Coho run keeps Cowlitz hopping

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published November 16, 2001

The Cowlitz is experiencing one of the best runs of coho salmon in years and fishers are flocking to the river to take advantage of the windfall.

Through Nov. 8, more than 20,000 coho had returned to the salmon hatchery on the river.

Typically about 50 percent of the run has returned by that date, said Joe Hymer, a biologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office.

Fishing has been terrific at both the barrier and Blue Creek. said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground.

At the barrier, anglers are catching limits of silver salmon weighing on average 10 to 12 pounds with a few in the upper teens. Shrimp and eggs have been the baits of choice.

Glazer also said anglers are catching limits of silvers, along with a few winter-run steelhead, at the mouth of Blue Creek.

Fishing has been excellent for boaters casting spinners from Blue Creek up to the barrier, said Roger Smith of the Olympia-based Cowlitz/Columbia Guide Service.

Flows below Mayfield Dam were reported to be 3,600 cubic feet per second.

Meanwhile, saltwater fishing continues to be slow around Tacoma and the South Sound. Angler pressure has been extremely light.

A few lowland lakes are producing good catches of rainbow trout, but angler pressure has been light there, too.

Sturgeon fishing in the lower Columbia River was only fair the past few days.

Rivers

- LEWIS: The river still is producing some hatchery coho. A creel check Nov. 5-11 tallied 40 bank fishers with seven adult coho and one steelhead kept. Thirteen boat anglers had nine adult coho.

Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 5,000 cubic feet per second this week.

- KLICKITAT: Boat anglers are catching hatchery coho inside the lower river at the mouth.

- COAST: Most of the rivers are out of shape due to recent rains, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks.

However, there are lots of fish around and hatchery steelhead are starting to show in the Bogachiel and Calawah rivers, Gooding said.

- KALAMA: The water level is up due to recent rains, but fishing has been good, said Dave Orzel of Pritchard's Western Angler store in Kalama.

A good run of silvers has moved in and fishers using shrimp and eggs are doing well Orzel said. Spinners also have been working.

- CHEHALIS: Fishing was good until the rains came in the past few days, said Ray Dean of Monte Square Food Mart in Montesano. The river presently is blown out of shape.

- WASHOUGAL: The river is producing some hatchery coho. Fishers can keep up to six adult hatchery coho in the salmon daily limit.

- TOUTLE: The river presently is out of shape, but once the water level drops the upper end of the South Fork is a good prospect for fly fishers, said Gary Beault of the Toutle River Fly Shop.

Orange coneheads and egg sucking leeches (size 4) are good choices. Red, purple and black coneheads also are recommended

If the water is colored, use orange coneheads, Beault said.

- KENNEDY CREEK: Fishing continues to be good for chum salmon.

Lakes

- PIERCE COUNTY: Some boaters still-fishing using green PowerBait are limiting on rainbow trout from one to two pounds at Spanaway Lake. The hot spot has been just off the south point of the lake.

Bank anglers also are doing well catching big brood trout in the public swimming area of the lake. Green PowerBait has been working for them, too. Fishing the shallows is recommended for bank anglers.

- THURSTON COUNTY: Most anglers fishing off the dock are catching limits, said Laura Patterson of Offut Lake Resort near Tenino.

Several rainbow trout up to 2.5 pounds have been landed at the dock. Pink PowerEggs and worms have been producing the best results.

- LEWIS COUNTY: Anglers reportedly are catching a few coho near the trout hatchery at Mayfield Lake.

Tacoma Power employees recently released 3,251 adult coho and 1,292 jacks into Scanewa Lake. Fishers reportedly are doing well using plugs with chartreuse backs and orange bellies.

Saltwater

- TACOMA: Fisher pressure has been very light, said Art Tachell of Point Defiance Boathouse and Marina.

A few blackmouth are being caught by moochers around the clay banks and in front of the boathouse, Tachell said. The blackmouth have been averaging 6 to 8 pounds, but a couple weighing 18 pounds have been landed.

- HOOD CANAL: Anglers are doing well in front of the Hoodsport Hatchery, but it has been crowded with fishers, said Walt Harvey of Verle's Sports in Shelton.

Lime green corkies and yarn have been very productive. Chartreuse corkies also have worked well, Harvey said.

A creel check at the Hoodsport ramp last week counted 23 anglers with 117 chum.

Fly fishing

- SALTWATER: Chum fishing is starting to slow down in the South Sound, but many fish are still available around Hoodsport. Chum Candy is the hot item to catch these fish.

Lots of cutthroat trout are being caught all over the South Sound.

Tom Bolender of Streamside Anglers in Tumwater said he recently caught two fish in 1.5 hours in Puget Sound with the biggest weighing 1.5 pounds. He also received one report where a fly fisher who had a fish on with every cast for about an hour last Sunday.

The fish have been feeding on saltwater scuds and have been hitting chartreuse Clousers.

- RIVERS: The Satsop, Wynoochee, Humptulips, Cowlitz, Green and Kalama rivers still have plenty of coho and chum salmon and even a few winter-run steelhead.

Fish and Wildlife is trucking fish from the Barrier Dam on the Cowlitz upstream to drop spots on the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton, the upper Cowlitz near Packwood and on the Cispus River.

Green Butt Skunks, pink egg sucking leeches and Woolly Worms are the best choices.

Sea-run cutthroat trout are throughout the Deschutes and the best fishing of the year is available. Fish big, orange Stimulators with a bead-head nymph dropper or try a blue wing olive pattern.

Fishing should remain hot for the next two weeks. Conehead Muddlers, Fox Squirrel Nymphs and Conehead Buggers also are good choices.

- LAKES: Cady Lake in Mason County has been fishing well and has little angler pressure. Woolly Buggers, Muddler Minnows and Hare's Ear Nymphs are good.

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

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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