Get your new licenses WA anglers!

The two pole endorsement option applies to the majority of the 8,000 fishing lakes, ponds and reservoirs in Washington State.

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In general, two-pole fishing is not allowed in saltwater, or in rivers, streams and beaver ponds. However, WDFW is evaluating areas and times when surplus fish may be available for harvest and the two-pole option could be allowed.

8000 lakes in WA State    Are they counting drainage ditches, run-off sites, and private ponds?  We've been promised a lot of things in this state under the guise of "evaluation."  If I enjoyed trout fishing I could definitely see the benefit for trolling or bobber fishing but beyond that I think its a waste of money.  I may reconsider my posistion if I manage to find a decent lake with catfish (channels, blues, or mud) within a reasonable distance.

I may reconsider my posistion if I manage to find a decent lake with catfish (channels, blues, or mud) within a reasonable distance.

You will let us know if you find one, yes?  Below is some info I've collected.

"The Columbia and Snake Rivers are notorious for big catfish. Most rivers in WA are likely to contain at least a few catfish. They will also be found in some ponds, parks, small lakes and of course some of the major lakes in Washington. These major lakes include Alder Lake, Banks Lake, Franklin D Roosevelt Lake, Lake Bryan, Lake Chelan, Lake Sammamish, Lake Umatilla (John Day), Lake Wallula (McNary), Lake Whatcom, Mayfield Lake, Palmer Lake, Riffe Lake, pirit Lake, Vancouver Lake and Wanapum Lake.

The Washington state record blue catfish was taken out of the Columbia River and the state record channel catfish was caught from the I-82 Pond No. 6 . The Snake River produced the WA state record flathead catfish."

"Catfish below Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River.  Lake Bryan has a large population of Channel and Blue catfish. These fish become active around the end of March with excellent fishing through the months of April, May and June. It is late June to mid July that the spawn occurs and fishing slows dramatically. Fishing then picks up by mid July to the first of August.  Average fish size is in the 3 - 7 pound range with an occasional larger fish."

Lake Bryan is the stretch of river behind Little Goose Dam and below Lower Granite Dam.

I have also heard, "...cat fishing in Lake Washington the best spot was Juanita Bay and were the Sammamish slough enters Lake Washington".

You bet your a$$ I'll be giving Juanita Bay and the Sammamish slough spots a shot.  If they actually have big cats I'll buy a second pole license and enjoy my deep-fried catfish, hush puppy, and salt pork dinners.     Yakima is a little further than I'd normally drive to fish, but the I-82 ponds may be worth it for some cats.

The problem I have found here in WA is that the WDFW doesn't know, or care to distinguish, the difference between Brown Bullhead catfish and the other varieties yet they will split hairs over the insignificant differences between various trout species.  The differences between a bullhead and a channel are as distinct as those between Brookies and Steelhead.