by Mike Carey, April 27, 2021

April 24, 2021 Lowland Lakes Opening Day Creel Report — Mike Schmuck, District 5 Fish Biologist, WDFW

Anglers were happy to be able to get out for a day of fishing after losing out on the 2020 opener. Catch rates
varied widely among the lakes we were able to creel; however, most anglers were happy about their overall
fishing experience and very excited to see our staff out in the field interacting with the public. Rainy, cool
weather may have contributed to lower overall catch rates; although, poor survival of fingerling Rainbow
Trout is also a possible factor on our more popular waters like Park and Blue Lake.

• Park Lake: Overall, had relatively low effort and the second lowest catch rates of all
our opening day waters at 1.8 trout per angler. Boat anglers averaged 2.4 fish per
angler while shore anglers averaged 1.3. Most of the fish retained (75%) were 13.5—
16 inches. It’s been six years since the last rehab of Park and Blue Lakes and it looks
as though fingerling survival is down, likely due to predation by perch and bass. In
opening day lakes with no interspecific competition, we expect approximately 80%
of our opening day catch to be our yearling 11—13-inch fish. It looks as though very
few fingerlings are recruiting to the fishery; however, those that do are growing well.
As a result, angler catch rates decline.

• Blue Lake: Similar to Park Lake, Blue Lake provided poor fishing on the opener. Catch
rates averaged only 0.55 fish per angler. Of the 159 anglers interviewed only three
were boat anglers, so we can not make meaningful comparisons between catch rates
of boat and shore anglers. Approximately 70% of the Rainbow Trout retained were
13—16.5 inches. It’s been six years since the last chemical rehab of Blue Lake and
it’s very likely that predation and competition for food resources is limiting survival
of fingerling Rainbow Trout. In lakes with good fingerling survival anglers should
expect close to 80% of their opening day catch to be comprised of 11—13-inch yearling Rainbows.

• Deep Lake: We were unable to conduct a proper creel survey on Deep Lake; however, our Enforcement Captain
spent a couple hours checking anglers on the lake and reported excellent fishing and large fish. Deep Lake
receives 15,000 ‘catchable’ 12—14-inch Rainbow Trout each year and should provide excellent fishing for the
remainder of spring.

• Vic Meyers (aka Rainbow Lake): This little lake fished very well on the opener and produced a very nice 2lb.
Rainbow Trout for one angler. Catch rates averaged 3 fish per angler and fish caught were between 12—14
inches. This small lake received some fingerling Rainbow Trout in 2020 but was also supplemented with 600
‘catchable’ 12—14-inch Rainbow Trout prior to the opener in 2021.

• Warden Lake: Catch rates for anglers on Warden Lake were the highest for all lakes surveyed in Grant County at
3.5 fish per angler. Due to abundant bass, perch and sunfish we stocked Warden Lake with 7,700 ‘catchable’
12—14-inch Rainbow Trout prior to the opener this year, which comprised the majority of the catch.