2015 Fishrapper, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash. — Page 13
Tribe offers a huge variety of fish Triploid to bass, the Colvilles have them all By Al Camp The Chronicle Some great fishing awaits anglers on Colville Indian Reservation waters, where the regular fishing season runs April 11 to Oct. 31. Buffalo, McGinnis and Duley lakes have winter fishing. Other winter fishing lakes include Summit and Twin lakes. The season was extended to Dec. 1, 2015, to March 15, 2016. Besides special winter fishing seasons, Nicholas and LaFleur lakes have special seasons of May 8 through Oct. 31. Buffalo, Borgeau, LaFleur and Twins lakes will receive four-pound triploids this spring that were raised at the tribe’s Bridgeport hatchery. “We want to get people exciting about potentially catching a big fish,” Tribal Resident Fish Manger Bret Nine said. Anglers should know the Sanpoil River is not open to nontribal members on the reservation. Besides great fishing prospects, the tribe also did not increase license fees this year. The reservation provides a diverse fishery in its many lakes and streams open to non-tribal members. Triploid rainbow and eastern brook trout, plus Lahontan cutthroat, were planted in a number of lakes and streams prior to the April opener, Nine said. For triploid rainbow, anglers should consider trips to Twin Lakes, Rufus Woods, Borgeau, LaFleur and Nicholas lakes. The waters are stocked from the tribe’s Resident Fish Hatchery near Bridgeport and from net pens located on Lake Rufus Woods. Also
released are larger numbers of smaller net pen fish supported by the tribe’s Fish and Wildlife Department. Self-sustaining kokanee are available on the reservation, with fish in the four- to five-pound range roaming Buffalo Lake, Nine said. The tribe also stocks triploid rainbow trout, and there are bass, in Buffalo, which is the third most popular tribal lake behind Rufus Woods and Twin Lakes. Omak Lake produces and is planted with large numbers of Lahontan cutthroat trout. Approximately 100,000 fish are stocked yearly. Anglers need to be aware of special restrictions and regulations on Omak Lake. Eastern brook trout are stocked in Twin, McGinnis, Summit and Simpson lakes. Anglers are encouraged to check final non-member tribal fishing regulations at http://www.colvilletribes.com/fis h_and_wildlife.php . Fishing permit fees for 26 lakes and creeks continue to cost $10 for one day, $20 for three days, $30 for seven days and $40 for a season. Licenses can be purchased at Big Wally’s, Coulee City; Buffalo Lake Resort, Fish and Wildlife Office in Omak, Nespelem, Inchelium and Bridgeport; Coulee Playland Resort in Electric City; Eich’s Mercantile in Republic; Inchelium Store, Log Cabin Resort and Rainbow Beach Resort in Inchelium; Jackson’s Service Station and Nespelem Trading Post, Nespelem; Keller Community Store; Lee Frank’s Mercantile in Tonasket; North Forty and Tribal Trails in Omak; and Walmarts in
Al Camp/The Chronicle
A happy angler holds up a Lahontan cutthroat, which planted in several tribal lakes including Omak Lake. Omak and Colville. Most tribal regulations are concurrent with state regulations on most boundary waters, Nine said. On Lake Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam, there is a 16walleye limit with no size restrictions and 10-bass limit with no size restrictions. Tribal licenses are required on the shores of Rufus Woods, except at the designated fishing site next
to Pacific Aquaculture facility off Columbia River Road. The site is marked and is the only site where either a state fishing license or tribal license is accepted. If you are in a boat fishing Rufus Woods, either license is accepted, tribal officials said. All non-members who are fishing from the reservation shoreline on Crawfish Lake, Lake Pateros (Wells Dam pool), Washburn Island Pond, Lake
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Rufus Woods (except at the designated fishing area), Okanogan River and Lake Roosevelt (above Grand Coulee Dam) must have in their possession a valid Colville Indian Reservation fishing permit. Non-members fishing by boat in boundary waters adjacent to the reservation or from the shore of Lake Rufus Woods at a designated fishing area must possess either a valid tribal permit or a state license.