Red-hot salmon fishing keeps charter operators busy

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published July 20, 2001

WESTPORT -- Salmon fishing continues to sizzle off the Washington coast and charter boat bookings are filling fast.

Many boats are back in port with limits each day at noon, said Larry Giese of Deep Sea Charters.

Kings have been running from eight pounds up. Last Monday, the charter boat West Wind brought in a 39-pound, 15.5-ounce king. Anglers are also landing silvers from 8-10 pounds.

As of Tuesday, about 30 percent of the kings quota and 14.3 percent of the silvers quota had been caught since the season opened July 1.

Giese said bookings are filling up about a week early and Sunday bookings are filled until the middle of August.

The tuna are about 80 miles off the coast and tuna trips are scheduled for Thursday evenings, starting Aug. 9.

-ILWACO: Salmon fishing has been terrific, said a spokesperson at Pacific Salmon Charter. Boats are limiting early many days. Catches have been mainly silvers, but a few kings are being taken.

-TACOMA: Success has been sporadic, but some nice kings are being landed, said Tom Crome of Point Defiance Boathouse & Marina.

Last week, Doug Carter of Tacoma caught a 26.5-pound chinook mooching. Most of the kings have been from 10-18 pounds. The clay banks continue to attract most the fishers, but a few are mooching at Point Delco or jigging at Point Evans. Crome said plugs appear to be a good choice.

Dog fish are still a problem.

-HOOD CANAL: The humpies are in around the salmon hatchery, but getting the salmon to bite has been another matter, said Walt Harvey of Verle's Sports in Shelton. Lots of fishers are out, but they are finding little success.

Rivers

-COWLITZ: Fishers are flocking to the river, particularly around Blue Creek, and landing some nice steelhead.

A few steelhead are being caught at the barrier dam, too, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground.

Flows below Mayfield Dam are in the range of 2,600 cubic feet per second.

-COLUMBIA: Anglers plunking at the Kalama Bar are doing well using a double spin-and-glow rig. Flatfish are producing during the day, too, said Luke Gauthier of Bob's Mercantile in Longview.

Fishing has been slow at Willow Grove Beach. Below Bonneville Dam, bank fishers average one summer-run steelhead per five rods.

Sturgeon fishing success has dropped off, said Joe Hymer of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office. At the Knappton and Deep River ramps last weekend boaters checked averaged one legal per four rods. Charter boat anglers averaged roughly one fish per rod.

-LEWIS: The river is producing hatchery summer-run steelhead and spring chinook mini-jacks.

-CHEHALIS: Anglers are catching a little bit of everything including steelhead and salmon, said Ray Dean of Monte Square Food Mart in Montesano. Sand shrimp has been a popular bait. The river is low and clear.

-KALAMA: Fishing has been slow.

-TILTON: The Lewis County river is being planted with legal rainbow trout every week at Morton's Backstrom Park.

-WHITE SALMON: Some summer-run steelhead are being taken by both bank and boat fishers.

-SOL DUC: It has been slim pickings due to low water levels, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. The best chance is in the early mornings.

-NISQUALLY: Fishing has slowed, said Tom Verrico of Fishermen's Den in Yelm.

Fly fishing

-SALTWATER: Fishing in South Sound is hot, said Tom Bolender of Streamside Anglers in Tumwater.

Reports are coming in of large coho including resident fish up to 8 pounds being hooked. One fly fisher weighed in a 5-pound buck at Boston Harbor Marina.

Sea-run cutthroat fishing has been steady.

Pink salmon are in at the Hoodsport Hatchery and have been providing fun fishing.

Flies luring the fish are Clouser Minnows in olive, chartreuse and pink colors, along with woolhead sculpins.

-RIVERS: Area waters are running low and clear and fishing has only been fair in the Wynoochee, Kalama and Cowlitz for summer-run steelhead.

The Deschutes, Newaukum, Skookumchuck, Nisqually and Tilton rivers are fishing well for cutthroat and rainbow trout despite low waters. The hatch has been heaviest in the evenings. Elk hair Caddis, Stimulators and Parachute Adams are working for dries and bead head Hare's Ears, Muddler Minnows and Caddis emergers are all good bets under the surface.

-LAKES: Waters in Thurston, Mason and Pierce counties are fishing well for bass and panfish, but slow for trout. Small leech patterns and damsel nymphs are working for trout. Bass are hitting top-water poppers.

Lakes

-PIERCE COUNTY: Bank anglers are doing well at Spanaway Lake using green PowerBait on a three-foot leader. The rainbows have been running 10-14 inches in length. Boaters are doing well still-fishing with PowerBait.

Large channel catfish are being caught on worms, said Carrol Abbott of Harts Lake Resort. Last week, two channel cats weighing more than six pounds each were taken. Both bank and boat fishers are limiting on rainbows.

Fishing has been good at American Lake, said Ken Anderson of Bill's Boathouse. Boaters and bank fishers are limiting on rainbows up to two pounds. Silvers are ranging from 9-12 inches. Maggots and worms have been effective.

-LEWIS COUNTY: Lures are working well for bank fishers at Riffe Lake. The fish have been hitting Blue Fox lures, Mepps and Crocodiles. Worms and shrimp have been producing good results, too. Wedding Ring/worm combinations have been working for boaters.

Limits are being taken by both bank and boat fishers at Mayfield Lake. The lake was planted with 69,300 rainbows in late June. The fish came from the Friends of the Cowlitz net pens.

-THURSTON COUNTY: Boaters are limiting using rainbow PowerBait and catching nice-sized perch using worms, said Laura Patterson of Offut Lake Resort. Fishing has been a hit-and-miss proposition for bank fishers, but rainbows up to two pounds have been taken.

Fishing has been slow, said Summit Lake resident Floyd Japhet. A few coho are being taken. The fish are hitting very softly, Japhet said.

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

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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