The forecasted return of coho to the Columbia River, released earlier this week, is 317,200 fish, well below the actual run in 2011. Since 1970, adult coho returns to the Columbia River have ranged from a low of 74,800 in 1995 to a high of 1,549,100 in 1986, said state fisheries biologist Joe Hymer.
Lake Tapps angler Brian Dennis brought home the $4,000 second prize in last weekend’s Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational. Dennis was the leader after the first day with his 16.2-pound chinook.
The first chinook of the season have gone through Bonneville Dam, but fish biologists aren’t sure if they are springers.
People eager to get out and fish this weekend might be better off heading for a river. Timing your trip will be important. River levels might be on the high side this weekend, but there is more rain in the forecast for Sunday. So today might be the best bet before river levels start to rise again.
Just as rivers return to shape and the roads are cleared, a series of storms is headed this way. The Olympic Coast has been experiencing high winds and has lots of rain in the forecast. The Skykomish remains a good option for now. Reports from local lakes have been nonexistent.
As expected, the harvest level of white sturgeon below Bonneville Dam has been cut for the third straight year. The fish and wildlife directors from Washington and Oregon last week agreed to what will be a 38 percent reduction.
The best fishing seems to require a drive these days, at least for folks hoping to tangle with a steelhead. The Skykomish and the Forks-area rivers are the best bet right now. River levels have dropped and visibility is very good, requiring anglers to go with smaller gear.
River fishing seems to have improved as water levels have dropped after last week’s rains. The Olympic Coast is a good bet for the weekend, while the Cowlitz and Green are good options closer to South Sound.
Fishing for steelhead and other game fish will close early in several river systems in Puget Sound and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca to protect wild steelhead. The early closures will affect the Puyallup, Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish and Snohomish systems, along with several streams along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday.
Rivers offer the best option; it will just depend on what shape they are in. Rains on the coast are expected to blow out the Olympic Peninsula rivers by today. Trout anglers might want to consider a trip to the Yakima.
This is the final week to go crabbing in South Sound. The region closes at sunset Saturday. Puget Sound will be closed to crabbing until summer.
Odds are you won’t spend much time fishing over Christmas weekend. But if you can sneak away for a few hours, there is a clear-cut place to try for steelhead.
Clam diggers will get the chance to dig for razor clams during the school winter break with an opening Thursday and Friday at four ocean beaches.
Rivers and streams are the best option right now. The Satsop has been productive in recent days, and Minter Creek continues to attract lots of people eager to hook a chum salmon. Lake fishing for trout has been hit and miss, in large part because of the cold weather.
Fishing for chum salmon seems to be getting the most attention from anglers right now. For steelhead, the Olympic Peninsula is the best option. Fishing in area lakes has been very slow because of the cold weather and few people heading out.
QUICK LINKS
AROUND THE WORLD
Take a travel picture with you & The News Tribune and upload it to our interactive map. It's a great guide to the exotic places readers have taken their newspaper.
• Around the World with The News Tribune
• Have other travel or vacation photos to show off? Upload them here.
BLOGS
SNOW REPORTS
Snow report provided by OnTheSnow. The snow report widget is most likely not displaying because you have JavaScript disabled. To see the Ski Report for every ski area in the world visit OnTheSnow or click on these popular regions:
TRAVEL VIDEOS
SPECIAL PROJECTS
OUTDOORS LINKS
YOU POST IT
Publish your own news or photographs on our Web site.
Have you been to the top?To mark the start of this climbing season, we’d like to see your best summit shots. Click here to submit your photos for others to see. We might publish our favorites in the newspaper.
Fishing Photo Gallery
Upload your fishing photos here. Be sure to include when, where and how you landed the big one.
MOST POPULAR
- Lakewood officer charged with skimming charity fund had history of debt issues
- Adele top Grammy winner as Houston mourned
- Same-sex union fight readied
- Traffic Q&A: Why do cops ask if I know how fast I was driving?
- Hundreds gather in vigil for missing woman
The News Tribune had 72,010 visitors yesterday
South Sound Career Builder .com
VIEW ALL »
- Automotive
- Swing shift mechanic for heavy duty truck fleet, tools a must, P
Anonymous Business - Customer Service
- Do You Eat Doritos?Do You Slam Mountain Dew? Up to $2340 monthly
Anonymous Business - Healthcare
- Care Givers Needed For Seniors & People With Disabilities Starti
Anonymous Business
South Sound Cars .com
VIEW ALL »
Presented By
Good Chevrolet
2011 Cadillac SRX Luxury Collection
Silver color, 21,583 miles
$34,987.00
South Sound Homes .com
VIEW ALL »
Homes By
Windermere Real Estate
ONE OF A KIND!
Beautiful Inside & Out! 1 acre overlooks canyon, close to Chambers Bay Golf.
South Sound Rentals .com
VIEW ALL »
Where quality and comfort meet!
Conveniently located at the corner of 27th & Grandview Drive in University Place. Enjoy such amenities as our swimming pool
TribBits
- GridIron Hits 2011/12 - Football Picks
- Local prizes sponsored by Korum Puyallup Nissan
- Subscribe to The News Tribune
- Click Here to Subscribe