Region Two Warmwater Fishing Opportunities for 2009

Warmwater Team | 2008-09 Activities | Fishing Prospects | 2009 Field Activities

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Warmwater Gamefish Enhancement Program began in 1997 at the request of fishing organizations interested in bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, perch, and catfish in Washington. The enabling legislation authorized WDFW to fund the program through a $5 fishing license surcharge. Today the enhancement funds come from a share of the freshwater fishing license dollars at a reduced rate.

The Warmwater Gamefish Enhancement Program’s goal is to increase opportunities to fish for and catch warmwater game fish. To do so, the program is conducting fish community assessment surveys in select lakes and identifying management strategies to improve the quality of fishing. Cooperative groups and volunteers are used whenever possible, to involve and educate the public, minimize costs and gain the greatest return for the investment.

This document provides anglers with a summary of Regional lakes where warmwater fish are managed, and links to more detailed reports. It is important to remember that lakes are biological systems and fish communities change over time. We will provide the best information we have at the time of publication.

Region Two Warmwater Team

Marc Petersen and Mike Schmuck are the Region Two warmwater fish biologists. Their duties include:

• Conducting fisheries assessments of regional warmwater lakes.
  • Collect biological data on warmwater species found in these lakes.

• Conduct Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) surveys on major walleye lakes within Region Two (Banks, Moses Lake, Potholes Res.). These FWIN surveys allow us to monitor walleye populations over time and make timely management decisions. Our FWIN reports can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/walleye_fwin08.htm

• Capture brood-stock for hatchery production or transplant in other warmwater lakes, and relocate warmwater fish from lakes where these fish are un-wanted into lakes where these fish are needed.

• Develop creel surveys designed to determine angler effort and harvest on local warmwater lakes.

• Write published reports that summarize data collected during surveys.

• Research aspects of warmwater fisheries either considered unique to Washington or otherwise unknown to biologists as a whole.

Since 1997, our team has surveyed most of the warmwater lakes in Region Two. Our reports can be found online and downloaded in a printable format. Here is the web address: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/reports.htm Adobe Acrobat is required for viewing these reports, and can be found here http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Marc and Mike can be reached at the Region Two office: 1550 Alder Street NW Ephrata, WA 98823 (509) 754-4624.

Warmwater Team Activities for 2008—09

• In fall 2008 we travelled to Whitestone Lake in Okanogan County in order to generate a population estimate on largemouth bass. Anglers were concerned that harvest on large bass was too high and that the quality of the fishery had declined. We found a lot of large fish in this population with 22 % over 17 inches.

• In 2006 we initiated a diet study on largemouth bass in Stan Coffin Lake. Results indicate that bass overwhelmingly prefer bluegill, and fish that are about 1/3 their body length; however; growth is slow for bass, possibly due to high densities of aquatic vegetation.

• In summer 2008 we stocked 800 black crappie, 375 largemouth bass, and nearly 7,000 bluegill into Sprague Lake (which was rehabilitated in 2007).

• During spring and summer 2009 we focused nearly all our attention on the black crappie population in Evergreen Reservoir. We sampled 147 adult black crappie from April thru June, and sampled larval black crappie with a fine mesh plankton net in July. We intend to correlate larval crappie abundance with abundance of adults in the population two years later. We hope this association will help us determine the most appropriate lakes in which to stock crappie. Approximately 16 percent of the adult crappie collected were over eight inches.

• Our crappie trap net sampling yielded bluegill as well crappie. The bluegill population in Evergreen Reservoir appears in good condition, with 280 bluegill captured and released. Approximately 35 percent of the bluegill collected were over six inches.

• In June 2009 we sampled the bluegill population in Stan Coffin Lake with trap nets. We are monitoring the size structure of the bluegill population to determine if stocked largemouth bass are causing a shift in the population towards large bluegill. This sampling suggests that approximately eight percent of the bluegill population is at least six inches. Our management goal is a bluegill population where at least 20 percent are over six inches.

Prospects for Region Two Warmwater Lakes

Alkali Lake (Grant County)
Alkali Lake is part of the Sun Lakes chain located in Grant County approximately 9 miles north of Soap Lake, Washington. Alkali Lake has a surface area of 293 acres and a mean depth of 8.4 ft. Water drains from Blue Lake into Alkali Lake via Blue Creek. Water discharges, seasonally, from the south end of Alkali Lake through permeable rock-fill under Highway 17 into Lake Lenore. Alkali Lake is known for inconsistent fisheries and frequent fish kills. We are currently investigating the cause of these fish kills and hope to be able to manage around them. At this time anglers can find largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and black crappie in Alkali Lake. Most of these fish are relatively small; however, some large fish were collected during our Fall 2005 survey. Our report can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/fpt_06-08.pdf

Banks Lake (Grant County)
Banks Lake is located between Coulee City and Electric City along Highway 17. Banks Lake is an irrigation impoundment, has a surface area of 26,887 acres, and a mean depth of 46 ft. Banks Lake was once known as the state’s premier walleye fishery; however, recently smallmouth bass have become a much more abundant and popular gamefish in this lake. Anglers will also find excellent perch fishing along the jetties on the south end, near the north end west of Steamboat Rock, and seasonally in the shallow bays of the northeast side of the reservoir. Other gamefish found in Banks Lake include crappie, bluegill, bullheads and channel catfish. Deepwater fish species found in Banks Lake include burbot (also known as freshwater ling) and lake whitefish. Rainbow trout and kokanee are stocked annually. Banks Lake is also surveyed each fall using gill nets to determine walleye abundance.

