Hundreds of lakes are teeming with trout as the state's biggest annual fishing event nears its April 26 opener.

More than 24 million trout will be stocked in lakes and streams throughout the state for this year's fishery, including those planted in waters that opened earlier this spring or are open year-round. Most trout will be stocked before the opening weekend, when nearly 300,000 anglers are expected to cast a line.

"With travel costs up this year, lowland lake fishing is a great recreational opportunity for people looking to stay close to home," said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Jeff Koenings.

For a rundown on fishing options, check WDFW's Fishing Prospects publication (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/prospects/index.htm), available online and at WDFW regional offices. Also available are the department's hatchery trout-stocking plan (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/index.htm) and weekly trout-plant reports (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/weekly/index.htm) that identify when and where trout will be planted.

To participate in the fishery, all anglers 15 years of age and older must obtain - and carry - a valid fishing license. Various types of licenses, valid for up to a year or just one day, can be purchased online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/, by telephone (1-866-246-9453) or at hundreds of license dealers across the state.

"I urge everyone to be patient and safe at boat launches and docks," Koenings said. "Everyone in boats, and all children on shore, should use personal flotation devices. Let's all be careful out there on this big opener and throughout the season."

Meanwhile, anglers have been pulling in some nice halibut since the season opened April 10 in most areas of Puget Sound. The halibut fishery expands May 1 to a couple marine areas on the coast, where anglers are already catching lingcod.

Razor clams also are on tap this month. Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks will all be open for digging April 19-20. Twin Harbors will be open for three additional days, April 21-23.

Hunters have an opportunity this spring to go afield and harvest a turkey during the next few weeks. The spring turkey hunt runs through May 31, and hunters have a three-gobbler limit - two birds in eastern Washington and one bird in western Washington.

After weeks of good fishing, fishery managers for Washington and Oregon met today (April 16) to consider closing the spring chinook fishery on the lower Columbia River for a catch assessment. Anglers should keep an eye on the WDFW website for updates on the fishery.

For more information about these and other outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the state, see the regional reports below:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Blackmouth salmon are no longer the only game in town for the region's saltwater anglers. The halibut season is under way in Puget Sound and openings for other bottomfish are not far off. For freshwater anglers, one of the most anticipated fisheries occurs later this April, when the lowland lakes trout season kicks off.

  Beginning April 26, anglers can cast a line in many of the region's lakes, where thousands of legal-sized trout have been planted. Information on stocking schedules for rainbow, cutthroat and triploid trout is available on WDFW's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/index.htm).

  During the first few weeks of the season, anglers should fish higher in the water column, where the stocked trout tend to remain after being placed in a lake, said Jon Anderson, WDFW resident trout manager. "After the trout are planted, they usually stay in about the top 3 to 5 feet of water," he said. "So anglers will want to keep the hook shallow early on. After a few weeks, anglers likely will have better success fishing lower in the water column."

  Out on the saltwater, selective fisheries for hatchery blackmouth - resident chinook - continue through April 30 in marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner). Anglers fishing in those two areas can keep two hatchery blackmouth as part of their two-salmon daily limit and must release wild chinook, which have an intact adipose fin.

  Halibut fishing opened April 10 throughout the region. Mutiny and Admiralty bays, as well as Eastern and Partridge banks usually are the best bets for flatfish early in the season. Halibut fishing is open five days a week, Thursday through Monday, with a daily limit of one halibut and no minimum size limit.

  Beginning May 1, anglers in the region also will have an opportunity to drop a line for other bottomfish, such as lingcod, rockfish and cabezon.

  Anglers out on Puget Sound will soon have an opportunity to catch shrimp as well. The shrimp season opens throughout the region May 3. Details are available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/shrimpreg/shrimpindex.shtml.

  Before heading out, anglers should check the rules and regulations for freshwater and saltwater fisheries in WDFW's Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey season is under way. The general season runs April 15 through May 31 throughout the state. For more information, a Wild Turkey Spring Season brochure is available at WDFW regional offices and on the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: Gray whale sightings continue to draw whalewatchers to the region. The large marine mammals have been milling about the Whidbey and Camano islands area the last several weeks during their annual journey north. Most of the whales are headed to the Arctic Ocean, where they spend the summer feeding, before heading back south to the coast of Mexico. Some gray whales stop short of migrating all the way to the Arctic and instead linger in the waters of the Pacific Northwest during the summer months.

  While gray whales are receiving most of the attention, other marine mammals of note have been spotted in the area as well. A minke whale was recently seen in the mid-channel north of Point Wilson feeding on herring, a false killer whale was sighted off Alki Point and a pod of killer whales was spotted traveling the west side of San Juan Island. The orcas, members of J-Pod, displayed "lots of breaching and percussive activity," according to an observer reporting to the Orca Network (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html).

  Elsewhere, birders are flocking to Discovery Park to catch a glimpse of a few mountain bluebirds. The birds, along with a Say's phoebe, have been spotted just south of the lighthouse, according to a report on the Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/). While visiting the park, one birder noted several other interesting species including a great blue heron, some Anna's hummingbirds, a bufflehead and a pair of bald eagles.

