The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is holding four public meetings this month to discuss potential changes to Dungeness crab fisheries in Puget Sound.
The meetings, which will run 6-8 p.m., are scheduled for:
Wednesday: Edmonds Senior Center ballroom, 220 Railroad Ave., Edmonds.
Thursday: Mason County PUD No. 3 auditorium, 307 West Cota St., Shelton.
July 26: Skagit County PUD Aqua Room, 1415 Freeway Drive, Mount Vernon.
July 27: Point Hudson Marina, Marina Room, 375 Hudson St., Port Townsend.
The meetings are part of the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s review of existing management policy for Puget Sound Dungeness crab.
During the meetings, department staff will explain current management objectives of recreational and commercial crab fisheries, along with three alternatives for recreational fishing seasons beginning in 2011.
The alternatives are available at wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2010/06/ps_dungeness_alternatives.pdf.
RIVERS
Cedar: The fishing has been very good, said Anil Srivastava at Puget Sound Fly Co. On sunny days, plan on being at the river early. Use large stonefly nymphs, like a size 8 brown Speculator.
Columbia: On Tuesday, the Technical Advisory Committee updated the sockeye run to 398,000 fish at the Columbia River mouth, up from the previous update of 375,000 fish. The summer chinook run update remains at 75,000 fish at the mouth. Boat anglers in the Camas/Washougal area are still catching some shad.
Green: The cutthroat action remains hot, with an occasional steelhead caught, said a staffer at Auburn Sports and Marine.
Wynoochee: Fishing for summer-run steelhead has been hit and miss, said Ron Adams at Verle’s Sports Center. Try using floats and jigs or flies. The fishing has been best early in the morning because the fish are pretty spooky. Adams said the fish are coming in small waves and are moving upstream very fast.
Yakima: The fishing has been good to very good. Nymphing with flies like size 8 and 10 brown Pat’s stoneflies are effective early in the day. In the evening, look to switch to caddis dry flies, said a report from The Evening Hatch.
LAKES
Clear (Pierce): The kokanee fishing has been fair to good, based on online reports. Most people are trolling Wedding Rings with Gulp maggots.
Harts: The fishing has been fair for trout, but good for crappie, perch and bullhead catfish, said Carol Parsons at Harts Lake Resort. Crappie jigs and worms are working best.
Offut: These cooler days have helped the bite, said Becky Pogue at Offut Lake Resort. Power Bait and worms, or bait scented in shrimp or garlic oil are working well.
SALT WATER
Fly-fishing: There are lots of sea-run cutthroat trout action from area beaches. Try places such as Olalla and Purdy, or farther in the South Sound. Try brown and olive Shock and Awes.
Ilwaco: The fishing slowed just a bit last week, based on creel checks. Anglers averaged 1.05 salmon per trip, down from 1.34 the week before. Coho continue to dominate the catch.
North Coast: The fishing improved at La Push but dropped off at Neah Bay. Anglers averaged .70 salmon a person at La Push, but just .4 fish per person at Neah Bay, down from .58 last week. The catch was evenly split between coho and chinook.
Westport: Anglers averaged .89 salmon per rod last week, said a state report. Chinook fishing was much the same, with an average of .54 chinook per angler.
Jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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