RIVERS
Columbia: There were quite a few anglers prospecting for spring chinook in the lower river, including 16 boats and nearly 100 bank anglers counted during Saturday’s flight count. Sturgeon fishing has been on the slow side, with the best action in the Bonneville Pool.
Cowlitz: Fishing has been slow. A state creel check of six bank anglers showed they released two steelhead and one cutthroat. Last week, Tacoma Power recovered just 23 winter-run steelhead, eight coho adults and two jacks during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
Olympic Coast: Steelhead action has been fair, in terms of numbers of fish, but good in terms of the size of fish. Water levels are down and the water clear, so go with smaller gear.
Skookumchuck: The action has been very slow.
Washougal: A creel check showed 37 boat anglers kept two hatchery steelhead and released two hatchery and five wild steelhead. There were 51 bank anglers checked and they released one hatchery fish and four wild ones.
Wenatchee: Steelhead action has been fair to good, with most anglers hooking a fish each day. Jigs under a float, or a streamer swung through a long run have been producing hookups.
Yakima: Trout action has been decent, with most people hooking some large fish with small flies. Start with a red Zebra Midge fished along the bottom of the deeper holes.
LAKES
American: Rainbow trout fishing has been good, producing some limits. Yellow Power Eggs are still the go-to bait, with a garlic scent added.
Cady: Fly anglers are catching a few rainbows. Try slowly stripping in a Damselfly Nymph. There have been few people on the lake.
Spencer: Fishing has been on the slow side for trout. Fish are still holding in the deep water. Try dough baits fished closed to the bottom right now.
SALT WATER
Beaches: The next scheduled razor clam dig is set for Feb. 23-24. Only Long Beach and Twin Harbors will be open. The low tide will be at 5:12 p.m. Feb. 23 (plus-0.3 feet) and 5:47 p.m. Feb. 24 (plus-0.1 feet).
Fly-fishing: The action for sea-run cutthroat trout has been fair to good. Look for the fish holding near the mouth of a creek during a tidal change. The fish seem to be hitting squid patterns right now because the chum and pink salmon fry have yet to move out of the streams. Remember, sea-runs must be released.
Hood Canal: While not great by any means, there has been some decent blackmouth fishing in the Misery Point area of the central canal. State sampling Sunday showed 23 anglers brought in five fish.
North Sound: The hot fishing in the San Juan Islands continued during last weekend’s Roche Harbor Salmon Classic. A record 196 salmon were weighed during the two-day event. Pete Nelsen of Shaw Island won the $10,000 first prize with a 16.7-pound fish, edging Carter Whalen of Friday Harbor, who brought in a 16.4 pounder. Whalen earned $5,000 for second place. In third place, earning $3,000, was Brock Warin of Friday Harbor, who caught a 15.12-pound fish. Christian Thomas of Tacoma, 51/2 years old, was the youngest angler in the derby. He landed a 4.08-pound fish.
South Sound: The salmon action has been poor, at best. Just one fish was recorded by state samplers at local boat ramps over the weekend.
Contributors: State Department of Fish and Wildlife, gamefishin.com, Debbie Sandwith of Roche Harbor Market, washingtonlakes.com, Joe Rotter at Red’s Fly Shop, Jim Kerr of Rain Coast Guides, washingtonflyfishing.com. Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
