by James Brauch, April 16, 2002
Westside Lakes with good shore access
Lakes With Good Beach Access
Blackman’s Southwest corner at the boat launch offers some beach access as well as a dock and many fish are caught from the shore there. Cast as far as you can with a slip sinker rig and allow it to sit on the bottom. Two docks are available at Hill Park on the East end of the lake off Park Ave. Should be an excellent prospect before the general opener and after the first week of June with a plant of 7,800 to include 1500 "superbows" and 300 triploid trout.
Flowing Good access at the county park on the north end of the lake to include a concrete boat ramp and a fishing dock. The south end has a Department of
Wildlife launch and a small dock and is probably the best bet since they plant most of the fish there. Open all year and planted with 14,300 trout in March including 4000 "superbows". Should have some hold over trout.
Gissburg Easy access all around the lake but not a good prospect. Open all year and receives plants of 2500 fish in March, April, May and June but is heavily fished and fished out quickly. Great for family fishing outings.
Ki Good access from the beach along Lakewood RD, Highway 531 but not much other access. The plant for the opener is 13,000, down 2,000 from last year and 5,000 from previous years. Mostly a boat show.
Martha (AM) County park at the south end of the lake offers excellent dock fishing and the lake should come through for the opener this year with a plant of 8,950 fish to include 2,000 "superbows" and 950 triploids. Small boat launch area and limited parking. Troll the surface with flies or spinners.
Roesiger Planted with 7,000 fish in March which were probably immediately eaten by the cormorants. Good access at the county park on the east side of the southern lake and at the boat launch off South Lake Roesiger Road. Not a good prospect for trout after the opener.
Silver Good access on the west and the east side of the lake but not a good prospect. Open year round and stocked with 4350 fish in March and May, which is down from past years, but it is heavily fished and has a real problem with milfoil and scrap fish. The Eagles Club has an annual derby for kids on this lake and the "kids classic" will be there on May 11.
Heart This Skagit County lake just outside of Anacortes has outstanding beach fishing access around the whole lake but will also be crowded until the 11,500 "superbows" which will be planted for the opener are all gone.
As noted, these are not necessarily the "best" lakes but they do have good access if you do not have a boat to fish from. Still fish with a slip sinker and floating bait close to bottom.