin Hatchery Creek: This small creek by Columbia Basin Hatchery near the City of Moses Lake receives plants of rainbow trout spring through mid-summer. The creek is now open only to juveniles and disability license holders. April 1 through September 30 open season and a three fish daily limit.

Columbia River: There are some smallmouth bass and walleye opportunities in Wanapum Lake and above.

Deep Lake (107 acres): In Sun Lakes State Park north of the City of Soap Lake. Last Saturday in April through September 30 open season. This deep lake, surveyed at 115 feet,  features kokanee during the late spring and summer fishery. Rainbow trout fishing has been fair early in the season for stocked catchable-size trout. A boat launch and toilets are available.

Dry Falls Lake (99 acres): Located at the base of Dry Falls about three miles west of Coulee City. April 1 through November 30 open season. Selective gear rules are in effect for all species plus a one-fish daily limit on trout. Dry Falls had a very good season in 2008 and 2009. Fishing should again be good this year for 14-inch yearling rainbow trout and carryovers to 20 or more inches.

Brown trout and tiger trout have also been stocked. Car-topped boats can be launched through Sun Lakes State Park, but there is no actual launch. A toilet is available.

Dusty Lake (83 acres): On the Quincy Wildlife Area. March 1 through November 30 open season. Selective gear rules are in effect for all species with a one-fish daily harvest limit on trout.

This lake was rehabilitated in the fall of 2003 to remove dace and goldfish. The rainbow trout fishery has been very good. Expect 14-inch yearlings and 16- to 22-inch carryovers. Tiger and brown trout fingerlings were also stocked, some of which should be reaching 18-20 inches.

Evergreen Reservoir (235 acres): Located on the Quincy Wildlife Area three miles northwest of George and just south of Burke Lake this reservoir has a year-round open season. Walleye are abundant, and largemouth bass and bluegill are the other main warm water species. Tiger muskies are present with a 50-inch minimum size and one-fish daily limit for this sparsely stocked species. Access to the west end, with a good boat launch, is off of Road 5 NW, also known as White Trail Road, but this access is closed to vehicles in the fall. The east side of the reservoir can be accessed through the Quincy Wildlife Area off of Road 3 NW.

Hampton Lakes, Upper (53 acres) and Lower (19 acres): On the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge eight miles north of Othello. April 1 through September 30 open season. Both Upper and Lower Hampton and associated drainages, including the Pillar-Widgeon chain of lakes to the north, were rehabilitated in the fall of 2004 to curtail populations of sunfish and perch.

Fingerling rainbow trout were stocked in all these waters, and the 2011 fishery should be fair in Upper Hampton and Lower Hampton. Access to Lower Hampton is via a spur off of Seep Lakes Road. Small boats can be launched on Lower Hampton, but internal combustion engines are prohibited. Upper Hampton and the Pillar-Widgeon lakes have walk-in access only.

Lenice Lake (94 acres), Merry Lake (40 acres), and Nunnally Lake (120 acres): These three adjacent lakes are in the Crab Creek Wildlife Area just east of Beverly. All three lakes have selective gear rules for all species, with a 1-fish daily limit on trout. Open season is March 1 to November 30.

Sunfish populations have again expanded tremendously since the 2000 rehabilitation, reducing fingerling survival.

Lenice and Nunnally each received a catchable trout plant of 3,000 in the spring of 2011. These fish should be around 14 inches this spring. Both lakes will receive small catchable trout plants in the spring and fall of 2011. Access to Lenice is on foot, a one-half mile walk, with toilets at the parking area. Foot access to Merry is from the Lenice parking area. Two access trails and parking areas for Nunnally are located at the west end and mid-lake.

Lenore Lake (1,670 acres): Two miles north of the Town of Soap Lake along the west side of Highway SR-17. March 1 through November 30 open season. Selective gear rules apply for the entire open season. Fishing is catch-and-release only from March 1 through May 31, and a one-trout daily limit during the June 1 through November 30 season. Anglers should check the regulations pamphlet and also note posted closed areas at the north and south ends. While angling in 2007 and 2008 was a bit slow, no sign of any die-off was observed. 2- to 4-pound Lahontan cutthroat trout are abundant with trophy fish up to 10 pounds.

