Foul weather aside, rivers remain hot for salmon

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published October 26, 2001

Even with recent heavy rains Washington rivers continue to be the best choice for fishers after salmon.

Many rivers are producing good catches of salmon and some are producing easy limits.

One of the best choices is the Cowlitz River in southwest Washington, where fishing has been outstanding from the mouth of the Toutle River to the barrier dam, said Don Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground.

Fishers are catching limits of silvers weighing 6 to 18 pounds, a few large kings and the occasional summer-run steelhead.

Last week, Dick Berch caught a 33.5-pound king at the barrier using a Cheater Special on 10-pound-test line.

Boat fishers did well last week on adult and hatchery coho at the mouth of the Cowlitz, said Joe Hymer, a biologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office.

Flows below Mayfield Dam are expected to be 2,560 cubic feet per second this week.

Rivers

- CHEHALIS: Recent rains have knocked the river out of shape, but prior to the rains fishing was terrific, said Ray Dean of Monte Square Food Mart in Montesano.

Once the water level goes down, fishing should be good again, Dean added.

- LEWIS: Some nice hatchery coho are being caught near the mouth of the river and around the salmon hatchery. A creel check Oct. 15-21 tallied 83 bank anglers with 17 adult coho and 24 boaters with eight adult coho and five jacks. Flows below Merwin Dam are expected to be 2,040 cubic feet per second this week.

- COLUMBIA: Boat fishers on the lower river near Camas/Washougal/Troutdale are catching some hatchery coho. Boaters below Bonneville Dam have been landing a few chinook.

The river from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam closes to salmon fishing Nov. 1.

Sturgeon attracted a lot of fishers last week near Vancouver, Portland and Longview.

In the Cathlamet area, boat anglers averaged about one-half fish per boat. The best fishing was near Bonneville Dam, where boaters averaged nearly one legal-sized fish per boat. Bank anglers near Bonneville Dam were also catching a few legals.

Church Hole has produced some sturgeon, but crabs continue to be a big problem, said Luke Miller of Ed's Bait and Tackle in Ilwaco.

- HANFORD REACH: Chinook fishing has been good. Last week the average catch was about two fish per boat, although the quality of the fish has gone down and many are being released.

The river from the Vernita Bridge downstream to the wooden powerline towers at the old Hanford townsite is now closed to fishing. Adult salmon may be kept from the Vernita Bridge upstream to Priest Rapids Dam through Oct. 31.

- COAST: The rivers are up due to recent rains and the fishing has been difficult. There are lots of kings and silvers available, however.

- YAKIMA: Salmon fishing was outstanding on the lower river last week. Anglers each averaged two fish below the Horn Rapids and Prosser dams. However, fishing was slow near Granger and Roza.

The river from the Highway 240 Bridge at Richland to 400 feet below Prosser Dam is scheduled to close to fishing for salmon on Nov. 1. The river from the Highway 223 Bridge at Granger to 3,500 feet below Roza Dam remains open to fishing for salmon through Nov. 15.

- KLICKITAT: Fishing has been good for boaters in the Columbia at the mouth of the Klickitat and just inside the Klickitat River. Some nice-sized, bright hatchery coho are being caught.

- GREEN: Bank fishers are catching good numbers of hatchery coho, although most of the fish are dark and are being released.

Saltwater

Fisher pressure has been light in the Tacoma area, said Art Tachell of Point Defiance Boathouse and Marina. Stormy weather has hurt.

A few blackmouth and chum have been caught. The clay banks area has been the most productive spot.

On Hood Canal, a few silver salmon are being landed around Ball Point and some chum are being caught near the Hoodsport Hatchery and at the mouth of Kennedy Creek, said Walt Harvey of Verle's Sports in Shelton.

John's Creek has been producing a few silvers and chum. Buzz Bombs have worked for silvers, while corkies and yarn have been a good choice for chum.

A creel check at Kennedy Creek last week counted 38 fishers with 33 chum.

Fly fishing

- PUGET SOUND: Coho fishing remains strong and orange/silver Flash flies are a good choice, said Tom Bolender of the Streamside Anglers store in Tumwater.

The bite has been sporadic, but good numbers of fish are being caught, Bolender said.

Chum Candy flies are working on chum entering Kennedy Creek. Both Perry and McLane creeks should have fish soon.

Fishers are reminded there is no parking along Highway 101 at McLane Creek.

- RIVERS: Sea-run cutthroat are in the lower Deschutes and biting well. Blue Wing Olive hatches are happening nearly every day. No. 12 Parachute Adams are recommended for the best hatch match. Conehead Muddler and Conehead Buggers also are good choices this time of the year.

Pink egg-sucking leeches are working for coho in the Satsop, Humptulips, Cowlitz, Green and Kalama rivers.

- LAKES: Woolly Buggers, Muddler Minnows and Hare's Ear Nymphs are recommended.

Lakes

- PIERCE COUNTY: About 500 large trout, 1-2 pounds each, recently were planted in Spanaway Lake, said Bud Herlitzka of Spanaway Boathouse. Bank fishers using No. 2 or 3 Blue Fox Spinners are doing well on those fish.

- THURSTON COUNTY: Fishers at Offut Lake near Tenino are catching limits of 7- 8-inch rainbows. Worms and pink PowerBait are working. A few 12- to 18-inch rainbows have been caught, too.

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

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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