Lacamas Lake has been fishing very well for several warmwater species this summer, including chunky yellow perch, although health officials have issued a warning about blue-green algae blooms in the lake.
Officials say it is safe to eat fish taken from the lake if they are cleaned well and the offal discarded.
“Lacamas Lake is doing really well for yellow perch right now,” said Stacie Kelsey with the WDFW inland fisheries program. “Most fishermen are getting them from the bank.”
She pointed to the WDFW access site as a good place to find them.
“That portion of the lake is where the perch like to hang out,” said Kelsey.
Boat anglers are also doing well.
“A lot of guys are fishing from canoes and kayaks, and they have been doing really good down by where the parks buildings are,” she added.
Round Lake, near the southern end of the lake, will also produce good panfish, and the bank access is good.
While Lacamas is planted with trout in the winter and spring, the shallow lake warms up in the summer, and most anglers switch to targeting warmwater fish.
There have been several big largemouth bass caught recently, and the lake has a reputation for producing big, quality channel catfish, as well as chunky bullheads.
Fishing for perch is very simple. Anglers often fish with small jigs, often tipped with a bit of worm, or plastic worms. Some fishermen just fish with live worms.
Lakes see algae blooms
Clark County Public Health has issued advisories for Lacamas Lake, Round Lake, and Vancouver Lake recently for blue-green algae blooms. The algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, create toxins that are dangerous to people and pets.
Blue-green algae has become almost common place for many of the warmer Southwest Washington lakes in recent years. Both Lacamas and Vancouver lakes are shallow and carry high nutrient loads that fuel the blooms every summer.
Public Health is asking people to avoid direct contact with the water when the blooms are visible. Blue-green algae toxins can prove deadly for small pets that drink the water.
The warnings come even as these lakes have offered very good fishing for several species this summer.
Health officials offer these recommendations:
• No swimming or water skiing in areas of scum.
• No drinking lake water.
• No water contact for animals in areas of scum.
• Avoid areas of scum when boating.
• Clean fish well and discard organs.
Anglers that are concerned can check the Health website at: https://www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/
Panfish and sour cream
This is a popular southern treat, and bluegill are the preferred fish to use. The acid in the lemon juice will cook the fish, and the finished product is a great snack enjoyed best with a cold brew. It tastes even better when you are on the water fishing.
Ingredients:
- One-pound fillets of white-fleshed fish, any kind. Suggested fish includes yellow perch, bluegill, crappie, or other light-flavored fresh water fish
- Enough lemon juice to cover the fish in a bowl.
- 1 cup sour cream
Directions: Cut fillets into small chunks about 3/4 inch. Place fish in lemon juice in a covered glass container, and refrigerate for 48 hours. Blend fish chunks into sour cream and return to the refrigerator for another 24 hours. Serve cold with crackers.
