Rivers offer the best option; it will just depend on what shape they are in. Rains on the coast are expected to blow out the Olympic Peninsula rivers by today. Trout anglers might want to consider a trip to the Yakima.
RIVERS
Cowlitz: The water levels have been fluctuating quite a bit, making the catching hit-and-miss, said Marshall Borsom at Fish Country. A number of good-size steelhead are being caught, mostly from the Blue Creek area. Boaters are using divers with coon shrimp, side-drifting eggs or using yarn balls with one or two eggs. Bank anglers are using pretty much anything to get a bite, including sand shrimp, corky and yarn, jig and bobber, worms with red beads, and spoons.
Green: The river is in good shape for plunking for some bright chum and steelhead, said Leroy Jones at Auburn Sports Center. If we get the rain that is forecast, the river could be blown out.
North Sound: The Reiter Ponds area of the Skykomish has been a good spot through the holiday weekend. Most anglers are catching their two-fish limit, said Mike Chamberlain of Ted’s Sports Center. The good action should continue as the river continues to drop with the cooling weather and little rain. Just expect a lot of other anglers. The Cascade River was producing some steelhead, despite low and clear water conditions.
Olympic Coast: Heavy rains Tuesday will likely make the rivers unfishable, said Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods. The steelhead fishing has been very good prior to that.
Wynoochee: A few people were trying their luck on the lower river, as well as the Satsop, said Walt Harvey at Verle’s Sports Center. The rivers rose a bit, but water levels were on their way down Tuesday morning. The Satsop was muddy, however.
Yakima: Some mild temperatures are helping the trout fishing. Anglers should concentrate on the sweeping insides of bends while the river is dropping, said a staffer at Red’s Fly Shop. San Juan worms are effective, as are streamers early in the day.
LAKES
American: The lake is producing plenty of yellow perch. Look for them in water 60-70 feet deep, said an online report. People also are catching some smallmouth bass.
Chelan: Fish the deep water on either side of the Narrows near the Yacht Club, said Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service. Most fish have been biting in water 260-340 feet deep. He said to watch your trolling speed, staying between 1.3-1.6 mph. Anglers have been using a T4 purple glow Flatfish or Cha Cha Squidders in glow colors.
Mayfield: Fishing for trout has been OK, mainly around the hatchery. People are having luck with green dough baits and worms.
Munn: Fishing chironomids on a floating line is producing some good catches of trout.
Potholes: Some good walleye fishing is taking place in the Goose Island area as well Lind Coulee Arm and the humps between Goose Island and Frenchman’s Wasteway. Most people are using blade baits and/or 6-inch Swim Jigs, said Mike Meseberg at MarDon Resort.
Rufus Woods: Head for the lower net pens and fish with bait. Jones said they have been using some of the new Pautzke’s dough baits, including Mallow Balls O’ Fire, Atomic Garlic and Garlic Wildfire. He recommends using leaders that are 4-6 feet long. Jigs also are working.
SALTWATER
South Sound: Fishing either side of the Sound south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge has been good for resident coho, said Anil Srivastava at Puget Sound Fly Co. Try places such as Narrows and Titlow parks, and use chartreuse baitfish or euphasid patterns.
Jeffrey P. Mayor, staff writer jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
TENTATIVE DATES FOR RAZOR CLAM DIGS
State shellfish managers have set tentative dates for razor clam digs later this month and in February. The first digs of 2012 will take place if marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.
The scheduled openings are:
Jan. 20: 4:28 p.m. (-0.5 feet); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks.
Jan. 21: 5:17 p.m. (-0.8 feet); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks.
Feb.18: 4:13 p.m. (0.0 feet) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks.
Feb.19: 5 p.m. (-0.2 feet) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks.
No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon. Kalaloch Beach is closed until April due to low numbers of razor clams. The National Park Service has announced plans to open Kalaloch for a razor clam dig April 7-9.
Jeffrey P. Mayor, staff writer
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