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Clam, oyster seasons at Penrose Point to close

FISHING: Shellfish population at state park on Carr Inlet can’t support recreational season, state DFW says

JEFFREY P. MAYOR; Staff writer | • Published February 27, 2010

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The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the sport clam and oyster fishing seasons at Penrose Point State Park will close Monday. The park is located on Carr Inlet on the Key Peninsula.

The department said surveys show that the shellfish population will not support a recreational season this year. The closure, in effect until further notice, is for all clams and oysters.

RIVERS

Chehalis: The steelhead fishing was fair, with a few native fish being caught, said Jim McDaniel of Tumwater Sports. He said his group was fishing with eggs.

Columbia: According to online reports, spring-chinook fishing is still a bit on the slow side. Anglers are favoring a Kwik Fish with a scented sardine wrap.

Kalama: Fishing has been pretty good the last few days, said Wayne Orzel at Pritchard’s Western Angler. The river level has been rising, but not by much. Jigs in orange, pink, purple or the nightmare pattern fished under a bobber have been the most effective method.

Olympic Coast: Anglers are finding fish spread throughout the rivers and not necessarily in large pods. Rain this week has river flows on the rise again, but as of Friday morning, they were just reaching normal levels. The Sol Duc and Bogachiel might be the best choices to start.

Satsop: The fishing has been fair, with some nice hatchery steelhead still being caught, along with some native fish. Check the river levels before heading out.

Skookumchuck: There have been mixed reports coming in, McDaniel said. Some anglers are coming home empty-handed, but others are catching a steelhead each time out. It might be a matter of spending the time needed on the river, he said.

Wenatchee: The steelhead fishing has been fair to good, but the hatchery steelhead fishery will close Sunday an hour after sunset. The closure is necessary to comply with a federal permit that sets strict limits on the incidental catch of wild steelhead, which are listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Wynoochee: The fishing has improved now that river flows have come back down. Steelhead are being caught from above the 7400 line all the way to tidewater, said Phil Stephens of Mystical Legends Guide Service.

Yakima: Fishing has been fair to good. Anglers are having the most success with streamers and nymphs, said a report from The Evening Hatch. Try zonkers and skwalas in size 8, size 18 WD-40 or size 16 red copper johns.

LAKES

Black: The lake has been producing some decent catches of rainbow trout. Try using Power Bait fished close to the bottom.

Kapowsin: Local angler Kevin Bye said he was fishing for bass earlier this week. Using spinnerbaits, he came up empty. He did see, however, the state “trout truck” pull up and unload 3,000 rainbow trout. Bye said the fish were about 6 to 8 inches long.

Offut: Patience more than anything else is needed to land a rainbow, said Becky Pogue of Offut Lake Resort. Most people are using light-colored Power Eggs and night crawlers.

Spanaway: Dock anglers are having success fishing with worms and marshmallows on a leader that is 2 to 3 feet long, said Bud Herlitzka of Spanaway Park Boathouse. The boat fishing has been slow.

SALT WATER

South Sound: Salmon fishing in Marine Area 13, which is the area south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, reopens Monday and runs through April 30. There is a one-fish limit, and chinook must be a minimum of 22 inches long.

Tacoma: The blackmouth fishing has been spotty. The anglers having luck are mostly trolling so they can cover more water, said Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse Marina. Try from the slag pile to the grain elevators, from 100 to 120 feet deep in the morning to 140 to 160 feet deep later in the day.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640

Jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

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