Visit in May or June if youre looking to fill your cooler with pan-sized kokanee. Like any kokanee lake, the fishing can vary drastically from one year to the next. The deepest water in Loon Lake is in the southeastern end of the lake, and this is generally the best area to troll for kokanee. See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. Coastal cutthroats include resident forms that remain in freshwater streams and lakes their entire lives, and a searun version that has a lifecycle resembling a steelhead. In Snohomish County, the lakes with tagged trout are Lake Ballinger, Bosworth Lake, Lake Ki, Martha Lake, Riley Lake, Silver Lake and Storm Lake. With a sticker price of $10,000 to $13,000, its a thrifty persons Tesla or a big spenders electric bike. OLYMPIA - The Washington trout season begins in earnest Saturday, April 23, when hundreds of lakes stocked with catchable trout open for business and the 2022 statewide trout derby kicks off. On good years, 16- to 18-inch kokanee are average. WDFW also stocks brook trout in some waters, including some hatchery reared triploid brookies that, like triploid rainbows, are sterile and faster-growing than fertile trout. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking all anglers to fish responsibly in the pandemic by practicing social distancing, wearing masks and having a backup plan if their preferred fishing hole is too crowded. A friend catches giant Lahontans the size of steelhead at the lake. Theyre native to a handful of lakes in Washington, but have also been stocked in dozens of lakes across the state by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Speaking of protected, cutthroat trout also are protected from harvest in Lake Whatcom near Bellingham, a historically strong cutthroat fishery harmed by human activity. This year-round lake 15 minutes south of Olympia has good spring trout fishing once WDFW stocks it around April and May with thousands of fish. But lake Roosevelt is more consistent than most for both numbers and size. The big lake whitefish is Washington State's first record catch of 2023. Some of the lakes recently stocked include Island Lake in Kitsap County; Island, Lost, Nahwatzel, and Spencer lakes in Mason County; Lake Sylvia in Grays Harbor County; and Gibbs, Teal and Leland lakes in Jefferson County. The award-winning chef came to the Everett Performing Arts Center for a spicy cooking demo while fielding audience questions. Hitting your local lake offers a great alternative to the chaos of Black Friday.. Potholes Reservoir. Their preferred habitat is deep, cold water lakes and reservoirs. When learning how to catch lake trout, its important to know that they prefer light lures so consider stocking up on small spinners and spoons. There arent usually many opportunities to catch kokanee from shore. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. April 20, 2022. Mattoon Lake stocked a total of 55 10lb rainbow, last on December 1st, 2022. Need a fishing license? Fair to occasionally quite good fisheries for lake trout also exist in northeastern Washington, specifically at Deer Lake and Loon Lake in Stevens County and Bead Lake in Pend Oreille County. Some reliable spots to catch them often include Beehive and Lily lakes in Chelan County and Bonaparte, Crawfish and Lost lakes in Okanogan County. But theres a great under-the-radar kokanee fishery here as well. Its a historically great kokanee spot thats been closed to boats in recent years due to lack of access, but the WDFW is working toward opening a boat launch on the lake. Met me at the Yakima River, anyone? This is still a lake with trophy trout potential for several species, but seeing as that record has stood since 1965, its probably not going to be easy to top. These fisheries rely on continued stocking, but still offer some fun fishing opportunities. Westslope cutthroat trout Fish Lake, Leavenworth, WA. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Technically another char species, brookies have quite taken to clear and cold streams and lakes in Washingtons more mountainous areas, where they reproduce and at times can threaten native species by outcompeting them. In fact, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has also stocked channel cats in dozens of lakes. Some years, 16-inch kokes are par for the course. What Rod Does Andy Montgomery Use For Skipping? Hot pink and orange tend to be top-producing colors. Kokanee at Lake Roosevelt tend to hold a little shallower than in many lakes, often within 10 to 20 feet of the surface, especially in spring. https://www.fishingduo.com/5-overlooked-lakes-for-big-trout-in-washington-state/, https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/wdfw-to-stock-more-than-147000-trout-in-washington-lakes/, https://stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/. The lake is 32.8 acres in size, with a maximum depth of 45 feet and an average depth of 22 feet. Theres often some great fishing in deep water north shore Silcox Island. Users of the data should be aware that it takes aminimum of 2 yearsfor fish to grow to harvestable size post stocking. Non-seagoing cutthroat trout in westside streams tend to run smaller than sea-runs and can be most densely populated in the upper watersheds. In Eastern Washington, Westslope cutthroat trout also are found in both native and stocked populations, especially on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains and across the mountains of northeastern Washington. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. If youre out after 18-inch brutes but dont mind slower days, wait until August and plan to fish deeper. Open to anyone with a valid 2021 fishing license, the contest requires no entry fee or registration. Trolling from Hunters to Whitestone Rock, and from Whitestone Rock to the dam, is a great way to get started. A trout plant of roughly 63,400 is underway in 18 year-round lakes in King, Snohomish, Whatcom, San Juan, Skagit and Island counties with some already stocked. We calculated the density of stocked fish per acre based amount of fish stocked in the last 12 months, divided by the acreage of the lake. 1. But in some Washington lakes its possible to catch them up to 20 inches and weighing up to 3 pounds. Angler success has been good, with most fish in the 8-14 inch range and an occasional large brook trout of 2-3 pounds. Kokanee and smaller trout are often on the menu in Washington. It expands our horizons a little bit and is a chance to enjoy the resources that weve got.. We will also show you which kinds of fish you're likely to catch this month. Rock Lake. Best Trout Fishing in Washington(Complete Anglers Guide), Lake Trout (Mackinaw) Fishing in Washington, complete guide to the best fly fishing rivers in Washington, the best steelhead fishing rivers in Washington in a separate article, free guide to easy trout fishing techniques and tips, FioRito Lake and Mattoon Lake in Kittitas County, Dalton Lake in Franklin County (Tri-Cities), Mountain Lake in San Juan County (on Orcas Island), Campbell Lake and Cavanaugh Lake in Skagit County, Davis Lake, Marshall Lake and several smaller lakes in Pend Oreille County, Badger Lake in Spokane County (plus a few others with modest plants), Merrill Lake (fly fishing) in Cowlitz County, Antillon (Lower and Upper) and Fish Lake in Chelan County, Martha Lake (Warm Beach) in Snohomish County, Aeneas Lake and Blue Lake (Sinlahekin) in Okanogan County. The best kokanee fishing on Lake Chelan is typically from mid-April through the end of June, but some of the biggest fish tend to be caught a bit later in the summer. The forest service provides campgrounds, boat launch facilities and shoreline hiking trails around both lakes. Using jigs or minnows is a good choice. View Fishing Details, For March: Another eastern U.S. native, Eastern brook trout are widely dispersed around Washington. About 45 minutes from Spokane, Loon Lake offers 1,086 acres of water, and is a mixed warm and cold-water fishery that once gave up Washingtons state record lake trout (Mackinaw). Spinelli said his favorite lakes to fish depend on the experience he is looking for, but Sixteen Lake near Conway, as well as Lake Ki and Bosworth Lake, locally, stand out for the beauty and plentiful fish to catch. For up-to-date stocking information this fall, anglers should visit the catchable trout stocking report on the WDFW website. The lakes and rivers weve already mentioned have typical stocked and native rainbows, but WDFW also plants some lakes with triploid rainbow trout, especially in east of the Cascade Mountains. Are steelhead and rainbow trout the same? Albright and Blue lakes in Okanogan County have also been stocked at times. What lakes are stocked with trout in Washington state? In northeastern Washington, Sacheen Lake in Pend Oreille County, Fish Lake in Spokane County and Deer Lake and Madgett Lake in Stevens County are among lakes stocked with good numbers of typical brookies. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2003. Trout marked with orange tags have been stocked in Washington lakes, offering prizes valued at $38,000. This is the most common species of trout caught in Washington, in large part because rainbow trout is the most common species of troutstockedin Washington. Brown bullheads are the most common. In 2021, WDFW says that over 33,000 fish have been stocked within Grays Harbor and nearly 30,000 in Pacific County. Lake Merwin is a little larger at over 3,800 acres, and has been heavily stocked with kokanee by WDFW. Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking 2023, Everett Herald and Sound Publishing, Inc. Advertising in The Herald Business Journal, wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes, Edmonds seeks traffic-calming program applications, After controversial cutting, Middle May managers look to the future, Everett schools may slash 140 jobs, shutter virtual academy, Annual nerd migration draws locals to Emerald City Comic Con, After wrongful stop, news carrier will be on Arlington police boards, Man accused of Bothell cold case killing can stand trial, judge rules, Former county staffer takes job with Biden administration, In Everett visit, acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi offers food for thought, Museum honors former Herald journalists for spotlighting history, Car, bike or UFO? Are there golden trout in Washington state? Generally, Ive organized this overview by trout species, including those that are easily caught across wide stretches of Washington, plus some that will take some more doing to find and catch. The Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked more than 16 million trout in state waterways this year. View Fishing Details, For March: WDFW has stocked kokanee here in abundance in years past, and there is now a huge kokanee population here. Pierce County. Also, in a few select waters, Lahontan cutthroat trout that are native to inland areas of Nevada and California (notably Pyramid Lake in Nevada) are stocked in a handful of Washington waters that fit their unique needs. Where is the biggest trout in Washington? Coastal cutthroat are a native species generally located west of the Cascades and into the lower Columbia River and its tributaries, while Westslope cutthroat are found east of the Cascades (the Westslope in the name refers to their location west of the Rockies). Kokanee feed primarily on plankton. The Thanksgiving weekend is one of the best times of year to go fishing in Washington, and its also a great time to introduce visiting friends or relatives to the joy of fishing, said Steve Caromile, inland fish program manager with WDFW. Deer Lake is stocked between March and May, October and November with rainbow trout by the Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery. (Merwin also is one of the select number of lakes in Washington planted with tiger muskies.). Trout can be found in Washington lakes and rivers year-round, with fishing season usually beginning around April and ending in the fall. No matter what lure you use, its universally agreed that the best way to tempt kokanee is to add a kernel of shoepeg corn (or sometimes other small tidbit of bait) to the hook. Here are some regular brown trout stocking sites across Washington: Some of the streams that at times can fish well for brown trout, and might be worth exploring, include Crab Creek (Lincoln, Grant and Adams counties), Colville River (Stevens County), Rock Creek (Adams and Whitman counties), and Spokane River (Spokane County). Kokanee salmon are native to Lake Whatcom (and also to neighboring Lake Samish, a solid kokanee lake that narrowly missed making the cut for this list; see below for additional kokanee fisheries including Lake Samish). Cranberry Lake in Island County (on Whidbey Island). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. https://stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-washington-state/, What time of year do you use topwater frogs? These European natives, a.k.a. Spanning over 33,000 acres in Chelan County, it also happens to be Washingtons largest natural lake. However, these triploids will run their course unless more are stocked. Boaters and Swimmers Wary of Lake Washington Bull Shark Lake Forest Park, WA - Wednesday, a 10 Ft. Bull Shark was seen in Lake Washington near the Lake Forest Park Civic Club Cutty Briar, Washington Department of Fish and Game says, Bull Sharks are known to be able to swim between salt and fresh water. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. It does not store any personal data. There are three primary species of cutthroat trout found in Washington. Its a partnership between folks who sell fishing licenses and the state to get more people out fishing and give them excuses to visit some of these sporting goods stores, Spinelli said. This is one gauge of how likely you are to catch a rainbow on average, if you're trolling on the lake for a couple hours. The average price for a private, polar bears will readily scavenge on marine mammal carcasses. Luckily for us anglers, they are also stocked in a few high mountain lakes here in Washington The difficulty for anglers is that goldens are typically found only in lakes that are very difficult to access. Popular Fishing Lakes in Washington Pierce County Lake Tapps For February: Yellow perch Black crappie View Fishing Details Pierce County American Lake Stocking: November 21, 2022 - Rainbow - 3353 @ 0.6lbs October 12, 2022 - Rainbow - 425 @ 2.33lbs For February: Kokanee View Fishing Details Chelan County Lake Chelan For February: This article