The Washington Outdoors Report

FIVE WAYS TO CATCH TROUT THIS SPRING:

    1.    TROLL ‘EM UP – Trolling for trout allows you to cover a lot of water to find schools of fish in your favorite lake.  Many anglers use some sort of reflective flasher and then tie on a fly or lure on a leader behind it.  I prefer a Mack’s Flash Lite troll with mylar blades as opposed to the heavier Cow Bell or Pop Gear troll flashers.  Popular offerings behind the flashers include Mack’s Wedding Ring spinners, lite weight Dick Nite spoons, or trolling flies.
    2.    CAST A SPINNER – Spinners like Worden Rooster Tails, Mack’s Promise Keepers and the tried-and-true Mepps Aglia are overlooked but effective offerings for trout whether cast from shore or a boat.  Try chrome blades if the water is colored or if it’s a cloudy day.  If the sun is shining on the water try a spinner with a brass, black or copper blade.
    3.    TOSS A SPOON – Spoons, like spinners, are deadly on trout.   Eppinger Dardevle, Acme Kastmaster and Luhr Jensen Krocodile spoons are three of my favorites and they are all weighted in a way that allows you to cast them further than a spinner or fly.  
    4.    USE BAIT – Berkley PowerBait in various colors, as well as salmon eggs, marshmallows and worms or night crawlers all work well.  If you are fishing off the bottom use a sliding egg weight above a swivel and tie on two to four feet of leader below the swivel to the bait hook.  If there are weeds on the bottom of the lake consider using a slip bobber and suspend your bait offering above the weedy bottom for bites.
    5.    TIE ON A FLY – Fly fishing enthusiasts can do as well as bait anglers (if not better) by matching the hatch.   You can fish below the surface with streamers or nymphs and if you see trout rising to the surface tie on a dry fly.  No matter what you use you’ll do best by matching the insect hatch going on above or below the water at the time you are fishing.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

In a sign of returning normalcy, several events and fundraising banquets are taking place this month in Central and Eastern Washington.  They include:

THE GOLD SHOW – Put on by the NCW Prospectors at the Chelan County Fairgrounds in Cashmere April 9th and 10th.  Doors open at 9 AM both days.

ROCK ISLAND KID’S FISHING DAY –Pit Pond, Rock Island, April 16th.  The City of Rock Island teams up with the Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for a fun day of fishing focusing on the kids!  Loaner rods and fishing tackle are available and both catchable size and larger trout are being stocked in the pond for this event.  Additional trout have been stocked in the adjacent Putters Pond, where adults are allowed to fish as well as youth anglers.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION BANQUET – The Columbia Basin Chapter of RMEF will be having a fundraising banquet at the Best Western Lakefront Hotel in Moses Lake on Saturday, April 23rd.  Doors open at 5 PM.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.rmef.org/events

MULE DEER FOUNDATION BANQUET – The North Central Washington Chapter of MDF will host their annual banquet at the Chelan County Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 30th from 5 to 10 PM.  Buy tickets at www.muledeer.org/events

DUCKS UNLIMITED BANQUET – The other fundraising banquet going on April 30th is the DU banquet hosted by the Goldendale Chapter of this well-known conservation organization.  Like the other fundraising banquets, there will be dinner, drinks, raffle prizes, games, live auction and silent auction items available for purchase.  This fundraiser takes place at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds in Goldendale and the doors open at 5 PM.  Tickets can be purchased at www.ducks.org/events

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com