Lindajean... Great that you got out and caught fish. Just so you are aware, when fishing with bait (e.g. Power Eggs, etc.) any fish caught will most certainly die. The hook tears the throat or damages the delicate gills. The WA regs state "when fishing with bait all TROUT...are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released." (page 17, under Statewide Freshwater Species Rules - Trout). I know you didn't catch a limit and I applaud your intentions to let the fish "grow", but most assuredly they won't make it. Spring is coming and American Lake will be full of great trout to catch. Have a great time and enjoy this great sport of fishing! PTL!

Stansjoy, I appreciate your responding to my report. I am aware of the reg that states any trout you catch counts as your 5 for your limit regardless of if you release them or keep them. I only caught 3 yesterday. And the fish that I released did not swallow the hook...the hook was just caught on their lips so I was able to take them off the hook carefully. I do know that American is a heavily fished lake but there is some hope that these two small ones will get a chance to grow more so that is a chance I was willing to take. Believe me, if I thought there was damage to those fish I would have kept them and ate them for dinner since I do love trout. I thank you for the information you put out there because there are people in this world that need to know this stuff. Also...thank you for wishing me a great time and to enjoy this great sport of fishing....I do that every time I go out. Thanks for your time...Lindajean