Cesar Cardenas lands rainbow trout without a net during the Black Friday fishery at South Lewis County Park Pond.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is in the midst of their annual trout stocking effort in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Each year, the state loads regional waters with thousands of lunker rainbow trout for a “Black Friday” fishing event that’s intended to provide an alternative to the harried shopping experience. A press release from the WDFW noted that the hatchery trout stocking effort offers “anglers opportunities for tight lines rather than long lines on the day after Thanksgiving.”
Those hatchery trout are said to average between 15 and 16 inches in length with some weighing up to three pounds.
“This is a great chance to enjoy a fun day on the water with family and friends,” said Steve Caromile, WDFW inland fish program manager, in a press release. “I can’t think of a better way to pre-celebrate the holidays.”
Lakes slated for stocking in the coming weeks include Fort Borst Park Pond in Centralia, and South Lewis County Park Pond in Toledo. In Thurston County Black, Long, and Offut lakes are all designated for trout deposits. Cases Pond in Pacific County and Kress Lake in Cowlitz County are also scheduled to be stocked along with Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond in Clark County. American Lake and Tanwax Lake in Pierce County will also receive shipments of rainbows.
A load of other lakes on the east side of the state have been planted with fry trout over a longer period of time. Those fish that haven’t been caught have likely grown to what the WDFW likes to call “catchable size” by now.
“WDFW’s trout stocking and hatchery programs are active year-round,” added Caromile. “We provide the gift of spending time with friends and family on lakes around the state, at any time of the year.”
All anglers age 15 and older are required to possess a license while fishing.
