Fishing Report for Feb. 20

SALT WATER

Beaches: The next razor clam dig will take place Saturday and Sunday at Twin Harbors and Long Beach. No digging will be allowed before noon at either beach. The evening low tides times for the two beaches are: Saturday, 5:12 p.m., plus-0.3 feet; and Sunday, 5:47 p.m., plus-0.1 feet. The best digging occurs one to two hours prior to low tide.

Hood Canal: A few blackmouth are being caught, from Bald Point up to the Seabeck area. Work the points hard, fishing the lee side (away from the wind) of the point during incoming or outgoing tides.

North Sound: The Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby’s $10,000 first prize went to Jerry Thomas of Mount Vernon for a 15.90 pound salmon.

The $2,000 second place winner was Lauren Selvig of Port Orchard with a 14.80-pound fish. The $1,000 third place prize went to Don White of Hansville with a 14.35 pound salmon.

Ralph Thomas of Tacoma took fifth place ($500) with a 13.85 pound salmon, while Jeff Jenkins took sixth place ($410) with a salmon weighing 13.60 pounds.

A record 351 winter blackmouth chinook salmon were submitted during the holiday weekend derby, beating the 2011 record of 248 fish.

South Sound: Salmon fishing has picked up a little bit recently, as long as the winds aren’t blowing too hard out of the north. People have been catching some blackmouth off the slag pile by trolling flashers with spoons or hoochies. Fish in water 120-150 feet deep and keep your bait within 10 feet of the bottom. The best action has been on the outgoing tide. Farther south, Anderson Island and Lyle Point have been producing a few salmon.

LAKES

American: Shore anglers continue to land some nice rainbow trout, including some fishing reaching 18 inches long. Power Eggs, in chartreuse or yellow, fished off the bottom has been the most effective method.

Bradley: The lake has some large rainbow trout in it, including some topping 2 pounds. The action isn’t red-hot, but there are some nice fish there.

Island: The lake has been producing some rainbow. Try trolling dark-colored flies close to the bottom, or use dough bait or worms close to the bottom.

Pass: Fly anglers are reporting good catches of rainbow and brown trout. Try slowly trolling with a black leech fly on a sinking line. The best fishing has started shortly before noon.

Spanaway: People are catching some trout, including reports of a brown trout measuring 21 inches. It fell for a trolled Wedding Ring tipped with a worm.

Washington: Cutthroat trout action has been very good. Using orange label plug cut herring or a 3-inch needlefish lure. Because the fish seem to be very boat shy, get your gear 100-125 feet behind your boat.

RIVERS

Cowlitz: Fishing has been very slow. The action typically begins to picks up the first week of March.

Olympic Coast: Fishing has been fair, hampered in part by low and clear water. That should change with rain in the forecast Thursday and Friday, which could bring fresh fish into the rivers. The Hoh has been the best option these days, but also is attracting a lot of anglers.

Skookumchuck: Steelhead fishing is very slow.

Yakima: Trout fishing has been fair to good in recent days. There are some reports of a few skwala adults being seen. Right now, most people are drifting stonefly nymphs through the slower water on an inside seam.

Wynoochee: The water is still low and clear, but people are still catching some steelhead. With the current water conditions, use smaller corkies in yarn in less bright colors like peach, or similar color jigs.

Contributors: Curt Reed at Waters West, Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse, Ron Adams at Verle’s Sports Center, The Evening Hatch, Todd Rock at Auburn Sports and Marine, washingtonlakes.com, gamefishin.com and washingtonflyfishing.com. Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure