Fishing report for April 8 | The News Tribune

LAKES

Alder: Kokanee anglers are hooking some fish, the trick has been landing them. Gold or brass spoons have been producing strikes.

American: Trout anglers are landing some rainbows. Try trolling with a green Wedding Ring-style lure about 25 feet down.

Offut: Trolling, fishing under a bobber or plunking your bait on the bottom all have been effective for trout, including some recently planted 5-pounders. Worms, spinners, Power Bait and shrimp soaked in anise oil all have been working.

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Potholes: The walleye fishing is improving as most fish are done spawning. The Frenchman Wasteway at Potholes State Park has been the hot spot, although an 11-pounder was caught in the Lind Coulee Arm. Goose Island has been the spot to hook smallmouth bass, while the sand dunes are producing largemouth bass up to 6 pounds.

Stevens: Kokanee anglers might want to make the trip here, as the fishing has been fair to good. Most of the fish are measuring 10-11 inches long. Troll slowly with typical blade/bead lures tipped with scented corn behind a dodger in the top 10 feet of water.

RIVERS

Columbia: The spring chinook fishery on the lower river closed Friday, a day earlier than expected. The closure also means no fishing for steelhead and shad in the 145 miles downstream of the Bonneville Dam. Fishing could reopen if the number of fish passing the dam reaches or exceeds preseason predictions.

Rocky Ford: The trout fishing in the creek has been fair. Scud and egg patterns have been leading to strikes.

Yakima: The river likely won’t be fishable for the next week as warm temperatures have started snowmelt and some of the dams have started releasing water. The river flow, measured at Untanum, was at 5,390 cubic feet per second and rising Friday morning.

SALT WATER

Clams: A razor clam dig continues on morning low tides through Tuesday. Here is the schedule: Saturday (April 9), 8:42 a.m., -1.3 feet, Long Beach and Copalis; Sunday, 9:32 a.m. -1.2 feet, Long Beach and Mocrocks; Monday, 10:23 a.m., -0.9 feet, Long Beach; and Tuesday, 11:19 a.m., -0.4 feet, Long Beach.

North Sound: Salmon fishing in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) will close Monday, four days sooner than scheduled, because the number of encounters (4,729) with chinook will have been reached.

Shrimp: The state announced the season details for shrimp in Puget Sound. In the South Sound, Area 11 (Tacoma) will be open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. May 14, Area 13 (Olympia) will be open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. May 14, 18, 21 and 31. Area 12 (Hood Canal) will be open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 14, 18, 28 and 30.

South Sound: The salmon fishing has been fairly consistent, even though the numbers aren’t large. People are hooking chinook in the Quartermaster Harbor area, the shelf between points Defiance and Dalco, and the clay banks. Fishing the incoming tide has been best lately. Trolling and mooching have been effective.

Westport: The bottom fishing remains very good when the weather and ocean conditions allow boats to get out. Many charter boats are reporting limits of ling cog and rockfish. Fish over the rock piles to the north of the harbor.