JEFFREY P. MAYOR; jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com Published: March 12th, 2008 01:00 AMFishing has been mixed, but it's been showing signs of improving. River reports indicate spring chinook are starting to show up in the some of the Columbia tributaries.
Locally, the saltwater action remains very slow.
Locally, the saltwater action remains very slow.
Rivers
Columbia: The river opens Sunday to fishing for hatchery spring chinook and hatchery steelhead from the Hayden Island west power line towers upstream. Sturgeon fishing in the lower river has been incredibly slow. In February, an estimated 3,800 angler trips on the lower Columbia produced 43 fish kept. The Dalles Pool has been the most productive area.
Cowlitz: Fishing is picking up in the upper river, based on state creel checks. Anglers were catching a mix of steelhead and spring chinook at Blue Creek and the barrier dam. There is good visibility above the mouth of the Toutle, but the water is turbid below that point.
Kalama: Fishing has been poor, and as a result few anglers are giving the river a try.
Lewis: A couple chinook were reported to be caught near the mouth of the river. Anglers are reminded that Austin Point (uplands near mouth of Lewis) is closed through July because of dredging.
Olympic Coast: The fishing had been fair to good until rain fell Monday night, making most of the rivers unfishable. The Soleduck is the best option, but if there is more rain, it too should blow out, said Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods.
Smelt: The news isn't good. There has been no sign of smelt in the Cowlitz and lower Columbia for more than a week. No smelt were encountered during a recent test dipping. Smelt can continue to enter the Columbia River well into March, but we are past the typical peak of the run.
Wind River and Drano Lake: This area opens to fishing for hatchery spring chinook and hatchery steelhead Sunday. Fishing likely will start slow because only seven spring chinook had been counted at Bonneville Dam through Friday.
Yakima: The staff at Red's Fly Shop said anglers are hooking rainbow trout with skwala stonefly patterns on the surface. They recommend looking in shallower water for fish willing to hit dry flies. The river slowly has been rising this week.
Lakes
Bradley: Online reports indicate the fishing has been good at this small Puyallup lake. The fish seem to be holding close to the surface.
Chelan: The lower basin continues to be productive for lake trout weighing 2 to 7 pounds. The area above the Narrows has been inconsistent, but has been producing some fish more than 16 pounds.
Rufus Woods: The lake is producing some nice numbers of triploid rainbows. Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad's Family Guide Service says to troll woolly bugger flies. Or try casting spinners and spoons at shoreline points and structure.
Spanaway: The few boat anglers getting out are having luck fishing the south end with green Power Bait. Try giving it a little movement, said Bud Herlitzka at Spanaway Lake Boathouse. Dock fishing has been slow.
Washington: The fishing for cutthroat trout has been good when the weather allows anglers to get on the water.
Saltwater
Hood Canal: Anglers are catching some blackmouth, including some topping 20 pounds. The north end seems to be the best bet, although Bald Point has been producing some fish.
North Sound: The blackmouth action has been the most consistent around Whidbey Island in the Saratoga Passage. Point No Point has been inconsistent.
Sekiu: Water conditions have been mixed this week as storms roll through. The blackmouth fishing has been fair, said Donnalynn Olson at Olson's Resort.
Tacoma: The blackmouth fishing continues to be slow. Out of 17 anglers at the Point Defiance ramp Sunday, only one had a fish. Anglers report having trouble finding bait. The slag pile and Point Dalco have been producing some fish.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640
blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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