JEFFREY P. MAYOR; jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com Published: April 26th, 2008 01:00 AMIf you're not fishing your favorite lake at this moment, it's still not too late.
Sure, there was a line of boats at the ramps when the paper hit your doorstep.
Sure, there was a line of boats at the ramps when the paper hit your doorstep.
But even those eager anglers are not going to catch all the trout.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked 3.4 million catchable-sized 7- to 10-inch trout in lowland lakes this year. Plus another 76,000 larger trout. That's on top of the 21 million trout and kokanee landlocked sockeye salmon 2- to 3-inch-long fry planted during the spring and fall of 2007.
So, finish that cup of coffee and the paper, grab your gear and kids and go fishing.
Lakes
American: Anglers are catching a fair number of kokanee, even though they are not large. Try using maggots. You'll have to work to find the schools because some are near the surface and others are about 40 feet down. The trout fishing has also improved. Anglers are using light-colored Power Bait.
Bradley: Anglers have been having mix success recently. The action has not been consistent as it typically is this time of year.
Eastside: If you missed the opener, don't worry. About 20 lakes in northeastern Washington weren't stocked because they were still ice-covered or access roads were plugged with snow. So at some point, we'll have a second opener in some places. The lakes yet to receive spring plants of catchable-size trout include:
Stevens County: Elbow, Meadow, Peppoon, Summit.
Ferry County: Davis, Ferry, Long, Renner, Swan, Trout.
Pend Oreille County: Browns, Caldwell, Carl's, Little Lost, Muskegon, Mystic, Noname, Petit, Skookums, Yocum.
Harts: The fishing for triploid trout has been good in recent days, said Carol Parsons of Harts Lake Resort. Catfish also are being caught with worms and Power Bait.
Offut: The fishing for recently stocked trout has been very good in recent days. The trout fishing derby being run by Offut Lake Resort continues through Sunday.
Spanaway: Power Bait has been the most effective means of catching the recently stocked trout. If you're going to troll, keep your bait or lure within the top 5 feet of the water because the trout are still near the surface.
Washington: The cutthroat trout fishing is picking up again, although it has been fair at best. The central and south portions of the lake might be best. Look for fish about 20 feet down.
Saltwater
Fly fishing: Fishing for searun cutthroat trout has improved, as well as action for resident coho salmon. Try using small olive woolly buggers and small Clouser Minnows.
Neah Bay: The action has been very good since the area opened for lingcod. Anglers have been finding plenty of fish in water 60 feet deep or shallower.
North Sound: The blackmouth action has been winding down as we approach Wednesday's closure. The fish have been holding near the bottom in water about 100 feet deep. Halibut fishing has been better to the west.
South Sound: The best action has been off Fox Island.
Rivers
Cowlitz: The action has been best for steelhead in the past week. Anglers should try a single red corkie and yarn. The fishing for springers has been slow. Although on Sunday, Paul Peterson of Onalaska caught a 26-pound spring chinook near barrier dam using eggs.
Deschutes: The fly-fishing has been improving as fish are beginning to feed.
Kalama: Fishing has been slow, but a few springers have been caught at the lower end of the river and some nice steelhead have been caught in the canyon, said a Pritchards Western Angler staffer. Shrimp tails, prawns, shrimp jigs (purple and pink) and eggs have been effective.
Olympic Coast: Some steelhead are being caught in the Soleduck and a few springers have been caught in the Quillayute and Soleduck, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. There are not a lot of springers in the rivers, but they are starting to show in greater numbers.
Yakima: The fishing has been tough this week, but should be better with warmer temperatures and falling river flows this weekend.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640
blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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