  Birdwatchers have an opportunity to take part in the "Wings Over Water" Northwest Birding Festival April 19 in Blaine. The festival features bird watching, guided walks, arts and crafts, duck carving demos, and educational exhibits and displays. For more information visit Blaine's Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.blainechamber.com/wow/index.html.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: While hundreds of Washington lakes are being planted with trout in time for the lowland lakes opener, anglers have been reeling in halibut and lingcod from coastal waters. Razor clam diggers, meanwhile, can head out for morning digs April 19-23.

  For many anglers, "fishing season" begins April 26 on opening day of the lowland lakes trout season. On the state's single biggest fishing day, anglers can choose from among 99 lakes in the region stocked with thousands of legal-sized trout.

  Lakes stocked with more than 5,000 trout include Sutherland Lake in Clallam County; Aberdeen Lake in Grays Harbor County; Leland Lake in Jefferson County; Island and Wildcat lakes in Kitsap County; Benson and Devereaux lakes in Mason County; Clear, Kapowsin and Ohop lakes in Pierce County; and Clear, Hicks, Long and Pattison lakes in Thurston County. Information on WDFW stocking schedules is available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/weekly/. For tips on fishing options, by water and county, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/prospects/index.htm.

  In Thurston County, youngsters ages 5-14 can attend a one-day fishing event at the Kids' Klassic Family Fish-in, held at the Woodland Creek Community Park on April 19 - a week before the season opener. Children must be pre-registered to participate. For Information, call Lacey Parks and Recreation, (360) 491-0857.

  Meanwhile, recreational halibut anglers have been out in force near Port Angeles (Marine Area 6), pulling in more than 40 of the flatfish since the season began April 10. Marine areas 6-11 and 13 (Port Angeles and Puget Sound) are open five days a week, Thursday through Monday, through June 13.

  This month and next are the best months to catch halibut, said Heather Reed, WDFW fish biologist. "The earlier in the year, the better," she said. Reed advises anglers to check the tides and go out when there's minimal change. "Fish bite best when the tide is moving slowly, with no significant highs or lows," she said.

  Anglers should note the following additional halibut openers occurring in May:

  • Columbia River (Ilwaco): Marine Area 1 will be open May 1, seven days a week until 70 percent of the quota is reached, or until July 20, whichever occurs first. The fishery will then reopen on Aug. 1 and continue three days a week (Friday-Sunday) until the remaining quota is reached, or Sept. 30, whichever occurs first.

  • South Coast (Westport/Ocean Shores): Marine Area 2 will open on May 1, and then continue two days a week, Sundays and Tuesdays until the quota is reached, or Sept. 30, whichever occurs first. The northern nearshore area will open May 1 and will be open four days a week, Friday through Sunday and Tuesdays, until the quota is reached.

  • North Coast (La Push/Neah Bay): Marine areas 3 and 4 will be open starting May 13 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until the quota is reached. If sufficient quota remains, the fishery will reopen on June 17 and 19 (Tuesday and Thursday) in Area 4B and shoreward of a line approximating 30 fm from the Bonilla-Tatoosh line south to the Queets River. All recreational fishing in Marine Areas 3 and 4 outside of these areas will be closed on those dates. If sufficient quota remains, the fishery will reopen in all areas of marine areas 3 and 4 on Saturday, June 21.

  • Strait of Juan de Fuca/Puget Sound: Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) will be open May 22 through July 21, five days a week, Thursday through Monday.

  Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) is closed to fishing for halibut and a number of other species due to low dissolved-oxygen conditions.

  All areas open to fishing have a one-fish daily catch limit and two-halibut possession limit, regardless of whether those fish are fresh or frozen. There is no minimum size limit for halibut caught in any area. All catch must be recorded on a WDFW catch-record card. For additional information on specific regulations for each marine area, call the Fishing Hotline at (360) 902-2500 or check the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/halibut.

  The lingcod fishery in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) gets under way April 16, giving anglers a chance to land some of the abundant fish in the area.

  Meanwhile, many boats out of Westport in Marine Area 2 are catching their limits on lingcod since the March 15 opener, said Scott Barbour, WDFW fish biologist. "People are doing really well when the weather cooperates and they can stay out on the water," he said.

  Marine areas 1-4 are open seven days a week with the following restrictions:

  • In Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), no bottomfish - with the exception of sablefish and Pacific cod - are allowed on any vessel with halibut on board from May 1 through Sept. 30.

  • In Marine Area 2 (Westport Ocean Shores), recreational fishing for bottomfish or lingcod is not allowed in waters deeper than 30 fathoms from March 15 through June 15.

  • In Marine Areas 3 and 4 (La Push and Neah Bay), recreational fishing for bottomfish or lingcod is not allowed in waters deeper than 20 fathoms from May 21 through Sept. 30, except on days the halibut fishery is open.

  Retention of canary and yelloweye rockfish is prohibited in all waters. Anglers should note the minimum size for lingcod in Marine Area 4 is 24 inches, rather than 22 inches in marine areas 1-3.

  Lingcod fishing in marine areas 5-13 gets under way May 1 and will be open seven days a week through June 15.

  Additional information about the lingcod fishery and other bottom fish is available on the WDFW Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500) and the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

  Anglers still have time to travel to the Olympic Peninsula for some steelhead fishing. With the exception of the Hoh River, area rivers will remain open for steelhead fishing through April 30.

