RIVERS
Cowlitz: The fishing has been fair. There are a lot of coho throughout the system, however getting them to bite is the challenge, said Marshall Borsom at Fish Country. People fishing at Barrier Dam are using eggs with sand shrimp. Down river, try spinners, sand shrimp, corky and yarn. A few winter-run steelhead are being caught at Blue Creek.
Green: People are catching plenty of chum, with an occasional bright coho. Using a jig tipped with shrimp under a float has been the most effective setup, anglers are reporting.
Kennedy: The number of chum returning to the creek is increasing each week.
Lewis: Anglers fishing the North Fork are catching some fall chinook and coho, said a state report.
Puyallup: The fishing has been slow overall, with only a few reports of coho and chum being caught. People are using dark-colored corkies and yarn, scented with shrimp oil.
Skokomish: Anglers are reporting the river is full of chum willing to bite, as well as some coho that are hitting spinners.
Tilton: Last week, 804 coho adults, 39 jacks, 72 fall chinook adults, two jacks, one winter-run steelhead and five cutthroat trout were released into the river at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.
Yakima: The trout fishing has been fair to good. Most people are using small nymphs, like brassies and midges, said a report from Red’s Fly Shop. Be sure to use a strike indicator because the takes are very soft.
SALTWATER
Hoodsport: The chum are there, the issue has been getting them to bite. Anglers said they are having better luck with green corkies and yarn.
Tacoma: The salmon fishing has been slow. Just 16 anglers were checked by the state at local ramps over the weekend, and only three blackmouth were checked. Look for fish holding on the bottom in water about 130 feet deep.
LAKES
Chelan: Work the trench or the Yacht Club for some bigger lake trout. Trolling a Worden’s Flatfish or Silver Horde’s Ace-Hi Fly within 10 feet of the bottom has been best.
Pass: The fly fishing on this lake has been good to very good. Try casting tight to the bank and retrieving your fly over the weeds. People are hooking more rainbows than brown trout right now.
Rufus Woods: This is getting to be prime time for catching triploid rainbow trout on Rufus. Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service recommends running to the pens and using a slip sinker with Pautzke’s Fire Bait. He also said to work down lake from Brandt’s Landing and look for activity on the surface.
Spanaway: Few people have been fishing the lake in recent days, said Bud Herlitzka at Spanaway Lake Boathouse. Some fish are topping 3 pounds. Fly anglers are having some success, using brown woolly buggers or blood worms. Still fishing has been best in the southeast corner with Power Bait fished about 2 feet off the bottom.
Jeff Mayor, staff writer jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
