RIVERS
Columbia: Boat anglers in the Bonneville Pool are doing well for coho at the mouth of the Klickitat. Salmon fishing in the lower river has been very slow. Sturgeon fishing has been best below Bonneville Dam.
On the upper river, near Brewster, try baited jigs in current seams and breaks for steelhead. The bite has been good to very good.
Cowlitz: This river has been one of the most consistent and productive waters in recent weeks. Coho are starting to bite now, especially at Barrier Dam, said Marshall Borsom of Fish Country. People are using small gobs of eggs with sand shrimp, while others are using corky and yarn and yet others jig and bobber fishing. The chinook being caught are very dark.
Blue Creek is another productive spot.
Green: The fishing has slowed down, in part because of high flows. Most anglers have been hooking chum using corkies and yarn.
Humptulips: The river is already dropping and should be fishing very well for coho, chinook and chum – chum must be released. Try pulling plugs or sidedrifting eggs, said Randy Anderson at Sportco.
Kennedy: A creel check of 10 anglers Sunday showed three chum caught. A week ago, 21 anglers had 33 fish.
Lewis: Anglers are catching some coho while releasing some fall chinook, said a state report.
Nisqually: Closed until further notice.
Olympic Coast: The rivers were blown out early this week, said Curt Reed at Waters West. The rivers are full of coho, as well as some chinook. The fishing should be good once the water drops.
Puyallup: The river is blown out, with logs coming downstream, carried by the flow of 10,700 cfs. If we don’t get any more rain, it could be fishable by the weekend.
Tilton: Tacoma Power crews released 579 coho adults, 42 jacks, six fall chinook adults, and three cutthroat trout in the river at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton last week.
Yakima: Streamers and nymphs have been quite productive, and the fishing has been best in the afternoon. Use small flies, light tippet and small indicators, as well as a lot of patience, said a report from Red’s Fly Shop.
LAKES
American: The lake is still producing some kokanee. The best setup seems to be a green dodger with a hoochie fished about 35 to 40 feet deep, according to a report on Washingtonlakes.com.
Chelan: The best action has been late in the morning for spawning lake trout by the Yacht Club, or early in the day by First Creek. Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service recommends Worden’s Flatfish in U20 and T4 sizes alternated with Rushin’ Salmon Wobblers, all in purple glow.
Mayfield: If you’re looking to catch some rainbow trout, give this lake a try. Borsom said the action has been best near the fish hatchery. Red or orange Power Eggs, fished with a worm, is working.
Riffe: There are reports that people fishing on the fishing bridge are still picking up some silvers, Borsom said.
SALTWATER
Hood Canal: The action at the Hoodsport hatchery is picking up. A week ago, a creel check showed 42 chum had been caught by 25 anglers.
Anything in chartreuse green seems to be working.
Tacoma: A few chum are being caught on the Gig Harbor side. Try fishing a flasher with a green hoochie and a strip of herring, said a staffer at Point Defiance Boathouse Marina. The blackmouth action remains slow.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8649 Jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com Blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
