Fishing report for Feb. 23

SALT WATER

South Sound: The Point Defiance Boathouse Marina staff reports that salmon fishing is slow and pressure is light despite nice weather. Some chinook were checked by the state at the Skokomish boat ramp over the weekend.

North Sound: Mike Chamberlain of Ted’s Sports Center in Lynnwood said anglers are “scratching pretty hard to get fish.” Activity is slowing around the San Juan Islands, but it’s still the best opportunity for chinook. Marina Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca) closed Monday for salmon fishing.

Razor clams: The Long Beach dig continues through March 10. Digging is allowed after noon and is best on tides of less than 1 foot.

Hood Canal: The extended crabbing season ends Sunday.

LAKES

American: David Anderson of Bill’s Boathouse said activity is still slow despite warmer weather. “It’s still too soon, but I think it (better weather) will help,” he said.

Offut: Rainbow and cutthroat action continues to pick up here for dock and boat anglers. “Pretty much anything tipped with a worm is working,” said Becky Pogue of Offut Lake Resort. In recent days, trolling has proved to be a good means for catching fish.

Sammamish: Cutthroat trout have been biting.

Washington: Not much action here, but anglers are catching some cutthroat. You’ll need to go deep (70 feet) to catch perch.

Eastern Washington: Many seep lakes open Tuesday, March 1. The most recent report from MarDon Resort said walleye were biting on the Potholes Reservoir, and some anglers were catching their limit using blade baits, rapala jigging and whistle rigs. Kokanee fishing continues to be good on Lake Chelan.

RIVERS

Columbia: State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials counted 80 boats and 137 bank anglers Saturday. Bank anglers are catching steelhead in The Dalles Pool. The John Day and The Dalles pools have been good for sturgeon and walleye.

Cowlitz: Blue Creek has been producing steelhead for bank anglers using jigs and bobbers. Steelhead fishing has been improving at the hatchery. Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 164 winter run steelhead, five coho adults and two spring chinook adults at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

Cispus: Last week, Tacoma Power released 31 winter-run steelhead, two spring chinook adults and a coho adult near the mouth of Yellow Jacket Creek.

Humptulips: Producing some fish. Most of the Olympic Peninsula rivers have been “marginal,” Chamberlain said.

Tilton: Last week, Tacoma Power released 54 winter-run steelhead adults and four coho adults at Morton’s Gust Backstrom Park.

Yakima: The upper river is the best option, as rain and some early snow melt have made the lower river difficult for effective fishing.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 1:47 PM with the headline "Fishing report for Feb. 23."