Size and daily limits suspended on six eastern Washington lakes

September 11, 2015

September 11, 2015

Size and daily limits suspended
on six eastern Washington lakes

Action:

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is modifying fishing rules on the following lakes, prior to treating those lakes to remove nuisance species in late October and early November:

Rat, Upper and Lower Green Lakes: Allow retention of all fish species, remove selective gear rules, and suspend size and daily limits

No Name Lake: Suspend size and daily limits

Badger and Williams Lakes: Extend fishing season and suspend size and daily limits

Effective Dates:

Rat, Upper and Lower Green Lakes: Immediately through Oct. 18, 2015

No Name Lake: Immediately through Oct. 25, 2015

Badger, and Williams Lakes: Immediately through Oct. 25, 2015

Species affected: All fish species

Location: Rat, Upper and Lower Green Lakes (Okanogan Co.); No Name Lake (Pend Oreille Co.); and Badger and Williams Lakes (Spokane Co.)

Reason for action: These six lakes are scheduled to be treated with rotenone to remove nuisance fish species as part of an effort to restore the quality of trout fishing in those waters. . Rotenone is an organic substance derived from the roots of tropical plants, which has been approved for use as a fish pesticide by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to the treatment, fishery managers are allowing current license holders to harvest fish without size or daily limits.

Other information: All six lakes will be restocked with rainbow trout the following spring and prior to opening day of fishing. The winter trout fisheries in Rat, Upper and Lower Green Lakes will reopen in December 2016.

Contact: Rat, Upper and Lower Greens Lakes: Regional Fish Program Manager Jeff Korth, Ephrata: 509-754-4624 or District Biologist Ryan Fortier: 509-997-0316. No Name Lake: Regional Fish Program Manager Chris Donley, Spokane: 509-892-1001 ext. 307, or District Biologist Bill Baker: 509-684-2362 ext. 23. Williams and Badger Lakes: Regional Fish Program Manager Chris Donley, Spokane: 509-892-1001 ext. 307, or District Biologist Randy Osborne: 509-892-1001 ext. 302.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing-hotlines to find a list of mobile, web, print, or customer service phone options for the latest rule information.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.