Fishing Articles
Tips from Stacie Kelsey on lakes in SW Washington
Clark:
Battle Ground Lake - shore access is not great and usually people sit on the good spots for awhile so to get one you need to get there early. There is a trail all the way around the lake, a bit rough in spots. Pay launch. Boat ramp is a little rough if you have to back down very far. We have catchable eastern brook although the catchable program has been eliminated. There are excess ad...
The Big One
Nov 20,2002
This all took place about 14 years ago, it’s been sometime so I’ll try and remember it as it happened. One weekday after work, had some buddy’s stop by and we decided to throw some horseshoes and drink a couple of beers. After about 45 minutes of shooting the bull and complaining about work the conversation shifted to salmon fishing. Scott mentioned that he heard the bite was on at ...
The 90s See Records Fishing Records Fall
These are exciting times for anglers who seek trophy trout here in Washington State. I have looked at the records for a variety of species over the years, and because they hadn’t changed in decades, I was pretty discouraged about the potential of ever seeing my name listed next to one. Now, I’m not going to tell you that my name is appearing anywhere in the state’s record books, but the possibilit...
Fall Upriver Brights of the Hanford Reach
Fall Upriver Brights of the Hanford Reach
By Mike Carey
October 5-6,2002
Every year I read about the great fishing at Hanford. Chinook ranging from 30-50 pounds being caught left and right. Chinook fishing getting better every year. And every year I think "maybe next year - I really need to check out this fishery". Then I read about the boat launch at Vernita Bridge being a 4 wheel dr...
Palmer Lake Smallmouth Bass Fishery
When I suggested an article about Palmer Lake and its potential for a state record smallmouth bass, I told the editor that I may have some trouble getting the scoop on this one. Palmer Lake is in northern Okanogan County in Eastern Washington, and the folks up here are very protective of their waters. This is a remote region of the state and most anglers are tight-lipped about the fishing. Su...
Angling a Piece of Cake for Trout at Blue Lake
I’ll admit that I had fished Blue Lake once before, but it was so long ago I think I was still in college. That makes it ancient history. Very ancient. I didn’t know what to expect, but I had some good reasons to give it a try.
Early bird fishers on Blue lake.
You see in the Fall of 1999, the state "rehabed" Blue Lake (and Park by the way, but you’ll hear about it later), and then re...
Banks Lake Bass Fishing 2002
Banks Lake Bass
July 4, 2002
Construction of the Grand Coulee Dam was by far one of the most significant projects to affect Washington State. With the completion of the dam, huge reservoirs were created which became destination spots for spiny ray fishermen. Banks lake is a 32 mile long reservoir that holds a plethora of fish species. It is stocked with rainbow and has kokanee, perch, crapp...
Beda Lake of Grant County
The first time I fished this 45-acre lake was in the late 1970’s. The remarkable thing about it at that time was the wide girth of the 13-inch rainbows we pulled from the lake while fishing from the bank with hellgrammites. Selective gear rules now apply to the lake, including a one fish limit.
As I drove down the access road more than twenty years later, I spotted a mule deer with velvet h...
Warmwater Fans Flock to Evergreen Reservoir
When I planned an extended mid-May fishing trip to several waters in North Central Washington, I was sure to include Evergreen Reservoir. The lakes that were included on my list I had either never fished, or fished so long ago I didn’t know what to expect. I added Evergreen Reservoir to the number of lakes to visit. Its reputation for producing good numbers of a long list of warmwater species assu...
Blue Gloves
Blue Gloves
By Anton Jones
I am a fishing guide in North Central Washington on Lake Chelan. I fish over 100 days per year. Among the great joys in my life are my grandchildren. Now that we live overlooking beautiful Lake Chelan, our grandkids come to visit more often. They call me Papa. During the summer, the two older grandkids (9 & 6) love to play in the water, whether it is swimming in th...
Dry Lake Fishing a Delight
Of course you can’t tell by reading this, but I ‘m whispering. Whispering because I’m about to reveal one of the best kept secrets in spinyray fishing in North Central Washington. Whether you’re a tournament-class bass angler, or just someone who wants to take the kids out for an action-packed day, Dry Lake will fill the bill. I am confident that Dry Lake is pretty much a secret because everyone I...
Grant County's Park and Blue Lakes
An opening weekend tradition for many Washington anglers, 346-acre Park Lake and 536-acre Blue Lake are up to the challenge. Each year over 300,000 fingerlings are planted between the two lakes and to insure an excellent outing each lake receives 25,000 catchable rainbows (8 to 12-inches) in April. R.V.s begin showing up along Highway 17, which parallels the northwest shore of both lakes, nea...
Copyright © 2025 Northwest Fishing Reports