As weather warms up, so does fishing

As expected, lake fishing has improved, thanks to the warmer weather. Even with rain in the forecast, that trend should continue as we get away from the clear, frosty nights.

River fishing continues to be a mixed bag. The Cowlitz has improved, while others such as the Wynoochee just aren’t fishing as well as expected.

Lakes

American: The lake is still fishing quite slow. Anglers are reporting an occasional fish, but there hasn’t been any consistent action lately.

Bradley: One angler reported online that he was having luck catching rainbows using salad shrimp fished off the bottom under a slip sinker.

Chelan: The lower basin has been producing good catches of lake trout. A chartreuse Flatfish in U20 size has produced the best, said Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service. The action has been best in the 210- to 220-foot range.

Riffe: Trout anglers might want to consider making the trip to Lewis County. People are catching some limits, with many fish measuring 14 to 20 inches. Try using worms and shrimp about 15 feet under slip bobber on the Highway 12 side of the lake.

Spanaway: The lake was stocked Monday with 3,000 rainbow trout, ranging in size from 6 to 10 inches. Look for them close to the surface the next few days.

St. Clair: There was an online report from an angler who reported catching some trout and a good number of perch.

Saltwater

Hood Canal: The north end of the canal has been the most productive area. Over the weekend, 18 anglers were checked at the Misery Point launch, and they brought in five blackmouth.

Tacoma: The weather helped draw more people on the water, but the fishing remains slow, said Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse Marina. There are a few blackmouth being caught. Try from the Les Davis Pier to the Old Town Dock, Tachell said, in water 140 to 145 feet deep.

Rivers

Columbia: The first spring chinook of the season was checked last week. The fish was caught in the Longview area. The decent weekend weather and talk of springers being caught attracted lots of anglers, but the results were not great. Boat anglers around Kalama were catching some legal-size sturgeon, but it was slow on other areas of the river.

Cowlitz: The steelhead fishing improved last week, state fish biologist Joe Hymer said. He said there have been rumors – often second and third hand – that people have caught a spring chinook or two though none has been found in the creel sample yet. The first spring chinook of the year returned to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator Monday.

Olympic Coast: The fishing has been good in the past few days, said Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods. The Hoh and Sol Duc have been the best options. Rain is in the forecast, but the rivers shouldn’t get blown out.

Smelt: No smelt were observed or reported caught on Saturday. This Saturday will be the last day to fish for smelt in the Cowlitz.

Wynoochee: There are plenty of anglers on the water, but the fishing has been only fair, said Walt Harvey of Verle’s Sports Center and Marine. There should be more fish being caught this time of year. Sand shrimp and eggs have been the best baits, or pulling plugs from boats. The story is the same on the Satsop.

Yakima: The fishing has been fair to good, according to a report from Red’s Fly Shop. Anglers have been catching some chunky rainbows up to 17 inches long. Some skwalas are starting to show up on the surface. Until the fish key in on those bugs, fish large stonefly nymphs.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-5987-8640

jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

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