Cold, dry weather makes for good fishing on rivers

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published December 28, 2001

Good fishing was had on most southwest and coastal rivers last week.

Recent cold and dry weather has allowed rivers to drop back into shape, making them fishable again.

Saltwater fishing also picked up in Tacoma waters. Sturgeon fishing continues to be good in the lower Columbia. But little angler activity is being reported on lowland lakes.

Rivers

- CHEHALIS: Anglers are catching both silvers and steelhead, said Ray Dean of Monte Square Food Mart in Montesano.

Fishing has been very good and the river is in good shape, Dean reported. Sand shrimp has been the bait of choice.

- WYNOOCHEE: Fishing has been fair to good, but the river is high. Plunking is recommended.

- HUMPTULIPS: Walt Harvey of Verles Sports in Shelton reports that the river is fishable even though it is discolored. Harvey recommends drift fishing.

It is also being reported that Stevens Creek has been posted "No Fishing," Harvey said.

- KALAMA: The river is in good shape and boatable, said Dave Orzel of Pritchard's Western Angler.

Bank fishing was very good for steelhead in the canyon last weekend. No report available on how boat anglers fared.

- COWLITZ: Fishing continues to be good at both the barrier and Blue Creek, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Camp Ground.

Fishing was spotty on Christmas Day because of a drop in water flow. The flow fell from 9,000 cubic feet per second to 6,000 cubic feet per second.

There are still two different sizes of steelhead being caught. Smaller steelhead (6-8 pounds) are being caught in early morning hours and larger steelhead (10-17 pounds) are being taken late in the day and evening, Glazer said.

Sand shrimp and jig and bobbers have been very productive, she said.

Roger Smith of Olympia based Cowlitz/Columbia Guide service said boat anglers are catching quite a few coho salmon plus steelhead below Blue Creek.

Flipping spinners for coho and Boon Dogging eggs for steelhead have produced the best results.

Overall, fishing has been fair to good, Smith said.

- COASTAL RIVERS: Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks said local rivers have all been producing good catches of steelhead.

The Bogachiel has been the best, even though the water level is dropping. The Sol Duc is fishing well, but there are not as many fish. The Calawah is clear and also producing good catches of steelhead. The Hoh is murky but has fish, Gooding said.

- SKOOKUMCHUCK: Fishing has been good for silvers and steelhead, which are starting to show in greater numbers, said Don Craker of Country Mart in Tenino.

The steelhead have been weighing 15 pounds and up. Most anglers are using jigs and salmon eggs, Craker said.

The river is reported to be in good shape.

- NASELLE: Fishing has been excellent for coho and steelhead, said Luke Miller of Ed's Bait and Tackle in Ilwaco.

Wiggle Warts, size W W 07-122, have been the hot lure, Miller said. The river is reported to be clear and in good shape.

- COLUMBIA: Reylene Larsen, information and education office manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, reports that sturgeon anglers continued to concentrate their efforts last week in the Sauvie Island area.

Boat anglers averaged .38 sturgeon per boat, while in the Troutdale area they averaged .4 fish per boat.

In the Gorge, boat anglers averaged .33 legal fish per boat. Bank angling has been slow.

Shrimp, roll mop and smelt have been the baits of choice.

Beginning Jan. 1, anglers will be able to retain sturgeon from the Bonneville and Dalles pools.

Lakes

- PIERCE COUNTY: Fishing on Spanaway Lake has been slow because of light pressure, said Bub Herliszka of Spanaway Boathouse.

For boat anglers, still fishing has been best. No limits, but the rainbows caught are averaging 14 inches and up, Herliszka reported.

Rainbow-colored power bait has been working the best. Bank angling has been extremely slow.

- THURSTON COUNTY: On Offut Lake, anglers are pulling in a few limits, said Becky Pogue of Offut Lake Resort.

The rainbows have been averaging 12-14 inches,with some larger fish also being caught. Orange-colored power bait with some yellow mixed with it has been productive, Pogue said.

The water temperature is reported to be 42 degrees.

Saltwater

- TACOMA: Fishing wasn't too bad last week, according to a spokesperson for Point Defiance Boathouse and Marina. However, pressure did drop off over the Christmas holiday.

The clay banks and in front of the boathouse have been the productive areas for blackmouth. The first of the ebb tide and the morning flood tide have been the most productive periods.

Trolling, jigging and mooching have all been working.

Fly fishing

Tom Bolender of Streamside Anglers in Tumwater said that unless fly anglers have a boat, fishing in the South Sound is a waste of time because of muddied waters.

Little rain and lowering water is providing lots of good fishing in pretty much all of the coastal rivers. The Cowlitz River is especially hot for steelhead. Glo Bugs and Greg Heads are working well in all rivers.

Tip of the Week

Centerfire cartridge cases that have outlived their reloading life can be recycled into fishing lures.

Punch the primers out using a hammer and nail, then paint a couple of bright eye spots onto the case.

Let it dry, and then thread the empty case onto a line ahead of a yarn skirted treble hook. This quickly produces another lure that can catch fish.

Bob Brown is a correspondent for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5432.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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