Bad river conditions, low ocean-water temperatures make fishing tough

Bob Brown | For The Olympian • Published February 14, 2008

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OVERVIEW

For the past couple of weeks, steelhead anglers have had to work hard for their catches. River conditions were not good, and in some rivers migrating fish were as scarce as hen's teeth.

There has been little improvement in river conditions this week. Nearly all Western Washington rivers are high and turbid, making fishing just as tough as last week. Fishing in the Cowlitz has slowed to a crawl and is not any better in Kalama, Lewis, Skookumchuck and Columbia. Some steelhead are being caught in the Wynoochee, Sol Duc, Bogachiel and Calawah.

Sturgeon fishing has not been good in the lower Columbia. There have been some indications the Columbia smelt run is building, and test dipping in the Cowlitz has produced a few fish. Marine Areas 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) and 12 (Hood Canal) open to salmon fishing Saturday. Indications are blackmouth fishing should be good. Lake fishing has been mixed.

Sports fishing for halibut will open April 10 in most areas of Puget Sound followed by additional openings in May on the coast and in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca. Additional information can be had by calling the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's fishing hot line at 360-902-2500 or at the department's Web site, http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/halibut.

The state DFW has announced a razor-clam dig tentatively scheduled for March 7-12 at Twin Harbors and March 8-9 at Long Beach. The six day dig would open during evening tides March 7-8 then switch to morning tides March 9-12. Clam digging on evening tides is allowed between noon and midnight, while morning digs must be completed by noon.

Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager said the department is able to offer the March opener because blustery weather conditions caused many people to stay at home from February's dig.

The Climate Impacts Group from the University of Washington reported last week ocean temperatures off the Northwest Coast are below normal and might stay that way for the rest of the year judging from the continuing cooling of waters near the equator.