Ice-out Trout

Nw Pursuits

By Jason Brooks

Making my way down to the shoreline with fly rod in hand, I soon discovered the edge of the lake still had ice on it. From the parking lot overlooking the lake we could see open water and were excited that it was finally time to go trout fishing again. The previous weeks had been a waiting game with warmer temperatures and wind slowly taking the ice off, but the protected shoreline didn’t receive the melting breeze like the middle of the lake did. So the first few minutes were spent breaking the ice with rocks and stomping on the edges with my wading boots.

I didn’t need to go way out into the lake, just far enough to cast a chironomid to hungry Lahontan cutthroat trout. This was back in the heyday of Lake Lenore’s glory, when each fish was measured in pounds, and it was common to catch a dozen or more by noon. Back then the Central Washington lake was open yearround; now, it has a March 1-November 30 season. Luckily, there are several lakes on both sides of the state that are open yearround and by mid- to late February lakes start to become ice-free and full of hungry trout. This is the time of year and the bite that anglers are waiting for: ice-out trout.

DEPENDING

On The

lake and weather conditions, by midmonth and beyond most stillwaters will be ice-free and ready to fish from the shore or by boat. Trout are still lethargic due to cold water temperatures but are hungry and willing biters. Fish will likely stay deep until the lake “turns over,” which is when the water temperature is warmed by sunlight hitting the muddy bottom and the water flushes with tepid water rising and colder surface water sinking. Bugs will start to emerge from the mud and be in larvae and pupae stages, which for flyrodders means using chironomid, nymph, scud and San Juan worm imitations. For the bait angler, maggots will fish well. The more popular baits will also work, such as PowerBait, worms and single salmon eggs, but fly anglers do very well during the coldwater weeks of February and March.

To find a lake, start with the state fishery managers for your area. For me, this is the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency lists lakes that are open and has information on where to access them at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/locations/ lowland-lakes. Access is the key issue, making sure the lake is open water and the boat ramp is clear of ice. Some access points will be closed until springtime, while some will have shoreline parks and boat ramps that are open and usable.

Next is to look at the trout planting schedule. This is not the time of year to expect tons of “planter” trout but instead look at releases that occurred last fall, before the ice formed, as well as if the lake has any natural production.

BACK TO LENORE, where there is a robust planting, as well as regulations that are geared towards low mortality via singlepoint barbless hook and no-bait restrictions, along with a one-fish-per-day limit, though most anglers here stick to catch and release. This lake is known for early ice-out trout fishing. By mid-March the shoreline will host anglers in float tubes or those who will wade out and cast a line. The north end is extremely popular, since it is a large mud flat where the chironomid “hatch” occurs all spring long. For those who do not care to fly fish, try casting Krocodile spoons in the frog pattern or black Rooster Tails. Just be sure to switch out your lure’s treble to a barbless siwash hook.

There are plenty of other lakes with bigger daily limits, and they usually receive more planted trout with frequent replenishing of fish. They’re great to fish just after ice-out as they will have hungry trout, but they also often have more anglers and pressure. If your idea of late winter trout fishing is to catch a frying pan full of trout, then head to one of these lakes. But if you would rather fish in solitude and have a chance at catching larger fish, then look to selective-gear waters.

Those who prefer to troll might find fewer fish, as the trout are not aggressive this time of year but instead are just trying to find enough food to make it to another day. This means bait or lures that mimic food such as small spoons, frog-colored plugs and, of course, flies. Using flies does not always mean casting a 4-weight fly rod like a graceful ballet dancer. Rather, the flies used will be wet patterns, meaning they are subsurface and fished underwater, which lends well to trolling. Leeches, Woolly Buggers, Carey Specials and other streamers are most popular. Pinch on a few split shot above a small swivel to 24 inches of leader and the fly. Let it out several feet and troll as slow as you can. It does not get much simpler than that.

YEARS AGO, IN my youth, we would take my father’s rowboat out to Roses Lake, near Lake Chelan, and troll just outside of the cattails. We put a few split shot on the line ahead of a small F4 FlatFish in frog pattern and trolled very slowly. Rowing along or using the afternoon winds to push the boat accounted for stringers of trout, both rainbows and browns. This lake is now open year-round and receives a healthy planting of trout in early winter. Most Columbia Basin lakes will be ice-free and several are open year-round. Hike- or walk-in lakes such as Lenice and

Nunnally open March 1 and offer good trout fishing under restrictive gear rules. Other lakes such as those in the Quincy Chain open March 1 and are well stocked.

Westside anglers have a lot of options when it comes to February and early March trout fishing. Though it is rare that any of the lower elevation lakes will have ice on them, higher ones that do have ice will have limited access due to snow. The Cascade foothills lakes in eastern Pierce and Thurston Counties, as well as Lewis County, offer some great winter trout fishing.

Unlike Eastside lakes, where the water is cold even after the ice is off, Westside lakes often have warmer temperatures, which means trolling will work well. Gang trolls, also called “Pop Gear” or Cowbells, with a trailing spoon like a Dick Nite or Super Duper is a good option to locate schools of fish. But if you want to keep it light instead, spinners such as the Promise Keeper or a Wedding Ring, both by Mack’s Lure, or the Rooster Tail by Yakima Bait Company are top trout producers on any body of water. Long lining an olive green Carey Special with a few split shot is another way to catch trout and does not require much gear or technique.

Rain, not snow, will be the primary problem on lakes west of the Cascades. Also be ready for gusty winds; if safe, drop an anchor and wait it out. Ice can be on the boat ramps, but there is no real need to start the day early, as it is best to fish at midday when the sun heats up the water and gets the bugs active.

ICE-OUT TROUT FISHING is not as popular as the April lowland lakes opener, which unofficially kicks off the angling season. In the meanwhile, most open lakes offer a chance to fish in solitude during some of the year’s best trout fishing. Late winter to early spring is second to late fall when it comes to catching healthy adult “carryover” fish on lakes void of other fishermen as well as watercraft users. This year, when the ice starts to melt and you see open water from the parking lot of your favorite year-round lake, head on down to the shoreline. If needed, toss a few rocks and stomp on any ice around the shoreline and wade out to catch some trout. There is no need to wait until April to fill a stringer full of rainbows or catch and release a cutthroat. NS