  Rather dig razor clams? A morning dig is scheduled April 19-23. Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis and Mocrocks will all be open for digging April 19-20. Twin Harbors will be open for three additional days, April 21-23, All digging on those beaches must be finished by noon. Kalaloch Beach remains closed to harvest. Details are available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/razorclm/season.htm.

  Dates and low tides are:

  • Saturday, April 19, 6:40 a.m., -0.1 ft: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks

  • Sunday, April 20, 7:18 a.m., -0.4 ft: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks

  • Monday, April 21, 7:55 a.m., -0.6 ft: Twin Harbors only

  • Tuesday, April 22, 8:30 a.m., -0.6 ft: Twin Harbors only

  • Wednesday, April 23, 9:06 a.m., -0.5 ft: Twin Harbors only

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey season runs April 15 through May 31 throughout the state. For more information, a Wild Turkey Spring Season brochure is available at WDFW regional offices and on the department's website http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/.

• Wildlife viewing: One of the biggest bird-watching events of the year will take place May 2-4 in Grays Harbor County, where the 13th annual Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival will be held at Central Elementary School in Hoquiam. The festival offers field trips, lectures and viewings of the yearly migration spectacle that occurs in the Grays Harbor Wildlife refuge and other area sites. For more information, call (800) 303-8498 or visit http://www.shorebirdfestival.com.

  The flocks of approximately 5,000 western sandpipers and dunlin that will make an appearance at the shorebird festival also stop down at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge in southern Puget Sound as they forage on delta mudflats during their northward migration.

  For another chance to observe and photograph the annual shorebird migration, Tahoma Audubon is sponsoring a bird photography field trip to Tokeland, April 19, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. People are meeting at the 512 Park and Ride on I5 near McDonalds. Registration is required. For more information and to register, call the Tahoma Audubon office at (253) 565-9278.

  Interested in some volunteer work? Registration continues for the annual Olympic Coast Cleanup on April 26. Hundreds of volunteers will work to remove marine debris along the coastline from Neah Bay to Long Beach. Plastic water bottles, fishing nets, tires, and all kinds of other items harmful to the environment need to be removed before they cause damage to marine mammals, fish, plants and birds. The Olympic Coast Cleanup annual event is part of a year-round endeavor called Coast Savers, coordinated by the Washington Clean Coast Alliance. Sign up for this year's event at http://www.WashingtonCoastCleanup.org. For information about the event, contact program coordinator David Lindau at davidl@coastsavers.org or 206-220-4279. To find out more about the organization, visit http://www.coastsavers.org.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: After weeks of good fishing, fishery managers for Washington and Oregon met today (April 16) to consider closing the spring chinook fishery on the lower Columbia River for a catch assessment.

  The meeting follows a week in which boat anglers fishing from the west Hayden powerlines upriver to Bonneville Dam averaged an adult chinook for every 2.5 rods - the best catch rate for that period since 2000.

  "Catch rates, especially for boat anglers, have been spectacular over the past couple of weeks," said Joe Hymer, WDFW fish biologist.

  If a closure takes effect, both states will review pre-season run-size estimates late this month or in early May to determine if the fishery can be reopened within federal guidelines. Anglers should keep an eye on the WDFW website for updates on the fishery, Hymer said.

  In the meantime, he suggests checking out tributaries to the big river above and below Bonneville Dam, where anglers are hooking up with spring chinook in increasing numbers. Springers are now moving into Wind River and Drano Lake above Bonneville and on the Lewis, Cowlitz and Kalama rivers below the dam.

  "Fishing on the tribs is only going to get better in the weeks ahead," Hymer said. "If the fishery on the mainstem is any indication, they should definitely be worth some time on the water."

  Adult chinook passage past Bonneville Dam has increased dramatically since April 10, when spills were increased to help move juvenile salmon downriver, Hymer said. Within days, adult passage increased from just over a hundred fish per day to nearly 1,300.

  "Fishing should start getting good above Bonneville pretty soon," Hymer said.

  Chinook fishing is currently open seven days per week on the Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to McNary Dam, as well as on the Wind and White rivers, plus Drano Lake. Anglers should note that Drano Lake is scheduled to be closed to fishing Wednesdays beginning April 9.

  Another possibility is the Klickitat River, which is open for salmon and steelhead fishing Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays only. The daily limit is one hatchery salmon or one hatchery steelhead on the Klickitat from the Fisher Hill Bridge downstream. The fishery will likely be slow until more fish cross Bonneville Dam, Hymer said.

  Hymer reminds anglers that the shoreline outside the mouth of Drano Lake will be open for bank fishing for the first time in 30 years. In all, this year's fishing regulations will open up 40 additional miles of bank fishing on the mainstem Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to the Tower Island power lines six miles below The Dalles Dam.

  "I think the best bet will be at the mouth of Drano Lake," Hymer said. "Casting a plug or lure from shore is sure to produce fish." Anglers fishing the newly open bank are asked to follow three rules: Don't cross the highway, don't trespass over the railroad tracks and don't interfere with tribal fisheries.

  Parking and access to the bank fishery at the mouth of Drano Lake will likely be best Wednesdays, when the rest of the lake is closed to recreational fishing, Hymer said.

  Meanwhile, anglers are reminded that April 26 in opening day for many trout lakes throughout the state. While many lakes in southwest Washington are open year-round, the April 26 opener does mark the start of trout fishing in such perennial favorites as Mineral Lake in Lewis County and Rowland Lakes in Klickitat County.

