Northwest Fishing Reports

Last year some browns were put into Offut lake I caught one last week.(wow)
this fish was over 2 pounds!! How fast do these fish grow?

I believe they grow faster than rainbows, they definitely can get a lot bigger than rainbows. I definitely think they taste better too!

bigbasstaz wrote:Last year some browns were put into Offut lake I caught one last week.(wow)
this fish was over 2 pounds!! How fast do these fish grow?

All they do is eat smaller fish...they stalk their prey and gorge on smaller fish...nice job!

bigbasstaz wrote:Last year some browns were put into Offut lake I caught one last week.(wow)
this fish was over 2 pounds!! How fast do these fish grow?

More reason for me to get down there. If the weather improves for this weekend,I'll definatley be down.
What about you?

I thought I rember reading that offut got planted with brown fingerlings. Did they get a plant of catchables as well?
That lake has a long stocking sheet. Good little lake

kevinb wrote:

bigbasstaz wrote:Last year some browns were put into Offut lake I caught one last week.(wow)
this fish was over 2 pounds!! How fast do these fish grow?

More reason for me to get down there. If the weather improves for this weekend,I'll definatley be down.
What about you?

send me a pm before you head out I'll give you a little info.

sweet...I will most likely bring my nephew down(my other fish'n buddy) in a couple years,he's going to blast past me.

Are brown trout common in allot of our Lakes? I have only caught one. Hicks Lake in Thurston County. This was a very pretty fish about 19", I caught it on a topwater plug. This fish seemed so active I didn't even think it was a trout until I saw it. I have caught many trout on my bass gear but never a topwater plug. Is this normal for Browns?

bassmasterderek wrote:Are brown trout common in allot of our Lakes? I have only caught one. Hicks Lake in Thurston County. This was a very pretty fish about 19", I caught it on a topwater plug. This fish seemed so active I didn't even think it was a trout until I saw it. I have caught many trout on my bass gear but never a topwater plug. Is this normal for Browns?

I think so. I once cautht a brown trout that was about 19 inches at Cranberry Lake when the fish hit a Rapala on the surface. In fact the fish missed the plug on the first cast but nailed it on a 2nd cast. Beautiful fish!

I have also missed hits, from what I assumne to be browns, on floating rapalas

Bass Tracker wrote:

bassmasterderek wrote:Are brown trout common in allot of our Lakes? I have only caught one. Hicks Lake in Thurston County. This was a very pretty fish about 19", I caught it on a topwater plug. This fish seemed so active I didn't even think it was a trout until I saw it. I have caught many trout on my bass gear but never a topwater plug. Is this normal for Browns?

I think so. I once cautht a brown trout that was about 19 inches at Cranberry Lake when the fish hit a Rapala on the surface. In fact the fish missed the plug on the first cast but nailed it on a 2nd cast. Beautiful fish!

I wouldn't mind targeting these Brown's anyone know goods lakes for them and any suggestions for targeting them?

The Brown Trout U.S. record was caught in the White River in Arkansas tipping the scales just over 40lbs. They grow fairly fast and they are hardy handling temps reaching 80 and they can live quit long. On the Northeast side of the state there are natrually reproduceing populations in many of our streams and rivers. The colville River and Upper Crab creek has been a fantastic fishery for these introduced fish. The lake poulations are mainly restocked.

bassmasterderek wrote:

Bass Tracker wrote:

bassmasterderek wrote:Are brown trout common in allot of our Lakes? I have only caught one. Hicks Lake in Thurston County. This was a very pretty fish about 19", I caught it on a topwater plug. This fish seemed so active I didn't even think it was a trout until I saw it. I have caught many trout on my bass gear but never a topwater plug. Is this normal for Browns?

I think so. I once cautht a brown trout that was about 19 inches at Cranberry Lake when the fish hit a Rapala on the surface. In fact the fish missed the plug on the first cast but nailed it on a 2nd cast. Beautiful fish!

I wouldn't mind targeting these Brown's anyone know goods lakes for them and any suggestions for targeting them?

I've used Rattl'n Raps and had good success.

Kevinb, Rattl'n Raps are how we have slammed the big ones in the lower Yellowstone River in Montana when they wouldn't take anything else.

When Henleys Resort was still open at Silver Lake in Pierce there was a huge amount of Big Browns in the lake as well as some very large RBT. In 2005 I had my share of a few. The way I nabbed these monsters, was a worm on a hook free floating w/your bail open,..cast out, let the worm gradually sink, leave your bail open and watch your line. As soon as you see your line "swim away" from you set the hook! This worked all the time! The fish were very finicky and if they felt any wieght on your line they would let go. It was a different way to fish Trout for me,..but after speaking w/some of the locals who used to fish this lake I tried w/much sucsess! I've been back to Silver since that day and except for a few RBT no luck with the Browns. Henleys is closed now but you can still fish at Silver. I have a pic posted on the reports on Silver if you want to look, pic date is 7-3-2005 posted by Big Nate.

Offut Lake, as well as Hick, Lawrence, Long, Pattison, and a few other lakes have all been stocked with brown trout fry. These stockings are typically about 5,000 or so but depend on availability. Brown trout appear to grow quickly often reaching 14" in their first full year. Survival appears to be very poor in most lakes but the quality of fish caught can be very good. We have sampled BT in the 10-12lb in area lakes but they don’t appear abundant. One reason most anglers don't catch browns has to do with their approach. Anglers aren’t as likely to catch a brown on power bait or trolling pop-gear (but is does happen). Plugs and bass lures are used by some anglers targeting browns.

Keep is St Clair Lake in Thurston Co. on the radar. The lake was stocked with ~11,400 brown trout fry in 2007.

As of 2006, no brown trout will be stocked in Silver Lake due to concerns from USFWS that they may get into the Nisqually.

fishcounter wrote:Offut Lake, as well as Hick, Lawrence, Long, Pattison, and a few other lakes have all been stocked with brown trout fry. These stockings are typically about 5,000 or so but depend on availability. Brown trout appear to grow quickly often reaching 14" in their first full year. Survival appears to be very poor in most lakes but the quality of fish caught can be very good. We have sampled BT in the 10-12lb in area lakes but they don’t appear abundant. One reason most anglers don't catch browns has to do with their approach. Anglers aren’t as likely to catch a brown on power bait or trolling pop-gear (but is does happen). Plugs and bass lures are used by some anglers targeting browns.

Keep is St Clair Lake in Thurston Co. on the radar. The lake was stocked with ~11,400 brown trout fry in 2007.

Thanks for the info fishcounter. St. Clair happens to be one of my favorites!