Nisqually will close to coho fishing Monday

Another South Sound river will close to salmon fishing, and this time it's the Nisqually River.

Starting Monday, fishing for coho will be closed until further notice. The closure covers the stretch from the mouth to the military tank crossing bridge located one mile upstream of the mouth of Muck Creek.

As of Oct. 22, just 75 hatchery coho had returned to the Clear Creek salmon hatchery. Approximately 700 adults are needed to meet the program goal, said a state Department of Fish and Wildlife news release.

RIVERS

Cowlitz: Anglers are catching some chinook, but most of them are dark. The good news, said Phil Stephens of Mystical Legends Guide Service, is there are plenty of fresh coho in the river. He expects the coho action to last for a couple more weeks.

Grays: The state has reopened the West Fork from the posted markers about 300 yards downstream from the hatchery road bridge upstream to the water intake/footbridge. Anglers can pursue salmon and steelhead through Nov. 30. The opening is possible because the number of late-stock, hatchery coho salmon returning to the Grays River this year is more than expected. This regulation will allow anglers greater opportunity to harvest hatchery coho as well as hatchery-reared winter steelhead.

Green: Anglers are hooking a good number of chum and coho. Try corkies and yarn in red and bright green, according to reports on Washingtonlakes.com. Watch for rising river levels.

Puyallup: After an emergency closure, the river reopens to salmon fishing on Monday. Regulations call for the river to be open through Dec. 31. Flows Friday were about 2,800 cubic feet per seconds – about 1,000 cfs above normal for this time of year.

Yakima: October caddis continue to provide good hatches and good action for trout, Steve Worley of the Worley Bugger Fly Co. said. Try dry pattern size 8 or 10.

SALTWATER

Fly fishing: Chum are finally showing up in places such as Hoodsport, Kennedy Creek, Johns Creek and Allyn. Use little Chum Charlies and shrimp patterns on 10-foot leaders, said Anil Srivastava at Puget Sound Fly Co. Beaches around Ollala are still producing searun cutthroat trout.

South Sound: Beginning Monday, anglers in marine areas 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) and 13 (South Puget Sound) will be able to keep one chinook as part of their two-salmon daily limit. Fishing off Tacoma has been slow, in large part because so few people have gone out, said Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse Marina. If fishing the outgoing tide, try off the clay banks and Quartermaster Harbor on the incoming tide.

North Sound: Beginning Monday, opportunities for blackmouth will increase, as marine areas 8-1, 8-2 and 9 open for chinook. Anglers fishing those areas, as well as Marine Area 10, have a two-salmon daily limit but must release wild chinook salmon.

LAKES

Offut: Windy conditions have kept most people away, said Becky Pogue at Offut Lake Resort, but the fishing has been good. Folks are still catching some of the jumbo trout planted recently. Try trolling spinners or floating a worm.

Beaver: This lake near Issaquah is scheduled to be planted with about 2,300 hatchery rainbows Nov. 8.

Lenice: Trout anglers willing to make the trip might want to consider this eastside lake. It has gone through its turnover and is fishing well, Worley said. Nunnally is another good option, he said. Try leech patterns in dark colors.

jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

This story was originally published October 30, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Nisqually will close to coho fishing Monday."