RIVERS
Cowlitz: Steelhead action has been on the slow side. Try using one-eighth-ounce jigs in a light color. Drift your rig through the seams between the fast and slow water. With the colder water, also hit the slow water.
Humptulips: The action has slowed in the past week or so. People are still catching steelhead, some weighing up to 25 pounds. Bait under a bobber has been effective.
Olympic Coast: With rivers dropping back into shape, and no rain in the forecast, this might be a weekend to hit rivers such as the Hoh and Bogachiel. There have been a lot of people on the rivers, so make sure to be patient and friendly.
Skykomish: Steelhead fishing has been fair in the past few days in the Reiter Ponds stretch. People are using dark-colored jigs, sometimes tipped with shrimp.
Wynoochee: The river and others in the area were blown out late in the week but should be fishable by the weekend, although levels will be high. The Wynoochee fished really well for steelhead the last time the river came down, attracting huge crowds, but who knows what will happen this time.
Yakima: The river has fished a little better than typical thanks to some warmer days. The river level is rising, which might reduce visibility some, but it is still good fishing. San Juan worms fished along the inside of seams is a good method to start with right now.
SALT WATER
Beaches: A razor clam dig continues this weekend. Digging is not allowed on any beach before noon. The schedule and evening low tides are: today, 6:58 p.m., minus-1.5 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks; Sunday, 7:41 p.m., minus-1.2 feet, Twin Harbors; and Monday, 8:22 p.m., minus-0.6 feet, Twin Harbors.
North Sound: Creel sample reports and reports from guides say the best salmon action in Puget Sound has been around the San Juan Islands. Most people are trolling with a flashers, a leader measuring about 45 inches, and then a Silver Horde Spoon.
South Sound: The Anderson Island area is producing good catches of blackmouth. Most people are trolling flashers with a 20- to 22-inch leader to a UV coated Coyote Spoon, Silver Horde Spoon or Coho Killer. Squidding off local docks remains good to very good. The fishing for sea-run cutthroat trout has been good for gear and fly anglers. Try to find fish along a rocky shore at high tide. Remember, sea-runs must be released.
LAKES
Offut: The pressure has been very light, but a few trout are being caught. Trollers should go slow because the fish are moving slow in the cold water.
Spencer: The lake has been producing some catches of trout. Slowly troll a Wedding Ring tipped with a worm or a dark Woolly Bugger for rainbows, or small spoons along the lake edges for cutthroat. Bait anglers should keep their bait on the bottom. The fish are lethargic because of the cold water temperatures.
Contributors: Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse, washingtonlakes.com, Ron Adams at Verle’s Sports Center, state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Tom Pollack at Sportco, Joe Rottter at Red’s Fly Shop, Phil Stephens of Mystical Legends Guide Service, steelheaduniversity.com and Bob Pogue at Offut Lake Resort. Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
