Idaho Fish Report

OLYMPIA - Anglers will soon have an opportunity to catch large trout this summer in Beaver Lake near Issaquah, thanks to the release of about 1,200 hatchery rainbows averaging about one pound each.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is scheduled to release the fish Aug. 20. To facilitate fish planting, the agency will close the Beaver Lake access site at sunset on Aug. 19 and reopen the site at sunrise on Aug. 21. Beaver Lake, however, will remain open to fishing while the access site is closed.

The trout are part of an educational display at WDFW's Issaquah Hatchery.

In previous years, WDFW released the trout into Beaver Lake in the fall. But this year nearly half of the fish will be released Aug. 20 to allow for the construction of a new water intake at the hatchery, said Justin Spinelli, fishery biologist for WDFW.

"We plan to release the remaining 1,300 trout later in the fall," Spinelli said.

Beaver Lake is best fished by small boat, although anglers also can be successful fishing from shore, said Spinelli.

WDFW's access site is most easily reached by way of East Beaver Lake Drive Southeast, off Southeast 24th Street in the city of Sammamish.

Parking for vehicles and boat trailers is limited, and a valid WDFW Vehicle Access Pass or Discover Pass must be visible in vehicles parked at the access site. For more information about the Vehicle Access Pass and the Discover Pass, visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/discoverpass/.

Beaver Lake is one of several lowland lakes in western Washington open to fishing year-round. Internal combustion boat engines are prohibited on the lake. All anglers 15 years of age and older are required to have a valid fishing license.

The daily limit is five trout, only two of which can exceed 15 inches in length. For details, check the sport fishing rules pamphlet, available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/.