Fishing report for April 1

LAKES

American: Pink lures trailing a dodger have been producing some limits of rainbow trout. The fish seem to be holding in the top 15 feet of water right now.

Columbia Basin: Many lakes in this area opened Friday (April 1).

Harts: The crappie action has taken off for boat anglers. People are fishing deep with crappie jigs. The trout, bass and perch fishing is showing signs of improving.

Merwin: Anglers are hooking some kokanee. Look for fish holding 35-40 feet down. Wedding Rings and artificial squid, tipped with scented corn, have been effective. Watch for lots of wood and debris in the lake.

Nahwatzel: The lake has been producing good catches of rainbow trout, most measuring 14-15 inches. The lake was recently stocked with 400 rainbows, weighing 3  1/2 pounds each. Some people are using tube flies behind a smile blade.

Potholes: The Lind Coulee arm is the place to fish for walleye right now, while the action is starting to pick up at the mouth of Crab Creek. The sand dunes are producing some largemouth bass topping 5 pounds. Warm temperatures this weekend should improve the action.

Spanaway: Lots of people are catching limits of planted, catchable-size rainbow trout, measuring 10-12 inches. Try the north end behind the island by the bridge, or try along the buoy line along the south side of the lake.

Washington: Flatfish and Wedding Ring lures, and Dick Nites spoons, are producing cutthroat trout. Most of the fish are measuring 18-19 inches.

RIVERS

Olympic Coast: River conditions should be good this weekend for steelhead fishing. Last week, anglers did OK, according to state creel samples. The best action was on the Sol Duc River, where 96 checked anglers caught 42 steelhead.

Yakima: The dry fly skwala action has slowed down, although nymphs, trailed by a hare’s ear or black Copper John, are still effective. Look for trout feeding on blue wing olive just below the surface.

SALTWATER

Clams: The state has approved a dig on evening and morning tides from Sunday through April 12 at Long Beach. Copalis will be open on morning tides from Thursday through April 9 and Mocrocks will be open on morning tides Thursday and on April 8 and April 10.

Fly fishing: The coastal cutthroat trout action has been fair to good. With the trout keying on chum fry, try using olive-over-white or chartreuse-over-white Clouser minnows or Chum Babies.

North Sound: The fishing has been fair in Marine Area 9. Some blackmouth, weighing up to 10 pounds, have been caught off Point No Point, Mid-Channel Bank and Double Bluff. Try using a spoon about 40 inches behind a flasher.

South Sound: The best action has been from Quartermaster Harbor to Point Dalco at the south end of Vashon Island. Trolling a flasher with a spoon or artificial squid in water 120-150 feet deep has been working.

Westport: The weather has improved and so has the fishing. Many charter boats are coming in with limits of ling cod and rockfish. Fish are being found on rock piles and over hard bottom areas in water 60-160 feet deep.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 7:22 AM with the headline "Fishing report for April 1."