Lenore can be a slow starter in March, but the fishery picks up in April and remains good through May. The fall fishery has also been especially good in November. There are four access areas, three rough boat launches, and toilets.

Moses Lake (6,800 acres): Located in its namesake town, this body of water has a year-round open season. Biological surveys continue to indicate an overabundance of walleye plus plentiful smallmouth bass. The walleye rule changed two years ago to a daily limit of eight fish, minimum size 12 inches, no more than one over 22 inches; the smallmouth bass rule changed to daily limit 10 fish, no minimum size, no more than one fish over 14 inches; largemouth bass rule changed to standard statewide limit; crappie rule changed to daily limit 10 fish, minimum size nine inches; yellow perch rule changes to daily limit 25, no minimum size.

Note: revised Moses Lake daily and possession limits also apply to the area from Grant County Road 7 downstream to the fountain buoy and shoreline markers, or 150 feet downstream from the Alder Street Fill.

This is among the best walleye fisheries in the state, especially in April and May, and again in the fall. The Crab Creek Inlet from just below Alder Street upstream to Grant County Road 7 and outlets downstream of Moses Lake to their confluence with Potholes Reservoir, have gear restrictions, one single-hook with three-quarter inch gape, from March 1 through May 31 to prevent snagging of spawning walleyes.

Largemouth bass and crappie fishing is improving. Yellow perch have been inconsistent. Bluegill fishing will still be poor and this species will retain the current 8-inch minimum size, five-fish daily limit. A volunteer cooperative net-pen project provides angling for rainbow trout, but trout angling has been sporadic as of late, probably due to predation by fish and birds.

There are several public boat launches; two with public facilities. Disabled accessibility is available at the North access point.

Park Lake (346 acres): North of the City of Soap Lake in Sun Lakes State Park. Last Saturday in April through September 30 open season. This popular lake was rehabilitated last fall 2006 to remove perch and other warmwater species. The lake was stocked with over 100,000 rainbow trout fingerlings for the 2011 opener and should produce an excellent fishery for 12-inch yearlings. The catch should also include a significant number of carryovers in the 15- to 17 inch range.

In addition to the state park, there is a resort.

Perch Lake (16 acres): In Sun Lakes State Park. Last Saturday in April through September 30 open season. This small lake should provide good fishing for 12-inch yearling rainbow trout. Because it is small and receives intense pressure, catch rates will drop off markedly after the first few weeks of the season.

Pillar-Widgeon chain of lakes: On the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge eight miles north of Othello. April 1 through September 30 open season. This chain of 10 relatively small, walk-in only waters offers anglers a chance to explore the channeled scab lands while fishing lake to lake for rainbow trout. Fingerling rainbow trout were stocked in all. Yearlings generally run about 10-12 inches and carryovers can be up to 20 inches. Parking and access is just south of the Soda Lake dam.

Ping Pond, formerly Oasis Park Pond: This small pond on the south side of Ephrata is open only to juveniles under 15 years of age and persons with a reduced-fee disability license. It is open from the third Saturday in April through Labor Day. Opening day boasts a well attended kid's derby. There is a five-fish harvest limit, all game fish species combined.

Potholes Reservoir (23,000 acres): Located about seven miles south of the town of Moses Lake backed up by O'Sullivan Dam, this body of water has a year-round open fishing season. The results of annual surveys indicate an abundance of walleye and a plentiful supply of smallmouth bass. The daily limit for walleye is eight fish; with a 12-inch minimum size and no more than one over 22 inches. The rule for smallmouth bass changes to a daily limit 10 fish, no minimum size and no more than one over 14 inches.

A gear restriction, one hook with a maximum three-quarter-inch gap, remains in effect for the Crab Creek Inlet, from Moses Lake outlets to the confluence of the outlet streams, from March 1 through May 31, and is designed to prevent snagging of spawning walleyes.

Fishing will also be excellent for largemouth bass; daily limit five, no minimum size, only Bass less than 12 inches may be retained, with no more than one over 17 inches. Yellow perch, crappie, and bluegill populations remain at less than historic levels. Bluegill and crappie have a combined daily limit of 25 fish, with a 9-inch minimum size limit on crappie. Yellow perch also have a 25- fish limit, separate from the combined bluegill/crappie limit. The best time for warmwater species is in mid-summer through fall. The main reservoir and Lind Coulee arm are popular for fishing through ice in years when it is thick enough. The reservoir also produces fishing for rainbow trout as a result of production from a volunteer cooperative net-pen rearing project; however, predation has limited survival. A large private resort, a state park, and several developed public access areas provide all necessary amenities for this large reservoir.

