Westport nets 50-pound king

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published August 17, 2001

WESTPORT -- First-time salmon fisher Ken Bastion got a really big surprise Monday. He boated a 50-pound king salmon.

Fishing about 10 miles off shore aboard the charter boat "Fury," Bastion hooked into his fish soon after dropping his line overboard.

Skipper Mike Harris, who has been fishing Westport waters for more than 20 years, said it was the biggest salmon he had ever seen on his boat.

Westport salmon fishing continues to sizzle with boats limiting daily.

As of Aug. 12, the total chinook catch was 13,558 fish out of a 19,450 guideline. Approximately 47 percent of the 83,250 coho quota has been caught.

It looks like fishing for kings will last through Labor Day, said Larry Giese of Deep Sea Charters.

- ILWACO: Fishing continues to be outstanding. Sarah Gudell of Pacific Salmon Charters said boats are back in port before noon with limits.

The catches have been mostly silvers weighing up to 15 pounds. On Sundays they are running double trips.

- MARINE AREA 1: The state Department of Fish and Wildlife reported in Marine Area 1 last week that fishers averaged more than 1.6 fish per rod. About 90 percent of the catch was coho.

- TACOMA: Fishers reported mixed results last week, said a spokesperson at Point Defiance Boathouse & Marina. The best success has been from the mouth of the Puyallup River to the slag pile early in the mornings. Fishing near the surface has been producing good results.

- HOOD CANAL: Fishing has been slow in the canal, except for pink salmon near the Hoodsport salmon hatchery. Pink Buzz Bombs continue to be productive. A creel check last week counted 90 anglers with 73 pinks and one coho.

- SOUTH SOUND: A few kings have been caught around the Green Can by anglers using green jigs. It is also being reported green squid lures are working around Ketron Island.

- BUOY 10: Fishing slowed last week, but some anglers continue to do well from the river mouth up to the bridge, said Luke Miller of Ed's Bait & Tackle in Ilwaco.

Rivers

- COLUMBIA: It was slow for hatchery steelhead last week, said Joe Hymer of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office. Including fish released, bank anglers on Washington sand bars averaged one steelhead per 10 rods. Boaters averaged one per seven. A few fall chinook and coho were also taken. Fishing for sea-run cutthroat below Longview has been good for the few anglers targeting them.

- KALAMA: Producing some hatchery, summer-run steelhead. Through Aug. 8, 31 adult fall chinook had been trapped at the Modrow rack.

- WHITE SALMON: Counting fish released, bank and boat anglers averaged about one steelhead per rod last week. A few fall chinook were caught, too. A creel check Aug. 6-12 tallied 34 bank anglers with 14 steelhead kept and 18 released. Eleven boaters had 11 steelhead kept and two released.

- COWLITZ: Results have been mixed, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground. Fishing continues to most productive at Blue Creek, but things are starting to pick up at the barrier. The steelhead are averaging 10-14 pounds. Glazer also said jacks are showing at the barrier. Some coho have been reported at the mouth of the Toutle River.

- NISQUALLY: A few kings are showing at the lower end. Not much action yet.

Lakes

- THURSTON COUNTY: At Offut Lake it has been slow for trout, but starting to pick up for perch, said Laura Patterson of Offut Lake Resort. Worms are good for perch and rainbow PowerBait has been best for trout. The best bite has been in the early mornings.

- LEWIS COUNTY: Riffe Lake has been slow. Boaters averaged about four fish per rod last week, primarily landlocked coho. The reservoir is 41 feet below full pool.

At Mayfield Lake, boaters have averaged two rainbow trout per rod, while bank anglers have averaged one fish per every five rods.

- PIERCE COUNTY: Fishing has slowed at Alder Lake, said Chuck Parks of Alder Park Store. The kokanee are turning red. When they are biting, the fish have hit worms and maggots.

Boaters still-fishing the south end of Spanaway Lake are catching a few rainbows from 10-16 inches, said Bud Herlitzka of Spanaway Boathouse. Green or rainbow PowerBait on a three-foot leader has worked best. It has been slow for bank anglers.

At American Lake, the best results for trout are in the early mornings. Perch have been biting all day.

Fly fishing

- SOUTH SOUND: Things are heating up, said Greg Edwards of the Streamside Anglers store in Tumwater. Small numbers of chinook have been reported at the Green Can headed into the Nisqually River. Resident coho are all over from the narrows to Squaxin Island. They have been feeding on herring and candlefish. Clouser Minnows and Deceivers are the most productive flies. Cutthroat action has been hot. Clouser Minnows and Woolhead Sculpins are working well.

- RIVERS: The Deschutes is super low. The fish are reported to be hunkered down. It is recommended anglers fish late evenings and wade slowly. Large yellow or orange Stimulators are good bets for dry flies, while Muddler Minnows and Caddis imitations are working under the surface.

The Nisqually has been kicking out good numbers of jack chinook. They are being taken on Woolly Buggers.

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

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

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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