primarily serves as a jumping-off point, where you can link into more detailed information about the specific trout fishing topics and locations that fit your interests. Gavin Boggs with the new Washington record lake whitefish. Another hot spot closer to home for many is near the fish hatchery at Minter Creek, located near the end of Carr Inlet less than 20 minutes from Gig Harbor. Sixgill The largest shark to inhabit Puget Sound waters the most often is the Sixgill, and it is approximately 16-20 feet long. Their preference for deep open waters means you typically need a boat to have a good shot at reliably catching them. Typical kokanee here run around 12 inches, with some well into the teens. The Everett Museum of History celebrated Dan Bates and Julie Muhlstein, whose work often highlighted local history. A full list of participating lakes is available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby/lakes. Wild populations of coastal cutthroat trout are found scattered around the streams and lakes of Western Washington, and a fair number of lakes in this region are stocked with hatchery-reared cutthroat. Conventional wisdom suggests that late spring is the best time to catch trout, especially if youre looking for larger fish. Some waters, such as the Cowlitz River, also are stocked with searun cutthroat trout. Theres a public boat ramp on the northern shore of American Lake, and a lot of anglers find success trolling just off the boat ramp in around 80 feet of water. Seumas Petrie is the world record holder, with a 44-pound, 5-inch brown trout that measured 38.58 inches long with a 34-inch girth. Get notified by email right after a lake near you has been stocked! But both are deep and cold, and reward anglers who troll for kokanee. South Central Washingtons Best: Yakima River The Yakima is without a doubt considered by most veteran anglers to be the best trout fly fishing river in Washington, and its one of the only trout streams in the state that fly fishermen from Oregon and Idaho will travel to Washington to fish. As rods and poles returned, so did the Department of Fish and Wildlifes annual statewide trout derby to motivate those inclined with bait and tackle. We will never share your email with third parties or spam you. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. (The big lake remains a hot spot for kokanee and bass fishing, however.). , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. In lakes where multiple lines are allowed, its smart to run two lines at different depths to increase your odds. Once the trout-fishing fades in the summer your best bets will include nice numbers of largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish. The famous Lake Chelan in recent years has been stocked with generous numbers of these cutthroat trout, and cutthroat of excellent size are being caught. The four or five-mile stretch of the lake just above the dam is where youll often find the best concentrations of kokanee. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". Largemouth bass, Bluegill and Crappie are also available from this lake. Where can I fish for bull trout in Washington? High lakes fish stocking This stocking information is intended to give the user ideas where different species and quantities of fish have been stocked by WDFW and volunteers into high lakes across Washington. The watershed, or the land area that drains into the lake, is relatively small. As with California, golden trout in Washington are found in high-elevation waters that in most cases will involve a hike for you to reach. They can reach 45 inches in length, but are usually much smaller. See the latest stocking information for lakes around Washington. READ SOMETHING ELSE Table of Contentsshow 1Where is the best fly fishing in Washington State? 18-inch kokes are possible in both lakes. If there is no stocking data represented for a specific lake that is because it has not been stocked since 2000. In past seasons, WDFW has stocked as many as 400,000 kokanee fingerlings in American Lake. During the peak spring and summer season, anglers often troll depths around 50 feet at 0.8 to 1.5 mph using squid-style lures like Macks Mini Cha Cha Squidder behind a dodger. Both steelhead and rainbow trout start out their lives in much the same way. