THE LAKES HAD their day on the fourth Saturday of April.
But they’re still getting planted with hatchery fish, so there’s plenty of trout ready to eat hooks.
In Jefferson County, Gibbs Lake has been stocked with 1,100 more catchable trout and Lake Leland with nearly 4,500 since the lowland lakes opened April 28.
The state department of Fish and Wildlife has also planted Wentworth Lake in Clallam County with 1,275 trout.
Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks says Wentworth also receives the leftovers from the West End Sportsman’s Club’s kids fishing day, which was held on May 6.
So, Wentworth is loaded, and therefore, a popular place for anglers.
It’s also a great place for families and young anglers to learn to fish.
“You’ll run into some trout out there,” Gooding said, adding some are as big as five to seven pounds.
The bad news on the lake beat is the closure of Anderson Lake less than a week after it opened in Jefferson County.
As in past years, toxic blue-green algae has forced fishing to cease at Anderson Lake.
“Anderson is an all-star fishery, but it closed before we were able to enjoy it,” Captain Dave Drewry of Peninsula Sportsman (360-379-0906) in Port Townsend said.
Drewry said he’ll be surprised if Anderson Lake reopens to fishing this year.
Here is a rundown of lakes on the Peninsula:
Beaver Lake, Clallam County:
■ Location: Three miles northeast of Sappho, 16 miles northeast of Forks.
■ Public boat ramp.
■ Regulations: No minimum, 12-inch maximum. Daily limit: five trout.
■ Internal combustion motors prohibited.
Gibbs Lake, Jefferson County:
■ Location: 3.5 miles southwest of Chimacum.
■ Regulations: Catch and release trout.
■ Internal combustion motors prohibited.
■ Trout planted, year to date: 1,953.
Horseshoe Lake, Jefferson County:
■ Location: Four miles southwest of Port Ludlow.
■ Regulations: No minimum or maximum size. Daily limit: one trout.
■ Internal combustion motors prohibited.
■ Trout planted, year to date: 720.
Lake Leland, Jefferson County:
■ Location: Just off Highway 101, about five miles north of Quilcene ramp.
■ Regulations: No minimum size. Daily limit: five trout, including two over 14 inches.
■ Trout planted, year to date: 4,775.
Ludlow Lake, Jefferson County:
■ Location: 4.5 miles west of Port Ludlow.
■ Regulations: No minimum size. Daily limit: five trout, including two over 14 inches.
■ Trout planted, year to date: 720.
Lake Pleasant, Clallam County:
■ Location: Five miles off U.S. Highway 101, west of Sappho; 10 miles north of Forks.
■ Public boat ramp.
■ Regulations: No minimum size. Daily limit five trout.
■ Kokanee regulations: minimum size 8 inches, maximum 20 inches.
Sandy Shore Lake, Jefferson County:
■ Location: Five miles southwest of Port Ludlow off Sandy Shore Road.
■ Public boat ramp.
■ Regulations: No minimum size. Daily limit: five trout, including two over 14 inches.
■ Trout planted, year to date: 2,146.
Silent Lake, Jefferson County:
■ Location: Five miles southeast of Quilcene, on east side of Dabob Bay.
■ Public boat ramp.
■ Regulations: No minimum size. Daily limit: five trout, including two over 14 inches.
■ Trout planted, year to date: 552.
Lake Sutherland, Clallam County:
■ Location: Ten miles west of Port Angeles off U.S. Highway 101.
■ Public boat ramp.
■ Regulations: Minimum 6 inches, maximum 18 inches. Daily limit five trout.
Tarboo Lake, Jefferson County:
■ Location: three miles north of Quilcene.
■ Public boat ramp.
■ Regulations: Statewide minimum size and daily limits. Up to two trout over 14 inches may be retained.
■ Internal combustion motors prohibited.
■ Trout planted, year to date: 1,438.
Teal Lake, Jefferson County:
■ Location: Two miles south of Port Ludlow.
■ Regulations: No minimum size. Daily limit: one trout.
■ Internal combustion motors prohibited.
■ Trout planted, year to date: 682.
Wentworth Lake, Clallam County:
■ Location: Almost eight miles northwest of Forks between the East and West forks of the Dickey River.
■ Regulations: Statewide minimum size and daily limit.
■ Internal combustion motors prohibited.
■ Trout planted, year to date: 4,441.
Port Townsend
The closure of Anderson Lake has put a damper on lake fishing, but the saltwater action near Port Townsend is good, especially for lingcod.
“Halibut has been spotty, but lingcod has been excellent,” Drewry said.
Though per-boat halibut averages are below zero, Drewry said that many of that halibut caught are big.
The Discovery Bay shrimp season ended yesterday, but more dates could be added depending on the status of the quota.
The pots have been filling up there, so if those looking for an alternate to the crazy Hood Canal might look to Discovery Bay.
Springers, finally
Finally some good news about spring chinook.
After a frustrating season on the rivers, “the fish just showed up,” Gooding said.
The Sol Duc, in particular, has been ripe the last 10 days.
Just a reminder that the Hoh River opens today, but a reminder that only hatchery fish can be kept.
Gooding says that while reeling in springers can be fun, most anglers want a payoff for chinook.
See, chinook are delicious.
“If you catch springers, you want to eat them,” Gooding said.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lee.horton@peninsuladailynews.com.
