Top desert trout lakes of Washington state

The desert lakes of Central Washington offer a number of prime fishing spots.

Grimes -- Tucked into the north end of Moses Coulee in Douglas County, Grimes is an alkaline lake that hosts Lahontan cutthroat averaging close to 4 pounds and ranging to 7 or 8. It opens June 1 with a one-fish limit and selective regulations (see story), and closes Aug. 31. Take State Route 172 to Mansfield, turning south on Mansfield Road, which eventually turns into Wittig Road and reaches the lake. The last couple of miles is rough dirt road.

Lenore -- Another alkaline lake with Lahontans, just north of the town of Soap Lake. The fish average 3.5 pounds, and the lake record is 10.5 pounds. From March 1-May 31, anglers may only catch and release fish; from June 1-Nov. 30, there is a one-fish limit. At all times, regulations are selective. Lenore is 1,400 acres, just north of the town of Soap Lake along SR 17. The south end of the lake has been most productive this season.

Dry Falls -- This stunning, coulee-rimmed, cattail-lined lake is the old plunge pool of a waterfall that roared eons ago several times larger than Niagara. Now it is known as one of Washington's highest quality lakes for rainbow and brown trout averaging 14 to 18 inches long. It's in the north end of the Sun Lakes chain. The limit is one, and regulations are selective. It is open the last Saturday in April through Nov. 30. Take SR 17 north from Soap Lake to Sun Lakes State Park. About 1.2 miles from the park entrance, take a left, following signs to Dry Falls Lake. The last few miles are on a rocky, dirt road.

Lenice -- The largest in a chain of quality "walk-in" lakes along lower Crab Creek near Vantage, Lenice is a 100-acre lake in an intimate desert setting that hosts a variety of vocal birds -- geese, magpies, blackbirds, terns and coots -- as well as rainbow and brown trout that range from 12 to 19 inches. Next year, all three of the lakes (the others are Merry and Nunnally) will be open March 1-Oct. 31, and all are managed as selective fish-eries. Head south from I-90 on SR 26, taking a right shortly on SR 243. After about five miles, go left on Beverly-Crab Creek Road to three marked parking areas. The walks in are all about a half-mile.

Nunnally -- Almost identical to Lenice but slightly smaller and a little less scenic, it also produces big rainbows and browns.

Merry -- Similar to Lenice and Nunnally, Merry is so shallow that some of the trout don't survive the winter. It thus doesn't hold as many fish, but is the least crowded of the three.

Want to learn more?

• For further reading, see "Fly Fishing Desert and High Arid Lakes," by Steve Probasco (55 pages, Frank Amato Publications, $19.95). For more information on the lakes, see "Washington Fishing," by Terry Rudnick (524 pages, Foghorn Press, $19.95).

• Want to learn fly-fishing? Maggie Merriman, a nationally recognized instructor, will conduct all-day classes, including on-the-water sessions, June 8 beginning at the Swallows' Nest store in Seattle, 2308 Sixth Ave. She'll also teach sessions on casting technique June 5, 8 and 9. The cost is $90. Call 441-4100. Kaufmann's Streamborn shop also sponsors fly-fishing classes. Call 643-2246.

• For regulations, get a copy of the state's 1996 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, available at most sporting goods stores. Also, anglers 15 and older must purchase a state game fish license, $18 for residents 15 to 69 and $4 for those 70 and older.