Some good-sized hatchery steelhead have been planted in four Pacific County lakes, in part to make up for steelhead fishing restrictions in coastal rivers this forthcoming season.

PACIFIC COUNTY — This winter, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery crews are stocking surplus hatchery adult steelhead in four lakes in Pacific County, including Case’s Pond (Raymond), Black Lake (Ilwaco), and Western and Snag lakes (Naselle).

After the December high flows and taking into account conservation-minded fishing restrictions, this approach gives anglers a second chance to harvest these hatchery adults.

WDFW hatchery crews implanted a blue tag in the back of these fish to help fishery managers measure success and angler effort, informing future fisheries. If you catch one of these tagged adults, call the number on the tag.

For the latest updates on hatchery lake plants, visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking/trout-plants. Anglers are reminded to continue to consult WDFW’s 2021-22 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet (wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations) and WDFW’s emergency rules webpage (fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules). To learn more about the WDFW’s approach to the coastal steelhead season, see tinyurl.com/WDFW-2022-steelhead.