Yours truly will be making a pit stop at a certain Washington river on his way to Portland next weekend for the big sportsmen's show there. A little birdy tells me the wild boys and girls are in ...
But that's still a ways off -- what is there to do right now across the Evergreen State?
Well, the good folks at WDFW's Weekender Division have just published their monthly newsletter and we've ripped the entire thing off and posted it below. Dig in!
NORTH PUGET SOUND
With fishing for steelhead and other game fish scheduled to close early on several rivers in the region, anglers are shifting their attention to the marine areas where blackmouth salmon fisheries are under way.
“Over the last couple of years, the San Juan Islands have been the most productive for anglers fishing for blackmouth salmon in February,” said Steve Thiesfeld, a fish biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “Fishing isn’t red hot in the early part of the month, but there have been reports that indicate anglers have had some pretty good days.”
Anglers fishing Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) – as well as marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) – have a two-salmon daily limit, but must release wild chinook salmon.
Thiesfeld reminds anglers that Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) is closed to salmon fishing.
Before heading out, anglers can check creel reports for information on catch and effort in Puget Sound. Recreational fishery samplers with WDFW collect the information each week at fishing access sites throughout Puget Sound.
Winter is prime time to jig for squid in Puget Sound. Good spots include the Des Moines Pier, Redondo Pier, Elliott Bay Pier in Seattle and the Edmonds Pier. More information is available on the department’s squid fishing webpage. Information on fishing piers is available here.
Meanwhile, fishing for steelhead and other game fish is closing early in several river systems in Puget Sound and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca to protect wild steelhead. The early closures affect the Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish, Snohomish and Puyallup river systems, along with several streams along the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Most river systems close Feb. 1. However, the Puyallup River system closed Jan. 16, and some waters near WDFW fish hatcheries are scheduled to close Feb. 16.
Pre-season estimates developed by WDFW last fall indicate that wild steelhead will return to those watersheds in numbers far short of target levels, said Bob Leland, WDFW’s steelhead program manager. “By taking this action, we can protect wild steelhead that do make it back to these river systems,” he said.
Leland reminds anglers that the Samish River, from the I-5 Bridge to the Hickson Bridge, closed to fishing Dec. 1. The stretch of the Samish River from the mouth to the I-5 Bridge closed Jan.1. For more information on all the closures, check the emergency rule changes on WDFW’s website at http://1.usa.gov/hfDjYl.
With several of the region’s rivers closing early, freshwater anglers might turn their attention to local lakes. Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish are good spots to fish for perch, cutthroat and smallmouth bass, said WDFW fisheries biologist Danny Garrett. “Anglers have had success catching trout at both lakes recently, and bass and perch have been caught as well,” he said.
Before heading out, anglers should check WDFW’s sportfishing regulations pamphlet for details on all fisheries.
SOUTH SOUND/OLYMPIC PENINSULA
Several areas of Puget Sound open to blackmouth salmon fishing in February, as wild steelhead continue to move into coastal rivers. A razor clam dig also is tentatively scheduled later in the month.
If tests are favorable, WDFW will proceed with an evening razor clam dig at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks. Tentative opening dates and evening low tides are:
Feb.18, Saturday, 4:13 p.m. (0.0 feet) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks
Feb.19, Sunday, 5 p.m. (-0.2 feet) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks
Clam diggers are reminded that they should take lights or lanterns for the nighttime digs and to check weather and surf forecasts before heading out. No digging will be allowed before noon on any of the razor-clam beaches. Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2011-12 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW’s website and from license vendors around the state.
Meanwhile, the hatchery steelhead run is winding down, but more wild steelhead are arriving to the northern rivers each week, said Kirt Hughes, regional fishery manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
Beginning Feb. 16, anglers can retain one wild steelhead per license year on the Bogachiel, Calawah, Clearwater, Dickey, Hoh, Quillayute, Quinault and Sol Duc rivers. Those eight rivers are the only waters in Washington where wild steelhead retention is allowed.
“The abundant wild steelhead populations returning to those rivers also provide great catch-and-release fishing opportunities,” Hughes said. Information on weekly steelhead catches in the Quillayute River system and the Hoh River are available on WDFW’s website.
Elsewhere, fishing for steelhead and other game fish closed early in several rivers along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where wild steelhead are expected to return in numbers far short of target levels.
The early closures, which take effect Feb. 1, affect the Dungeness, Pysht, Clallam and Seiku rivers, as well as Morse, Salt and Deep creeks. For more information on all the closures, check the emergency rule changes on WDFW’s website at http://1.usa.gov/hfDjYl.
NOW THAT MOST STEELHEADING IN PUGET SOUND IS DONE, ANGLERS WILL BEGIN TO EXPLORE THE SOUTHERN OLYMPIC PENINSULA AS WELL AS FORKS-AREA RIVERS LIKE THE SOL DUC, WHERE GEORGE SCHROEDER HIT THIS BEAUT OF A WILD FISH A COUPLE WINTERS AGO. (WRIGHT & McGILL/EAGLE CLAW PHOTO CONTEST)
On the other hand, saltwater salmon fishing opportunities will expand Feb. 1, with the opening of marine areas 11 (Tacoma-Vashon) and 12 (Hood Canal). In addition, salmon fisheries also get under way in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where marine areas 5 (Sekiu) and 6 (eastern Strait) open Feb. 16.
Once the Strait opens, anglers might want to try trolling Coyote Bank, which is located about 13 miles north of the Washington shore between Port Angeles and Dungeness Spit, said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. “This time of year, Coyote is a good bet for salmon anglers out in the Strait,” he said. “Weather can be issue, however, so make sure you check the forecast if you’re heading out that way.”
In South Puget Sound, anglers are hooking resident coho salmon, especially in the Tacoma Narrows area of Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound), said Larry Phillips, regional fish biologist for WDFW. Other areas anglers might want to try fishing for resident coho include the Squaxin Island area and in Eld Inlet off Evergreen Beach.
Anglers can check creel reports for information on catch and effort in Puget Sound. Recreational fishery samplers with WDFW collect the information each week at fishing access sites throughout Puget Sound.
Winter is prime time to jig for squid in Puget Sound. Good spots include the Point Defiance Park and Les Davis piers in Tacoma, and the Illahee State Park, Waterman and Indianola piers in Kitsap County. More information is available on the department’s squid fishing webpage. Information on fishing piers is available here.
Before heading out, anglers should check WDFW’s sportfishing regulations pamphlet for details on all fisheries.
Looking for some competition? Anglers can take part in the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby over Presidents’ Day Weekend near Sequim. Prizes include $10,000 for the largest fish, $5,000 for second place and $1,500 for third place. Details are available at the derby’s website.
SOUTHWEST
Ocean bright spring chinook salmon are beginning to move into the Columbia River, setting the stage for one of the state’s most popular fisheries. Anglers typically start landing early-returning “springers” in early February, but the fishery usually doesn’t catch fire until March.
“This is a good time to dust off your gear, order your bait, prepare your boat, and maybe do a little prospecting,” said Joe Hymer, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “You want to be ready to go when the bulk of the run arrives.”
According to the pre-season forecast, a total of 314,200 upriver spring chinook will return to the Columbia River Basin this year, which would be the fourth-largest run on record. Another 109,000 spring chinook are expected to head for tributaries to the lower Columbia such as the Cowlitz, Lewis and Willamette rivers.
Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said this year’s spring chinook fishery looks promising, especially compared to last season.
“Not only is the run forecast well above average, but fishing conditions should be a lot better than last year when anglers had to contend with weeks of high, turbid water,” LeFleur said.
As in previous years, only hatchery-reared fish marked with a clipped adipose fin and a healed scar may be retained. All wild spring chinook, identifiable by an intact adipose fin, must be released unharmed.
Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon have adopted new fishing seasons for spring chinook that run from March 1 through April 6 below Bonneville Dam. (See the WDFW news release and rule changes for details.) Until then, seasons and regulations listed in the 2011-12 Fishing in Washington pamphlet remain in effect.
Fishing for spring chinook is currently open on the Columbia River below the Interstate 5 Bridge, where the limit is two adult hatchery fish per day. Anglers may also retain two adult hatchery spring chinook per day on the Cowlitz and Deep rivers, but are limited to one adult hatchery chinook a day on the Lewis and Kalama rivers.
"The Cowlitz River and waters near the Willamette River are probably the best bets early in the season, because spring chinook usually start showing up there first," Hymer said.
Meanwhile, anglers continue to reel in hatchery steelhead from waters ranging from the Cowlitz River to the John Day Pool and beyond. In general, the steelhead in the lower tributaries are winter-run fish, while those above Bonneville Dam are left over from last year’s summer run, Hymer said.
"Hatchery-reared late-run winter steelhead are still moving up the Cowlitz and Kalama rivers and should be available to anglers for weeks to come," he said.
Anglers fishing the Columbia River can also catch and keep legal-size white sturgeon in areas both below and above Bonneville Dam. Anglers can keep one fish measuring 38-54 inches (fork length) per day from The Dalles Dam downstream. The minimum size is 43-54 inches (fork length) upstream from The Dalles Dam.
Below Bonneville Dam, the retention fishery downstream from the Wauna powerlines is open on a daily basis. Waters above the powerlines to the dam are open for sturgeon retention Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only.
Sturgeon retention is also open in all three pools – Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day – on a daily basis. However, anglers should be aware that the catch in the Bonneville Pool is approaching the 2,000-fish quota established last year and that fishery managers from Washington and Oregon are scheduled to assess sturgeon seasons in all three pools Feb. 7. Any updates will be posted here and on WDFW’s Fishing Rule Website.
At a public meeting late last month, the two states set joint sturgeon-fishing seasons below Bonneville Dam that are designed to reduce the harvest for the third straight year. Concerned by the continued decline of sturgeon below the dam, fishing seasons were tightened to reduce this year’s catch by 38 percent. For more information about summer and fall sturgeon seasons, see WDFW’s news release outlining the results of the Jan. 26 meeting of the Columbia River Compact.
Fishing for Columbia River smelt will remain closed in both fresh and saltwater statewide. In 2010, the federal government declared eulachon a “threatened” species under the Endangered Species Act.
Rainbow trout, on the other hand, are readily available in lakes throughout southwest Washington. WDFW stocked tens of thousands of them in 15 area lakes last month, and is following up with several thousand more in February. In Clark County, Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond are each scheduled to receive 2,000 more rainbows this month, and Horseshoe Lake in Cowlitz County will receive 500 half-pound rainbow broodstock to augment fishing there.
“Most of the fish we’ve planted so far this year should be available to anglers through February,” said John Weinheimer, a WDFW fish biologist. Weinheimer said he’s also getting reports of kokanee being caught at Merwin Reservoir, adding that the action should pick up throughout the month.
FAR EASTERN WASHINGTON
Recent snow is keeping winter fishing wintery, at least in some parts of the region, and that can make access difficult. But fish are available for hardy anglers at several year-round and winter-only waters.
Anglers are reminded to be especially careful on iced-over lakes or around icy shorelines. Repeated thawing and re-freezing can make ice unsafe. Tips to help keep an outing safe include:
Don’t fish alone. Let others know exactly where you and your fishing partners are going and when you plan to return.
Keep fishing holes small and few. When drilling fishing holes with an ice auger, keep the diameter under eight inches. Bigger holes are not necessary to land fish and can create a safety hazard for others.
Watch your step. Avoid ice fishing near feeder streams or known springs; brush, logs, plants or docks; multiple ice cracks or ice that is popping or otherwise audible; and dark-colored ice that may be weak.
