RIVERS
Cowlitz: Anglers continue to catch a mixture of fall chinook, coho, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout, a state report said. Most of the chinook are dark and were released. Most of the salmon catch was near the barrier dam; steelhead and cutthroats near the trout hatchery.
Kalama: Bank anglers are catching some coho and steelhead though most were dark and released. The first winter-run steelhead of the season had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery a week ago.
Kennedy: The fishing has been slow the past few days.
Lewis: On the North Fork, anglers are catching a mixture of fall chinook, coho, and steelhead, including some winter-run fish. Approximately half the chinook and coho were released, said a state report.
Minter: There are a lot of returning chum in the creek and they are willing to bite. Some of them have been bright fish. Black or green corkies and yarn have been effective setups. Expect lots of fellow anglers.
Nisqually: People are catching a few chum.
Olympic Coast: The salmon action has slowed, but hatchery steelhead are making their way up the rivers, Jim Kerr of Rain Coast Guides said.
Puyallup: People are hooking an occasional coho. Pink and white jigs under a float has been a good setup.
Yakima: The trout fishing has been fair to good. Start the day swinging sculpin patterns. Through the middle of the day, fish midge patterns under a stonefly nymph. Fish walking-speed water where you cannot see the bottom of the river. Work the sports where you get suspicious takedowns, said a staffer at Red’s Fly Shop.
SALTWATER
Beaches: Digging for razor clams will be allowed after noon Friday at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks. On Saturday, just Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks will be open after noon. The best digging is an hour or two before low tide. The low tide Friday of -1.9 feet will be at 6:27 p.m. On Saturday, the low tide will be -1.8 feet at 7:14 p.m.
Fly fishing: The action for sea-run cutthroat trout has been fair to good in the past week, said a staffer at Gig Harbor Fly Shop.
Tacoma: The salmon fishing is still on the slow side. State checks of 29 anglers at local docks over the weekend showed a catch of six blackmouth.
LAKES
Chelan: The lake trout have mostly spawned, which means they are aggressively feeding. Locations like the Bar and the Trench will be best now. Troll close to the bottom at speeds of 1.3-1.5 mph, said Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service.
Rufus Woods: The fishing for triploid rainbow trout should continue to be very good to excellent as the surface water temperature drops through the 50s. Try trolling around pump station No. 1 or fishing with bait near the lower pens.
Spanaway: Pressure has been very light. A few 3-pound browns have been caught in recent days, said Bud Herlitzka at Spanaway Park Boathouse.
Spencer: The trout fishing has been slow.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
