JEFFREY P. MAYOR; jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com Published: February 13th, 2008 01:00 AMIt seems like the reports have been matching the weather, some brights spots and some still clouded over.
The news for steelhead anglers has been good from the Olympic Peninsula. The native fish are starting to show up in better numbers, the rivers are in good shape for the most part, and there are few anglers out right now.
The news for steelhead anglers has been good from the Olympic Peninsula. The native fish are starting to show up in better numbers, the rivers are in good shape for the most part, and there are few anglers out right now.
Last weekend's Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational saw a record number of fish weighed. There were 141 salmon brought to the scales by the 335 anglers who competed.
Randall Opel of Arlington didn't seem to mind the windy conditions, as his 19.14-pound salmon earned him the $10,000 first-place prize. Michael Bredeson of Everson took second and $5,000 with a 16.12-pound fish. Damon Peterson of Bellingham earned $1,500 for his third-place fish of 15.4 pounds.
Rivers
Cowlitz: Pressure has been light in recent days. A state check found three bank and five boat anglers had no catch. Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 301 coho salmon adults and five winter-run steelhead at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator in five days . During the week, Tacoma Power employees released 63 coho adults and one winter-run steelhead into Lake Scanewa at the Day Use Site and 11 coho adults and one winter-run steelhead into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.
Columbia: The fishing has been slow in the lower river. For sturgeon anglers, the news has been bad. In January, an estimated 1,200 angler trips produced a catch of just 37 legal sturgeon kept from the mainstem Columbia below Bonneville Dam.
Green: The conditions seem best for plunking these days. Anglers are using Spin-n-Glos and shrimp, said a staffer at Auburn Sports and Marine. If we don't get any more rain, it should be in good shape by the weekend.
Kalama: The river is high and clearing, with visibility about 2 feet, said Wayne Orzel at Pritchard's Western Angler.
North Sound: The action has been up and down in the past week. The hatchery run pretty much has come to an end. The wild fish are showing up, but not in great numbers. With freezing levels rising, the rivers could be out of shape soon.
Olympic Coast: The steelhead fishing continues to improve, said Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods. Over the weekend, one person landed a 15-pound fish. The pressure has been surprisingly light. The Soleduck and the Calawah have been the most productive. The Hoh is running high and dirty. Gooding noted a benefit event is being planned for April 4 to raise money to aid Forks fishing guide Gordon Gracey. Details will be released at a later date.
Puyallup: High flows and dirty water are keeping people off the river, said Art Ramos at Sportco.
Smelt: Warming water conditions seem to have the smelt moving back upstream in the Columbia. State survey crews observed about 40 harbor seals in the Columbia River near Oak Point, situated about 13 miles downstream from the mouth of the Cowlitz. But test dipping in the Cowlitz produced no smelt. The Cowlitz water temperature is 41 degrees.
Yakima: The upper river will be your best choice, but you'll likely have to wade fish because snow is still blocking the boat ramps, said the staff at Red's Fly Shop. After the long cold spell, the trout might be eager to take a fly in the coming days. The lower river is dirty because of melting snow.
Lakes
Lone: Fly anglers willing to put up with cold water are having some luck catching rainbow trout on this Whidbey Island lake. Try using chironomids, blood worms or leech patterns when the wind isn't blowing.
Pass: The report here is similar to nearby Lone Lake.
Sammamish: The cutthroat trout fishing has been good for fish measuring 14 to 19 inches.
Spanaway: Some boat anglers are catching limits, but others are not. Still fishing in the south end has been best. Try using any shade of green Power Baits fished on a short leader. The bank anglers are having some luck casting Roostertails at the north end, said Bud Herlitzka at Spanaway Lake Boathouse.
Washington: The cutthroat trout fishing has improved in the past week.
Saltwater
North Sound: Lousy weather kept anglers off the water and it continues early this week, said Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center. The farther west in Marine Area 9 you go, the better the results have been. If you can get out, try Oak Bay or Midchannel Bank.
Tacoma: Salmon anglers will be able to hit the waters off Tacoma starting Saturday.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640
blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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