Fishing report for March 8
SALT WATER
South Sound: Point Defiance Boathouse Marina staff reports few anglers heading out the past few days, but when weather was better, anglers were catching salmon near Vashon Island. Action hasn’t been great by trolling — mooching seems to be the best approach. Seals have been swiping fish, the staff reports.
North Sound: Starting Saturday, the limit fisherman in the San Juan Islands will be limited to two salmon (one chinook) per day.
Razor clams: The Long Beach dig continues through March 31. State officials warn diggers that the shift in low tides from evening to morning is this month, 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. Upcoming: Proposed digs at Mocrocks and Copalis March 18-20 (evening tides) and Mocrocks March 25-27 (morning tides).
RIVERS
Cispus: Last week, Tacoma Power released 37 winter-run steelhead adults and four spring chinook adults near Yellow Jacket Creek.
Columbia: The lower river has been lucky for some, according to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife reports. Some spring chinook are being caught near Woodland. State officials say the fishery is off to a strong start. Through Sunday, 663 salmon anglers caught 33 adult spring chinook. An estimated 151 adult spring chinook were kept last month, the most for February since 2011. Anglers are catching sturgeon in The Dalles and John Day pools.
Cowlitz: The best steelhead fishing has been near the trout hatchery and the barrier dam area has produced the best spring chinook fishing. Last week, WDFW observed 38 boat anglers keeping 27 hatchery winter-run steelhead and releasing one hatchery jack spring chinook. On the banks, 59 anglers kept three hatchery adult spring chinook and nine hatchery winter-run steelhead. Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 226 winter-run steelhead and five spring chinook adults at the salmon hatchery separator.
Kalama: Last week’s WDFW survey showed that 50 bank anglers kept two hatchery steelhead and released one wild steelhead. Meanwhile, 11 boat anglers kept three hatchery fish and released two wilds. Starting Thursday, the hatchery chinook daily limit will be six, two of which can be adults.
Lewis: Last week’s WDFW survey showed 10 bank anglers released two wild steelhead and one whitefish on the east fork. No boat fishing was observed. Tuesday is the last day to fish for hatchery steelhead on the Lewis south and east forks and many other southwest Washington rivers.
Tilton: Last week, Tacoma Power employees released 43 winter-run steelhead adults at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.
Wind: Opens March 16 for hatchery chinook and steelhead fishing from boundary line upstream to the state Route 14 bridge. Fishing is expected to be slow at first.
LAKES
Alder: Plenty of kokanee to be had, according to recent reports, but anglers are looking for the best way to land them.
Alice: This King County lake was stocked last week with 1,326 rainbows.
American: There were reports last week of anglers catching trout limits.
Angle: Last week, this SeaTac lake was stocked with 4,200 rainbow trout from the Puyallup hatchery.
Cady: This Mason County lake was stocked with 100 trout last week.
Drano: Opens on March 16 to hatchery chinook (limit two) and steelhead (limit two) fishing. Barbed hooks allowed. Fishing is expected to be slow, then pick up.
Lawrence: Stocked with 500 rainbows last week.
Longs: The state dropped off 140 trout at the pond last week.
Munn: Received a modest 10-fish infusion last week.
Rattlesnake: This lake near North Bend was stocked last week with 2,008 fish.
Spanaway: Stocked last week with 4,300 rainbows.
Scanewa: Last week, Tacoma Power released four winter-run steelhead above Cowlitz Falls Dam.
This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 10:57 AM with the headline "Fishing report for March 8."