Steelhead prospects good on Columbia

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published August 3, 2001

Steelhead fishing has picked up steam on the lower Columbia River with the arrival of record numbers of steelhead.

The largest daily counts of upper river steelhead since 1938 are being recorded at Bonneville Dam.

The steelhead count was 13,579 fish July 28, the largest single-day count since 1984.

Through July 29, the 200,000 steelhead counted already is nearing the forecast for the entire season, said Joe Hymer of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office. The record was 276,400 from April 1-Aug. 5 in 1986.

Counting fish released, bank anglers averaged one steelhead per five rods and boaters averaged one per rod last week.

Fishing has been fair at Longview, said Roger Smith of Cowlitz/Columbia Guide Service. The steelhead averaged 6-7 pounds. Spin-and-Glows worked well, but when the tide was flat trolling spinners worked best.

Rivers

-WHITE SALMON: Continues to improve for hatchery summer-run steelhead. Counting fish released, bank anglers averaged one-half fish per rod, while boaters averaged one per rod last week.

-KALAMA: Producing some hatchery summer-run steelhead. A creel check last weekend tallied 173 bank anglers with 27 steelhead and 22 released.

-LEWIS: Anglers are catching some summer-run steelhead in the North Fork and at the mouth. Through July 25, nearly 4,000 hatchery summer-run steelhead had returned to the facility.

-COWLITZ: Starting Saturday, bank fishers from Mill Creek to the deadline below barrier dam can keep chinook. The daily limit is six.

No more than two can be adults. Chinook with or without adipose fins can be kept. Wild coho and chum must be released. Chinook must be released from Mill Creek downstream until Dec. 31.

It was hectic fishing last week at Blue Creek, with many anglers limiting, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground. Steelhead fishing has been pretty good, Glazer said. A few fish were taken at the barrier last week. Fish have averaged 8 to 14 pounds. Coho success has been spotty, but a 52-inch, 38-pound sturgeon was taken at the barrier.

-COLUMBIA: The fall Buoy 10 opener was a real slugfest as the river was crowded with boats, said Luke Miller of Ed's Bait & Tackle in Ilwaco.

Limits of coho averaging 10-11 pounds were landed in 30 minutes. The best results were with herring coupled with a delta diver, Miller said.

Fish and Wildlife expects a return of 1.6 million hatchery coho and more than 300,000 fall chinook. The Buoy 10 fishery extends from the mouth of the Columbia to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line below Megler-Astoria Bridge. The limit is two salmon. No more than one can be a king.

Saltwater

-WESTPORT: Boats are limiting daily, said Larry Giese of Deep Sea Charters. Fishers are catching lots of kings up to 28 pounds. Silvers are 5-10 pounds. Tuna fishing starts Aug. 9. Bottom fishing has been good for rock fish.

-ILWACO: Boats are returning early with limits. Most of the catch continues to be silvers, but good numbers of kings are being taken. Small-boat anglers are doing exceptionally well off the mouth of the Columbia. Silvers have averaged 10-14 pounds.

-TACOMA: Fishing has improved since last week, said Tom Cromie of Point Defiance Boathouse & Marina. More kings are being caught. The bite has been best early in the mornings around the slag pile and clay banks. The fish are 12-18 pounds.

-SOUTH SOUND: A few kings continue to be taken around the Green Can. Anglers report good fishing around Ketron Island. Flasher-hoochie combinations appear to be working best.

-HOOD CANAL: Droves of fishers are after pink salmon around Hoodsport Hatchery, said Walt Harvey of Verle's Sports in Shelton. Pink Blue Fox, No. 3 spinners and 2- to 2.5-inch buzz bombs have been effective. The fish are 2-4 pounds with a few larger.

Lakes

-PIERCE COUNTY: Fishing at Alder Lake has been good for 14-inch kokanee, said Chuck Parks of Alder Parks Store. Pop gear, Wedding Ring and worm or maggot combinations have been working. Bass fishing has been good for 2-4 pounders. The perch and crappie bite has been slow.

Pressure has dropped off at American Lake, but those fishing are limiting on kokanee and rainbows, said Ed Wymbs of Bill's Boathouse. Fishers on the dock using maggots as bait have caught rainbow trout up to two pounds. Boaters are doing well at the south end and just off the point at the public boat launch. Perch have been biting well, Wymbs said.

Spanaway Lake fishing has been fair. Still-fishing has been best for boaters at the south end. Marshmallows and rainbow PowerBait are good choices, said Bud Herlitzka of Spanaway Boathouse.

-LEWIS COUNTY: Both bank and boat fishers at Riffe Lake are catching limits. The catches have mostly been landlocked steelhead and coho.

Boaters are doing better than bank fishers at Mayfield Lake. Try small pop gear and Wedding Ring and worm or maggot combinations.

-THURSTON COUNTY: Quite a few kokanee are being taken at Summit Lake on Wedding Ring and corn or maggot combinations trolled at 40-50 feet, said Floyd Japhet. The best bite has been in the early mornings. The fish have averaged 13-14 inches.

Fly fishing

-SALTWATER: South Sound has been good and is getting better, said Greg Edwards of Tumwater's Streamside Anglers store. Fishers have been reporting mixed catches of coho, sea-run cutthroat and a few chinook. Hammersley Inlet and Cooper Point have provided good fishing. The Hoodsport hatchery is crowded, but producing fun fishing for pink salmon.

-RIVERS: Fishing for summer-run steelhead, sea-run cutthroat and a few salmon is steadily improving. Good bets are the Hoh, Sol Duc and Queets on the Olympic Peninsula and the Kalama, Cowlitz and North Fork Lewis in southwest Washington.

The Deschutes, Newaukum, Skookumchuck and Tilton are low, but clear and producing good evening fishing for cutthroat and rainbows.

-LAKES: Waters in Thurston, Mason and Pierce counties are fishing well for bass and panfish, but a little slow for trout. Small leech patterns and damsel nymphs are recommended for trout, while top-water poppers are the ticket for bass.

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

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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