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Armed with this advice choose wisely which waters you intend to fish. The following lakes that we cover in some depth elsewhere on our website also have kokanee, and they at times can provide anywhere from fair to very good fishing for these pan-sized salmon (as well as excellent angling for other game fish). Sturgeon are easily the largest lake-dwelling fish in North America and have few natural predators, which contributes to their massive size and longevity. Yakima County. All fish stocking is done in a manner that is conducive to protecting native aquatic fauna. We want people to enjoy it, we want people to connect with nature.. June is the prime month here, and kokanee tend to be 30 or 40 feet down, sometimes shallower early in the day. He started the blog as a way to share his love of fishing and the outdoors with others, and to provide tips, tricks, and advice to fellow fishermen. The state-owned forest near Gold Bar was cut last year after a decade of debate. The best time to be on the water is in the morning. Mineral Lake stocked a total of 150 10lb rainbow, last on January 17th, 2023. It isnt the first time rumors of alligators or crocodiles have surfaced in Washington There was a report last August of an alligator in a lake near Kent. Still, its rare to see anglers who know much about kokanee fishing go home empty handed during peak season. Officials insist pollution from derailment not harming animals in Pa. Heres another non-native char, though it hails from the other side of the country in the Great Lakes and up into Canada, rather than the other side of the globe. Heading roughly south down the Interstate 5 corridor, here are some of the top options we recommend, in part because theyre loaded with catchable rainbow trout: In Central Washington, check out the following hot spots: In Eastern Washington, these are some lakes that tend to be heavily planted with rainbows: If youd rather fling flies at rainbow trout, we suggest you check out: These lakes arent stocked as heavily and most of the lakes weve already mentioned, but their fly fishing rules and conservation-minded regulations keep them full of big, feisty trout. Spokane area anglers should also keep an eye on Chapman Lake. This fish stocking information is from the year 2000 to present. Black crappie Lake Tapps. Lake Roosevelt is more properly known as Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. (1) It is unlawful to use more than two hooks to fish in saltwater, except for forage fish jigger gear and squid jig gear, and when fishing from the north jetty of the Columbia River. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife expects to stock or has stocked more than 16.6 million trout and kokanee into over 500 water bodies across the state to provide for excellent trout and kokanee fishing opportunities during 2021. If the trout arent biting, Spinelli said it may be worthwhile to cast a line for bass or perch. Maybe youd rather match the hatch on moving water? Less known are the rivers excellent smallmouth bass and walleye fisheries. Prior to the existence of a state wildlife management agency, the U.S. Forest Service stocked mountain lakes with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) , cutthroat trout (Oncohynchus clarki) and eastern brook trout . Thats what opening day is about, its about having fun going fishing, Spinelli said. Stocking: May 13, 2022 Rainbow 2500 @ 0.54lbs. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. There are just too many to mention, so check out our county-by-county coverage linked from our Washington page if youre looking for something near home. (Mike Benbow, file). The difficulty for anglers is that goldens are typically found only in lakes that are very difficult to access. The kokanee fishing gets better and better as the summer wears on, with great fishing in June and July. They hatch out of eggs laid in freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes. Polar bears will also eat birds, fish, vegetation and, fishing licence. Golden trout have been planted in select high-elevation lakes on both the west and east sides of the Cascades. Resident cutthroat are found in a range of habitats, including slower valley streams, lowland lakes, and higher-elevation creeks and lakes. The kokanee population at Banks Lake is fueled largely by abundant stocking from WDFW. . Skagit River The Skagit River is Washingtons biggest steelhead and salmon fishery. A western green drake or Drunella Grandis is a large crawling mayfly that can be easily identified for its upright mayfly wings and vibrant green color. Deputies said a confrontation with a homeowner led to the shooting. Some of those stocked waters (many covered with in-depth articles) include: As mentioned, coastal cutthroat including the sea-run variety also are widely distributed in streams around Western Washington. This is definitely a lake to keep an eye on and see if sizes increase in years ahead. However, the populations in most coastal streams are wild. Summer is the best time to be on Banks Lake chasing kokanee. The state stocks both Kachess and Keechelus lakes with generous numbers of kokanee salmon, totaling hundreds of thousands of fish most years. We will never share your email with third parties or spam you. Geeks from across Snohomish County are in the tractor beam for the states big comic and pop culture convention in Seattle. Kokanee