Lake Washington Fishing Reports

[DLK]

62 last night the docks are in at westwood

[harvey lee]

Thank you very much.

Maybe I can catch a few pannies

[KTapper]

Thank you very much.

Maybe I can catch a few pannies

It's probably going to weird fishing for pannies after reeling in sturgeon in all weekend!

[harvey lee]

Yes but, I love those pannies. They are not at all like those bottom feeding things TO catches.

[KTapper]

Yes but, I love those pannies. They are not at all like those bottom feeding things TO catches.

You got that right!

[harvey lee]

Slow morning today. I did catch a few in the shallows but they were very small. Mud bay was 58.5 degrees and the main lake was 56.8.

The spots where I fish typically do not turn on until approx 63-67 degrees. I guess I will wait a week or so and try again.

The hole in Bakers Bay was full of fish.

[robman]

Anybody know what dates are set for Lake Washington weed treatment this spring? Thanks for any info.

[harvey lee]

I noticed yesterday quite a few orange colored jugs in the water yesterday in numerous spots. Maybe they did some already but I did not see any signs at the landing like they typically post.

[robman]

Anybody know when they are going to treat the lake for weed this spring?It looks like they have location makers out.

[yamydude]

I was out there on tuesday morning they were spraying then

[robman]

I never saw any signs at Westwood access Tuesday night that they had treated the lake.Don't they have to post it when they spray?

[robman]

Yep,I talked to the DNR,and they confirmed it was sprayed on Tuesday.I didn't see any signs Tuesday night.You would think the spray permit would require a posting,but I guess every permit can be issued differently.It sounds like a screwy deal to me.It's bad enough they spray, but they don't even post it.I guess I'll have to take the grand kids to Francis today.Stay away from Washington if you want a fish fry.

[smnduck]

A total shame that our lakes a nsprayed with weed killer. Aldo Leopold is rolling in his grave.

[Matt C]

Shoulda gone to the seminar 2 years ago..... its pretty sad.

[Willy]

Anyone know what areas have been sprayed? There were nice weeds out there last year, better than I have seen them out there for some time.

[robman]

They have the areas marked with marker buoys.The lake association has a website showing locations,but I don't think its very current.

[TruthWalleyes]

The orange jugs are spread out all around the lake shoreline (approx 100-200 yds from the shore)

[hoyt]

Will be in Mankato next weekend, wondering how the crappie action is on Washington.

[harvey lee]

I have not been out since last week but the females had to be in the deeper water. I did mark many there and some smaller males in shallow.

I would think they have to be staging on the first breaks getting ready to spawn or maybe already going.

[NTW]

pdc - just in case it has any impact on your decision, there are crappie tourneys on the lake both saturday and sunday.

[bgreen82]

any new updates for crappies on wash. heading out to a friends cabin to catch some crappies and a nice buzz this weekend. we generally just drift in deeper water this time of year.

[Dave S]

I was out at the parents place today after a day of chasing turkeys and checked out the water. I was shocked to see no weeds or algae bloom yet with the early spring, not to mention that water is crystal clear. It has been decades since I've seen it like this.

Now the kicker, there has also been a lot of birds dying. My parents and their neighbors have had 10+ purple martens lying dead in their yard. Not sure if the insects are poisoned, or it's the water when they go skimming for a drink...or if these situations are even related.

There has been talk that the lake has been treated to control the weeds.

If anyone here has any thoughts or ideas, it would be greatly appreaciated. The birds have been "put on ice" until we can have someone check them out to see if it's poisoning or what's going on. We haven't noticed and waterfowl affected.

Who would be the best person or group to contact? I may call the DNR and thought about someone in the Ornithology Dept at the U of M.

[harvey lee]

I might be tempted to go with someone other than the DNR.

[stifler51]

im sure the dnr would be interested in hearing, and u do have more then one bird. IMO id contact them asap, because if it is what the dnr put in for weed control they better know before they dump it into another lake.

[flipper]

IMO the dnr would be very reluctant to follow up on this. I wish I knew of a private lab that could do this. You might do better with EPA or MPCA. Finding ten dead purple martins should really ring the alarm bells

Good Luck

[harvey lee]

I agree flipper ans that's why I said I would find another to do the testing to simply make sure nothing is covered up.

[Dave S]

The DNR did call back this morning already and gave us a number to contact. I passed this number on so hopefully a necropsy can be performed and we find out what caused this.

[flipper]

Good Luck! Please let us know what you find out.

[Matt C]

Well, they have been treating it for a few years with chemicals to kill the weeds. They do have the permits from the DNR to kill the fish... er I mean all the weeds....

So yes, any source other than the DNR would be great! Hopefully they will find the residents of the lake guilty of killing the fish...er the weeds.

[harvey lee]

It would be very sad is the chemicals they used to spray the lake also was killing other wildlife. I would rather have the weeds in the lake. I am sure the fish would also.