THE WASHINGTON OUTDOOR REPORT week of November 27

TROUT FISHING 

In recent years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has urged anglers to celebrate “Black Friday” after Thanksgiving not in the stores, but out on the water catching some of the jumbo trout they plant this time of year around the state.

The vast majority of these fish are stocked in Western Washington but Central and Eastern Washington get some jumbo trout too. This year, 140 huge trout, weighing between five and ten pounds, were stocked in Yakima’s Rotary Lake in mid-November.  Nearby Myron Lake also received 125 similar size rainbows.

Heading further east several lakes got big fish planted in them on Halloween to include:

Jump Off Joe Lake in Stevens County with 350 brown trout averaging 2 pounds; Waitts Lake in Stevens County with 402 brown trout weighing 2 pound each; Deer Lake in Stevens County with 600 eastern brook trout weighing just over a pound each; and  Sacheen Lake in Pend Oreille County with 215 eastern brook trout also averaging a pound each.

In addition to this Roses Lake near Manson was stocked with over 10,000 catchable size rainbows in early November. Are many of these fish still swimming around these lakes? With most outdoors enthusiasts focused on hunting there likely are and all of these waters would be worth fishing in the days ahead.

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR THE ANGLER – UNIQUE NETS

Frabill has come out with an ingenious folding net that is perfect for anglers fishing out of kayaks or small boats. It’s their Kwik Stow Folding Trout Net where the net section itself collapses together and the telescoping handle can go from its extended length of 40 inches down to 20”.  The net is 14 inches deep with tangle-free micro mesh that works well for releasing fish without harming them. When fully collapsed, the net is only 25” long. It is available in stores now with an MSRP of $37.99.

Frabill also won a “Best of Category” award at ICAST, the huge fishing trade show held each year in Florida where manufacturers roll out new products. The award was for their Witness Weigh Net. This unique net is made for catch and release anglers. It has a digital scale on the handle next to the hoop of the net. You can literally scoop your fish out of the water and weigh it and release it without ever handling it. If you do want to measure the fish simply take it out of the mesh net and use the 30’ ruler on the handle of the net to do so. Frabill was hoping to roll this new net out this fall but so far, it’s not available for sale and it may or may not make it under your Christmas tree this year.  You can check for availability at www.frabill.com.

DUCK HUNTING ACCIDENT

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reports a 53-year-old male was seriously injured after being shot while duck hunting on November 20. The man was hunting with a friend in a small boat on Elochoman Slough in Southwest Washington’s Wahkiakum County that morning. They were in the act of retrieving ducks from the water. The shooter’s shotgun in the boat was propped up and fell over. As the shooter tried to retrieve the firearm, he fired the weapon, striking the victim.

The shooter immediately called 911and took the victim to the Cathlamet Marina where emergency service personnel transported him to the hospital. The victim is currently in stable condition at Vancouver SW Medical Center recovering from his injuries.

The lessons learned here? Have the safety on your firearm on at all times unless you are ready to pull the trigger and shoot. Also, if you are done with your hunt and retrieving birds before you head home, unload your firearms. Finally, stow your firearms in places where they not only are pointed in a safe direction, but also secured so they don’t fall like this one did, with the barrel pointing towards the victim. It’s fortunate this accident didn’t turn out worse.

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com