Thanksgiving weekend can be a tough time to catch fish.
“It’s just that time of year when it is colder and people are doing other things and there isn’t as much daylight,” said Mike Chamberlain of Ted’s Sports Center in Lynnwood.
And when it comes to fishing the rivers, he said, “Everybody is packed into a few small areas.”
Still, there are some places where anglers might have some luck.
SALT WATER
Razor clams: A razor clam dig starts Monday evening at Twin Harbors beach, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced earlier this week. The dig is scheduled to last through Dec. 1.
The dig will expand to include Long Beach from Nov. 29-Dec. 1, and Copalis and Mocrocks on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Digging is allowed only after noon each day. All beaches close at midnight on Dec. 1
Dan Ayres of the WDFW recommends that diggers prepare for strong wind and rain. Low tide comes at 5:16 p.m. on Monday.
Tacoma: The staff at the Point Defiance Boathouse Marina reports fishing has been “very good” between storms for jiggers, moochers and trollers.
South Sound: Marine Area 13 (south of the Narrows Bridges) is a place where some are having luck catching crabs.
North Sound: Chamberlain suggests blackmouth fishing on the west side of Whidbey Island. An angler at his shop recently caught four steelhead in three days.
RIVERS
Cowlitz: The action is slow, but the WDFW reports some chinook, coho, steelhead and sea-run cutthroats have been caught between the hatcheries.
Kalama: Not many fish being caught here.
Klickitat: Bank anglers have had some luck on the lower river.
Lewis: Boat anglers on the north fork are catching chinook and coho.
Skagit: Cascade Creek area might be the best place to catch coho right now.
Skykomish: Try the Reiter Pond area for steelhead.
Toutle: Nov. 30 is the last day of hatchery steelhead fishing upstream from the 4100 bridge.
LAKES
American: Not many fishermen out of late.
Lacamas: This lake near Camas was planted with 9,600 rainbow trout on Nov. 14.
Potholes: Walleye fishing is good this week, according to Levi Meseberg of MarDon Resort. “Ripping blades, pitching jigs and pulling spinners are the ticket,” Meseberg said via email. Trolling needlefish and cranks on lead core or downriggers and still-fishing from the bank with worms and PowerBait is a good way to catch trout. Perch are biting, too. Duck and goose hunters are also doing well in the area, the resort reports.
Sammamish: You might have luck landing a cutthroat here.
Spanaway: Fly-fishermen are having some luck using chironomids, said Bud Herlitzka of the Spanaway Park Boat House. Cutthroats are biting on worm and bobber at the south end. On the west side, anglers are doing best trolling a Wedding Ring tipped with a worm.
Washington: Perch fishing reports have been excellent, but not many anglers have been on the water in recent days.
craig.hill@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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