WDFW has for a number of years now been stocking trout in the days prior to Thanksgiving and promoting trout fishing on Black Friday. I've never done it. Cuz I'm OK with trout fishing coming to a close at the end of October. The weather usually goes to hell around here in November anyway, other than a few well known reprobates on this forum? Well curiosity got the better of me the other day, so on Thursday I asked my SIL and grandson if they wanted to go fishing. Turns out they couldn't on Friday but could on Saturday - no soccer or basketball this weekend, for a change.
WDFW stocked "jumbo" trout is some local lakes. My SIL has often fished Offut Lake, south of Oly. I fished it a lot in my younger days because my then girlfriend and future wife lived there. Anyhow, WDFW stocked trout from Eel Springs hatchery, and I fished another lake during Covid when the state re-opened fishing in this state. I remember that hatchery raises some really nice looking trout. Saturday didn't disappoint. There was no W, so it didn't feel particularly cold. My SIL hooked the first fish; it looked like a bright rainbow of 15" or better. But he lost it. He and I then each caught a perch. I laughed; I haven't caught a perch in decades as best I can remember. Then over the course of a couple more hours we caught some more trout, and finally near the end of the afternoon my grandson caught a nice bright rainbow, making him a happy camper. Me too, since that was the whole point of being out there in November. Now if we can just get in a few casting lessons between soccer and basketball practice and games - no easy task with this busy 11 year old.
WDFW stocked "jumbo" trout is some local lakes. My SIL has often fished Offut Lake, south of Oly. I fished it a lot in my younger days because my then girlfriend and future wife lived there. Anyhow, WDFW stocked trout from Eel Springs hatchery, and I fished another lake during Covid when the state re-opened fishing in this state. I remember that hatchery raises some really nice looking trout. Saturday didn't disappoint. There was no W, so it didn't feel particularly cold. My SIL hooked the first fish; it looked like a bright rainbow of 15" or better. But he lost it. He and I then each caught a perch. I laughed; I haven't caught a perch in decades as best I can remember. Then over the course of a couple more hours we caught some more trout, and finally near the end of the afternoon my grandson caught a nice bright rainbow, making him a happy camper. Me too, since that was the whole point of being out there in November. Now if we can just get in a few casting lessons between soccer and basketball practice and games - no easy task with this busy 11 year old.
