Hand-raised trout to home-cooked meal
WDFW recently hosted a live, virtual event to introduce new or returning anglers to the basics they need to know to catch and cook lake trout, and provide anglers with an inside look at what goes into raising hatchery trout for anglers to catch and eat.
If you missed the live event, you can watch the entire event now:
Our first stop was at the WDFW Lakewood Hatchery. Jason Smith, South Puget Sound hatchery operations manager, provided information on what goes into raising rainbow trout that get stocked into Washington lakes. Find out more about WDFW hatcheries, including information on hatchery locations around the state.*
Danny Garrett, WDFW lead warmwater fisheries biologist, Spokane Region, shared information about how to find information on the WDFW website, including how to find Lowland Lakes on the Places to Go Fishing page and how to access the Catchable Trout Plant Reports and the Annual Trout and Kokanee Stocking Plan.
Then we were off to American Lake in Lakewood, not too far from the hatchery, to meet up with WDFW’s John Pahutski, who is involved with youth fishing programs and partners from the Puget Sound Anglers and Trout Unlimited. American Lake can be accessed several different ways, including via the City of Lakewood’s American Lake Park, WDFW water access area, and access is also available through JBLM to military personnel. Information about the fish in American Lake and the fishing prospect calendar is available on the WDFW American Lake page.
Danny Garret was back to provide information about the Fish WA app, the free mobile app designed to convey up-to-the-minute fishing regulations for every lake, river, stream and marine area in the state. Also, on the app is interactive mapping to help anglers find fishing near them, details on harvest limits, allowable gear for fishable species in each body of water, locations of boat launches and other fishing access points, and more.
Additional Resources:
The 2021 Trout Derby is now underway with prizes available around the state.
Check out the WDFW’s YouTube page for more great fishing videos from Danny, including many that can be found on the Fish Washington playlist.
Learn more about Puget Sound Anglers by visiting their statewide organizations website and
South Sound Chapter website or their Facebook page .
To learn more about Trout Unlimited’s conservation work and local groups that can provide mentorship opportunities, please visit:
· Washington Council of Trout Unlimited
· Three Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Now are you reading to go fishing? Here’s how to get your fishing license:
Buy a license online https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/fishing
License dealers https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/dealers
*Note: Because of COVID-19 restrictions, all WDFW fish hatcheries and rearing facilities are closed to the public until further notice.
