Opening day

The first fishing opener was last Tuesday, March 1. Weather always plays a part in the opener, as it did this year. Read on.

From Fish and Wildlife Region 2, District 5 Fish Biologist Chad Jackson:

General: Anglers fishing the Quincy, Burke, Dusty, the Quincy Walk-ins, Martha and Upper Caliche lakes were greeted with chilly morning air temperatures and precipitation, from a light drizzle to moderately heavy rain. The weather combined with a Tuesday opener likely kept effort low. Those anglers who did brave the elements found pretty good fishing and nice size trout.

Anglers who fished Lenice and Nunnally lakes found milder conditions. Since these lakes are lower in elevation and relatively close to the Columbia River, air temperatures were warmer and precipitation fell as a light drizzle.

Catch/Harvest Rates & Trout Sizes:

1.) Lake Lenore: No report. No creel surveyors sent there on opener.

2.) Quincy & Burke Lakes: Not enough angler interviews made for a valid estimate of catch or harvest. Most anglers didn’t start fishing until late morning (9:30 to 10 a.m.) and weren’t encountered by creel surveyors. Late starts were most likely linked to the weather. Harvested trout observed by creel surveyors were nice size ranging from 14 to 18 inches.

3.) Dusty Lake: Three anglers were counted on Dusty Lake. None of them were interviewed.

4.) Quincy Wall-In Lakes: No report. No creel surveyors sent there on opener.

5.) Martha Lake: Excellent fishing on the opener. Anglers averaged just greater than four trout harvested per angler. Yearling trout size was slightly small ranging from 10 to 12 inches. Yearlings will continue to grow a couple inches over the next couple months. Carryovers up to 18 inches were reported in the creel.

6.) Upper Caliche Lake: Excellent fishing on the opener. Anglers average near limits, 4.8 trout per angler. Yearling trout size was slightly small ranging from 9 to 11 inches. Yearlings will continue to grow a couple inches over the next couple months. Carryovers, up to 18 inches, were reported in the creel.

7.) Nunnally Lake: No report. No anglers observed at Nunnally Lake.

8.) Lenice Lake: Excellent fishing on the opener. Most anglers caught-and-released between 25 and 40 trout. There are verifiable reports of a few anglers catching-and-releasing 50 to 70 trout. Trout size was mostly 14-16 inches. Trout from 17 to 20 inches also reported. All fish were robust and hard fighting.

Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their names into the drawing for a 2016 multiple-season tag, which can greatly increase the opportunity for success in the field.

Fish and Wildlife will hold the drawing in mid-April, randomly selecting names for 8,500 multiple-season deer tags and 1,000 multiple season elk tags.

Winners of the drawing will be eligible to purchase a special tag allowing them to participate in archery, muzzleloader, as well as modern firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk in 2016. Winners who purchase the multiple season elk tag can participate in general elk hunting seasons in both eastern and western Washington. The deadline to purchase the multiple-season tag is July 31.

Winners may also choose any weapon type when applying for a special permit to hunt deer or elk.

The tags can be used only during general seasons and in game management units open during a modern firearm, muzzleloader or archery general season. For example, winners may not hunt during the muzzleloader general season in an area that is not open for the muzzleloader general season.

Hunters can apply only once for each species and are limited to harvesting one deer or elk.

The application costs $7.10 for residents and $110.50 for nonresidents. A 2016 hunting license is not required to submit an application, but winners of the drawing must purchase one before they can purchase a multiple season tag.

Including transaction fees, multiple season deer tags cost $139.10 for residents or nonresidents, while multiple season elk tags cost $182.00 for residents and nonresidents. These prices are in addition to the cost of an annual hunting license.