Big Twin and Patterson lakes near Winthrop, and Leader Lake northeast of Loup Loup Pass on Highway 20 are good bets for pan-size and holdover rainbows. Big Twin gets a modest plant of triploids, too.

A big fish favorite is Bonaparte Lake, which is open year ‘round and delivers good mackinaw and brook trout in early spring. Often it produces near-surface action before the general opener.

On the Colville Indian Reservation, lanky Omak Lake requires a tribal fishing permit to chase oversize Lahontan cutthroat. State records are set here, although the spring fishery is strictly catch-and-release to protect spawners. Omak is a great place to hunt for a truly trophy-size fish.

Rainbows and browns up to 18 inches will also be available in 160-acre Blue Lake on the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area. Like many of the best producing Okanogan lakes, Blue is restricted to selective tackle and has a one-fish daily limit for trout.

~Spokane Region~
Spokane is eastern Washington’s largest city, and its anglers never have to travel far for exceptionally good trout fishing, especially in the dozens of small lakes that dot the rolling countryside.

Badger, West Medical, Clear and Williams lakes are heavily stocked with triploid rainbows, on top of a solid mix of rainbows, browns, and cutthroat. West Medical also holds tiger trout. With a resort, rental boats, fishing dock and state access, it’s one of the most popular and productive lakes in the county. Hatch time for mayflies at Williams Lake is mid-May, and that’s when this 319-acre lake zooms to the top in popularity and productivity. Expect rainbows and cutts in the 14- to 16-inch range, with triploids and brood-stock plants giving the lake trophy-trout appeal.

Deer and Loon lakes are planted with triploids to complement fry and catchables. These are big lakes with resorts and camping and lots of early trout action.

Up north on the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area, several chains of small cutthroat lakes are perennially productive for fly- and light-spinning gear. This year, based on stocking and growth records, the WDFW expects Sacheen, Fan, Brown’s and Crescent lakes to be productive early.

Diamond Lake, southwest of Newport, reportedly has a large number of carryovers in the 14- to 16-inch range, is pumped up with a net pen rearing-release project and is also stocked with triploids. It’s going to be tough to beat that combination!

Big 870-acre Curlew Lake in Ferry County is another eastern hot spot. It’s heavily planted with net-pen reared rainbows, along with tiger muskies and largemouth bass.

Spokane, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties are fat with April and May trout potential. The hard part is finding a lake that isn’t productive. And if you do, just cruise on the road and you’ll find one that is. Eloika, Hog Canyon, Liberty, Silver, Jump Off Joe, Waitts, Marshall, Skookum, Diamond, Yokum, Frater are all good-to-great ‘08 trout prospects.

~East Slope~
No trout story would be complete without mentioning the big Columbia River impoundment known as Rufus Woods. The 7,800-acre reservoir has produced the last several state-record rainbows, including the current 29.6-pound record. These are triploids, and it’s mostly a winter fishery, but it’s where the state records live.