Fishing report for Dec. 6
SALT WATER
Clams: A razor clam dig scheduled to start Saturday on the Washington coast is pending toxin tests. If approved, the digs are planned for the Long Beach and Twin Harbors Saturday, Dec. 18 and Copalis and Mocrocks on Saturday and Sunday. Digging is permitted after noon only. For more information, visit wdfw.wa.gov.
South Sound: The staff at the Point Defiance Boathouse Marina report that the cold and wind have kept anglers off the water south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge where salmon fishing is open. Typically, anglers have the best luck trolling, mooching or jigging near Fox Island, Point Gibson or the mouth of Wollochet Bay. Squid fishing appears to be decent again after a brief slow period.
North Sound: Mike Chamberlain of Ted’s Sports Center says the Everett area and the Saratoga Passage has produced some fair blackmouth fishing.
RIVERS
Bogachiel: The water has been high because of the rain but some anglers have caught steelhead.
Cispus: Last week, Tacoma Power released 151 coho adults and 20 coho jacks near Yellow Jacket Creek.
Cowlitz: Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 1,033 coho adults, 99 jacks, one fall chinook adult, five summer-run steelhead adults, four winter-run steelhead and 13 cutthroat at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. The agency released 127 coho adults, six coho jacks and a cutthroat trout at Packwood’s Franklin Bridge. Action isn’t expected to heat up until late winter or early spring.
Kalama: State creel reports show 41 bank anglers caught and released two steelhead and two coho. Three bank anglers had no luck.
Lewis: State creel reports show 16 bank anglers on the north fork caught and released one steelhead and two coho.
Sol Duc: Anglers are catching coho, but “they’re not good looking fish,” Chamberlain said. “They’re fire-truck red.”
Stillaguamish: The river, its north and south forks, and Canyon and Pilchuck creeks were closed to fishing Monday because of predicted low return of winter steelhead. There were no hatchery releases of smolt in 2014 and ’15. The closure is in effect until Jan. 31, but a section of the North Fork will also be closed Feb. 1-15.
Tilton: Last week, Tacoma Power released 415 coho adults, 34 coho jacks, one fall chinook, six cutthroat trout and one winter-run steelhead at Morton’s Gust Backstrom Park.
LAKES
American: David Anderson of Bill’s Boathouse says it’s cold and anglers haven’t been heading out. For those who want to try, he says it’s a toss-up between the using a worm and bobber from the dock or trolling. The state stocked the lake with nearly 2,000 trout last month.
Black: Some anglers are having luck catching the trout that were recently planted.
Offut: Could be an option for trout fishing. The state stocked the lake in November with nearly 1,000 rainbows.
Scanewa: Last week, Tacoma Power released 212 coho adults, 23 jacks and one cutthroat trout above Cowlitz Falls Dam.
Snohomish: The best option for steelhead fishing on the northern rivers, but fishing is still expected to be in the slow side, Chamberlain said.
Washington: Anglers are catching cutthroat, some as long as 20 inches.
Chelan: Winter kokanee fishing has been good. Lake trout are also biting.
This story was originally published December 6, 2016 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Fishing report for Dec. 6."