Monday April 1

This is a big day for anglers in the Columbia Basin with a whole bunch of lakes opening to fishing. I got the word that the two Teal lakes are going to be one of the better bets this year.

The lakes were rehabbed and are once again supporting healthy populations of rainbow.

Last years juveniles were already hitting 14 and 15 inches, so don't be surprised if the carryovers will pass 16 to 17 inches.

The Hampton lakes will offer slow fishing this year. There is a rehab planned for them this fall.

The fish anglers catch on these lakes will be big, though. Rainbow of 18 to over 20 inches are possible.

I want to remind anglers that they can still sign up for the new Triple Fish Challenge on Banks Lake. They will take registrations at derby headquarters at Coulee Playland Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Cash prizes for the adult big fish each day could be $600.00 and biggest stringer up to $1,000.00! I will be sharing some tips on how to catch the trout, bass and walleye in the NCW Nickel that comes out on Thursday, so be sure to check it out.

Wednesday, April 3

Anglers will be heading for the Columbia Basin lakes that opened on Monday to take advantage of what could be one of the better "April Fools" openers in years.

The year-round lakes have already been treating anglers to great fishing, and many big rainbow have been caught on Potholes Reservoir.

The lakes near Quincy that opened on March 1st are still producing good catches, too. Burke and Quincy may not offer the fast action they did a month ago, but there are still plenty of quality rainbow in the lake. Remember, if you catch a tagged trout give the Quincy Chamber of Commerce a call with the number. It could still be worth some serious money. They will pay $500.00 for a particular tagged trout through June 1st. Dusty Lake is fishing especially good this spring with rainbow, brown and tiger trout all biting.

This is a selective fishery lake with a one fish limit.

Another quality lake that just opened is Dry Falls, north of Soap Lake. Rainbow, brown and tiger trout are available here, too and are taken in double digit numbers. Trout average an easy 14 inches at Dry Falls but fish to 20 inches and larger are a real possibility.

Friday, April 5

First of all if you think it's too late to enter the Triple Fish Challenge at Banks Lake, you're wrong! They will take registrations all day Friday and again on Saturday morning.

If you plan to fish for kokanee this weekend, Lake Chelan is the place to find the big ones. Anglers are still catching very good numbers of kokanee to 18 inches on Chelan.

If you want some really fast action for kokanee that run from 10 to 14 inches, you may want to give Palmer Lake a try. Jerrod Gibbons, Okanogan Valley Guide Service, tells me that five-fish limits come fast at Palmer.

This is a place to load the boat with family and friend and go out and have a fishing party. These are as large as the ones taken a couple of years ago at Palmer, but they make up for it in numbers.