  Anglers should, however, be aware that the trout opening on Swift Reservoir in Skamania County has been delayed a month because of unusually low water levels due to a slow snow melt. That has made access to the lake difficult, and potentially dangerous. Planned stocking of catchable rainbows has been delayed until just before the Memorial Day weekend.

  But trout plants at year-round at year-round lakes has continued on schedule, including:

  • Mayfield Lake - 6,070 catchable-size rainbows.

  • South Lewis County Pond - 618 triploids weighin 1.3 pounds each and 4,025 catchable-size browns.

  • Sacajawea Lake in Longview - 10,325 catchable browns.

  • Kress Lake in Kalaman - 2,040 catchable size rainbows and 6,510 browns.

  • Horseshoe Lake in Woodland - 4,080 catchable rainbows and 6,510 browns.

  • Battleground Lake - 3,000 half-pound rainbows.

  • Klineline Pond - 4,000 catchable size rainbowns and 2,000 half-pound browns.

  Looking for a bigger tug on the line? Sturgeon fishing is heating up below Bonneville Dam and should improve in the days ahead, Hymer said.

• Wildlife viewing: Just as soon watch migrating salmon as catch them? A prime spot is the fish-viewing window at Bonneville Dam, where thousands of spring chinook salmon will be on display over the next few weeks. As of April 13, more than 5,600 springers had moved up the fish ladders with more passing upriver every day.

  To see the annual parade of spring chinook for yourself, stop by the Washington Shore Visitor Complex off Washington State Highway 14. Go east to Milepost 40 (about 5 miles from Stevenson) and turn into the Bonneville Dam visitor center. The visitor center is the glass building at the end of the powerhouse. To monitor daily fish counts from home, check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/fishdata/home.asp. Look through the viewing window online at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b/fishcam.asp.

  If it's birds you're looking for, the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge in Wahkiakum County is a great place to go right now. One contributor to the Tweeters birding website recently reported seeing nearly 50 different species in a single day, ranging from Canada geese to turkey vultures.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: April 26 marks the start of some of the best trout fishing in the region, although this year's opening weekend catches may be smaller in size than anglers traditionally expect.

  "The trout fry we stocked in these lakes last spring and fall just haven't grown as much by now because of our record long, cold and snowy winter," said WDFW District Fish Biologist Chris Donley in Spokane. "A lot of these waters remained iced-up and snow-covered for a lot longer this winter, so there just wasn't the feed for fish. We'll still have some very good fishing at the usual waters, but the average size of the fish will be smaller."

  Those "usual" waters that provide good fishing include Badger, Williams and West Medical lakes in southwest Spokane County and Fishtrap Lake on the Lincoln-Spokane county line.

  Donley said Badger's rainbows and cutthroats average 10 to 12 inches, with some larger. Last year over 30,000 cutthroat fry and about 50,000 rainbow fry were stocked in Badger. This spring 10,000 eight- to 12-inch rainbows, 400 14-inch-plus rainbows, and 1,000 triploid rainbows up to 1.5 pounds each were added to Badger. Williams Lake should be good for limits of 10- to 18-inch trout, mostly from last year's plants of 40,000 cutthroat fry and 108,000 rainbow fry. Williams also received 10,000 eight- to 12-inch rainbows, 400 14-inch-plus rainbows, and 1,500 triploids. West Medical also should be good with over 180,000 rainbow fry stocked last year and the same number of "catchables" as Badger received this spring.

  Popular Fishtrap Lake will be good as well, but not like the peak production seasons of past years, Donley said. "Fishtrap anglers will still catch lots of 10- to 16-inch trout, including carryovers from 2006 stocking," he said. "But last year's fry plants may look significantly smaller than usual." Fishtrap received over 88,000 rainbow fry last year, and this spring the lake received 15,000 eight- to 12-inch rainbows, 400 14-inch-plus rainbows, and 750 big triploids.

  Other trout lakes in the central district that open April 26 and will provide decent fishing include Fish and Clear lakes in southwest Spokane County. Both have tiger trout - a brook-brown trout hybrid - from fry plants last year (Clear received 20,000, Fish received 12,000). Clear also received 75,000 brown trout fry and over 60,000 rainbow fry last year, plus "catchables" this spring - 10,500 eight- to 12-inch browns, 30,000 same-size rainbows, 400 14-inch-plus rainbows, and 1,000 big triploids. Fish Lake also received about 1,700 14-inch-plus eastern brook trout this spring.

  Amber Lake in southwest Spokane County, which has been open since March 1 for catch-and-release fishing, shifts to a harvest season April 26. Selective gear rules are still in effect at Amber and only two rainbow or cutthroat trout of at least 14 inches can be retained. Amber rainbows with clipped adipose fins must be released.

  Two other selective-gear-rule lakes in the central district that have been open since the first of March and remain good bets through the spring are Coffeepot Lake in Lincoln County for rainbows, yellow perch and black crappie, and North Silver Lake in southwest Spokane County for rainbows. The requirement to release adipose-fin-clipped fish is also in place at North Silver.

