Fishing report for March 1

SALT WATER

Razor clams: Plenty of opportunities to dig clams on the coast in March. The Long Beach dig has been extended to March 31 and a 4-day run starts Saturday at Mocrocks. More digs are planned for later in the month on Copalis and Mocrocks beaches.

The Mocrocks dig is on the evening tides.

The Long Beach dig originally was scheduled to end March 10. Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, says optimal digging conditions are when low tide is 1 foot or lower. “There are several days early in the month when low tides will be high enough to make digging difficult,” Ayres said.

The shift in tides from evening to morning is in March, so diggers must pay attention to when digging is allowed. No digging is allowed after noon when low tide is in the morning. No digging is allowed before noon when low tide is in the evening.

“Low tides are a little unusual this March, which means diggers should be sure to check tide information before heading to Long Beach,” Ayres said.

Proposed digs for later in the month include Mocrocks and Copalis on the evening tides March 18-20, and Mocrocks on the morning tides March 25-27.

South Sound: The staff at Point Defiance Boathouse Marina reports the action is slow. Seals seem to beating anglers to the fish and sometimes taking gear as well. Squid are still being caught but activity is slow.

Hood Canal: Closed to crabbing as of Sunday.

RIVERS

Columbia: Downstream of the Interstate-5 bridge, a WDFW sampling of 276 anglers (67 boats) showed fishermen caught two adult spring chinook and six steelhead. Steelhead fishing was slow in The Dalles and John Day pools, but some anglers are catching sturgeon and walleye. The walleye fishing is “outstanding,” according to a WDFW report. An estimated 285 steelhead were caught in February at the lower Hanford Reach fishery.

Cowlitz: WDFW surveys last week showed 10 boat anglers kept four hatchery winter-run steelhead and released two. Meanwhile, 39 bank anglers kept three hatchery winter-run steelhead. Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 112 winter-run steelhead and four spring chinook adults at the hatchery separator.

Kalama: The most recent WDFW report shows 35 bank anglers caught and released three wild steelhead, while 27 bank anglers kept four hatchery steelhead and a spring chinook.

Lewis: WDFW statistics show 46 anglers combined to catch and release five wild steelhead last week.

Tilton: Last week, Tacoma Power employees released 20 winter-run steelhead at Morton’s Gust Backstrom Park.

LAKES

Harts: Stocked last week with 4,000 rainbows.

Kapowsin: WDFW planted the lake with 15,000 rainbow trout last week.

Klineline: This Clark County pond was recently stocked with 1,500 rainbow trout.

Offut: Last week, anglers were trolling a wedding ring tipped with orange Power Egg behind a dodger.

Scanewa: Last week, Tacoma Power released a spring chinook adult and four winter-run steelhead above Cowlitz Falls Dam.

Spanaway: Trout fishing was picking up here at last report.

Spencer: Recent reports indicate trout fishing has picked up here. Try Power Bait, Power Eggs or nightcrawlers. The lake was stocked last week with 440 rainbows.

Washington: Cutthroat trout and perch have been biting.

Eastern Washington: Several Eastern Washington lakes opened Tuesday. Check WDFW.wa.gov for regulations.

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 7:56 AM with the headline "Fishing report for March 1."