JEFFREY P. MAYOR; jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
Published: May 7th, 2008 01:00 AM
Not that it is unexpected, but adult spring chinook fishing has been slow in southwest Washington. Catch rates for boat anglers in the Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis, Wind, and Drano during the first week of May have been the lowest since at least 2001, according to a state report. Catch rates during this time of year can average up to a fish for every two rods, but the numbers have been much worse.
Shad anglers should take note. Joe Hymer, a state fish biologist, reported that the first shad of the year was counted at Bonneville Dam on Monday.
Lakes
Chelan: Try using Mack's Lures Kokanee Pro Wedding Rings behind a Hot Wings for kokanee. Bait each hook on the Kokanee Pro with a kernel or two of Pautzke's Fire Corn and troll at about 1.5 miles per hour from 12 to 35 feet deep over near Lakeside and Minneapolis Beach, said Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service. Lake trout fishing has been off and on.
Clear: The lake has been producing a mix of rainbow trout and kokanee. The kokanee seem to be holding deeper earlier in the day, according to one angler's report.
Drano: Boat anglers averaged an adult chinook either kept or released per every 8.6 rods. Bank anglers were catching some fish just inside the lake though it was slow outside on the Columbia side. Boat anglers were averaging an adult chinook per every three rods last year at this time.
Mineral: Trout fishing has improved in the last week. The bait of choice has been Power Bait eggs, and trolling a black woolly bugger about 3 to 4 feet below the surface was also productive. According to Bill Evans at Mineral Lake Resort, Rowen Toralba of Sumner landed an 111/2-pound, 29-inch rainbow fishing from the dock. He was using yellow Power Bait eggs.
Rufus Woods: Triploid rainbow trout have been hitting a black woolly bugger fished behind an action disk by Wiggle Fin. Jones said to vary your speed and zig zag often to produce fish weighing 2 to 5 pounds.
Spanaway: The trout fishing has been fair to good in recent days. Trolling with worms seems to be effective. Some anglers have been catching their limit.
Rivers
Columbia: The action above Bonneville Dam has been very slow. In The Dalles Pool, 272 anglers had landed 92 adult and two jack spring chinook and one steelhead. Including fish released, bank anglers averaged an adult chinook per every 2.8 rods while boat anglers averaged one per every 3.4 rods. As for sturgeon, boat anglers are catching some legals around the Vancouver area.
Cowlitz: Boat anglers averaged an adult spring chinook per every 23.5 rods while bank anglers averaged one per every 37 rods. Spring chinook and steelhead, both winter and summer runs, are scattered throughout the river.
Kalama: Boat anglers averaged an adult chinook per every 20.5 rods; fishing from the bank is slow. Last year at this time, boat anglers were averaging a fish per two rods. No spring chinook had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery through April.
Lewis: The North Fork has been more productive than the mainstem. North Fork boat anglers averaged an adult chinook per every seven rods. Boat anglers were averaging about one fish per two rods this time last year. Overall effort has been lighter than normal.
Yakima: The upper river is your best bet for trout, but the fishing has been a bit on the slow side. Below the Teanaway River, the Yakima is pretty much unfishable, at least for the next few days.
Saltwater
Strait of Juan de Fuca: Anglers are expected to have to battle some wind this week. The bottom and halibut fishing has been fair to good. The best action seems to be in the Port Angeles area.
Tacoma: Fishing for lingcod in the Narrows has been fair the past few days. Split tail jigs in shades of brown as well as sand dabs have been productive.
South Sound: Anglers have been catching some hatchery blackmouth south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The fish seem to be hugging the bottom and feeding on candlefish. Point Gibson, Fox Point, Ketron Island and Lyle Point are producing fish.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640
blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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Check & Clear 6
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