FISHING REPORT

The forecasted return of coho to the Columbia River, released earlier this week, is 317,200 fish, well below the actual run in 2011. Since 1970, adult coho returns to the Columbia River have ranged from a low of 74,800 in 1995 to a high of 1,549,100 in 1986, said state fisheries biologist Joe Hymer.

The 2012 return, if accurate, would be 26.1 percent below the actual return of 429,700 coho in 2011. The 2011 forecast was for a run of 362,500 fish, Hymer said.

The early coho run usually enters the river from mid-August until mid-September, and is the sign of fishing prospects for the Buoy 10 fishery. The early run is set at 229,800, compared with the 2010 forecast of 216,000 fish and actual run of 288,500 fish.

The late run typically enters the river in October-November. The 2012 forecast is for 87,400 fish, compared to last year’s forecast of 146,500 and actual run of 141,200.

The meeting at which the state releases all the fall salmon forecasts will begin at 9 a.m. Feb. 28 in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Olympia.

RIVERS

Columbia: Sturgeon retention in the Bonneville Pool will close Feb. 18. Through Sunday, the kept catch is 831 shy of the guideline of 2,000 sturgeon. At a public meeting in December, Washington and Oregon were asked to save some of the catch guideline for a summer fishing period.

North Sound: A number of rivers will close to fishing after Wednesday because steelhead returns are low. The hatchery areas still open have been just fair at best, as the majority of the hatchery fish have come though, said Mike Chamberlain at Ted’s Sports Center. People putting in their time are managing to land a hatchery fish or two a day.

Olympic Coast: The Calawah and Sol Duc are in good shape, despite recent rain, and the Sol Duc has been fishing best, said Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods. The Bogachiel is a bit dirty. Most methods have been working, including bobbers and jigs and pulling plugs.

Wynoochee: The action isn’t red-hot, but the river is producing some steelhead. The section between the White Bridge and Black Creek launches has been the best stretch. Try drifting eggs to start with.

Yakima: Trout fishing has been fair to good. People are either swinging streamers such as sculpins or zonkers, or nymphing with stoneflies or San Juan worms, said a report from The Evening Hatch. Fishing has been best in the few hours after noon.

SALT WATER

Hood Canal: The best action has been at the north end of the canal, said Walt Harvey at Verle’s Sports Center. The action should improve as we move toward March, he said.

North Sound: Double Bluff and Possession Bar have been producing some blackmouth. People are having luck trolling spoons behind a flasher right off the bottom in water 100-150 feet deep, said Gary Krein of All-Star Fishing Charters. Jigging for smelt and herring has been fair to good at Cornet Bay and Oak Harbor, Chamberlain said.

South Sound: Salmon fishing has been fair at best. People are catching mostly shakers, said Tom Pollack at Sportco. He recommends using small lures such as a Coho Killer and fishing on tide changes.

LAKES

American: The pressure has been light in the last week, said David Anderson at Bill’s Boathouse. He expects the kokanee action to pick up as spring approaches.

Island: The lake has been producing some good catches of rainbow trout. People are trolling spoons or Mack flies, Harvey said.

Offut: People are catching mostly rainbow trout and a few cutthroat, said Becky Pogue at Offut Lake Resort. The fish have been measuring 12 inches and longer. Floating a worm with some dough bait has been the popular setup

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