Quincy and Burke Lakes were rehabilitated in the fall of 2005 and both waters produce nice sized, 12 to 15-inch rainbow trout for opening day. Quincy and Burke received catchable-size rainbow trout plants of 15,000 and 18,000, respectively. Most of these fish are between 12-14 inches. Both Quincy and Burke are open March 1 through July 31. In addition to the west end access, Burke can be accessed on the east end through the Quincy Wildlife Area off of Road 3 NW.

The small seep lakes below Quincy and Burke will offer fair rainbow fishing this year. Stan Coffin, "H," and part of the Ancient lakes provide a warmwater fishery primarily for bass and bluegill. All three are open year-round. Stan Coffin features the only catch and release bass fishery in the state and has a very high density of largemouth bass.

Rocky Ford Creek: Flowing into the north end of Moses Lake, this is one of the premier small fly-fishing streams in the Northwest. It is open year-round to catch-and-release, fly-fishing only, and bank angling only, with no wading allowed. Anglers can expect rainbow trout over 24 inches.

The upper mile is on Fish and Wildlife land and offers the best fishing. The lower two-mile stretch meanders across state land and is less crowded. Fish densities are lower, but there are some nice rainbows in this stretch. The middle three miles are on private land and are not accessible. An access area near the headwater springs has toilets.

Seep lakes (located south of Potholes Reservoir and north of Othello): Most of these waters have year around seasons, however, anglers should check the latest regulations pamphlet for specific lake seasons. Most of these waters are stocked annually with rainbow trout.

Corral, Blythe and Chukar lakes, all with year-round open season, were rehabilitated fall 2007 and both should be very good in 2011.

North Windmill, Windmill, Canal and Heart Lakes, were rehabilitated in the fall of 2010 to remove nuisance fish species and restore the trout fisheries. All four lakes will receive catchable-size trout plants in April, 2011. Windmill, Canal and Heart Lakes will also receive small triploid trout plants in May 2011.

North and South Teal Lakes were also rehabilitated last spring to restore the trout fisheries. Due to federal refuge policy, these lakes cannot be planted with catchable-size rainbow trout, only fingerlings. As such, these lakes will not be fishable until opening day 2012.

Upper Goose Lake has been stocked the last few years, and catches of 12 inch rainbow were good in 2007 and 2008. Lower Goose Lake is managed as a warmwater fishery and has a 9-inch minimum size, 10-fish limit on crappie plus a bluegill regulation during its year-round season. Also check out some of the many smaller, out-of-the-way lakes in this same area. These are walk-in lakes at distances of a quarter to one and a quarter miles from parking.

Larger lakes have boat launches and some of these are equipped with toilet facilities.

Soda Lake (180 acres) and Long Lake (75 acres): On the Potholes Canal below Potholes Reservoir. Both lakes are open to fishing year-round and should provide good fishing for walleye and bass, but rainbow trout and yellow perch angling has only been fair. Soda offers good lake whitefish catches in late fall and winter, and several large rainbow trout, in the 5 to 8 pound range, are taken here each year. There are two access areas, one with toilets.

Vic Meyers, Rainbow, Lake (8 acres): In Sun Lakes State Park. Last Saturday in April through September 30 open season. Vic Meyer was rehabilitated last fall 2006. The lake was stocked with rainbow, brown, and tiger trout fingerlings for the 2011 opener and should produce an excellent fishery for 12-inch yearlings and carryovers.

Warden Lake (211 acres): About five miles east of O'Sullivan Dam just south of Road 7 SE. Last Saturday in April through September 30 open season. Rainbow and brown trout fingerlings are stocked annually and fair catches of 12-16 inch fish can be expected for the 2011 season.

An access with parking, toilets, and a rough launch is available at the north end and a resort at the north end has recently reopened. Access at the south end off of Seep Lakes Road is for shore angling only. Please respect adjacent private property.