Weather aside, the first signs of spring are upon us. The days are getting longer, temps are starting to inch upward and the state is in the process of stocking area lakes in anticipation of the trout opener later this month.

There have been plants all over the state since the beginning of the year, but we can finally tell you about some local waters that are getting some fish in them. The downside is that the local lakes that did receive their plants of rainbows will not open until the general opener on April 27. Still this gives us some good news to report for a change. All the lakes are in Whatcom County, but in the next few weeks we should start to see some lakes closer to home getting theirs. Cain Lake to almost 6,000 fish, while Silver received over 11,000 fish. Lastly, Toad Lake got 3,600 fish with an additional 600 of the larger triploid trout.

Now is the time to start preparing for the large crowds that will be after these fish. You need a 2002 fishing license and remember that the two-day option will not be good for the opening weekend. If you haven’t put new line on your reel, you have a couple of weeks to get that done. As you read the Sunday paper you will start to see many of the sporting goods retailers will be having sales on various tackle and baits. Get them while you can. While there will not be a big run on Power Bait like there is for hot pink Buzz Bombs during a humpy run, the stocks will dwindle as the season progresses.

ANGLERS COULD

TRY the East Side

Some of you cannot wait to get out there and drown a worm and if the weather is warming up on our side of the Cascades, the water temps are rising over the mountains. As mentioned many of the east side lakes have been receiving regular trout plants and many anglers are having very good days on the water. Klineline Pond has been averaging four fish per angler. Other impoundments in the Yakima area are also a good bet for the eager angler.

For those of you who want to do a little warmwater action, now is the time. The rising temps are triggering the spawn for many of the fish.

Perch are getting active in the Seep Lakes areas along with Potholes. When the perch are active you can bet the bass will not be far behind. The bass are putting on weight to get them through the spawn and with the perch active, they will feed heavily on them. A crankbait in that pattern or a crawfish type bait hopped along the bottom would be a good bet.

The first weeks of April are when the walleye are on the prowl. Reports of decent catches have been coming from numerous areas on the Columbia, from the John Day Dam upstream. The big impoundments on the other side are also places to look.

EARLY TURKEY

HUNT IS QUIET

Pressure for the early turkey season has been very light. Doesn’t seem that many locals put in for the hunt, and the people I have talked to on the other side have said the woods are pretty quiet. Should be plenty of birds for the general opener that starts on April 15. Again, by now you should have done your preseason scouting or else be prepared to hunt on the crowded public land.

MISC. NOTES

One often-overlooked hunting opportunity that can be good right now is coyote hunting. Many of their prey species are more active with the warming weather, so the yodel dogs are going to be out and about. The pelts should still be in decent shape, but as the weeks go on, their quality will start to go down. This can be a good tune-up for the upcoming big game seasons plus it is a great cure for cabin fever.

One bit of good news for those waiting for the shrimping season to start, a trial shrimping fishery will open from a line starting at the shipwreck on the Marine 8/9 boundary one mile due west, the south paralleling the eastern shoreline. This will start on April 1 and will be open for about one week.