The opening of the lowland lakes for trout fishing is coming up this weekend, and anglers in the Wenatchee Valley don't have to travel far to find some lakes that are loaded with fat rainbow. Near Rock Island, just south of East Wenatchee, Big Bow Lake, Hammond Lake and Putters Pond. All three of these lakes have been planted with rainbow that average close to two to the pound. These fish are larger than what has been planted in the past, as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is rolling out a new plan to get more people fishing our inland waters.

Surveys of anglers indicated that they wanted larger fish, so they are going to get them. Not only are our inland lakes going to be planted with fish at a minimum of three to the pound, they have also stepped up the number of triploids weighing from a pound to a pound and a half. All three of the lakes that I mentioned have received over 2,700 trout. All three of them are also year-round lakes and are open to fishing right now.

I will have some suggestions for good trout fishing in Okanogan County in my next report.