  Three mixed-species lakes that usually open on the last Saturday of April were changed to the March 1 opening season this year, although anglers will find them listed in the current pamphlet as opening April 26. Those lakes are Liberty, Downs and Medical lakes. Donley said that because of the record-long winter, the earlier opener didn't solicit angling crowds and none of them are anywhere near "fished out." Liberty Lake, east of Spokane near the Idaho border, continues to provide good catches of brown and rainbow trout, and as the weather warms it will produce more largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and crappie. Downs Lake in the southwest corner of Spokane County has also been providing opportunity for yellow perch, largemouth bass, crappie, and rainbow trout. And Medical Lake, near the town of the same name in southwest Spokane County, is good for large brown, rainbow, and tiger trout under selective gear rules.

  Year-round Sprague Lake has been receiving fish along with many of the lakes that open this month. Sprague had been without fish since last October's rotenone treatment to rehabilitate the declining fishery. Now Sprague has about 160,000 catchable-size rainbows, including over 3,200 triploid rainbows up to 1.5 pounds. Cow Lake, which was also treated last fall as part of the Sprague Lake watershed, received about 6,000 one-third-pound rainbows. Later this spring, broodstock largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie captured from other Washington waters will be stocked. About 4,000 black crappie and at least 60 channel catfish that were collected from Sprague Lake before last fall's treatment also will be returned this spring. Juvenile warmwater fish species from the Meseberg Hatchery - about 100,000 bluegill, 14,000 largemouth bass and 2,000 crappie - will also be stocked.

  Other year-round, mixed-species fisheries in Spokane County might be just the ticket on April 26 for anglers who want to avoid crowds at the usual trout hot spots. Eloika and Bonnie lakes can be good for perch fishing, and Silver Lake has bass, crappie and bluegill.

  Many more lakes open April 26 further north in the region, although some have been too icy to receive catchable-size trout plants. Many of the northern fisheries are based on fry plants from last year and the year before, so when they are accessible they should provide good fishing, Donley said.

  As of April 16, several popular waters, including Diamond, Davis, Fan, Marshall and Sacheen lakes in Pend Oreille County, remained iced up and even some access sites snowed in.

  "Many of our northern lakes may be June producers this year," Donley said. "By then those fry plants will hopefully get a little growth."

  Whenever the fishery gets under way up north, Donley said some of the best bets will be Stevens County's Starvation Lake, which got 18,000 rainbow fry last year; Rocky Lake with over 5,000 rainbow fry; Deep Lake with over 75,000 cutthroat fry and over 10,000 rainbow fry; and Cedar Lake with over 20,000 rainbow fry.

  Open water has allowed catchables to be stocked at Waitts and Jump Off Joe lakes. Waitts has received 15,000 eight- to 12-inch rainbows and 500 hatchery surplus broodstock rainbows. Jump Off Joe received 7,500 eight- to 12-inch brown trout and 4,000 rainbows of similar size.

  Loon Lake in southern Stevens County has open water and should be receiving 400 14-inch-plus rainbows and 750 big triploids, to boost last year's 15,000 rainbow fry. Deer Lake, just northeast of Loon, has been open since March 1 when anglers were ice-fishing for its rainbow and lake trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, yellow perch, and kokanee from last year's fry plant of about 325,000. Deer is slated to receive 30,000 eight- to 12-inch rainbows, 400 14-inch-plus rainbows, and 1,000 triploids.

  Donley says Pend Oreille County's Diamond Lake should be good fishing once it's stocked with its allotment - 10,000 eight- to 12-inch brown trout, 23,500 rainbows of the same size, 500 14-inch-plus rainbows, and 1,000 triploids.

  All fish stocking details, by county and lake, are available in the 2008 Hatchery Trout Stocking Plan at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/index.htm.

  A spring chinook salmon fishing season on portions of the Snake River could be coming soon, said WDFW District Fish Biologist Glen Mendel in Dayton. Anglers should stay tuned for an announcement of that special and limited opportunity.

  April 25 is the registration deadline for the "Fishing Kids" event on May 3 at Spokane County's Clear Lake. This annual event for kids 5-14 years of age provides beginning fishing instruction, a T-shirt, a Zebco rod and reel, and other fishing goodies for just $5 per kid. Registrants must signup for half-hour fishing instruction timeslots from 8 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Registration forms are available at WDFW's eastern regional office at 2315 N. Discovery Place in Spokane Valley and Spokane County 4-H at WSU Extension, 222 W. Havana St. in Spokane. Call the 4-H office at 477-2638 for more details.

• Hunting: Spring wild turkey hunting is under way, but with one of the snowiest winters on record still lingering in many parts of the region, access to birds may be marginal in these first weeks of the season. Northeast District Wildlife Biologist Dana Base advises turkey hunters to avoid disturbing winter-weary deer foraging on south-facing slopes.

  "The deer have been through a fairly severe winter," Base said. "They need to feed and restore their physical condition with as little metabolic costs as possible."

  Turkeys appear to have wintered well throughout the northeast district, Base noted. He recently reported seeing numerous flocks feeding and displaying, including toms gobbling, in the valley bottoms and forest edges in Stevens County.

  "Most of this land is private so there is not much opportunity for 'unattached' turkey hunters here," Base said. "But with the fairly widespread distribution of turkeys and spring dispersion into smaller groups, plenty will move on to public lands where hunters can pursue them as the season progresses."

