It has been said that April showers bring May flowers. If that is true, we are going to have some amazing flower gardens this year. Actually, the rain has done wonders for the fish but played havoc with the fishers.
Fish and ducks love the weather we have been experiencing. It has provided waterways for these species of wild life to flourish. All waterways, including rivers, streams and lakes, have benefited from the increase of wet weather. Saturated ground will assure us that these levels will not diminish any time soon.
Not only does the volume of water enlarge the domain of fish; but the lower and cooler temperatures have kept the habitat for trout ideal.
On the other hand, it has made it down right miserable to pursue fish. The wet conditions coupled with the cold temperatures make one think twice before venturing outdoors. This is particularly the case when lake fishing with smaller children. It makes it doubly worse when in a boat. Being isolated in a boat when a downpour occurs can take all the fun out of the activity for a youngster.
But, when summer comes and it hasn’t rained in weeks, we will all forget the weather of this spring. It may be such that we will be begging for moisture to come in any form. These are the challenges of fishing in the Pacific Northwest.
For those who chose to venture out on opening weekend the report is a good one. The Department of Fish &Wildlife stocked the usual lakes with an abundance of fish. Of course, a lot of attention is given to the bigger trout. These along with the occasional steelhead hooked gave enough thrills to bring anglers back for more fun. The time subsequent to opening day has been equally productive for anglers and this should be the case for a while anyhow.
The inclement weather does a couple of things. It discourages participation, but it also assures the fishing public that the lakes will not be fished out quickly. The lakes have been known to be harvested rather quickly when fishing pressure is high in the midst of ideal fishing conditions. I do not foresee that to be the problem this year.
Fishing swollen lakes is going to be somewhat different than fishing lower and clearer lake conditions. First of all, the fish are going to be anywhere and at varying depths of water. This is the case because unclear water will cause the trout to be less wary. They will not be seeking cover or overhangs so readily. Their adaption to natural conditions will slow down so artificial baits such as “Powerbait” should work for a longer period of time. These fish will have more room to escape predators as well.
So, if the angler is able to endure and press through the conditions, catching a lake trout should be a doable. It may take some waterproof clothing, a heater or small fire on the shore to make it happen. After all, it is just a little rain.