Evergreen Reservoir (Grant County)
Evergreen Reservoir lies within the Quincy Wildlife Area in Grant County, Washington, approximately 8 miles southwest of Quincy, Washington. Evergreen Reservoir has a surface area of 247 acres and a mean depth of 19 ft. Evergreen Reservoir was surveyed in Spring 2005. Fishes collected, in order of abundance included, bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and black crappie. There are also walleye and smallmouth bass in Evergreen Reservoir but these species are in low abundance. Evergreen Reservoir is a regional tiger muskie lake; however, very few of these fish were found during this survey and tiger muskie are stocked in low abundance. This report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/reports.htm

Hutchinson—Shiner Lakes (Adams County)
Hutchinson and Shiner lakes are located approximately four miles west of Othello, WA. These lakes are part of the Seep Lakes chain that originates south of Potholes Reservoir. Hutchinson and Shiner lakes, combined, have a surface area of 83 acres, and a mean depth of 11.5 ft. Water drains from Shiner Lake into Hutchinson Lake via a small channel approximately 150 ft. long. These lakes are managed for largemouth bass and bluegill. Anglers can also catch black crappie and yellow perch. We encourage anglers to keep as many yellow perch as possible since we would like to remove them from these lakes. Largemouth bass was the most abundant species collected followed by bluegill, and anglers should find excellent fishing in 2009. We surveyed these lakes in fall 2004 and this report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/fpt05-10.pd

Lower Goose Lake (Grant County)
Lower Goose Lake lies among the seep lakes in Grant County approximately 9 miles northwest Othello, Washington, and approximately 3.5 miles south of Potholes Reservoir. Lower Goose Lake has a surface area of 50 acres, and a mean depth of 25 ft. Lower Goose Lake was surveyed in 2007 and large numbers of fish were collected. Gamefish collected (in order of abundance) included: largemouth bass, yellow perch bluegill. Some walleye were collected (n = 10).

Moses Lake (Grant County)
Moses Lake is a perhaps the best walleye fishery in the state of Washington and likely holds the new state record. Regulations on Moses Lake allow anglers to retain eight walleye with a minimum size of 12 inches with one fish allowed over 22 inches. Results from our FWIN surveys suggest a very dense population of walleye exist in Moses Lake and anglers should put this fishery at the top of their list. While walleye and smallmouth bass are popular sport fish in Moses Lake, Largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie and rainbow trout are also popular gamefish found in Moses Lake; however black crappie are not as abundant as they once were. Our FWIN report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/walleye_fwin08.htm

Palmer Lake (Okanogan County)
Palmer Lake is located approximately 5 miles north of Loomis, WA . The lake has a surface area of 2,110 acres, and a mean depth of 51 feet. We surveyed Palmer Lake in the fall of 2005. Smallmouth bass was the most abundant species collected and fish up to 18 inches were collected. We also collected largemouth bass (one fish measured 22 inches!), black crappie, bluegill and yellow perch. This lake offers an excellent angling experience due to both the fish in the lake and the beautiful scenery surrounding the lake. Our 2005, report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/fpt_06-10.pdf

Potholes Reservoir (O’ Sullivan Reservoir) (Grant County)
Potholes Reservoir is one of the most popular fishing destinations in Region Two. It is a 28,200-acre reservoir in Grant County, formed by the construction of O’Sullivan Dam across the Crab Creek Valley in 1949. We conducted a standard warmwater survey on Potholes Reservoir in 2000. Numerous warmwater gamefish are found in Potholes; however yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass are the most popular species. Largemouth bass are common in the north end of the reservoir in the ”sand dunes” area, while smallmouth bass are more frequently found near the face of O’ Sullivan Dam along the rocky, rip-rap shoreline. Potholes is another of our regional FWIN waters. Our data have shown a slight decline in walleye; however, they remain abundant and this reservoir remains a dynamite walleye fishery. Other gamefish found in Potholes include bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, rainbow trout and bullhead. Potholes is managed under the same walleye and smallmouth regulations that took effect on Moses Lake in spring 2006. Our FWIN report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/walleye_fwin08.htm

Red Rock Lake (Grant County)
Red Rock Lake is approximately 3 miles southeast of Royal City, Washington. Water levels in Red Rock Lake fluctuate a great deal during the spring and summer which makes boat access difficult. Our last survey of Red Rock Lake occurred in spring 2005. Yellow perch was the most abundant species collected followed by largemouth bass. Other gamefish found in Red Rock Lake include black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Tiger muskies have been stocked in Red Rock Lake; however, none were collected during this survey, and this lake no longer receives tiger muskie. There are a few very large bass in Red Rock Lake. One fish collected was eight pounds! Our report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/fpt06-03.pdf

