Fishing for steelhead and other game fish will close early in several river systems in Puget Sound and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca to protect wild steelhead. The early closures will affect the Puyallup, Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish and Snohomish systems, along with several streams along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday.
Most river systems will close Feb. 1. The Puyallup River system will close Jan. 16, and some waters near state fish hatcheries are scheduled to close Feb. 16.
The Puyallup closure involves the White River from the mouth to the R Street Bridge in Auburn, the Carbon River from the mouth to the state Route 162 Bridge, and the upper Puyallup from the mouth of the Carbon River upstream.
Preseason estimates developed by the state last fall indicate that wild steelhead will return to those watersheds in numbers far short of target levels, said Bob Leland, steelhead program manager.
RIVERS
Columbia: Few people have been seen sturgeon fishing from the Wauna power lines to Bonneville Dam. As a result, few fish are being caught.
Cowlitz: The action has been fair to good. A state report on last week’s activity said 112 bank anglers kept 46 steelhead and released four, while 110 bank anglers kept 29 steelhead and released six, plus one unmarked coho. The steelhead were sampled from the trout hatchery area.
Olympic Coast: The rivers are dropping back into shape. The Calawah might be a good option this weekend because the Hoh is still a little high.
Satsop: Before river levels rose drastically Wednesday night, the river was producing some steelhead. On Friday morning, flows were approaching normal levels.
Skykomish: The river is still producing some limits of steelhead, but it’s also attracting a lot of anglers. People are having luck drifting eggs.
Tilton: Tacoma Power employees last week released 192 coho adults, five jacks, one winter-run steelhead and one cutthroat trout into the river at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.
Wynoochee: As the river drops back into shape, the fishing should be fair, said Phil Stephens of Mystical Legends Guide Service. The fish are spread throughout the river.
Yakima: Fly anglers are having some success swinging flies on a sink-tip line. A yellow Sculpzilla has been productive in recent days, said a staffer at Red’s Fly Shop.
LAKES
Offut: Fishing has been fair to good, said a staffer at Offut Lake Resort. The lake was recently planted with jumbo rainbow trout and some 2- to 3-year-old cutthroat trout. Try dough bait with a worm fished off the bottom.
Potholes: People trolling Medicare Beach are catching rainbow trout, some weighing up to 4 pounds. They are using Baby Hot Lips and Needlefish, said Annie Meseberg at MarDon Resort. Walleye action has slowed.
SALT WATER
Fly-fishing: Beaches at Purdy and Olalla are good choices this time of year, said Blake Merwin at Gig Harbor Fly Shop. The closer the beach is to an estuary, the better. Most fish are feeding on amphipods and euphausids, so switch to small flies fished very slow.
South Sound: Salmon fishing south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge has been fair at best. Jigging for squid from local docks has been spotty.
Jeffrey P. Mayor, staff writer jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.