by John Kruse, February 14, 2021

NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON – Travis Dawson at Sportsman’s Warehouse in East Wenatchee says Fish Lake in Chelan County is giving up numerous perch under the ice and while they are not big there are a few nice sized trout being caught there as well. Lake Chelan is fishing well for Kokanee right now. Anglers have been catching most of them around 25 Mile Creek State Park. Rufus Woods Reservoir is fishing very good for triploids but expect crowded boat launches if you go, because the word has gotten out about this winter fishery for big rainbows.

NORTHEAST WASHINGTON - Freddie Giannecchini at Clark’s All-Sports in Colville says boaters fishing on Lake Roosevelt have done better than shore anglers lately for walleye but even out of the boat, walleye catches have been moderate as best. Some of the ice-fishing lakes have been giving up trout and perch though many anglers are close mouthed as to which ones they are fishing. However, it is no secret Curlew Lake is fishing very well for perch right now under the ice. A variety of different lures to include Swedish Pimples are working here.

COLUMBIA BASIN - Pete Fischer at MarDon Resort reports the chilly and breezy weather has kept most anglers off of Potholes Reservoir but the Seep Lakes below the reservoir are a good bet and less windy option. Fishing at both Corral and Long Lakes has been decent recently and producing some nice catches of rainbow trout. Still fishing Powerbait or a marshmallow/worm combo about 18-inches off the bottom with a sliding egg sinker is a good way to catch these fish.

The waterfowl hunting season wrapped up on February 6th with a special youth and military hunting day. Levi Meseberg with MarDon Resort and Paul Wood, an active-duty service member from Fairchild Air Force Base, took a group of six kids out for a great day of duck hunting at Potholes Reservoir that included a healthy harvest of diving and puddle ducks and a bonus goose.

TRI-STATE OUTFITTERS CLOSING: The Tri-State Outfitters Store in Moses Lake, open since 1982, will be closing its doors for good on May 12th. Three other Tri-State Outfitters stores in Montana and Idaho will remain open. According to store manager Sandy Keller, there will be some clearance sales but the majority of the store inventory will be shipped to the other company stores. Tri-State Outfitters Vice President Mike Perrin was asked about why this particular store was closing. He said their business does not own the building the store is located in and the lease on the building was coming up. In Perrin’s words, “It came down to whether it made sense to renew that lease based on the current numbers being generated by that store”. Perrin said they do regret closing this store because they love the staff and the clientele who shop there and several customers have reached out to him to express their sadness about this closure.

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE – Manager Brandy Moore at Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus says catch and release sturgeon fishing is going well below John Day Dam. Walleye fishing has also been productive (both day and night) on the Columbia from The Dalles to Boardman. Trolling crankbaits has been effective and the Walleye Deep Bandit is the hot plug in both dark and chrome colors. Try putting a little garlic scent on this plug for added attraction. One or two people have caught walleye over ten pounds recently and some nice smallmouth bass are being caught too by walleye anglers.


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


PHOTOS:

1. These kids had a successful youth hunting day on Potholes Reservoir thanks to Levi Meseberg and Paul Wood – Photo courtesy MarDon Resort