The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is implementing changes to its hatchery operations in southwest Washington, designed to conserve wild fish while fostering sustainable fishing opportunities. One major shift is the end of the Skamania Hatchery winter steelhead program on the Washougal River, and its replacement will be with an integrated hatchery approach that will use natural-origin adult steelhead as broodstock. Although this transition has been set in motion, WDFW had to address the immediate matter of finding a new home for 93,500 steelhead juveniles raised at the hatchery, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
In searching for suitable non-anadromous waters to release the juvenile steelhead, WDFW ultimately selected Banks Lake in central Washington as the release site. They chose Banks Lake over other candidates like Riffe Lake, Moses Lake, and others because of its size, suitable habitat, and the pre-existing sport fishery. WDFW believes Banks Lake's cool water temperatures and diverse habitats are ideal for sustaining released fish. The juvenile steelhead, which adapts similarly to stocked rainbow trout when placed in lakes, were released into Banks Lake in early December and are expected to thrive in this new habitat.
Banks Lake has a successful history with past steelhead and salmon releases, where fish thrived and provided additional recreational opportunities for anglers. Those fish persisted in the lake for three to five years, giving recreational anglers a unique fishing opportunity. The department expects the recently released juvenile steelhead to perform similarly, bolstering the fishing experience for local and visiting anglers alike.
For fishing enthusiasts at Banks Lake, adding this hatchery steelhead is set to diversify an already vibrant sport fishery. WDFW indicates that the young steelhead will become a new target species for those accustomed to pursuing trout more commonly found in river environments. Due to its rich ecosystem, the lake's plentiful food supply is anticipated to support these steelhead's growth, enhancing their survival rates and potentially having them emerge as top predators contributing significantly to the lake ecology. The Skamania Hatchery will focus on integrated hatchery efforts that prioritize the conservation and health of wild steelhead populations.
