Action slow in rivers, salt water but better in lakes

posted 09:37 AM 02/06
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The fishing remains generally slow, with few bright spots. The Kalama River might be worth a visit for steelhead, and the Yakima River is giving up some good catches of rainbow trout. The saltwater action has been slow.

RIVERS

Carbon: The fishing has been very slow, said Keith Semprimoznik at Big J’s Outdoors Store. The number of fish returning to the hatchery has been very low.

Cowlitz: The action is improving, with some nice fish being caught. It’s not red-hot, but if you put in some time in, you can find a few fish. Using corkies and yarn, drifting eggs or pulling plugs have been the most productive methods, said Rob Sweem of R&K Guide Service.

Kalama: A few more steelhead are being caught, giving anglers reason to believe the ‘B’ run fish are starting to move into the river.

Lewis: The North Fork has been producing some steelhead. Try drifting jigs under a bobber. North Fork flows are well below average.

Olympic Coast: The Bogachiel and Sol Duc have been productive. The best methods have been pulling plugs, jigs and bobbers or sidedrifting. The flows on the Calawah and Hoh are well below normal, making fishing tougher.

Smelt: There were fish seen at Gerhart Gardens in the lower Cowlitz river Jan. 29. The state did not receive any catch reports from the Cowlitz River commercial smelt fishery Wednesday night. Sports dipping is open today and Feb. 13, 20, and 27 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The daily and possession limit is 10 pounds per person.

Wynoochee: The action has been very spotty, considering the number of people on the river, said Walt Harvey of Verle’s Sports Center in Shelton. Bank anglers should try jigs and bobbers or free-drifting bait. Boat anglers can try pulling plugs as well.

Yakima: The fishing has been good, but the cold water temperatures are keeping the numbers down, according to a report from Red’s Fly Shop. Try stonefly nymphs or small nymphs such as red copper Johns or olive pheasant tails in sizes 16 or 18.

LAKES

American: Anglers are catching a few trout, rainbow and cutthroat. Slowly trolling a Wedding Ring tipped with a worm has been producing some fish, according to a report on Washingtonlakes.com.

Offut: An increase in the number of people on the lake has meant an increase in the number of fish brought in, said Becky Pogue at Offut Lake Resort. There are no limits, but the fish are measuring about 18 inches. Night crawlers and yellow Power Bait are working the best.

Washington: The cutthroat trout fishing has improved. Anglers are finding the fish are holding in water about 20 to 40 feet deep. Try trolling a herring or a spinner with a strip of herring meat, according to Kyle Wagoner at Kyle’s Outdoor Adventure Guide Service.

SALT WATER

Hood Canal: Anglers are picking up a few blackmouth in Pleasant Harbor, Harvey said. Most anglers are trolling Coyote spoons, Coho Killers or hoochies behind a flasher.

Tacoma: Fishing in the area has been spotty, said Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse Marina. The slag pile has been producing some fish. Try trolling flashers and spoons in water 130 to 150 feet deep. The Quartermaster Harbor has been fairly productive on the incoming tide.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640

jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure

Comments

Cowlitz smelt dipping to open, but will fish cooperate?

posted 09:11 AM 02/03

The first of four days of smelt dipping on the Cowlitz will be Saturday. Anglers can dip from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Daily and possession limit is 10 pounds per person. The other days dipping will be allowed are Feb. 13, 20, and 27. All other Washington Columbia River tributaries remain closed.

Keep eye on steelhead bite in Skookumchuck

posted 08:18 AM 01/30

Steelhead anglers may want to consider the Skookumchuck River. The action there has picked up in recent days. If the rain holds off, local lakes might also improve.

Catches better, but results still mixed

posted 10:50 AM 01/27

There are some glimmers of improved fishing in the area. Steelhead anglers should try the upper reaches of the Green River. There are fish being caught but the river from the 277th Bridge in Auburn upstream to the Tacoma headworks dam will close Monday.

Riffe, Spanaway lakes producing trout again

posted 08:38 AM 01/23

Some area lakes are showing signs of improvement. There are good reports of limits being caught at Riffe Lake, and some trout topping 11/2 pounds being caught at Spanaway Lake. As for rivers, this weekend might be the first decent fishing all week.

Toxin level cancels clam dig and threatens others

posted 08:38 AM 01/23

Marine toxin levels have led the Department of Fish and Wildlife to cancel a razor clam dig scheduled next week at Long Beach and delay the opening at Twin Harbors.

River conditions should improve if rain holds off

posted 07:11 AM 01/20

The fishing has been slow to nonexistent in many waters, especially the rivers. If we don't get too much rain this week, the rivers should be in good shape.

Low steelhead return shuts off Green River

posted 11:47 PM 01/15

The state is closing the Green River to protect the low return of wild steelhead. The lower portion is closed to all fishing, and the upper portion will close Feb. 1. The closure covers all game fish.

River conditions make things tough for anglers

posted 11:47 PM 01/12

Fishing has been a hit-and-miss venture, in large part because of river conditions. The rivers are unfishable locally, but rivers such as the Kalama and Cowlitz offer some fishing.

Nisqually fishing closed over weak chum return

posted 11:57 PM 01/08

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed recreational salmon fishing on the lower Nisqually River effective today. The Nisqually Tribe also has shut down its chum fishery. The river is closed from the mouth to the military tank crossing bridge, located one mile upstream of the mouth of Muck Creek.

Rain has steelheaders heading to peninsula

posted 11:52 PM 01/05

River fishing for steelhead has dropped off as rain has brought up river levels, in some cases making the rivers unfishable. Some of the best action has been on the Olympic Peninsula.

Best thing about writing column? Making friends

posted 07:23 AM 01/05

HOOD RIVER, ORE. - About seven years ago, I was sitting on an Alaska Airlines flight from Mazatlan, Mexico, to Sea-Tac - and I really wanted to go to sleep.

Here's how to find more time to go fish

posted 07:59 AM 12/29

Two thousand and nine had its moments, but I'm happy to see this year fading into the rearview mirror.

Anglers having some success despite difficult conditions

posted 11:46 PM 12/16

Nature wasn’t too kind to fishermen last week, and although conditions have improved, fishing has been mostly a labored activity this week. River fishing hasn’t been auspiciously great, but several rivers have been producing some pretty decent catches of fish and are worthy of angler attention and effort.