There’s good news and bad news for anglers here in Central Washington. The bad news first. We have had one of the longest ice fishing seasons in many years. I got to try some new lakes, like Curlew and Bonaparte. Even Roses Lake, near Lake Chelan, offered good fishing for perch and trout this winter. I ran up to Fish Lake, near Lake Wenatchee yesterday and although the main lake is still covered with ice, there is a lot of water on top of the ice, and open spots around the edges. I made a few trips to Fish Lake this winter and had a blast catching perch. I heard reports of some kokanee caught through the ice, too. I think the ice fishing season is winding down. Now the good news. Both Moses Lake and Potholes are free of ice, and when the water warms just a bit more the fishing for walleye and bass will start to happen. I‘m sure that Banks Lake will also clear soon and offer early walleye and bass fishing. Slow presentations will be the way to go for a while, but I have caught smallmouth even in December on Banks, so find ‘em and you can catch ‘em.
There is lots of rain in the forecast for our area and that will accelerate the melting of ice at Fish Lake.