JEFFREY P. MAYOR; jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com Published: March 29th, 2008 01:00 AMThe fishing reports are mixed as we head into the weekend. Folks fishing the saltwater and local lakes have opted to stay out of the snow. If reports of improving weather are true, we could see some good fishing into next week.
Rivers
Rivers
Columbia: The fishing continues to improve for spring chinook. Most anglers are trolling with herring, said a staffer at Bob's Sporting Goods.
Cowlitz: While the catch has been poor to fair, anglers are landing a mix of steelhead and spring chinook, cause for some optimism for later this season. One angler reported landing a 19-pound late winter-run steelhead this week. Steelhead are hitting corkies and yarn, sand shrimp or jig and bobber rigs.
Kalama: Anglers are catching a few spring chinook, but the action has not been consistent.
Olympic Coast: The Hoh River and the South Fork Hoh River will close to sport fishing at 12:01 a.m. Thursday to protect wild steelhead, the state announced. Olympic National Park also will close portions of the two rivers that lie within the park's boundary. The closure is needed to meet the wild steelhead spawning escapement goal of 2,400 fish. The fishing has been fair recently.
Satsop: The fishing on the river and others in the area has been slow this week.
Yakima: River flows have been on a steady decline for the last week, which should make for some decent wade-fishing this weekend. If conditions are right, look for hatches of blue wing olives. If not, try stoneflies to mimic the skwalas.
Saltwater
Fly fishing: The action for cutthroat has slowly picked up in the South Sound. Use baitfish patterns that imitate chum fry like Deceivers or the Chumpy fry, said Anil Srivastava at Puget Sound Fly Co.
Hood Canal: Anglers have been catching chinook weighing more than 15 pounds in the Seabeck area, said Tom Nelson of Salmon University. Dabob Bay is another option.
North Sound: Hat Island, Point No Point and Midchannel Bank have been the productive spots in the last week. That doesn't mean the fishing is red hot, however.
South Sound: The blackmouth action has been fair to good off Fox Island and Devil's Head. Troll a flasher with a hoochie or herring in water 80 to 100 feet deep, said Mike Zittel of Zittel's Marina.
Tacoma: The weather has kept most anglers off the water this week. Those who have been getting out have been finding a few fish. The slag pile has been the best spot, with anglers trolling with flashers and spoons right on the bottom in water 130 to 150 feet deep, said a staffer at Point Defiance Boathouse Marina.
Lakes
American: The trout are holding close to the surface. Try fishing a worm under a bobber or Power Bait.
Cady: Trout anglers are using floating lines with long leaders, about 10 to 20 feet, a sliding strike indicator and chironomids. Olive leeches also are working well, Anil Srivastava said.
Moses Lake: The perch are starting to bite as the lake begins to fill up. At nearby Potholes Reservoir, the walleye are starting to bite. Some 20 lakes on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge will open Tuesday.
Spanaway: The boat ramp has reopened, but the weather has kept some anglers off the lake. Green Power Bait fished on a short leader in the south end of the lake should produce trout.
Washington: Fishing for cutthroat trout has been off and on the last week. Look for them around 30 feet deep. Look for smallmouth bass starting to hold off points.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640
blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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