FISHING REPORT

As expected, the harvest level of white sturgeon below Bonneville Dam has been cut for the third straight year. The fish and wildlife directors from Washington and Oregon last week agreed to what will be a 38 percent reduction.

Under the agreement, the total allowable harvest will be reduced from 22.5 percent of the “legal-size” fish to 16 percent this year.

The new harvest rate puts the combined catch by sport and commercial fisheries at 9,600 sturgeon measuring 38-54 inches long. Last year’s guideline was 15,640 fish, although only 14,488 were actually harvested.

This year’s agreement follows a 30 percent reduction in 2011 and a 40 percent reduction the previous year.

RIVERS

Cowlitz: Steelhead fishing has been fair to good but inconsistent. The best location has been in the Blue Creek area. People fishing from boats are running divers with bait, side-drifting eggs or plugs, said Marshall Borsom at Fish Country. Bank anglers are using bobber and jig, corky and yarn with sand shrimp tail or worm and red bead for the cutthroat trout.

Green: People are catching some steelhead, but the action is far from great. Online reports indicate that people are having luck with plugs and spoons.

Lewis: The East Fork is producing some steelhead, a mix of wild and hatchery fish.

Olympic Coast: The rivers here remain one of the best options for steelhead. The upper Hoh and the rivers in the Quillayute system are producing some decent catches, said Curt Reed at Waters West.

Puyallup: Don’t forget, the river is closed by emergency order.

Rocky Ford: If you want to hook a rainbow trout, head to this high-desert stream. Fishing has been very good, and there are few other anglers, said a staffer at Red’s Fly Shop.

Skookumchuck: Fishing has been very slow in the past few days.

Skykomish: Numbers are starting to wane, especially compared with two weeks ago. Fishing has been fair in recent days.

Wynoochee: Although the water has been in good condition, steelhead action has been slow to fair. People are hooking a few fish, mainly drifting eggs or pulling plugs.

Yakima: There still is some ice floating downstream.

LAKES

Chelan: Those looking to hook a lake trout should fish the deep water on either side of the Narrows near the Chelan Yacht Club, said Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service. He said most fish have been biting from 260 to 340 feet deep.

Riffe: The lake has been producing some decent numbers of silvers. People are fishing mostly with bobber and shrimp, worm or corn, Borsom said.

Roses: For anglers looking for an ice-fishing option, this Chelan County lake froze over with safe ice in the last week. Most anglers are dangling dough baits through the ice. Jones said the takes are subtle, so use light gear.

Rufus Woods: Fishing with Fire Bait near the lower pens has been very good. Atomic Garlic has been effective, Jones said. They also have been able to get the triploid rainbow trout to hit jigs.

SALT WATER

Fly-fishing: The Tacoma Narrows, south of the bridge, has been fairly productive. Use smaller euphausid and amphipod patterns.

North Sound: Since Marine Area 9 opened, there have been no reports from people heading out, because of the weather, said Mike Chamberlain at Ted’s Sports Center.

Tacoma: The weather has kept most people off the water south of the Narrows bridge, said Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse. People are catching some fish in Marine Area 10, north of Vashon Island.

Jeffrey P. Mayor, staff writer: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure