A decision on the second April dig – tentatively scheduled April 19-23 – will be announced after a separate set of toxin tests have been completed, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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RIVERS
Cispus: Last week Tacoma Power employees released 37 steelhead and one spring-chinook adult into the river above the mouth of Yellow Jacket Creek.
Columbia: Although the fishing slowly improves, the overall success and pressure is down compared with last year. State fish biologist Joe Hymer said boat counts show numbers are about one-third of what they were last year. Some of the best sturgeon fishing of the season for keepers is happening from Camas to Kalama.
Cowlitz: The river is running high, but it is still fishable, said Karen Glaser at Barrier Dam Campground. The clarity of the upper river was OK on Friday morning. Anglers are catching some late winter-run steelhead and a few spring chinook. Boat anglers are using mostly plugs, while shrimp, corkies and yarn or jigs are working for bank anglers.
Kalama: Fishing has been slow. A state creel check of 26 bank anglers showed they kept two steelhead and released three. Four boat anglers kept one steelhead.
Olympic Coast: The rivers were unfishable Friday but could be OK this weekend, if the area doesn’t receive too much more rain, said Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods.
Wynoochee: This river and others in the area are blown out, said Ron Adams at Verle’s Sports Center.
LAKES
Munn: The lake has been fishing very well in the last week. Try chironomids or leeches in black, olives and reds, as well as Woolly Buggers.
Spanaway: The lake was planted this week with rainbow trout, said Bud Herlitzka at Spanaway Park Boathouse. Anglers will want to troll for them because the fish are staying close to the surface.
Spencer: Trout fishing has picked up in the last week or so, Adams said. A lot of people are fishing with PowerBait or Power Eggs off the bottom. Trolling with small Wedding Rings or Dick Nite spoons also is effective now that the water is warming. Isabella is another option.
SALT WATER
Fly-fishing: High water in rivers and streams should have pushed cutthroat trout into the Sound, said Anil Srivastava at Puget Sound Fly Co. Use small baitfish patterns for sea-runs.
Hood Canal: The Triton Cove-Pleasant Harbor area might be your best bet, if the rivers haven’t muddied the water too much.
Tacoma: Fishing is extremely slow, even when the weather cooperates. Same report for fishing south of Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
