There are numerous ways to create an unforgettable Thanksgiving feast, and rather than heading to the grocery store, many hunters will try their luck to bring home a turkey or waterfowl. Then again, raise the bar by adding trout, razor clams, and chantarelle mushrooms for a surf n' turf holiday dining experience!

"The holiday season is about more than shopping, it's about remembering old and creating new memories with friends and family," said Steve Caromile, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) inland fish program manager. "Going trout fishing is a great way to create bonds that last a lifetime. To help get people away from the hectic malls, we'll stock more than 30 lakes specifically for our Black Friday event."

The WDFW Black Friday initiative created almost a decade ago looked at ways to raise thousands of rainbow trout for a late season fishery and has been well received by anglers.

The jumbo-sized trout for Black Friday average one to two pounds apiece and will be planted in lakes around Clark, Cowlitz, Island, Jefferson, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Yakima counties. There are several Eastern Washington lakes opening on Black Friday that were stocked with trout this past spring.

Anglers who can't wait for the Black Friday event can also get a jump start on the trout fishing fun by heading to many year-round lakes.

"Within the past month, WDFW also stocked roughly 75 year-round lakes around Washington for fall fishing opportunities," Caromile said. "These lakes are still fishing great, so even if there's not a "Black Friday" lake nearby, you'll have plenty of others to choose from."

Expect a news release on Black Friday trout plants in early November. To find out what lakes are currently open, go to the WDFW website. For weekly trout plants, visit the WDFW website.

Check the WDFW website for lake fishing locations or the WDFW Medium for fishing tips and videos on how to catch trout.

 

Possible holiday razor clam digs on coastal beaches

More tentative razor clam digging dates are planned during evening (p.m.) low tides on Nov. 6-13, Nov. 22-28, Dec. 4-12, and Dec. 20-28 (including the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays). Final approval is usually announced about one week prior to each digging series.

"Razor clams are always a great addition to your holiday feast, and it's fun to bring guests from out of state along for a distinctive Washington experience," said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. "We have digs centered around the holidays, and the low tides cooperated this season. Once we get final approval, diggers should find excellent opportunities on open beaches."

Not all beaches are open for every dig, so diggers are encouraged to make sure their intended destination is open before heading out. The most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide.

To find out more information, go to the WDFW razor clam webpage. The 2022-23 Razor Clam Management Plan is available on the WDFW's website.