Salmon fishers find rivers to their liking

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published September 21, 2001

Southwest Washington rivers have been providing excellent fishing as record numbers of returning salmon continue to inundate river systems.

Anglers landed quite a few chinook salmon last week in the North Fork of the Toutle River and the Green River, although the fish had to be released, said Joe Hymer of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office. A few hatchery coho also were caught.

Gary Brault of the Toutle River Fly Shop said a nice run of late summer-run steelhead is in and hitting egg-sucking leeches and orange cone heads.

- LEWIS: Anglers averaged about one-half hatchery coho per rod last week. Some chinook and hatchery summer-run steelhead also were caught.

Bank angling effort has been heavy around the salmon hatchery.

A hatchery spokesperson said the trap was opened for one day and more than 10,000 hatchery coho were counted.

The fish are starting to get dark.

Flows below Merlin Dam are reported to be 3,000 cubic feet per second.

- COWLITZ: Lot of chinook, which must be released, are being caught at the barrier, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground.

Blue Creek has been fair for steelhead.

At the mouth of the Toutle, anglers are catching hatchery coho.

Bank fishers averaged one-half fish per rod last week. Flows below Mayfield Dam are expected to be 2,600 cubic feet per second this week.

- CHEHALIS: Chinook salmon up to 35 pounds, along with a good number of coho, are being caught, said Ray Dean of Monte Square Food Mart in Montesano. The fish are coming with the tides. Anglers are using herring and a mixture of hardware.

- COAST: Fishing has been good on the Hoh River, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. Kings, silvers and steelhead are being caught.

Gooding said the river is in good shape, but that is not the case with other rivers. Low water has made fishing tough.

- KALAMA: Bank fishers averaged one hatchery coho per every three rods last week.

Some fall chinook and hatchery summer-run steelhead also were caught.

A creel check Sept. 10-16 tallied 282 bank fishers with three adult chinook and 76 adult coho. Seven boat anglers caught five adult coho.

- WIND: Lots of coho are present, but catches have been light.

- WHITE SALMON: A mixture of fall chinook, hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead are being caught.

- WASHOUGAL: Bank anglers are landing some fall chinook. Quite a few fish are being foul-hooked and are being released.

- PUYALLUP: It is being reported anglers are catching fish at both the upper and lower ends of the river.

Eggs appear to be the bait of choice.

- COLUMBIA: Boaters at the lower end of the river, from Bonneville to Cathlamet, averaged an adult chinook per every eight rods last week. Bank fishers are catching a few fall chinook and hatchery steelhead.

- BUOY 10: At the Knappton and Deep River ramps, boat anglers averaged about one coho per rod last week. Catches were good at the beginning of the week, but dropped off.

Saltwater

- WESTPORT: Salmon fishing continues to be outstanding with boats limiting daily, said Larry Giese of Deep Sea Charters.

Bottom fishing has been good, but tuna fishing has been slow. Giese said Deep Sea Charters has ended tuna fishing for the year.

- TACOMA: Fishing has slowed for silvers, said a spokesperson from Point Defiance Boathouse and Marina.

A few blackmouth are being taken near the clay banks. Fishing has slowed at the mouth of the Puyallup.

- SOUTH SOUND: A few dark kings and silvers have been caught at the mouth of McAllister Creek.

Fishing has been slow.

- HOOD CANAL: Silver and king salmon are being landed near Hoodsport Hatchery, said Vicki Setera of Cushman Boats in Shelton.

Fly fishing

- SOUTH SOUND: Chinook fishing has slowed and the coho have scattered, said Tom Bolender of Streamside Anglers in Tumwater.

Hood Canal continues to be good for silver salmon and some chum.

Deceivers and Clouser minnows are catching fish. Cutthroat trout fishing has been consistent.

Smaller Clouser minnows and woolhead sculpins are effective.

- RIVERS: The Skokomish and Nisqually are offering crowded fishing conditions for chinook and increasing numbers of silvers.

The Quilcene River on Hood Canal is fishing well for chum and coho.

Egg-sucking leech patterns and Kalama Bees have been the most productive flies.

The Deschutes and Tilton rivers are low and fishing has been tough.

Blue wing olives, elk-hair caddis, stimulators and egg-sucking leech patterns are recommended.

- LAKES: Water temperatures are beginning to drop and fishing is improving, but angler pressure has been light.

Woolly Buggers and minnows are good bets.

Lakes

- LEWIS COUNTY: Success has slowed at Lake Scanewa, but some decent-sized rainbow trout are being caught off the fishing dock at Cowlitz Falls Bud Allen Park. Shrimp and nightcrawlers are working well.

Things remain slow at Riffe Lake, but anglers continue to catch some fish at the eastern end of the impoundment on the Cowlitz River.

At Mayfield Lake, fishing is good for boat and bank anglers. Bank fishers are reported to be doing well below the hatchery.

- PIERCE COUNTY: It has been slow going at Spanaway Lake for boat and bank fishers, said Bud Herlitzka of Spanaway Boathouse. Boaters have found the most success still-fishing at the south end of the lake.

Boaters trolling 25 to 30 feet deep at American Lake have been successful near the seaplane ramp. Fishing pressure has been light.

- THURSTON COUNTY: Success has been sporadic at Offut Lake near Tenino. PowerBait-and-worm combinations are working best.

- MASON COUNTY: Lake fishing continues to range from fair to good.

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

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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