SALT WATER
Beaches: The next razor clam dig has been approved. The dates, low tide times and locations are: Friday, 6:42 p.m., minus-0.3 feet, Twin Harbors; Dec. 29, 7:15 p.m., minus-0.3 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach and Mocrocks; Dec. 30, 7:47 p.m., minus-0.2 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mocrocks and Copalis; Dec. 31, 8:20 p.m., 0 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mocrocks and Copalis.
Fly-fishing: The action has been good when the weather has allowed. Resident coho are still hitting baitfish patterns but also are switching over to euphausiids. A light pink or white euphausiids fly about one-quarter-inch long is working best.
South Sound: Salmon fishing has been very slow, in large part because of the weather. Also, squid anglers will be happy to hear that the piers in Redondo and Des Moines have reopened after being damaged during the storms.
LAKES
Cady: Trout fishing has been good, according to several reports. People are having success using white rabbit strip leeches in sizes 6 or 8.
Kitsap: This lake has been producing some good catches of rainbow trout, some measuring up to 16 inches long. Try trolling a red Wedding Ring tipped with maggots.
Munn: Fishing has been good for trout. Size 14 or 16 snow cone chironomid patterns are working well here. Remember, this lake is catch and release.
Offut: Anglers are still catching plenty of trout. Fishing off the dock with PowerBait has been working the best; trolling has been ineffective. The fish are nice sizes, with some measuring up to 20 inches in length.
Potholes: The reservoir remains ice-free, but the fishing pressure has been very light.
RIVERS
Cowlitz: Although the water is high, people are catching some steelhead. Lots of people are fishing around Blue Creek. Fishing bobbers with pink jigs or bait close to the bank is effective right now. Boating anglers will do better side-drifting with bait or using divers and plugs.
Green: Steelhead fishing has been decent in the upper river, at and above Flaming Geyser State Park. Small jigs will work best when the water is clear, or using eggs under a float.
Nisqually: A few people are catching chum, but the action has been off and on as the schools move up river. Try twitching jigs in one-half and five-eighths ounces in an eddy or the slow water of a seam, or eggs or cured prawns under a bobber.
Olympic Coast: Steelhead action is starting to pick up in recent days. River levels are dropping to normal for this time of year, which should improve the opportunities to catch fish.
North Sound: Steelhead action has been fairly consistent in the upper river, especially in the Marblemount-Rockport stretch. People are having success side-drifting eggs. The Snoqualmie River has been fishing well. Also, Tokul Creek has opened early for steelhead fishing.
Wynoochee: Steelhead are starting to make their way upriver, and the action has been fair. Try using yarn balls with eggs or pulling small plugs in purple and pink. There also are reports of B-run coho being caught.
Contributors: Tom Pollack at Sportco, Mike Meseberg at MarDon Resort, washingtonlakes.com, Bruce Warren of Fishing for fun Guide Service, Joe Princen of JP’s Guide Service, state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Anil Srivastava at Puget Sound Fly Co., Becky Pogue at Offut Lake Resort and Kris Jellesed Auburn Sports and Marine. Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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