Fishing report for July 15

LAKES

Black: The crappie fishing has been very good. Most people are favoring Power Bait over worms.

Potholes: Even as water levels drop, the walleye seem to be holding in shallower water. Look for them near structures in water 6-20 feet deep. Crab Creek and near the state park have been good spots to hook rainbow trout. Perch are holding in water 8-16 feet deep, with some fish measuring 16 inches long.

Sammamish: Bass anglers are hooking largemouth and smallmouth, but no large fish. A dropshot rig with a plastic worm has been very effective.

Spanaway: Boat anglers are catching limits by still fishing. They are using a worm and then a marshmallow to float the bait. Keep the leader to no more than 3 feet. Many of the rainbow trout are measuring 14-18 inches. Fishing has been best from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Trolling and dock fishing for trout has been slow, but people are catching plenty of perch and rock bass.

Summit: The kokanee fishing remains consistent. Pink hoochies, tipped with corn and trolled behind a dodger, have been effective. Look for fishi holding 60-65 feet deep.

RIVERS

Columbia: The state reports that more than 133,000 pikeminnows have been caught through July 10 during a reward fishery, including 130 tagged fish. Overall, The Dalles area has been the most productive spot. Last year’s top angler earned $100,453 through the program. The shad count at Bonneville Dam has dropped off, with 2,098 counted Wednesday. Fishing for salmon and steelhead in the lower river has been fair.

Nisqually: No reports of any fish being caught. Anglers likely will need to wait a few weeks for the action to pick up.

Okanogan: This river, and the Similkameen, are now open to salmon fishing. It seems that most of the sockeye moving through the dams are headed for the Okanogan. The daily limit is six salmon, two of which can be adult hatchery chinook and three can be sockeye. Check the regulations for which sections of river are open and for how long.

Yakima: The river is in good condition, and some trout are starting to take hoppers. With weekend temperatures expected in the 80s, be sure to have some grasshopper patterns in your fly box.

SALTWATER

Fly fishing: The action for coastal cutthroat trout has been fair to good. An olive and white Clouser minnow, fished on a sinking line, has been a good pattern.

Ilwaco: The coho fishing has been good, with anglers averaging just over one fish per person.

North Sound: A 22.04-pound salmon was the winning catch in last weekend’s Bellingham Puget Sound Anglers fishing derby. Fishing for chinook in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) opens Saturday (July 16). Only one hatchery chinook can be kept.

South Sound: Chinook fishing has been pretty good in the Tacoma area, with anglers averaging close to a salmon each. Most fish are being caught near the clay banks and the shelf area between Point Defiance and Point Dalco. Trolling and jigging are more productive right now. People mooching with herring have to contend with dogfish. Crabbing remains a little slow. The key is to change your depths and bait until you find the crab. Some squid are being caught off local docks at night.

Westport: Trolling with bait seems to be the best option for salmon anglers. Look for the fish 90-140 feet down in water 200-300 feet deep. The action is far from red hot, but is improving. The tuna are out about 45 miles and hit jigs and bait.

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Fishing report for July 15."