  In the heart of turkey hunting country, Colville's annual "Wild Turkey Daze" events run through May 31, including a "Wild Turkey Trot" fun run April 19. For more information see http://www.colville.com/.

  All turkey hunters must report their hunting activity either by telephone (877-945-3492) or on the Internet at https:fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. The report information is used by WDFW to better monitor hunter effort, distribution, harvest and trends. For complete information see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm.

  Spring black bear hunting by special permit only is also underway through May 31 in the region. Seventy permit holders in six northeast game management units and 155 permit holders in seven southeast game management units can go afield.

• Wildlife viewing: Wintery conditions may persist in some parts of the region, but longer daylight hours continue to bring on springtime wildlife activity.

  Both mountain and western bluebirds are busy nest-building, using boxes where available throughout the Blue Mountains, reports WDFW Wildlife Biologist David Woodall in Clarkston. Tree and violet-green swallows in riparian areas are doing the same. Western meadowlarks with their flashy yellow breeding plumage are singing. And ospreys are just now back from southern wintering areas to nest again along the Snake River, he said.

  Woodall, who works on the Asotin, Chief Joseph, Grouse Flats and Wooten wildlife areas in the southeast district, also notes that now is the time to enjoy glacier lilies, spring beauties, buttercups and other spring wildflowers in the mountains.

  Mule deer and white-tailed deer throughout the region are very visible now on south-facing slopes where the first green-up is providing much needed forage after a long winter. Northeast District Wildlife Biologist Dana Base in Colville advises wildflower seekers, wildlife watchers, shed-antler hunters, and other recreationists to avoid disturbing deer as much as possible.

  "The deer have been through a fairly severe winter," Base said. "They need to feed and restore their physical condition with as little metabolic costs as possible. Use binoculars and a telephoto camera lens instead of trying to get close to them or other wildlife at this time."

  Much springtime wildlife activity is heard rather than seen. Listen for Wilson's snipe calls and tail feather vibrations from swooping display flights. Song, white-crowned, vesper and other sparrows are singing from dawn to dusk in clear notes and bubbling trills. Coyote pups are trying out their voices in early evening and into the night in many areas throughout the region. Also heard at dusk and after dark are the single-note whistles and raspy calls of northern saw-whet owls.

  Wildlife enthusiasts with gardens can combine interests by planting native vegetation that naturally provides food and cover for birds and other animals. Native Plant Appreciation Week is April 27-May 3 in Washington and the Washington Native Plant Society has lots of useful information on their website, http://wnps.org, including events in Lincoln, Spokane and Walla Walla counties.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Although good fishing has been under way throughout the region for the past month, the best trout fishing opportunities start April 26 with the lowland lakes season opener.

  Jeff Korth, WDFW district fish biologist from Moses Lake, said the best bets will be Blue and Park lakes north of the town of Soap Lake in Grant County. "Fishing should be excellent at these two lakes because we rehabilitated them two years ago and this will be the first year for yearling rainbow trout grown there," Korth explained. "Most anglers should get limits of fat 12-inch rainbows from our fingerling plants. Many of the catchable-sized rainbows stocked last year have carried over and will be 15-plus inches now. I think we'll see an average catch rate of at least three fish per angler on the opener."

  Korth reported Blue Lake has received 196,455 rainbow fingerlings and Park Lake received 125,772. Blue Lake also received almost 5,000 brown trout fingerlings and 3,000 tiger trout fingerlings, and Park Lake received about 10,000 brown trout fingerlings. Korth noted the brown and tiger trout don't usually enter the fishery until they are more than two years old, so the rainbows will make up this year's catch.

  Another good bet April 26 will be Vic Meyers Lake, a relatively small water connected to Park Lake that was also rehabilitated in 2006 to remove bullheads. Vic Meyers is mostly a shore fishery, although hand-carried boats or float tubes can be used. It was stocked with 3,600 fingerling rainbow trout, 200 fingerling brown trout, and 100 fingerling tiger trout. Korth predicts catch rates will be three to four fish per angler, mostly 12-inchers with maybe 10 percent being 15-inchers.

  Perch Lake, in Sun Lakes State Park, is one of the most consistent fishing waters in the Columbia Basin, Korth said. Limits of 12-inch rainbow trout are generally the rule at this small but popular lake. The plant is only 10,000 fingerlings, and the lake is usually fished out in a few weeks, so only an occasional 15-inch carryover will be seen. Perch is also mostly a shore fishery, although hand- carried boats or float tubes can be used.

  Deep Lake, also in Sun Lakes State Park, usually provides very good fishing on the opener, with an average of four to five rainbows per angler, said Korth. Besides the usual 5,000 rainbow fingerlings, Deep Lake received an additional 5,000 catchable-size (10-12 inch) rainbow trout this year. The fingerlings stocked last year will now be 13-14 inches, Korth noted. Deep Lake is also stocked with 40,000 kokanee fingerlings that run eight to 10 inches by late spring and early summer. "The kokanee or 'silver' fishery has been good to those who know how to target them, but the better kokanee fishing comes later in the summer, by July and August," Korth said.

