While an official update will be released April 3 on the Columbia River spring chinook fishery, there are some preliminary numbers. The fishery, which is scheduled to continue through April 5, is just getting underway in terms of catch. Seven percent of the expected catch is in hand, said Joe Hymer, state fishery biologist. Through March 17, an estimated 424 adult spring chinook were kept from nearly 21,000 angler trips. Expectations for the fishery include a kept catch of 6,100 adult springers from 63,500 angler trips.
River conditions are considered good, so catch rates should be improving as the run progresses, Hymer said.
LAKES
American: The lake is still producing catches of rainbow trout, it’s just not fishing quite as well as it has in the past couple of weeks. Try adding a shrimp to your hooked baited with Power Eggs.
Offut: People are catching a few trout, especially when the day warms up. PowerBait and a worm have been a good combo. People also are trolling with Wedding Rings or a Triple Teazers with a split shot.
Seep Lakes: Several lakes are producing limits of rainbow trout. Upper Goose has been the best producer with relatively quick limits in the 14-to-16-inch range. Blythe and Corral have produced occasional limits with some trout topping 18 inches. The best method has been still-fishing with bait.
Spanaway: Trout fishing has been good. Still-fishing in the south end with PowerBait for rainbow and worms and marshmallows for brown trout. The dock fishing has been good, with some people landing fish up to 4 pounds. Trolling with a Rapala also has been effective.
Spencer: The lake, as well as nearby Island Lake, have been fishing well. Everything seems to be working, from Pop Gear, PowerBait, worms, or trolling flies like Carey Special or Woolly Buggers.
RIVERS
Cowlitz: Steelhead fishing has been very slow, but the action should improve as the hatchery fish start to make their way upriver.
Olympic Coast: River levels rose during the week, but the rivers should be back to being fishable by late today or Sunday. With good weather in the forecast through next week, this might be the time to make a trip to the peninsula. The Sol Duc has been attracting the most attention in the past week.
Wynoochee: People are catching a mix of large wild and hatchery steelhead, just not in great numbers. Eggs or jigs fished under a float seems to be the most effective method these days. Some of the fish are weighing more than 25 pounds.
Yakima: Trout fishing has been hit and miss, as the weather and water conditions change almost daily. The strategy is to strip streamers through the rock piles, drift nymphs through the slow water slots and cast dry files or dry fly/dropper combos to the bank.
SALT WATER
North Sound: Blackmouth action has slowed around the San Juan Islands. Anglers are still catching some of the resident chinook, just not a lot of them nor are they very big. People are using small Silver Horde spoons behind a small flasher.
South Sound: Salmon fishing has been very slow. Most fish being caught are fairly small, but a few weighing up to 10 pounds are coming in.
Westport: Lingcod and rockfish action has been fair to good since the season opened earlier this month. A good number of lingcod weighing at least 20 pounds have been landed.
Contributors: Curt Reed at Waters West, Joe Rotter at Red’s Fly Shop, gamefishin.com, Mike Barr at Bill’s Boathouse, salmonuniversity.com, Tom Pollack at Sportco, Mike Meseberg at MarDon Resort, Bud Herlitzka at Spanaway Park Boathouse, Becky Pogue at Offut Lake Resort and Ron Adams at Verle’s Sports Center. Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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