Salmon fishing sizzling off coast

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published July 13, 2001

WESTPORT -- Salmon fishing has gotten better and better since the July 1 opening and there appears to be no letup in sight.

The fleet is limiting daily and returning to port between noon and 2 p.m.

The catch has been just about an even split between kings and silvers. The kings have been averaging 10 to 12 pounds with some more than 30. Silvers have averaged 6-10 pounds.

Larry Giese, of Deep Sea Charters, said albacore are being caught about 100 miles off the coast.

-ILWACO: Salmon boats are leaving early and returning early with limits, said Sarah Gudell of Pacific Salmon Charters. Silvers, averaging 5-10 pounds, are making up a big part of the catch. Kings are running 12 to 30 pounds.

Sturgeon fishing has been good, too, with most fishers limiting.

-TACOMA: Fishing has been fair, said Art Tachell of Point Defiance Boathouse & Marina. The best catches have been at Point Evans and the clay banks. Trolling and jigging have been more productive than mooching. Dogfish have been a problem.

-SOUTH SOUND: Salmon fishing continues to be slow, but some large chinook have been spotted around the south end of Anderson Island.

-HOOD CANAL: Humpbacks are in around the hatchery and both boaters and bank fishers are catching limits, said Vicki Setera of Cushman Boats in Hoodsport. The fish have been hitting anything pink.

Rivers

-COLUMBIA: Bank fishers on the lower river averaged one hatchery steelhead per seven rods last week. A few chinook salmon were taken. Steelhead fishing dropped off around Longview and at the mouth of the Cowlitz, said John Patterson of Bob's Mercantile in Longview.

Sturgeon fishers checked at Deep River and Knappton ramps averaged one legal-sized fish per three rods last week, said Joe Hymer of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office.

Charter boaters have averaged more than one legal fish per rod. Some charters have arrived back in port with limits by 9 a.m.

The mainstem Columbia from Beacon Rock upstream to the Hamilton Ramp/Robins Island line opens July 16 to boat fishing for sturgeon.

-COWLITZ: Steelhead fishing has been good below Blue Creek, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground. It has been slow at the barrier. Most of the boaters have been putting in at Mission. Limits are being taken by both boaters and bank fishers. The steelhead have been averaging 10-12 pounds.

-CHEHALIS: The river is low, but fishers are doing OK, said Ray Dean of Monte Square Food Mart in Montesano. The steelhead have been averaging 8 pounds.

-LEWIS: Some hatchery summer-run steelhead and chinook mini-jacks are being landed.

-NISQUALLY: Some nice cutthroat trout are being caught at the upper end of the river and a few are being landed at the lower end. Gold spoons and nightcrawlers have been productive.

-WASHINGTON COAST: The Sol Duc appears to be the best choice, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sports in Forks. Sockeye salmon are in and a few are being caught. All the rivers are low, but some steelhead, spring chinook and cutthroat are being taken.

Fly fishing

-SALTWATER: The South Sound is full of bait, said Tom Bolender of the Streamside Anglers store in Tumwater.

Coho are showing everywhere and there are reports they are in Case and Hammersley inlets and around both Harstine and Squaxin islands. The fish are full of small herring. Clouser minnows are the perfect fly.

Bolender caught two nice cutthroat off Squaxin Island last Sunday. One fish weighed 2.5 pounds and the other was about 16 inches long and 1.5 pounds. The cutthroat are also taking the Clouser fly.

-RIVERS: The Deschutes, Nisqually, Tilton and many other Western Washington rivers are providing great evening fishing. Trico mayflies and golden stoneflies are hatching and the fish are gorging near sundown.

Top-water action is good with Stimulators, Parachutes and Elk hair caddis flies.

-LAKES: The going has been slow with fish down deep and only hitting on the surface during evening hours. Small Bead Head Buggers, Damsel Fly nymphs and Hare's Ear nymphs are working well.

Lakes

-LEWIS COUNTY: The west end of Riffe Lake reservoir has been extremely productive. Silvers are biting in the east end in the river between the 108 bridge and Lake Scanewa. Catches have included landlocked steelhead, cutthroats, coho, chinook and brown trout.

The lake is 37 feet below full pool. The boat ramps at Mossyrock Park are useable. The boat ramp at Taidnapam Park reportedly is not useable.

Pop gear and Wedding Rings have been producing good results at Mayfield Lake for trollers in the top 15 feet of water. Bank fishers near the hatchery have done well, too.

-PIERCE COUNTY: Fishing has been fair at Spanaway Lake. Trolling the top 10 feet of water using green Wedding Ring/worm combinations and green Power eggs has produced decent results. Still-fishing with Power eggs at the south end of the lake has been good.

It has been an early morning bite. Bank fishing has been spotty.

This week, 600 rainbows weighing 1.5 to 2 pounds each were released at American Lake, said Ken Anderson of Bill's Boathouse. Perch are hitting at depths of 20-25 feet.

-THURSTON COUNTY: Fishing has slowed at Offut Lake, but early mornings and late evenings remain productive. Chartreuse PowerBait has worked well for both bank anglers and boaters still-fishing.

Boaters at Lawrence Lake are doing fair still-fishing with chartreuse PowerBait and Power eggs. Early mornings and late evenings have been best. The catches have included quite a few 16-inch rainbows, said Tom Verrico of Fishermen's Den in Yelm.

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

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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