Are there fish in Spirit Lake?
Yes. In 1993, the Washington Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife (WDFW) found the first salmonid fish, a rainbow trout, in Spirit Lake. It was 8 inches long and weighed 0.25 pounds. Genetic analysis was performed to attempt to determine the origin (source population) for this fish. Genetic testing indicated that the fish did not appear to be related to modern hatchery strains. However, given the limited sampling data and low resolution of testing, it is impossible to pinpoint the origin of post-eruption fish in Spirit Lake.
A second fish was located in Spirit Lake in 1994. This fish was 18 inches long and weighed 2.75 pounds. Genetic analyses are being completed on this second fish and the results will be compared to those done on the specimen found in 1993.
