Washington's statewide opening day for trout fishing this year turned up a sunny surprise for anglers hitting the lakes. As reported by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), April showers took a day off, making way for warm temperatures and calm winds, a delightful deviation from the norm. Anglers of all ages traded in layers of fleece for short sleeves and shades, underscoring a note of climate anomaly in what is usually a cool and damp season. If the sun's rare cameo wasn't enough, an impressive haul of trout rounded out the day, with Steve Caromile of the WDFW calling it "a pretty decent opener statewide" and noting the "gorgeous weather" that accompanied it.
For once, the persistent Pacific Northwest cloud cover receded, and fishing buffs enjoyed a day that was far from typical, per the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The state saw an estimated 199,000 anglers turn out, with around 852,000 trout caught—a sizable increase from last year's figures. The Puget Sound region, in particular, witnessed "decent catch rates" and weather that Justin Spinelli, a WDFW regional biologist, characterized as one of the warmest he could recall.
Back east, the scenario mirrored the West's good fortune, with the Spokane area featuring "happy anglers" under slightly hazy skies, as Randy Osborne, another regional biologist for WDFW, highlighted in the report. Besides the exceptional weather, the state has been generous in its trout stocking, injecting over 14.5 million trout into some 500 aquatic venues. Moreover, big fish were on the menu, with WDFW saying it has stocked over 150,000 "jumbo" trout, which are causing quite the excitement in local angling communities.
While this blitz of fishing might seem to hint at temporary abundance, WDFW anticipates consistent fishing success well into early summer. As colder, more traditional spring weather arrives later in the week, anglers might do well to remember the profound outings of this particular opening day. The WDFW also took the occasion to remind fishers to respect other recreationists, stay informed about regulations, and of course, update their fishing licenses, which are now available for the 2025-2026 season.
Complementing the day's catch was the 10th anniversary of the WDFW's Trout Derby, already in swing through October 31. This year, they're offering higher stakes with prizes from over 100 businesses. Each prize-winning trout sports an orange tag, making for an additional layer of excitement on top of the usual pursuits. For those who love a good social share, there's also a photo contest element accessible via the hashtag #watroutderby on Instagram. For more information on the Trout Derby and tagged lakes, fishing enthusiasts are directed to the WDFW's official derby webpage.
