Small Town News

Fish Black Friday for big rainbows in Southwest Washington lakes

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The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is offering prospective anglers opportunities for tight lines rather than long lines on the day after Thanksgiving.

The "holiday specials" include thousands of large trout — each averaging 15 to 16 inches and 1 1/4 pounds. Those fish will be stocked in six southwest Washington lakes in time for Black Friday, Nov. 28.

"Fishing is a fall and winter tradition for many Washington anglers," said Chris Donley, WDFW inland fish program manager. "These fisheries offer a great excuse to skip the malls and enjoy a fun day out on the water with family and friends."

The six southwest lakes scheduled to receive fish before Black Friday include:

Battleground Lake and Klineline Pond in Clark County

Kress Lake in Cowlitz County

Rowland Lake in Klickitat County

Fort Borst Park Pond and South Lewis County Park Pond in Lewis County

All those lakes will be closed to fishing Nov. 24-27, when they will be stocked with hefty trout from the Mossyrock and Goldendale fish hatcheries.

The Black Friday fishing opener is one of several fishing opportunities made available this fall thanks to the department's extensive fish stocking efforts, said Donley.

In total, WDFW has been stocking 47 western Washington lakes with some 340,000 catchable trout during the fall and winter seasons.

A list of lakes stocked and the department's stocking plan is available for viewing at wdfw. wa.gov/fishing/fall-into-fishing.

For up-to-date stocking information this fall, anglers should follow the department on Twitter or Facebook, accessible from wdfw.wa.gov, or see the department's weekly catchable trout stocking report at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/weekly.

Anglers must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2015, to participate in these events.

Licenses can be purchased online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov; by telephone at 1-866-246-9453; or at hundreds of license vendors across the state.

For details on license vendor locations, visit the WDFW website at wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors.



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