Best Fish SW Washington right now? Really need some input

[wildthing]

I am taking a friend out this weekend that has never caught a fish before and wanted to help them out and change this horrible record and i was thinking trout so i was wondering where the trout fishing is good this time of the year. I hear BG lake just got stalked with a good number of fish but i know it can be hit and miss there, not to mention large crowds. Has anyone fished the Resivoirs? Swift in particular?. I dont do a lot of trout fishing this time of year so i could really use some feedback. thanks

[trollin4trout]

Battleground Lake or Klineline Ponds are probably your best bet. They continually put fish in both of them this time of year. Swift is CLOSED until the last Saturday in April. Looks like Lacamas and Horseshoe just got some fish also.

South Lewis County Pond and Battle Ground Lake - 16 and 28 adult winter steelhead were released Feb. 28, respectively. One bank angler at South Lewis County Pond had no catch.
Klineline Pond and Lacamas Lake - 2,000 and 7,000 half-pound browns were released Feb. 22, respectively.

"Horseshoe Lake near Woodland received 1,500 half-pound rainbows"

Now you have too many choices! Good Luck!

[Dr Strangelove]

Swift, Yale, and Merwin have very low visibility right now due to a mudslide late last year that may impact the Kokanee fishery badly due to poor light penetration = little plankton growth. I suspect the fish will mostly be up top until it clears up this summer. The eagles will be well fed. Think about longlining with 1/4-1/2 oz weights if you try. Battleground Lake is restricted to no-gas motors and Klineline is no-boats, so equip accordingliny. One tip for Klineline is Powerbait eggs and 4lb test max. I have also seen steelies caught on woolybuggers behind a clear float. My best technique for Battleground is kayaking a deadslow longline troll with a nightcrawler piece and a couple splitshot.