Fishing report for Feb. 12

LAKES

American: The trout and kokanee fishing has been very slow.

Harts: The action has been very slow despite the breaks in the weather.

Lone: The trout fishing has been slow, in part due to cold water temperatures. Fly anglers are fishing close to the bottom in water about 10 feet deep.

Potholes: With improved weather, more people are hitting the lake. They are finding walleye in water up to 40 feet deep. Look for the walleye holding close to underwater humps, especially off Medicare Beach and between Potholes State Park to the Blythe Bay boat launch. Blade baits have been the most effective.

Sammamish: It might be worth the drive if you want to chase cutthroat trout. Try trolling a green Wedding Ring or Needlefish tipped with a piece of worm, working along the contour of the shoreline.

RIVERS

Grays Harbor: There have been good reports from steelhead anglers on the Humptulips, Satsop and Wynoochee. The issue this weekend will be how high the rivers get because of the rain.

North Sound: Monday will be the final day to fish for steelhead in the terminal hatchery areas on some the rivers. Unfortunately, the action has been slow.

Olympic Coast: Despite some high water earlier in the week, the steelhead fishing has improved. But rain late in the week has the rivers rising again rapidly. On the Calawah and Sol Duc, the catch rate has been about one steelhead per person, based on state creel samples. The Hoh River fishing was very slow.

Yakima: The trout fishing has been fair to good. Fishing with nymphs — such as a size 10 Pat’s stonefly or size 14 to 16 flashback pheasant tail or size 12 San Juan worm — has been effective. Streamer action has slowed in recent days. Watch for adult skwalas to start appearing.

SALTWATER

Clams: The clam dig at Long Beach continues on evening low tides through March 10. No digging is allowed before noon. A tentative dig has been set for Feb. 19-20 at Copalis.

Fly fishing: The fishing has been good for resident coho in the Tacoma Narrows. Many of the fish are measuring 14-15 inches long. People are having success using euphausiids and baitfish patterns.

North Sound: The blackmouth fishing in the San Juan Islands has slowed, but has been fair as of late. Some better options are Point No Point and Possession Point, but watch for seals and sea lions. Coho Killers and Goldstar Needlefish squids have been effective. At the Port Townsend ramp last weekend, anglers averaged 0.5 chinook per person.

South Sound: The salmon fishing is still very slow, in large part because so few people have been trying their luck. Look for fish close to the bottom in water 120-160 feet deep. Trolling is the best option because you need to cover a lot of water to find the bait.

Strait of Juan de Fuca: The state has announced it will close Marine Area 6, the east end of the strait, to salmon fishing on Feb. 22. The closure is being done to limit the number of encounters with chinook. The Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby will take place Feb. 19-21.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 2:55 AM with the headline "Fishing report for Feb. 12."