Spread out. Too many people congregated in one area may be more than the ice can safely support. Disperse weight and fishing holes.
Be prepared with appropriate clothing and equipment for weather conditions and emergencies.
Stevens County’s two winter-only lakes – Hatch and Williams – are still providing some catches through the ice, according to Bill Baker, WDFW northeast district fish biologist. Hatch Lake, about five miles southeast of Colville, was producing some carry-over rainbow trout up to 15 inches and others around 11 inches that were stocked last year as fry. Williams Lake, 14 miles north of Colville, hasn’t been checked recently, but usually provides 14-inch-plus rainbows through the season.
Year-round-open Lake Roosevelt, the Columbia River reservoir off Grand Coulee Dam, has net-pen-reared rainbow trout that run 15 to 22 inches. But Baker reports that Roosevelt fishing was slow at the end of January. Anglers fishing the reservoir’s deeper water near river mouths, like the Colville River, Hawk Creek, or near the Spokane arm, are catching burbot.
This is the last month to fish Waitts Lake, west of Valley along Hwy. 395 in southern Stevens County. This 455-acre lake is stocked with rainbow trout catchables, brown trout fingerlings, net-pen-reared trout of both species, and even some brood stock – all with good winter carry-over. Waitts closes Feb. 28.
In Spokane County, year-round Eloika Lake, north of Chattaroy, was recently producing some yellow perch catches. WDFW Police Sgt. Dan Rahn reported checking anglers on the ice at Eloika and said catch rates were fairly slow. With more rain than snow in the forecast, Rahn noted Eloika’s ice could become marginal and anglers should be cautious about venturing out on it.
Rahn also recently checked about 23 anglers at Hog Canyon Lake northeast of Sprague in southwest Spokane County and tallied an average of only about one rainbow trout per angler. Catch rates had been better earlier in the season, which opened Dec. 1 and runs through March. But Rahn also noted all the fish checked were over 14 inches. Anglers have a daily five-trout catch limit at Hog Canyon but only two fish over 14 inches can be retained.
Fourth of July Lake, on the Lincoln-Adams county line south of Sprague, is on the same winter-only fishing season with the same rules. Anglers there are averaging a couple of trout each, all over 14 inches.
WDFW Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Manager Juli Anderson reports potential remains for winter trout fishing at the Lincoln County area’s Z Lake. An aerated opening about half way up the lake keeps this an open-water opportunity, she said, but anglers need to walk in about a mile from the county road to get there.
Year-round Rock Lake in Whitman County has been consistent through the winter for brown and rainbow trout catches. But be prepared for wind if you go there.
NORTHCENTRAL
WDFW Chelan District Fish Biologist Travis Maitland of Wenatchee reports fishing at year-round-open Fish and Roses lakes has been “relatively good.” Mostly rainbow trout and yellow perch, with the occasional brown trout, are being caught through the ice at both lakes. Roses Lake, about a mile north of Manson, is also producing an occasional largemouth bass. (Fish Lake is about 16 miles north of Leavenworth.)
Maitland reminds anglers to be aware of changing conditions at this time of year, because repeated thawing and re-freezing can make ice unsafe.
Tips to help keep an outing safe include:
Don’t fish alone. Let others know exactly where you and your fishing partners are going and when you plan to return.
Keep fishing holes small and few. When drilling fishing holes with an ice auger, keep the diameter under eight inches. Bigger holes are not necessary to land fish and can create a safety hazard for others.
Watch your step. Avoid ice fishing near feeder streams or known springs; brush, logs, plants or docks; multiple ice cracks or ice that is popping or otherwise audible; and dark-colored ice that may be weak.
Spread out. Too many people congregated in one area may be more than the ice can safely support. Disperse weight and fishing holes.
Be prepared with appropriate clothing and equipment for weather conditions and emergencies.
In Okanogan County, several winter-only ice fishing opportunities continue this month, but anglers there are also advised to watch for changing conditions.
Patterson Lake near Winthrop was recently checked by WDFW police officers who reported several ice fishers catching lots of yellow perch in the seven to eight-inch range. Anglers are encouraged to retain as many perch as possible out of Patterson Lake.
Davis Lake, also in the Winthrop area, Rat Lake near Brewster, and Big and Little Green lakes west of Omak have also been providing good catches of rainbow trout through the ice.
WDFW police checks of the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers at the end of January found both waterways almost completely iced over and therefore without steelhead anglers. But conditions can change quickly at this time of year. Steelheaders planning to try fishing in the coming weeks these two rivers, which remain open until further notice, should keep the following rules in mind:
Mandatory retention of hatchery (adipose fin clipped) steelhead, daily limit two hatchery steelhead, 20-inch minimum size
Wild (adipose fin present) steelhead must be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
Night closure and selective gear rules remain in effect.
Whitefish anglers must follow selective gear rules – including no bait allowed – in these areas open to steelhead fishing.
SOUTHCENTRAL
While winter has put a chill on many area fisheries, the action should pick up for several species in the weeks ahead. Steelhead fishing usually starts to come alive in late February or early March and walleye fishing should improve as water temperatures rise.
But for whitefish, prime time is here now. Relatively hard to find during most months of the year, whitefish appear during the winter months and tend to go on the bite after the snow starts to fly. Hardy anglers are now catching whitefish on the Naches and Tieton rivers, and on the Yakima River upstream from Union Gap.
“February is a perfect time to catch whitefish,” said John Easterbrooks, southcentral regional fish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “Now is when they start to congregate and the catch levels rise.”
Anglers can catch and keep 15 whitefish per day, but fishing gear is restricted to one size 14 single-point hook. The standard bait is a whitefish fly and a maggot. While bony, whitefish – often served smoked -- have a dedicated following.
Easterbrooks reminds anglers that all fishing is closed on the Yakima River between the Highway 223 Bridge in Granger to the Interstate 82 Bridge in Union Gap. WDFW and the Yakama Nation closed that stretch of the river to protect steelhead listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Sturgeon fishing is another option, especially since the McNary Pool (also known as Lake Wallula) opened Feb. 1 for retention of legal-size fish. Drawing anglers from throughout the region, the fishery extends from McNary Dam upstream to Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River and upstream to Ice Harbor Dam in the Snake River.
Paul Hoffarth, a WDFW district fish biologist located in Pasco, said the opening at Lake Wallula should take some pressure off the fishery under way at Lake Umatilla (John Day Pool), where anglers have been chiseling away at the annual quota. "That quota has been reached very early in recent years, so anglers should go soon – and keep an eye out for updates,” he said.
In both areas, only sturgeon measuring 43-54 inches from their snout to the fork in their tail may be retained. “That’s also the measurement anglers should note on their catch record card,” Hoffarth said.
Meanwhile, anglers continue to catch some hatchery steelhead at Ringold, both from the bank and by boat. Although fishing has been spotty this winter, catch rates should pick up in late February or early March, Hoffarth said. The lower Snake River is also open for the retention of hatchery steelhead through March 31. The daily limit in the Snake River is three hatchery steelhead and barbless hooks are required.
Walleye fishing can also slow down in winter, but there’s always a chance of catching a lunker. Hoffarth said some of the largest walleye of the year are boated during the winter months near the Tri-Cities – including the 19.3-pound state record taken in Lake Wallula in 2007. The Oregon record, just shy of 20 pounds, was taken on Lake Umatilla during the winter of 1990.
Rather catch some trout. Dalton Pond, east of the Tri-Cities and about five miles northeast of Ice Harbor Dam on the north side of the Snake River, is scheduled to be planted with rainbow trout from WDFW’s Lyons Ferry Hatchery by the end of February if the weather stays below freezing. Quarry Pond, located in Walla Walla County near the Tri-cities, should also be stocked by the end of February.
For additional information, see the Fishing in Washington pamphlet, available online.
