LAKES
American: David Anderson of Bill’s Boathouse says action is slow and that dock anglers are fairing better than those in boats. Kokanee aren’t biting yet, but anglers using yellow or green power eggs with a long leader off the dock are catching rainbows. Worms have worked too, he said.
Washington: Cutthroat fishing continues to be good.
Stevens: Action is typically slow here in March, but some anglers are catching kokanee.
Chelan: Trolling near the trench is a great way to catch trout, said Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service. He recommends using Worden Lures U20 Flatfish in purple glow and Silver Horde’s Kingfisher Lite spoons.
Roses: The ice has melted off this Eastern Washington lake, and Jones said the rainbow trout fishing should be excellent. He recommends bank anglers use a slip sinker rig and Pautzke’s Firebait. Trollers should use Mack’s Lures and mini Cha Cha Squidders and Woolly Bugger flies with an action disk.
Rufus Woods: Fishing has been picking up of late.
Seep Lakes: Eastern Washington’s Seep Lakes near Potholes Reservoir are luring Western Washington anglers with promises of large fish and frequent bites.
RIVERS
Columbia: There are an increasing number of anglers finding success here, said Mike Chamberlain of Ted’s Sports Center in Lynnwood. “The Columbia is picking up,” he said. “It’s fairly consistent. Guys who put their time in are catching spring chinook.”
Chehalis: The action is starting to pick up.
Humptulips: Anglers have had some success here, but recent rain may have left Olympic Peninsula rivers in less than ideal shape.
Yakima: Anglers have found the fishing to be good here recently.
SALT WATER
South Sound: The staff at the Point Defiance Boathouse Marina reports that fishing in the Tacoma area has picked up in recent weeks. Try trolling Dalco on the incoming tide and the clay banks and slag pile on the outgoing tide.
North Sound: Blackmouth are biting, but high winds Tuesday kept many anglers off the water.
Razor clams: The next dig is tentatively scheduled for March 28-31 at Twin Harbors and March 29-30 at Long Beach, Copalis and Mocrocks.
SALMON QUOTAS
Anglers off the Washington coast this year are likely to see a reduced chinook catch quota and a coho quota on par with last year, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Monday.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council, which establishes Pacific coastal fishing seasons, anticipates fewer Columbia River hatchery chinook but an increase in hatchery coho.
“The abundance of lower Columbia River chinook is forecast to be down (by about 65,000 fish) from last year, but the expected return should be strong enough to allow for another quality chinook fishery in the ocean,” WDFW director Phil Anderson said in a prepared statement. “While a higher abundance (about 183,000 more than last year) of Columbia River hatchery coho is forecast this year, the quota will likely to be similar to 2012 because of the need to meet conservation objectives for naturally spawning stocks.”
The PFMC is expected to approve harvest guidelines in early April.
craig.hill@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure For more information on the council’s three options for the ocean recreational fishery, visit blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure.
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