  Another popular April 26-opening fishery is Warden Lake east of Potholes Reservoir. But Korth said Warden Lake's trout still suffer from competition with spiny-rayed fishes like sunfish and bullheads, so the survival rate of the 80,768 rainbow fingerlings stocked last spring is as mediocre as the catch rates. Anglers can expect only about two or maybe three fish apiece, but they will be nice trout at 13-plus inches, with carryover rainbows of at least 15 inches making up about five percent of the catch, Korth said. There are also some large brown trout in Warden Lake, and another 10,000 tiger trout fingerlings were stocked last fall.

  Many more lakes open April 26 further north in the region. Bob Jateff, WDFW district fish biologist from Omak, said Conconully Reservoir near the town of Conconully in central Okanogan County should be very good for rainbow trout 11-12 inches with carryover fish to 15 inches. Pearrygin Lake near Winthrop will be good fishing for 11-inch rainbows. Alta Lake near Pateros will be good for rainbows up to 15 inches and Fish Lake near Sinlahekin should be good for yearling rainbows up to 11 inches.

  Selective-gear-rule lakes that open April 26 that Jateff predicted will provide very good fishing include Blue Lake near Sinlahekin for browns and rainbows 12-18 inches, Ell Lake near Tonasket for rainbows up to 15 inches, and Big Twin Lake near Winthrop for 10-12 inch rainbows with a few carryover fish to 15 inches.

  Fly-fishing-only Aeneas Lake near Tonasket should be good for rainbows 11-13 inches on the April 26 opener, Jateff said. Another fly-fishing-only water, Chopaka Lake near Loomis, was recently rehabilitated. But Jateff reported spring plants of 10-12 inch rainbows should provide good early season fishing, along with some larger 14-16 inch fish. "Anglers should check first before venturing to Chopaka," Jateff said. "Slower thawing conditions at the lake could delay fish plants until the first week in May."

  Jateff also reminded anglers that some of the Okanogan County lakes that opened April 1 are also a good bet. Spectacle Lake near Loomis is providing good fishing for rainbows 11-12 inches, while Leader Lake near Omak has rainbows 11-12 inches plus crappie and bluegill. Patterson Lake near Winthrop is good for 10-12 inch rainbows and 8-10 inch yellow perch.

  Many of the Columbia Basin fisheries that opened March 1 and April 1 are also still fishing well, especially Quincy, Burke, and the Hampton lakes, Korth noted. "The fisheries under selective gear rules with a one-fish daily catch limit - Dusty, Lenore, and Dry Falls lakes - are good to excellent. Lenore has been a little slow but should pick up soon with the spawning run about over and fish back out in the lake feeding," Korth said. "Dry Falls has been excellent with catches of 13-15-inch yearling rainbows and 16-20-inch carryovers."

  Lenice and Nunnally lakes, which opened March 1 on the Crab Creek Wildlife Area just east of Beverly in Grant County, just received big triploid rainbow trout. Lenice received 500 and Nunnally 600 of the one-and-a-half-pound fish. Both lakes are under selective gear rules and a one-fish daily catch limit.

  Year-round Beda Lake, south of Winchester Wasteway, also recently received 250 triploid rainbow trout.

  All fish stocking details, by county and lake, are available in the 2008 Hatchery Trout Stocking Plan at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/index.htm.

  Korth reported walleye fishing at year-round Moses Lake should be picking up after a bit of a slow down. "They're still catching them at the Alder fill, but walleye fishing should really pick up with the spawning run about over and fish back out in lake feeding."

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey hunting season is under way through May 31 for shotgun or bow-and-arrow only, and gobblers or turkeys with visible beards only. Portions of Chelan and Okanogan counties have good numbers of Merriam's turkeys, although Scott Fitkin, WDFW Okanogan District wildlife biologist, said late-melting winter snows may limit access to turkey hunting areas for the opener more than in years past.

  "This is particularly true in the Methow portion of the district," Fitkin said. "On the other hand, snow may also tend to keep birds at lower elevations."

  All turkey hunters must report their hunting activity either by telephone (877-945-3492) or on the Internet at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. The report information is used by WDFW to better monitor hunter effort, distribution, harvest and trends. For details see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm.

• Wildlife viewing: No matter the lingering snow cover, spring must have arrived when butterflies are spotted. Dale Swedberg, WDFW's Sinlahekin Wildlife Area manager, reported seeing the first butterfly of the season - a California tortoiseshell - last month.

  "They over-winter as adults here in Okanogan County along with Compton's and Milbert's tortoiseshells, mourning cloaks, and satyr, green, and hoary commas," Swedberg said, "They are usually the first butterflies seen in the spring. I have also had reports of spring azure, Sheridan's and western green hairstreaks, and spring white being seen recently." Swedberg also reported many white-tailed deer are visible every day throughout the Sinlahekin, primarily in the morning and evening on south-facing slopes where they're feeding on the first greening plants of the season. Bighorn sheep are seen sporadically in the fields west of the wildlife area headquarters.

  "Trumpeter swans that had been on Blue Lake for several weeks just left for parts north, but tundra swans are still here," Swedberg said. A recent waterfowl-watching group visiting the wildlife area reported common loons on both Blue Lake and Fish Lake. Swedberg said the group observed a total of 17 waterfowl species after three hours of watching on three of the area's many lakes.

