Fishing
Beautiful rivers and streams, high elevation lakes, reservoirs, and small ponds offer just about every setting one could ask for to relax and fish, or just enjoy the magnificent scenery.
Overview
For over 9000 years, Fishing has been a part of life here. Native tribes gathered at the Kettle Falls on the Columbia to fish, trade, govern and celebrate nature’s bounty. Indians of the Columbia River Basin were salmon fishers. At least seven local tribes including the Colvilles, Spokanes, San Poils, Okanagons, and Kootenais gathered at the falls to harvest the plentiful salmon. Salmon spawned as far inland as the headwaters of the Columbia River, 1,200 miles from the ocean and were an important food to the people who lived along the river, and also to those who traveled far to trade for fish at established fisheries like those at Kettle Falls and Celilo Falls. The Natives called the waters "Shwan-ate-koo", meaning "deep-sounding waters".
Lake Roosevelt is the Columbia River on the North side of Grand Coulee Dam. With over 30 species of fish in the lake, there are more types of fish to catch here than you'd ever imagine. Common sportfish include large and small mouth bass, walleye, and perch. HugeKokanee, Rainbow Trout, Bass and Walleye are the favorite catcheshere, and year 'round fishing is available for the hearty. There are sturgeon in Lake Roosevelt 8 to 20 feet long. They are also at least 64 years of age and weigh an impressive 1000 pounds. Annually, over 500,000 rainbow trout and 500,000 kokanee are stocked in the lake.
The Lake is host to two Walleye Championships annually, in June the Washington Govenor's Cup Walleye Tournament is held and in July the Spokane Valley Walleye Championship.
Where to fish?
Don't restrict your fishing to mouths of streams. Almost any beach will do. There are miles of accessible beach on the lake and it is hard to beat fishing along a beach on a warm, moonlit, summer night
Even though many lakes are open year round and are planted as early as mid-March, they dont get much angling pressure until the traditional "opener" near the end of April. Suffice to say the many anglers are missing a pretty good bet for early season trout success. Trout fishing especially for 'Rainbow' in lowland lakes, is usually best in spring and fall when the water is cool (but not frigid). Larger, deeper lakes can be good for trout ALL year. June & July are usually best for Kokanee. Many alpine or high elevation lakes are stocked with cutthroat, rainbow, and golden trout between June and October. A few lakes have naturally producing populations.
Visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's new license sales website. They're open for business! Washington is home to hundreds of fish and wildlife species and scores of diverse fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. And buying a license or vehicle access decal to enjoy these opportunities has just gotten easier.
On their site you can purchase a hunting or fishing license, obtain a vehicle access decal for parking on WDFW lands and water access sites, order raffle tickets, make a donation to youth outdoor education events, file seasonal reports of hunting activity and much more.
(Visit: https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/)
Reference Links
Colville National Forest link to fishing 'Streams & Rivers'
Colville National Forest link to fishing 'Lakes'
Washington Department of Fishing & Wildlife - Home Page