Roses Lake (Chelan County)
Roses Lake is located approximately one mile northeast of Lake Chelan and 1 mile north of Manson, Washington. The lake is 131 acres, and a maximum depth of approximately 30 feet. Roses Lake is managed as a winter trout fishery as well as a warmwater fishery. We surveyed Roses Lake in the fall of 2004. During that survey largemouth bass was the most abundant species collected followed by yellow perch and bluegill. There are also channel catfish in Roses Lake – some of which are very large. The band of bulrush and cattail surrounding Roses Lake holds many large bass. Anglers should focus on these areas as they provide excellent cover for both bass and the small prey fish that bass prey upon. Our report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/fpt_06-09.pdf

Sprague Lake (Adams/Lincoln Counties)
Sprague Lake is located in eastern Washington approximately 3 miles southwest of Sprague, Washington. The lake has a surface area of 1,800 acres, a mean depth of 11.5 ft., and is approximately 6 miles in length. Sprague Lake was rehabilitated in 2007. Since the rehab, DFW stocked rainbow trout for a transitional fishery until warmwater species become established. In summer 2008 DFW stocked bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie in order to create a new warmwater community. We are interested in angler effort and harvest. Please let us know about your success and creel. If you catch a fish we haven’t stocked (e.g. walleye, yellow perch) please let us know.

Stan Coffin Lake (Grant County)
Stan Coffin Lake is located in the Quincy Wildlife Area. This lake has a surface area of approximately 40.9 acres and is approximately 20 feet at its deepest point. Stan Coffin Lake is the only catch-and-release largemouth bass fishery in the state. Since 2003, we have stocked nearly 1,200 adult largemouth bass in SC Lake in order to reduce yellow perch and pumpkinseed abundance. Anglers will notice many largemouth bass in Stan Coffin Lake are tagged near their dorsal fin with red plastic tags: PLEASE leave the tags in the fish. These tags are used to monitor growth of individual fish in the lake. Bluegill in Stan Coffin Lake should be larger than those found in other Regional waters due to predation on small fish. Other gamefish found in Stan Coffin Lake include channel catfish, yellow perch and pumpkinseed. Anglers are encouraged to keep all yellow perch and pumpkinseed since these species are undesirable in this lake. In 2006 we also placed several catfish spawning barrels in Stan Coffin Lake. Currently we don’t feel that catfish have suitable spawning habitat; these barrels should fill that need. PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB the barrels.

In 2005 we compiled a four—year summary of warmwater surveys. This report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/fpt_06-07.pdf

		Figure 1. Catfish spawning barrel in approximately 3 feet of water of Stan Coffin Lake.

Upper Goose Lake (Grant County)
Upper Goose Lake lies among the seep lakes in Grant County approximately 10 miles northwest of Othello, Washington, and approximately 3 miles south of Potholes Reservoir. Upper Goose Lake has a surface area of 130.5 acres, and a mean depth of 46 ft. We haven’t surveyed Upper Goose Lake since 2000; however, during that survey we collected (in order of abundance) largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch and bluegill. Anglers are encouraged to contact us and report their success.

Washburn Island Pond (Okanogan County)
Washburn Island Pond is located approximately 5 miles southeast of Brewster, Washington. The pond, which is primarily used by hunters and fishermen, has a surface area of approximately 140 acres, a maximum depth of 21 feet, and a volume of 1140 acre-ft. Washburn Island Pond is another of our largemouth bass—bluegill fisheries. We surveyed WIP in fall 2001. Bluegill was the most abundant species collected followed by largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, black crappie, brown bullhead and channel catfish. Bluegill are over-populated in WIP so anglers are unlikely to find many large fish. In 2005, we removed a few hundred bluegill from WIP for transplant into a pond in the north Potholes Reserve. Black crappie seen during this removal were large and many were found near the outlet at the south end of the lake.

Whitestone Lake (Okanogan County)
Whitestone Lake is located in the Okanogan River drainage approximately 5.7 miles northwest of Tonasket, Washington. The lake has a surface area of 173 acres, and a maximum depth of 25 feet. During 2008, we conducted a “mark—recap” population estimate on largemouth bass over 8 inches using Floy anchor tags. We estimated the population at 1,003 (range 826—1323), which indicates a density of 6 bass per acre. The anchor tags are blue, green, or orange and are uniquely numbered. These tags will allow us to examine growth of about 500 fish in this population. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE TAGS. In addition, we collected 6,000 small bluegill from Whitestone Lake for transplant into Sprague Lake. Our 2006 survey showed results similar to that seen in 2000. Bluegill are still most abundant and large bass dominate that population. Very few small bass were collected during this survey. Our 2006 report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/warmwater/library/fpt07-06.pdf

Regional Warmwater Activities for the 2009 Field Season

• Electrofishing to monitor bass growth.

• Determine aquatic vegetation abundance and diversity in Stan Coffin Lake.

• Bass population estimates (Desert Lake, Roses Lake), expand growth study.

• Leader Lake black crappie study.

• Stan Coffin bluegill monitoring (Proportional size structure)

• Collect hatchery brood stock (walleye, black crappie)

• Walleye survey (Banks, Moses, Potholes)