SALT WATER
Beaches: The next razor clam dig will be open Friday-Sunday. No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon. The schedule for the upcoming dig and evening low tides is: Friday: 5:44 p.m., 0 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach; Saturday: 6:18 p.m., minus-0.2 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks; Sunday: 6:50 p.m., minus-0.2 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach.
Fly-fishing: Anglers are catching resident coho not only in the Tacoma Narrows, but also in Colvos and Hales passages, and even in Case Inlet. Look for jumping or fish breaking the surface. Baitfish and krill patterns have been best, including West’s Imitator, euphasids and pink/white Clousers.
South Sound: Salmon fishing south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge has been slow, in large part because of the less-than-ideal weather. Squid action has slowed down.
LAKES
American: Trout fishing was a bit slow over the weekend, although anglers reported seeing them hitting bugs at the surface.
Chelan: Anglers are catching fish in the deep water above the Yacht Club and in the indeterminate flat below Wapato Point. A Rushin’ Salmon Wobbler in purple glow worked well, as did a Silver Horde Kingfisher Lite spoon in orange splatterback glow. The key was to troll at .9-2.1 mph with your lures within 5 feet of the bottom.
Roses: Ice fishing on this lake near Manson has finally begun. People are using dough baits such as Pautzke’s Firebait in American Wildfire or sinking baits like Pautzke’s Balls O’ Fire or worms. The morning bite has been the best.
RIVERS
Columbia: In the Bonneville and John Day pools, sturgeon fishing has been fair, and walleye anglers are catching a few fish. Boat anglers experienced lots of action on sublegal sturgeon with a few keepers in the mix. A few steelhead are being caught in the John Day Pool.
Humptulips: Fishing has been on the slow side. The river was flowing at 894 cubic feet per second (cfs) Tuesday afternoon, well below the typical 2,010 cfs for that day.
Green: The river is producing some rainbow trout, especially in the stretch around Flaming Geyser State Park. Overall, the action is slow.
Olympic Coast: Despite tough conditions, anglers are catching some steelhead. The action should pick up if the rain in the forecast for the rest of the week comes true. The Sol Duc and Hoh will be the best options.
Skykomish: The Reiter Ponds continues to produce some steelhead, just not in great numbers. White jigs fished under a bobber through the seams between fast and slow water are working. Nickle Dick Nite spoons also are producing catches of rainbow trout.
Yakima: The river is fishable after temperatures have warmed, meaning there is no ice flowing downstream. The best fishing has been from 1-4 p.m. as the day warms. People are having the best luck fishing nymphs like a brown Pat’s stonefly or streamers like a Sculpzilla.
Contributors: Blake Merwin at Gig Harbor Fly Shop, state Department of Fish and Wildlife, washingtonlakes.com, Art Tachell at Point Defiance Boathouse, Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service, Curt Reed at Waters West and Red’s Fly Shop. Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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