Roosevelt Lake and freshwater ling cod

Yesterday I drove up to Colville, WA to visit a friend (P-Man) and do a little fishing on Lake Roosevelt. We were targeting walleye and trout, but the walleye were not cooperative. The trout fishing was great, although not off the hook. When we could find them they were aggressive, smashing my Rapalas like freight trains. I hooked 3, landed two, kept one. These were the best eating trout I have ever had, with the reddest meat I have ever seen from trout.

One other interesting catch was a burbot, also known as a freshwater ling cod. Apparently it's a somewhat rare catch around here. It is my first for sure!

At the launch:


The burbot:



The trout:


The meat ready for the grill:

Nice report! Those trout look dee-lish!
 

Jay, where did you launch from?  I have gone a couple times out of FT Spokane, but have not had much luck yet.  What type, and how are you fishing your Rapalas?  Nice looking catch BTW, when Williams Lake opens we should hook up for some more tasty trout.  Also, I am not opposed to more Roosevelt fishing.

The burbot is known as the "poor man's lobster".  Its supposed to be quite tasty.  Apparently, the uglier the fish, the tastier it is.

Sweet!!!  Those trout are real beauties.
 Wife and I used to camp at Plum Point, a boat-in site with lots of bird life, a dock, and fire grate.  I remember the trout fishing as excellent, also sm bass and walleye.  Downside?  A long drive from Vashon.....
   Is that a Kokata dry suit??

Nice trout!  Good catch on the burbot.  Catch him off the bottom?  Did it have scales?

Nice trout!  Good catch on the burbot.  Catch him off the bottom?  Did it have scales?

Yep, he came off the bottom as I was bottom bouncing a jig tipped with a night crawler. It didn't have scales and it was really slimy. 

   Is that a Kokata dry suit??

It's Kokotat paddle pants and an Extrasport top mated to it. A drysuit is on the wish list right now though because that water was cold!

Jay, where did you launch from?  I have gone a couple times out of FT Spokane, but have not had much luck yet.  What type, and how are you fishing your Rapalas?  Nice looking catch BTW, when Williams Lake opens we should hook up for some more tasty trout.  Also, I am not opposed to more Roosevelt fishing.

We launched out of Colville Flat, just outside of Kettle Falls. For trout I like to run J-7 or J-5 Rapalas back 75', varying speed and colors until they hit. Often firetiger works best, but yesterday the brook trout color was the preferred offer.

Let me know when you would like to fish. P-man and I both would love to see more yakkers out here!   

Man, I can see a Lake Rooveselt camping /fishing tournament in July.....someplace like Spring Canyon----easy access, good campsites, docks and launch.....

Make that June....
One of the most popular sport fish in the northern and central United states has developed a similar reputation in Washington, and specifically at Lake Roosevelt national Recreation Area, in the last couple of decades. Known for its exquisite flavor and large size, this newcomer called "walleye" is providing additional excitement and opportunity in a state already rich with fishing resources.

The walleye is not a native Washington fish, and just how walleyes originally entered the state is unknown. The first verification of a walleye in Washington was in 1962, from Banks Lake in eastern Washington. Soon afterwards, populations began to show up in Franklin Roosevelt Lake (connected to Banks Lake through a huge pipe and pump). Since then they have spread from these original sites to the remainder of the mainstemColumbia river, from near the mouth to the Canadian border.

Walleyes continued to advance to other waters in the central Columbia Basin. Using irrigation canals as frontier highways, they have established populations in Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, Billy Clapp Lake, Long Lake, Crescent Lake and Soda Lake. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has also stocked walleyes insome of these lakes to supplement the populations, as well as to create a new fishery in Sprague Lake.

The walleye's appeal is certainly not its lethargic fight, although fish get so big here they can generate intense interest and excitement. Rather, it is their performance at the dinner table that keeps anglers returning, trip after trip. Many people consider walleyes to be the best-flavored white-fleshed fish in freshwater.Aficionados of yellow perch (a close relative of the walleye) might disagree, but not vociferously. Both are superb in a number of recipes with the walleye's larger size contributing bigger portions.

A good day's fishing for walleyes will yield several two-to- three-pound fish, with an occasional fish up to ten pounds. The current state record, caught in the Columbia River below McNary Dam in April 1990, weighed 18 pounds and 12 ounces.

I'd be up for that.  They have huge kokanee too if you can dial them in.

Nice fish all the way around Fishin-Jay. Looked to be a beautiful day with calm water. That nice brew looks like it would go great with those fillets. Sometimes I wish I didn't work weekends so I could hookup on those type of trips with others in the club but weekdays off does have it's advantages. Like less people.

Right there with you fishnut1.  I work FR, SAT, SUN.  I get one day to myself out of the other 4 though (watch my kids the other 3 to save on daycare)  so i am usually able to get out for an weekday fish during most times of the year.  I like going out on the columbia during the week.  Maybe 1-2 boats out and not usually where I am.  Pretty coold deal.