COLVILLE, Wash. Trout fishing should be improved in at least two eastern Washington lakes after state biologists apply treatment to kill undesirable fish and then restock the lakes with rainbow trout.
The Washington Wildlife Commission decided Saturday to allow treatment this fall at West Medical Lake in Spokane County, where goldfish dominate, and Long Lake in Okanogan County, where bass have been illegally introduced.
In other action, the commission also decided to give hunters a better shot at Canada geese this fall and winter by setting longer hunting seasons.
In the lakes, Department of Wildlife biologists will apply rotenone, a natural substance that kills fish by impairing their ability to breathe through their gills.
Catch, size and possession limits were waived on all game fish there in September so anglers may take as many fish as possible before treatment.
The lakes will be closed while rotenone is applied and remain closed until next summer.
Tentative approval was given for treatment at Lower Hampton Lake, parts of the Caliche chain and Homestead-Magpie lakes, all in Grant County, and Spectacle Lake in Okanogan County.
Treatment will depend on availability of rotenone and completion of an environmental impact process.
In other action, the wildlife commission set goose hunting seasons that are one week longer, increased the daily bag and possession limits for geese and set a new hunting requirement in the northwest area.
General goose season in most of western Washington will run Oct. 16, 1993, through Jan. 23, 1994. Exceptions are seven counties with different rules: Island, Skagit, Snohomish, Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific and Wahkiakum.
In eastern Washington, goose hunting season will cover the same dates, Oct. 16 through Jan. 23. Open hunting days vary among three goose management areas.
The daily bag limit was increased from three to four birds and the possession limit was raised from six to eight in the main goose hunting areas.