The best pink salmon action seems to be in the rivers, especially the Puyallup. Lake anglers are catching plenty of panfish and bass, but trout fishing is still on the slow side.
LAKES
American: The lake is still producing limits of kokanee. The fish aren’t long, but they are as thick “as footballs,” one angler said.
Offut: Trout fishing is still slow because of the warm water temperatures, said Becky Pogue at Offut Lake Resort. The best fishing is for bass, bluegill and perch. Most people are using night crawlers.
Silver: The trout bite is back on, it seems, said Amy Kenney at Henley’s Silver Lake Resort. The action for catfish, crappie and largemouth bass has been good. White marshmallows and PowerBait are working for trout, and worms for everything else.
Spanaway: Still-fish the southern end using a worm with marshmallow or Power Nugget. The best bite has been before noon, said Bud Herlitzka at Spanaway Park Boathouse. Fly anglers using chironomid patterns fished deep are catching rainbow and brown trout.
Tanwax: Anglers are catching plenty of bass using plastic worms, and crappie on micro jigs tipped with maggots, said a staffer at Rainbow RV Resort. Trout fishing is still slow.
Ward: The lake is producing some good catches of kokanee and some rainbow trout. One angler online said he was using a nickel/brass dodger.
RIVERS
Duwamish: The fishing has been off and on, as schools of pinks head upstream. Only the lower river, at the Interstate 405 bridge, is open right now. The stretch upstream to the South 277th Street bridge opens Thursday.
Nisqually: Reports have been mixed, with anglers catching some pinks most days. They’re also hooking a few chinook.
Puyallup: The best action has been in the lower river, with pinks eagerly hitting corky-and-yarn rigs. Reports from the upper river indicate that few fish have made it that far. Remember: The river downstream of the Puyallup outfall structure will be closed to recreational fishing Sunday and Monday. This will put more anglers in confined areas, so be patient. Also, be sure to pick up your trash.
Skokomish: The river is full of fish and people as well, said Walt Harvey at Verle’s Sports Center. Most people are using black corkies and yarn or eggs fished under a bobber for the chinook.
Yakima: The stretch around Ellensburg is offering cleaner water and fewer inner tubers, while the lower canyon is producing larger fish, said a staffer at Red’s Fly Shop. Because flows are hovering around 4,000 cfs, the fish are tight to the bank. That makes hoppers the best approach to start with.
SALT WATER
Coast: Anglers must release any chinook caught in Marine Areas 1-4 beginning Monday. The recreational catch is close to the guideline. See details in Sunday’s Adventure section.
Hood Canal: Chinook fishing has been off and on. People are jigging with Point Wilson Darts or trolling herring for chinook. A few coho and pinks are being caught as well, Harvey said.
Sekiu: More and more coho are being caught. Kyle Wagoner of Kyle’s Outdoor Adventure Guide Service reports that the fish are being caught in deeper water than usual, but they are only about 60 feet down.
Tacoma: The Redondo area still seems to be best for pinks. Bruce Warren of Fishing for Fun Guide Service said to be on the water early because the bite tails off after 8 a.m. He has been using pink Buzz Bombs with a hoochie skirt. Closer to Tacoma, the fishing has been fair to good, said Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse. Look for fish in water 10-30 feet deep early and then moving down to 40 feet midday. The Gig Harbor shoreline and clay banks are producing a few chinook.
Jeffrey P. Mayor, staff writer
