I hope you all have your new fishing licenses. You’ll need them if you plan to fish the many lakes that open on April 1st in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge south of Potholes Reservoir. There are scores of lakes that open to trout fishing on the first, and you can plan to catch everything from yearling rainbow of close to a foot long, to some big carryovers in some of the walk-in lakes. It would be worth a stop at the tackle shop at Mar Don Resort to pick up a map of these lakes. They have the best one I know of there. While you’re there you should also pick up a registration form for the annual Columbia Basin Kids Fishing Derby. The Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District hosts this event at Connelly Park, which will be held on Saturday, April 12th. There will be lots of fish to be caught and other activities for the kids. There are some terrific prizes to be handed out to lucky anglers and free hot dogs and Pepsi for everyone that attends. You must pre-register for the event, though, and you can do so at Mar Don Resort, Airway Heights Deli, Lakes Market, and Dairy Queen in Moses Lake.