BY ANDY WALGAMOTT, NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE
Tens of thousands of anglers will descend on lakes across Washington this weekend for what is shaping up to be a glorious opening day of lowland fishing season, a tradition that for many families goes back decades and generations.
Lakes across the Evergreen State have been stocked with millions of rainbow trout and kokanee in preparation for the big day, and the fourth Saturday in April also marks the kickoff of WDFW’s annual statewide Trout Derby, which features specially marked fish redeemable for great prizes.
Speaking of, spring also plays host to youth fishing derbies like the one last weekend held by the Ephrata Lions Club at Oasis Park.
There, Lettie Nelson took home quite a haul for her grand prize catch, a 12-plus-pound, 30-inch rainbow.
Correspondent Chris Marcolin says Nelson caught her fish on PowerBait slathered with with shrimp oil, and she won a tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, pairs of chairs and headlamps, telescopic fishing rod and fishing tackle pack for it.
“This is one of many community fishing events held throughout the state for kids,” he points out.
Indeed, this weekend will see the 22nd Annual Special Needs Youth Fishing Derby at Auburn’s Mill Pond Park, Kitsap Poggie Club’s Kid’s Fishing Party at Jarstad Park in Gorst, Lake McMurray Annual Youth Fishing Derby and Tye Lake Kids Fishing Event in Monroe.
Early May events include Mount Si Fish & Game Club Annual Kid’s Trout Derby in Snoqualmie, Auburn Kids Fishing Derby in Auburn, I’m Hooked Family Fishing at Steel Lake in Federal Way, Algona Kids Fishing Derby, Jennings Pond Kids Fish-In and Silver Lake Kids Fish-In in Everett and Clear Lake Kids Fishing Event in Spokane.
Youth events continue well into May and June, including two in the Okanogan that Marcolin pointed out – the Ron Schimke Memorial Kids Fishing Derby on May 16th at Conconully State Park and the Bonaparte Lake Kids Fishing Day on June 6th. The latter is sponsored by the Tonasket Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and the American Legion Post 82 in Tonasket, he said.
Then there’s the always popular Merwin Day of Fishing For Kids with Disabilities on July 11 this year at the Merwin Fish Hatchery on the North Fork Lewis River at Ariel.
For more details on this year’s events, see WDFW’s Youth Fishing Events page, and for information on upcoming fishing derbies, see the agency’s Fishing Contest Calendar for derbies like this weekend’s at Mineral and Offutt Lakes.
ODFW also hosts a series of free Family Fishing Events beginning this weekend. Go here for more.
