Northwest Fishing Reports

Today, June 12th, I caught a rainbow trout at Carney Lake, Pierce County. The trout has whirling disease. I left a message for WDFW. I froze the whole fish, incase WDFW needs it. Please search proper ways to prevent the parasite from going to other lakes.

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How You Can Help

Clean: Remember that the tubifex worm can hold the whirling disease parasite. Thoroughly wash off any mud from vehicles, boats, trailers, anchors, axles, waders, boots, fishing equipment and anything that can hold the spores or mud-dwelling worms.

Drain: The parasite can persist in water. Drain boats, equipment, coolers, live bait wells and any holder of water. Make sure you don't inadvertently help spread whirling disease by cleaning all equipment after use in lakes or streams.

Don't Transport: Avoid moving any fish from one body of water to another, as this can help spread whirling disease. It is unlawful in Colorado to move and stock live fish without a special license.

​​​Clear Weeds: Never transport aquatic plants. Make sure boats, engine props, anchors, trailers and wheels are cleared of weeds after every use.
Dispose Correctly: Don't dispose of fish entrails or other by-products into any body of water.

Did you take a picture?

Glad I read this report,

I caught one with this bent tail look in the picture today at Lake Howard in Snohomish.
Any body else ever catch one there?
Hope this is not an on going trend.

I caught this trout at nunnally lake in grant county took a picture and sent it in to the regional office in ephrata and they said that it was not whirling disease and that there is no confirmed case of whirling disease in the state. That took me by surprise as the fish is clearly suffering from some type of deformity but what do I know!!

That is not whirling disease. That particular parasite affects the cartilage of the skull. What you see is most probably the results of a previous infection of one called bacterial coldwater disease.