The state is closing a portion of the Nisqually River to fishing beginning Sunday morning. Fishing will close at 12:01 a.m. Sunday from the mouth to the military tank crossing bridge located one mile upstream of the mouth of Muck Creek.
With spawning surveys and harvest information available to date, state Department of Fish and Wildlife managers are concerned the winter chum return is not as abundant as forecast and has the potential to fall short of the escapement goal. Given this information and the need to achieve shared conservation goals, both the department and the Nisqually Tribe are closing their respective fisheries for chum salmon. The river is already closed to the retention of wild steelhead.
RIVERS
Cascade: The river, from the Rockport-Cascade Road downstream to the mouth, is closed today through Jan. 31. The Marblemount Hatchery has been unable to collect enough returning hatchery winter-steelhead broodstock to meet egg-take needs. Closure of the fishery is necessary to collect sufficient fish to meet that need.
Cowlitz: Anglers are catching mostly steelhead. The best action has been around the trout hatchery. Under current river conditions, fish close to the brush with small gear.
Lewis: Anglers are catching steelhead and some fall chinook, primarily from the North Fork around the salmon hatchery. Most of the chinook were released.
Olympic Coast: Steelhead action has been pretty good with the rivers in really good shape. The Hoh has been fishing as well as any other river in the area. There is a bit of rain in the forecast, but not enough to hurt the fishing.
Skookumchuck: Fishing has been off and on, with some people reporting catching a few steelhead.
Yakima: Trout fishing has been fair, but the fish being caught are the larger rainbows. Look to run streamers through the slower water. Try using a Dali Lama or sculpin pattern in sizes 4-6, or a Pat’s stonefly nymph with a zebra midge as a dropper.
LAKES
American: Anglers are reporting catching some rainbow trout. Most people are fishing off the bottom with a dough bait or Power Eggs. Yellow seems to be the best color.
Chelan: Trolling for lake trout has been best near the deep water off the Yacht Club and the flat area below Wapato Point. Silver Horde’s Kingfisher Lite spoons in orange splatterback glow have worked well. Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidder with a piece of northern pikeminnow also is a good choice.
Munn: The action has really slowed down in the last few weeks. It should pick back up as temperatures warm.
SALT WATER
Central Sound: Salmon fishing has been fair to good in Marine Area 10. There has been good action on the west side, from Skiff Point down to Blakely Rock. Anglers are having to contend with some hungry sea lions when they hook a fish.
Fly-fishing: Beach action for resident coho has been good on both sides of the Tacoma Narrows. Boat anglers and kayakers are doing better because the fish seem to be holding out a little father from shore. People are succeeding with baitfish patterns, with all color variations working well.
South Sound: Salmon fishing in Marine Area 11 is closed, and the action in Marine Area 13 has been slow. Squid fishing remains very good. There were reports of good action in Steilacoom and from Tacoma docks.
Razor clam dig opens Tuesday
Fishery managers have approved the first razor clam dig of the year, starting Tuesday at Twin Harbors and expanding to include three other ocean beaches later in the week.
Digging is not allowed on any beach before noon.
The upcoming schedule and evening low tides:
Tuesday: 3:44 p.m., minus-0.2 feet, Twin Harbors
Wednesday: 4:38 p.m., minus-0.9 feet, Twin Harbors
Thursday: 5:27 p.m., minus-1.3 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis
Friday: 6:14 p.m., minus-1.6 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks
Jan. 12: 6:58 p.m., minus-1.5 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks
Jan. 13: 7:41 p.m., minus-1.2 feet, Twin Harbors
Jan. 14: 8:22 p.m., minus-0.6 feet, Twin Harbors
Contributors: Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service, state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Red’s Fly Shop, Tom Pollack at Sportco, Anil Srivastava at Puget Sound Fly Co., gamefishin.com and washingtonlakes.com. Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure Staff report
