Fishing report for May 6
LAKES
Alder: An online report indicated that the bullhead catfish were very active. Fishing with worms on the bottom was an effective method. The action for largemouth bass has been off and on.
American: People who are trolling are finding trout down about 20 feet. Slowly trolling a Slingblade — with a hoochie that has a smile blade and is tipped with corn — has been productive. Also working: Trolling Wedding Rings close to the surface.
Harts: The fishing has been spotty in the last few days, but people are catching some crappie. The bite has been best late in the day. Boat anglers have been landing some largemouth bass weighing up to 4 or 5 pounds.
Hicks: The trout fishing has been fair to good. Trolling seems to be the way to fish at this time.
Mineral: The number of fish being caught is on the increase. Worms fished off the bottom or fishing with a Wedding Ring has been producing brown trout up to 14 inches. Fly anglers are using damsel nymphs to hook rainbows measuring about 12 inches.
Potholes: People are catching limits of walleye in Crab Creek, in the west arm of the sand dunes area, Lind Coulee and by Goose Island. The sand dunes are the best location for largemouth bass, while smallmouth bass anglers are concentrating on the face of the dam. The reservoir is at full pool.
Scaenwa: The lake is producing some spring chinook. Try trolling a cut-plug herring right on the bottom between 15-25 feet deep.
Tapps: The action for tiger muskies has been very slow.
RIVERS
Columbia: Anglers can fish for spring chinook through Sunday. A two-day extension was approved on the waters above Bonneville Dam from the Tower Island power lines to the Washington-Oregon state line 17 miles above McNary Dam. Shore anglers can fish from Bonneville Dam to the power lines.
Yakima: Canyon anglers will need a boat to chase trout, while the Upper Farmlands and Farmlands sections have some wading opportunities in side channels. Flows are about 4,500 cubic feet per second at Untanum. Overall, the trout fishing has been fair to good. Salmon flies, caddis and March brown patterns are working best.
SALTWATER
North Sound: The halibut season in marine areas 5-10 will open Saturday. While open for only eight days, the quota is 57,393 pounds. The fishing for rockfish has been very good in Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands).
South Sound: The ling cod action has been slow to fair. Toliva Shoals and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge area have been producing keeper fish (between 26-36 inches). Using live herring as bait has been producing the most strikes.
Westport: The ling cod fishing has been very good. Anglers heading to deeper water have been landing fish weighing up to 44 pounds. Large herring covered with artificial octopus skirts have been the best baits. The halibut fishing has been good.
Contributors: Mike Meseberg at MarDon Resort, The Evening Hatch, Mike Chamberlain at Ted’s Sports Center, salmonuniversity.com, northwestfishingreports.com, Harts Lake Resort & Deli, Doreen Douglas at Mineral Lake Resort.
More salmon-related closures
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has expanded the Puget Sound waters that are closed because of the lack of a federal permit to allow salmon fishing. Below are some South Sound additions to the list. You can find the complete list at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/pugetsound_salmon_update.
Clover Creek (Pierce County): From Steilacoom Lake upstream and all tributaries.
Nisqually River (Pierce): From Alder Reservoir upstream, including Little Nisqually, Mineral Creek and north fork Mineral Creek and all other tributaries
Deschutes River (Thurston): Upstream from the Old Highway 99 Bridge on Capitol Boulevard in Tumwater.
Kennedy Creek (Mason/Thurston): From the falls upstream and all tributaries.
This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Fishing report for May 6."