Washington Fishing Report: Eastern Washington Fishing Conditions

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Date	05-Feb-10
Water Condition
Water Temperature

Conditions : Eastern Washington: Ice on lakes throughout most of the region remains questionable since daytime temperatures have been above 40 degrees. Bill Baker, WDFW northeast district fish biologist, said the two winter-season rainbow trout lakes - Williams and Hatch lakes in Stevens County near Colville - remain iced over and a few folks are fishing through the ice. But ice fishing is definitely "at your own risk," he said. Baker encourages anglers to check WDFWs ice fishing safety information at http://wdfw.wa.gov/factshts/ice_fishing.htm .

Chris Donley, WDFW central district fish biologist, said there is open water at the northeast end of Sprague Lake, and anglers continue to catch the lakes big rainbow trout . Year-round Eloika Lake in north Spokane County has mostly open water for anglers.

Year-round Rock Lake in Whitman County rarely freezes up completely and has been providing good open-water fishing for rainbow and brown trout . "But the best bet right now is still Lake Roosevelt," Donley said. "The rainbow trout and kokanee fishing there is very good, especially on the south end."

Steelhead fishing is also good in the Snake River drainage, especially on the tributaries like the Grand Ronde, Touchet, Tucannon, and Walla Walla. When water levels drop and the water clears, steelhead are harder to catch. But the fish are there, so persistent anglers can be successful. Anglers fishing the system can retain hatchery steelhead, but are required to release all wild fish.

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