The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reports only a small number of anglers trying their luck – which means those who are choosing to stay home are missing out on rivers like the Cowlitz, where there are plenty of fish.
“We have a lot of winter-run steelhead right now. It’s a good time to give it a try,” said Tracey Borsom of Fish Country Inc. in Ethel, near the Cowlitz.
RIVERS
Cowlitz: Steelhead fishing is good around the hatchery, according to the WDFW. Boat anglers are having the best luck. Last week Tacoma Power recovered more than 660 adult coho. It also recovered seven jacks, one fall-chinook adult, 275 winter-run steelhead, one summer-run steelhead and three sea-run cutthroat. Tacoma Power recently released 399 coho adults at the day-use site on Lake Scanewa. Borsom suggests side-drifting with eggs or shrimp, or running divers with bait. From the bank, they recommend using sand shrimp, corky and yarn, jig and bobber or worms.
Columbia: Some winter-run steelhead are biting below the Bonneville Dam, where sturgeon catches are also light. Steelhead fishing is fair on the John Day arm. Sturgeon retention is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through the end of the year from Wauna Powerline upstream to the Bonneville Dam.
Kalama: Anglers are catching both winter- and summer-run steelhead.
Lewis: Winter-run steelhead are biting near the salmon hatchery.
Skagit: “There is nothing to write home about here,” said Mike Chamberlain of Ted’s Sports Center in Lynnwood.
Skykomish: Steelhead fishing picked up over the weekend after a bit of rain. Several anglers have caught their limits.
SALT WATER
Tacoma: Staffers at the Point Defiance Boathouse Marina say salmon fishing in the area has been slow but conditions are good for fishing. Try trolling with flasher and spoon or herring near the Clay Banks, the grain elevators or Les Davis Pier. Crabbing is decent in the area, but squid fishing has been quiet.
North Sound: The action “hasn’t been red-hot,” Chamberlain said. Squid fishing near Seattle and Edmonds has been pretty good for those willing to put in the time, he said.
LAKES
American: David Anderson of Bill’s Boathouse says there haven’t been any anglers on the lake of late. “It’s hard to know what the fishing would be like,” Anderson said.
Mayfield: A recent sampling by the WDFW recorded four anglers keeping six rainbows.
Riffe: The lake is starting to produce some small silvers, Borsom said.
Fish: This lake near Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee is one of the few in Central or Eastern Washington already suitable for ice fishing, Chamberlain said.
Sammamish: Anglers are catching cutthroat as big as 20 inches.
Goodwin: There are reports of 6-pound rainbows being caught here, Chamberlain said.
Washington: “The reports have been very poor,” Chamberlain said. “Last year wasn’t good for cutthroat, and this year hasn’t been good either.”
Craig Hill, staff writer blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