  For more about visiting the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/sinlahekin/index.htm.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Most of the south central region's trout fisheries are on year-round seasons, although many waters receive hatchery fish plants along with April 26-opening lakes in other regions. Paul Hoffarth, WDFW district fish biologist from Pasco, noted three Tri-Cities area lakes recently received large triploid trout averaging well over a pound each - Dalton Lake northeast of the Snake River's Ice Harbor Dam in Franklin County, Powerline Lake northwest of Mesa in Franklin County, and juveniles-only (under 15) Columbia Park Pond near Kennewick in Benton County.

  Eric Anderson, WDFW district fish biologist from Yakima, noted that large amounts of triploid rainbow trout have been planted in Mud, Myron, Fio Rito and Mattoon lakes in Yakima County. Clear, Dog, Leech and Lost lakes will likely not be planted with triploids until May due to snow and difficult access conditions. Hatchery surplus broodstock rainbows, that run seven to eight pounds each, recently went into I-82 Ponds 1 and 2, and Tim's Pond.

  All details of how many fish have been stocked and where are available on WDFW's South Central Region webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/regions/reg3/index.htm.

  The biggest fishing draw in the region this year may be spring chinook salmon, with run forecasts indicating large numbers returning to the Columbia River, Hoffarth said. Currently, retention of hatchery-marked (adipose-fin-clipped) chinook is allowed on the Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to McNary Rapids Dam, with some area restrictions, through May 10.

  "With the return of spring chinook running late again this year, the best fishing in the John Day Pool or Lake Umatilla will likely be during the final ten days of the season," Hoffarth said. "The spring chinook forecast for the Umatilla River is also well above normal and should lead to good catches in the Columbia River near Umatilla, Oregon."

  WDFW has proposed opening several sport fisheries for spring chinook in portions of the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima rivers. These fisheries will be opened by emergency rule change and are dependent upon actual returns meeting forecast expectations. They would likely open around May 1 and be restricted to specific areas with special regulations. Hoffarth advises anglers to watch for special openings on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm .

  Bass anglers are beginning to catch some nice pre-spawn smallmouth in the lower Yakima River, Hoffarth reported. "These fish will migrate farther upstream over the next few weeks," he said. WDFW now maintains multiple primitive boat launch sites in the lower Yakima River.

  Hoffarth reminded anglers the Columbia River's John Day Pool is now closed to the retention of white sturgeon. Catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon is permitted in the John Day Pool, except for the sturgeon sanctuary located from the I-82 bridge at Umatilla upstream to McNary Dam. "This area is also closed to all angling for sturgeon from May 1 to July 31," Hoffarth said. The Columbia River from McNary Dam to Priest Rapids Dam is currently open for sturgeon, including the Snake River upstream to Ice Harbor.

  Columbia River walleye catch has slowed, but will likely begin to pick up with warmer weather, Hoffarth reported.

  Registration is underway for two "Fishing Kids" events in the region that provide opportunities to introduce children 5 to 14 years of age to fishing. One is on Saturday, May 3, at Columbia Park Pond in Kennewick, co-sponsored by the Kennewick Parks Department. Call 509-585-4293 for details. The other is Saturday, May 10, at Sarge Hubbard Park Pond in Yakima, co-sponsored by Yakima Parks Department. Call 509-575-6020 for details.

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey hunting season is under way through May 31 for shotgun or bow-and-arrow only, and gobblers or turkeys with visible beards only. Portions of Kittitas and Yakima counties have good numbers of Merriam's turkeys, although distribution can be sporadic, especially with lingering winter conditions.

  All turkey hunters must report their hunting activity either by telephone (877-945-3492) or on the Internet at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. The report information is used by WDFW to better monitor hunter effort, distribution, harvest and trends. For complete information see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm.

  Another kind of hunting draws lots of interest at this time of year, but participants will have to wait until May for their favorite "hunting" grounds to open. WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area southwest of Yakima is popular for collectors of shed elk and deer antlers because elk are winter-fed there. But Area Manager John McGowan reminded enthusiasts that entry remains closed until May 1 to protect wildlife from disturbance during late winter-early spring. Oak Creek's headquarters area off Highway 12 is the usual access point for "shed hunters" on foot or horseback, and the Oak Creek and Bethel Ridge roads are popular for vehicle access. All will open at 8 a.m. May 1.

• Wildlife viewing: The huge waterfowl and shorebird migrations are now past at McNary National Wildlife Refuge, just southeast of the Tri-Cities. But many bird species are now nesting there, including mallard and redheaded ducks, black-crown night herons, great blue herons, pied-billed grebes, long-billed curlews, burrowing owls, long-billed marsh wrens, and yellow-headed, red-winged, and Brewer's blackbirds. Ring-billed gulls, California gulls, Forester's terns and spotted sandpipers also nest in colonies on the river islands in the Hanford Islands Division of the refuge. For more information and updates on the new environmental education center under construction, visit http://nwr.mcnary.wa.us/.

  Jim Cummins, WDFW fish biologist, reported wildflowers are blooming throughout the region and will soon reach their peak in the shrub steppe habitat in Yakima and Kittitas counties.

  Wildlife enthusiasts with gardens can combine interests by planting native vegetation that naturally provides food and cover for birds and other animals. Native Plant Appreciation Week is April 27 - May 3 in Washington and the Washington Native Plant Society has lots of useful information at their website, http://wnps.org, including events in Benton, Kittitas and Yakima counties during that week.