Just a couple of notes in regard to Sean's excellent report (10/10/06) on keechelus lake..

I have often wondered if there are lake trout in this cold deep lake located just east of snoqualmie pass..... it's very interesting to find information confirming these suspicions...

I feel compelled, however, to bring up a couple of important points to clarify some of the information in this report.

1. Yes, WDFW manages a "Northern Pike Minnow Sport reward" fishery in this state. As I recall the program is funded by BPA.... Sporties can make $4 to $6 per NPM (we used to call them squawfish, but the name was changed to Northern Pike Minnow in the late 1990s) but no NPM's from Keechelus qualify for the bounty. Bounties are only paid for NPM's harvested below Lower Monumental Dam on the Snake and below Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia and then only from early May until the end of September and a rigorous regiment of pre-registration and proper presentation of the harvested NPM's must be followed in order to collect the reward.

2. Although I tend to believe Sean in regard to his Lake Trout harvest we must be careful not to confuse Lake Trout with Bull Trout. Both are Char and they share common eating habits and look alike to anyone not familiar with the kinds of markings one needs to look for. One should always know how to identify a Dolly Varden or Bull Trout when fishing for mackinaw or Lake Trout in this state...