Clam diggers will get the chance to dig for razor clams during the school winter break with an opening Thursday and Friday at four ocean beaches.

Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches will be open for an evening dig. The low tides during the dig will be at 4:40 p.m. Thursday and at 5:29 p.m. Friday. No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon. Diggers should hit the beach one to two hours before evening low tide for best results.

Kalaloch Beach will remain closed until April because of too few clams.

State Fish and Wildlife biologist Dan Ayres said the department would announce tentative openings for early 2012 at the other four beaches in early January.

RIVERS

Cowlitz: Back-trolling plugs or side-drifting is working well for steelhead.

Nisqually: Fishing for chum has been great one day, nearly dead the next.

North Sound: People are catching some steelhead in the Skagit and Skykomish, but the action has been slowed by low, clear water conditions. Try small leaders and jigs.

Olympic Coast: The steelhead action has slowed because river levels are low and the water is clear. Use small jigs and bait, as well as lighter line and leaders so you don’t spook the fish.

Satsop: Fishing has been very slow, with only a few chum and a rare dark coho being caught.

SALT WATER

North Sound: Some of the most consistent fishing has been for steelhead from the beaches on the west side of Whidbey Island, said Mike Chamberlain at Ted’s Sports Center. Coho Killers have been working for blackmouth off Hat Island. Look for fish in water 150 feet deep.

Tacoma: Salmon fishing has been slow for boaters and anglers using local piers. People have been catching a good number of shakers but few legal-size fish. Crabbing remains very good. People are setting their pots from 35-150 feet deep, said Tom Pollack at Sportco. The size of the crabs has been consistently large, he said.

LAKES

Chelan: Fish the south shore of the trench for good numbers of eating-size lake trout, said Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service. This time of year it’s a good idea to fish around the yacht club for kokanee.

Offut: The lake was planted last week with 3-year-old cutthroat trout, said Becky Pogue at Offut Lake Resort. People also are catching rainbow trout. Night crawlers have been the best bait.

Rufus Woods: While the fishing has not been consistently great, people are catching fish. Trolling and casting artificials has usually been difficult, while bait fishing and jig fishing near the lower pens has been productive, Jones said. He reminded anglers to use enough weight to get the bait down against the current. He suggested using a good-sized chunk of green Pautzke’s Fire Bait on a No. 6 single hook with a 4-foot leader.

Spanaway: Fly-fishing is the way to go right now, said Bud Herlitzka at Spanaway Park Boathouse. People catching lots of brown trout on the north end and near the swimming area using a chironomid or dark leech under a bobber. Dock fishing has been slow.

Washington: Look for cutthroat trout holding close to the bottom in water about 50 feet deep, Pollack said.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com