Westport, Ilwaco salmon fishing open every day

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published September 7, 2001

Salmon anglers can now fish for kings and silvers seven days a week in waters off the coast of Westport and Ilwaco.

A salmon season where easy limits have become routine is expected to last until the end of September.

Silvers up to 20 pounds and kings averaging more than 20 pounds are being caught.

Tuna fishing is in high gear at Westport, too.

The fish have moved within 50 miles of shore and good numbers of tuna are being caught, said Larry Giese of Deep Sea Charters. A 37-pound tuna was the derby winner last week.

No tuna trips are being scheduled out of Ilwaco, according to a spokesperson at Pacific Salmon Charters.

- TACOMA: Fishing has been fair, said Art Tachell of Point Defiance Boathouse & Marina. Most of the fish caught have been silver salmon.

The mouth of the Puyallup River has attracted the most fishers, but the Gig Harbor shoreline has received a lot of attention, too.

Trolling has been more productive than mooching. Silver salmon are hitting at depths of 90 to 150 feet.

- SOUTH SOUND: Anglers jigging are luring a few kings at the mouth of McAllister Creek and at the Green Can marker. The area near the mouth of the Nisqually River has produced a few fish.

- BUOY 10: Fishing has been outstanding, said Luke Miller of Ed's Bait and Tackle in Ilwaco. The best results are on the incoming tide and no more than 30 feet deep. Herring continues to be the top bait.

Buoy 10 boat fishers have averaged 3.22 fish per rod, while bank anglers have averaged 1.75 fish per rod. The average weight of fish has been 16 pounds.

Rivers

- COLUMBIA: Fishing has been somewhat slow, said Joe Hymer of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office.

Boat anglers averaged one adult chinook per eight rods while bank fishers averaged one per 26 rods. Some hatchery coho and steelhead have been caught, too.

The heaviest angler effort has been near the mouth of the Lewis River and in the Camas/Washougal area.

Near Longview, some nice kings and silvers have been caught, said Roger Smith of Cowlitz/Columbia Guide Service.

- CHEHALIS: Fishing has been good, said Ray Dean of Monte Square Food Mart in Montesano.

The kings have weighed from 18 to 34 pounds and been nicely colored, Dean said. The majority of fishers are using herring and flashers.

- KALAMA: A few hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead are being taken. The river is clear and low.

- COWLITZ: Fishing has been fair, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground.

Action has slowed at Blue Creek, but anglers are hooking into lots of kings at the barrier. Those salmon must be released.

Silvers are being seen at the lower end of the river.

- PUYALLUP: Fishing has been decent. Kings have been reported at the upper end of the river.

- NISQUALLY: Salmon fishing continues to be on the slow side.

- SOL DUC: Lots of silvers are in the river, but getting the fish to bite has been a problem, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks.

The fish are real spooky because of low water conditions. Fishing in the early mornings using a light line with spinners has been best.

- SKOKOMISH: Fishing continues to be good below the Highway 101 Bridge, said a spokesperson at Verle's Sports in Shelton.

- Note: Skate Creek, just outside the southwest border of Mount Rainier National Park, recently was stocked with 1,200 rainbow trout each weighing up to one-half pound.

The Tilton River also has been stocked with 2,000 rainbows.

Lakes

- THURSTON COUNTY: Anglers fishing deep at Offut Lake are catching perch and trout.

Kokanee continue to bite at Summit Lake, said lake resident Floyd Japhet. The fish have been hitting spinners trolled at about 85 feet. Four ounces of lead are recommended.

- PIERCE COUNTY: Boaters trolling spoons at American Lake have done well, said a spokesperson at Bill's Boathouse. Kokanee up to 12 inches long have been caught on Wedding Ring/maggot combinations. The north end of Silcox Island and the area near the Veteran's Hospital have been the most productive spots.

Fishing has been a little slow at Spanaway Lake, although some limits of trout are being taken at the east end of the lake by boaters still-fishing. Green PowerBait has worked best, said Bud Herlitzka of Spanaway Boathouse. Rock bass and perch have been hitting worms along the shore.

Bank fishing continues to be slow.

The water level is down at Alder Lake and fishing has been slow, said a spokesperson at Alder Parks Store.

- LEWIS COUNTY: Angler effort and catches have been down at Riffe Lake. Boaters at Mayfield Lake averaged two rainbows per rod last week.

Fly fishing

- SALTWATER: Good numbers of chinook and increasing numbers of coho are being caught on flies by anglers fishing around the Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, said Tom Bolender of the Streamside Anglers store in Tumwater. Large No. 3 and 4 Deceivers and Clouser minnows have been good.

- SOUTH SOUND: Cutthroat fishing has been outstanding. Small Clouser minnows and Woolhead Sculpins have been effective.

- RIVERS: The Quilcene River is packed with chum and coho salmon. Bright leech patterns and Kalama Bees have been the most productive flies.

The Deschutes and Tilton rivers have returned to lower flows, but fair numbers of fish have been pushed in by recent rains and improved angling. Elk hair Caddis, Stimulator and Hopper patterns are all working well.

- LAKES: With water temperatures beginning to cool, fishing is improving. Try Cady, Price and Melbourne lakes.

Bob Brown is a correspondent for The Olympian. He can be reached at 754-5432.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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