The weather is becoming more unsettled as we move further into fall. We still get plenty of sunny days that make getting outdoors or on the water a real pleasure. You just need to keep an eye on the forecasts and plan accordingly.
I was on the west side of the mountains recently, in the Edmonds area specifically, and of course I had to check on the fishing in the salt water here. This was a pleasure, as the weather was spectacular. The mornings were blanketed in fog, which lifted as the day matured, to offer views of the Cascades, Mount Rainier and even the Olympic mountains. While strolling along the shoreline I observed an amazing amount of wildlife, from a feeding blue heron, to frolicking seals, and even watched a coho salmon cruise the shallows and spotted a pair of sea-run cutthroat. What might tempt me to return may surprise you. I learned that the squid that move close enough to the piers and breakwaters around Puget Sound to be caught are beginning to appear. I talked to an angler that had done well catching these tasty calamary and he said that they would be available in good numbers off the fishing pier in Edmonds. I have fished for these creatures before and loved feasting on them fried crispy. The daily limit is ten pounds, and I would love to bring some home for a feast with friends.
If you are an experienced angler, I am sure you like having a two-pole endorsement. This really helps me figure out what the fish want faster. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is now accepting public comments on a proposed fishing rule change for game fish in the Washington portions of the Snake and Columbia rivers. The proposed amendments will allow two-pole fishing for all game fish including walleye, bass, channel catfish, and northern pikeminnow year-round. In July, WDFW received a petition to allow two-pole fishing for game fish in the Snake River. WDFW approved the petition with modifications that included the Columbia River from the Washington/Oregon border upstream to Chief Joseph Dam. More information about the proposed rule change is available on the WDFW website. The full list of locations is available in the proposed rule. The public comment period for this rule runs through December 7th, 2026. The public may submit comments about the rulemaking online or via email. The WDFW will also host a virtual public hearing via Zoom from 6–8 p.m. on Monday, December 7th, to present information about the proposed rule change and hear feedback and suggestions. Pre-registration is required.
Fall fishing can be great for a variety of species, and there are several lakes in Grant County that are now open through the end of the month. Park and Blue lakes have been the destination for trout anglers for decades, and both are now inhabited with very good populations of smallmouth bass and perch. As I recall these lakes would be “rehabbed” every seven years. These were to be dedicated to trout fishing. However, there have been concerns from the public about this practice, so along with the lakes being open through the end of October, there is no effort to remove the spiny ray species from them. There are a couple lakes near Park and Blue that remained dedicated to trout with special regulations designed to assure catches of larger trout than found in most other lakes. Dry Falls Lake is a popular fly fishing water and is open through the end of November. There are rainbow, tiger trout and brown trout in Dry Lake. Just down the road from Park and Blue is Lake Lenore, a selective rule fishery, that offers Lahontan cutthroat and it is also open through November. This week’s photo is of Park and Blue lakes taken from Highway 17 on the way to Banks Lake.
It’s not too late to catch a trout and win a prize in the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Trout Derby. There are more than 100 stocked lakes statewide. Over 60 generous businesses have donated over 900 prizes valued at more than $43,000! This 11th annual derby is open to anyone with a valid 2026 fishing license (children under 16 fish for free), and no entry fee or registration is required. To win a prize, just catch a green-tagged rainbow trout at a participating lake through October 31st. You can go to the WDFW’s website and search Trout Derby at the top right hand side of the Home Page. Here you will find a list of the lakes that have tagged trout in them and also learn what the prizes are for catching one. This derby has been extremely popular with the state’s trout anglers, and as high as 60 percent of the prizes have been claimed. So, don’t put that rod and reel and tackle box away. Get out to one of the tagged trout lakes and see if you can win a prize!
I want to thank all of you that have subscribed to the FishingMagician.com Facebook page. It may not seem like much, but it really helps keep me on the road and afloat to do the reports that I do. You will soon be seeing information about fishing opportunities in north Idaho, in addition to the areas that I have been covering for years. All of this costs. The time and travel, fuel and licenses, etc. I also wanted to let you know that I have recently produced a series of videos that include reviews of some of my favorite products. These will be available to subscribers to the FishingMagician.com Facebook page. Things that I personally use when I am fishing for the different species available to us in this region. There are some tips and tricks that I share with subscribers as well. If you like what I do and want to learn more about what I use to catch fish and the products that I personally prefer, just click on the Subscriber button on my page. Thanks in advance!