typically measure 10 to 14 inches and weigh about a pound. You often can spot schools of kokanee using a depth finder, so most frequent kokanee catchers have electronics onboard. Three-wheeled wonder PEBL lands on the streets of Everett, Snow disrupts schools in Snohomish County; slushy weather to persist, Major Crimes Unit investigates fatal shooting on Highway 99, Smile Check offers free dental care for hundreds of kids who need it, Plan begins to replace failing street trees in Everett, Divisive bills on pursuits, gun purchases edge closer to House votes, You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing, If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to. What Is The Best Place To Go Bass Fishing, Fish Lake, Leavenworth, WA. Anglers may keep up to 5 EASTERN BROOK TROUT, but no more than 5 TROUT total, and no more than 2 can be other TROUT species. Battle Ground Lake stocked a total of 25 10lb rainbow, last on December 28th, 2022. Chelan County. In winter, try the area between the Narrows and Twenty-Five Mile Creek, and work your way downlake as the weather turns toward spring. Find a list of potential fishing holes atWDFWs species page for golden trout. For example, in a river with salmon and steelhead in its lower reaches, try fishing for cutthroat upstream from waterfalls and dams. Fishing for kokanee salmon has exploded in popularity. View Fishing Details. Those ages 15 and older need to buy an annual fishing license. Schools of fish seem to move around a lot, and you may need to cover some water. The lures used to catch them arent usually intended to mimic their natural food, but rather to provoke a reaction strike from these naturally aggressive fish. Lake Chelan also is famous for big lake trout and offers cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass, burbot and other game fish as well. The stocking is comprised of "catchables", "jumbos", "put, grow and take" and "fry/fingerling" plants. German brown trout, have made their home in a fair number of Washingtons lakes and streams, thanks both to stocking programs and natural reproduction in some waters. Tims Ponds has been historically stocked with rainbow. Sinkers. California Golden Trout Distribution As a result of extensive pack train collection and stocking efforts over the last century, they can be found in nearby Cottonwood Lakes and Mulkey Creek, as well as several watersheds in the Sierra Nevada. Try tolling at about 1.4 to 1.6 mph, and dial it down if the fish seem to prefer a slower presentation. Facing a $28M deficit, the school board adopted a blueprint for potential layoffs and deep program cuts to make ends meet. It took years of mental health treatment for the case to proceed against Alan Dean in the killing of Melissa Lee. Some of the lakes recently stocked include Island Lake in Kitsap County; Island, Lost, Nahwatzel, and Spencer lakes in Mason County; Lake Sylvia in Grays Harbor County; and Gibbs, Teal and Leland lakes in Jefferson County. But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. Native populations at Lake Whatcom have also been enhanced by major stocking operations. Within Washington state a number of lakes in the Olympic and Cascade Mountains have been stocked since the early 20th century. As a bonus, its only about 45 minutes beyond Snoqualmie Pass from the Seattle area, or a similar distance driving northwest from Ellensburg. Deer Lake in Island County, as well as Lake Erie, Lake McMurray and Sixteen Lake in Skagit County, also have tagged trout. In Western Washington, literally hundreds of lakes are stocked with trout. Spanning 4,900 acres in Whatcom County, Lake Whatcom is one of the great kokanee fishing spots in Northwest Washington. Saturday marked the beginning of trout angling season across the state and the fish are chomping at the bait. Luckily for us anglers, they are also stocked in a few high mountain lakes here in Washington. Appointed by President Biden, Kendee Yamaguchi will work in the U.S. Department of Commerce, overseeing trade professionals. The lake has been stocked with several species of fish including: largemouth bass, walleye, saugeye, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill and crappie. Its an enormous impoundment on the Columbia River, stretching 150 miles from Grand Coulee Dam into Canada. Residents and non-residents alike must have a license to fish or shellfish in Washington waters. Where is the best fly fishing in Washington State? Most anglers employ trolling to find them, using downriggers or weight to get their baits and lures down to the appropriate depth. Mackinaw are among the biggest trout family species that spend their entire lives in freshwater. For June: Kokanee Lake trout Westslope cutthroat trout. Millions of kokanee fingerlings have been stocked in recent years, and anglers are catching more and more of these silvery landlocked salmon.