Fishing report for April 15

LAKES

Lowland lakes: A reminder that the trout fishing season will open April 23.

American: The trout fishing has been better than that for kokanee. Trolling with Wedding Ring-style lures behind a dodger has been effective.

Harts: Crappie fishing has been excellent this week. Try using worms off the dock. Boat anglers are jigging and using worms or marshmallows. Some largemouth bass are also being caught.

Offut: Power Bait is doing the trick for those trying to catch trout that were recently planted in the lake. A trout derby is planned for April 22-24. Register at the Offut Lake Resort general store.

Potholes: The high water level is allowing anglers access to the majority of the sand dunes area, and they are finding plenty of largemouth bass. Crab Creek has been the best location for walleye. The smallmouth bass fishing has been good along the face of the dam.

Seep Lakes: The trout fishing is improving as water temperatures warm. Windmill Lake has been productive for bank and boat anglers. Virgin Lake is another good option.

Spanaway: Anglers are catching limits from their boats. Some as quickly as 90 minutes. Try using wedding ring tipped with a worm or a worm under bobber. Anglers are doing well in front of the boar house and behind the island on windy days. Fish are typically in the top 3 feet of water.

Stevens: The kokanee fishing is getting better here, with some limits being caught. Most of the fish are being caught in the top 20 feet of water, but closer to the surface before the sun comes up.

RIVERS

Columbia: So anglers can do some planning, the Bonneville Pool will open for two days for white sturgeon retention, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fishermen will be able to keep a white sturgeon caught June 18 and July 1, as long as the fish measures 38-54 inches long (length measured to the fork in the tail).

Yakima: Trout fishing will be slowed by high river flows. The river, at the Untanum gauge, was flowing at 6,040 cubic feet per second Thursday afternoon, double the normal flows for this time of year. Anglers are required to release any smallmouth bass caught in the lower river that has a small, thin orange tag. Also, the lower river from the state Route 240 bridge in Richland to the Grant Avenue Bridge in Prosser will open April 29 to chinook fishing.

SALT WATER

Razor clams: State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials have approved a nine-day dig for Long Beach starting April 20. Digging will also be allowed April 23 and 25-26 at Mocrocks and April 25-26 at Copalis. WDFW also proposed a May 6-8 dig for Long Beach pending marine toxin tests.

Strait of Juan de Fuca: The salmon fishing from Sekiu to Port Townsend has been fair in the past week. The most consistent action has been at the east end of the strait.

South Sound: Trolling an artificial squid or spoon behind a flasher has been the best method catching chinook this week. People are hooking salmon at Point Dalco, Quartermaster Harbor, the shelf area between Dalco and the Point Defiance Boathouse, and the clay banks. Others are jigging or mooching with herring. Fishing for flounder and sole has been good.

Westport: The bottom fishing remains very good, with most people bringing home limits of lingcod and rockfish.

Contributors: WDFW, Offut Lake Resort, Harts Lake Resort, Bud Herlitzka at Spanaway Park Boat House, Mike Chamberlain at Ted’s Sports Center, Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse, salmonuniversity.com.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 6:19 AM with the headline "Fishing report for April 15."