State to Conduct Research on Unusual Trout That Thrives in Grant County Lake

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is conducting research on a fish known to thrive in Grant County’s Lake Lenore.

More than 20 trap net will be set up Monday to catch, measure, weigh, and then release Lahontan cutthroat trout.

The fish are unusual because they're able to thrive in the highly alkaline water in Lake Lenore, and also grow to a much larger size there than in other bodies of water.

The survey is not expected to harm the trout or interfere with regular fishing or recreation activity at the Lake Lenore.

The 24 trap nets will be in use next Monday-Friday (March 28-April 1) at various locations along the shoreline to catch the trout in order to count them and determine their length, weight, and sex.

The average Lahontan cutthroat trout is 16-to-18 inches long, but Lake Lenore is known for the size of its trout, where they reach 30 inches.

The phenomenon is also unusual because Lahontan are not in native to Washington, and are more prominent in other western states such as Nevada, where it's the state fish.

Lake Lenore is nine miles north of Soap Lake on State Route 17.