April 4-17, 2001

Contact: Virginia Painter, (360) 902-2256

April started out gangbusters for spring chinook sport fishing on the main stem of the Columbia River, and it's likely to end on a high note for turkey hunters and lake fishers who are preparing for openers later in the month.

Big and abundant is the outlook on wild turkeys this spring, and hunters are getting ready for the statewide spring season April 15 to May 15. Meanwhile, lake fishers are making plans for an April 28 statewide opener, which signals the beginning of the most intense fishing activity in Washington; WDFW is busy stocking hatchery allotments of 2.9 million yearling or catchable-size trout, 84,000 triploid rainbows and 39,825 surplus hatchery broodstock trout in hundreds of waters.

With the spring chinook season open from the Bonneville Dam downstream to the mouth of the river, catch numbers have been high for both boat and bank anglers. Last week, boat anglers caught or released a chinook for every 4.6 rods. But Joe Hymer, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fish biologist, says you don't have to have a boat to be successful this season; even bank anglers are having good results, due to a large return of adult spring chinook to the upper Columbia and Snake rivers. So far, large numbers of these fish are making it through the dam.

"Through April 1 this year, we had 13,276 adult spring chinook over the dam," Hymer says. "The recent 10-year average for the same time period is 824 fish."

For bird hunters, spring turkey season will likely yield the most opportunity in the northeast and southeast parts of the state as well as in Klickitat County. These areas have so many birds they have become a nuisance for some landowners; WDFW staff in the eastern region trapped and relocated nearly 1,000 nuisance turkeys earlier this year.

Turkey abundance doesn't guarantee hunters a turkey dinner, however. Wild turkeys are extremely wary animals with excellent eyesight and hearing. Even during spring mating season when male turkeys' attention is focused on hens, the birds are cautious in the woods. Successful turkey hunters do lots of pre-season scouting, use camouflage clothing and gear and learn to call gobblers by mimicking hen turkeys.

Washington's wild turkey hunting has soared in popularity in the last ten years due to introductions and transplants of these non-native birds, growth of the overall turkey population and a licensing change two years ago that provides one turkey tag with every small-game hunting license. Hunters also may purchase up to two additional turkey tags and bag a total of three birds per year. This year two of those three turkeys can be taken anywhere in eastern Washington, although only one of those can be in Chelan, Kittitas, and Yakima counties combined.

Hunting is legal only for gobblers or turkeys with visible beards, and only with shotgun or bow and arrow. All details are in WDFW's "Wild Turkey Spring Season" pamphlet, available at hunting license dealers and WDFW offices. For more information about how and where to safely and successfully hunt wild turkeys this spring in Washington, contact the Washington Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation at 1732 Summit Lakeshore Rd., Olympia, WA 98502, (360) 866-6592.

For those who don't fish or hunt, there are plenty of wildlife-watching opportunities ongoing, including gray whales on the coast, spring chinook through viewing windows on the Washington side of the Bonneville Dam and birds in your own back yard.

The best way to monitor the spring bird rearing season is to put up nest boxes. If you haven't already, don't delay. Many birds are still looking for the perfect place to build a nest and raise a family. Those that have started nesting already may later use boxes you put up now, in cases of first-nest failure. Nest box birds include chickadees, nuthatches, violet-green and tree swallows, bluebirds, downy and hairy woodpeckers, flickers, and wrens. They prefer tree cavities or other natural features but will use nest boxes when natural sites are scarce.

Building nest boxes or simply cleaning out existing boxes can be a fun family project that sets the stage for observation through spring. The first step is learning what kinds of nest boxes are used by birds in your area. Just any old nest box won't do; most nest box birds have specific needs. The bigger the bird, the bigger the nest box. Placement also can make a difference, and size and shape of opening are important to keep out competitive exotic species, such as English sparrows.

WDFW offers information on nest box dimensions, construction, placement and maintenance for dozens of bird species through its Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program. The $5 program packet includes a "Nest Boxes for Birds" pamphlet, plus a host of other information about how to attract wildlife to your property all year. To find out more and order the packet, consult www.wdfw\.wa\.gov/wlm/byw_prog.htm/ on the Internet.

Here are some recreation options in various regions:

North Puget Sound:

• Fishing: "Fishing has kicked into full gear on year-round lakes that have received triploid trout plants," reports Mark Downen, area inland fish biologist. "People who have one or two of those fish on the stringer are happy." The triploid-stocked year-round lakes include Flowing, Blackman's and Silver lakes in Snohomish County and Angle and Green lakes in King County. Marine fishers have less than a week to take advantage of the blackmouth season, which closes April 10. Meanwhile, eager crabbers should stay tuned for word on the opening of recreational Dungeness crab fishing, expected sometime in the last half of April in the Everett area (Marine Area 8-2). The opening date depends on crab shell conditions. Crabbers are reminded that beginning this year all types of crab fishing–not just pot fishing– are closed during the molting (soft shell) period. That means that ring gear and star traps, as well as wade and dive fishing, are prohibited along with pot fishing when significant portions of the crab population are in soft-shell condition.

• Wildlife viewing: Migrating shorebirds and black brant are on view now, says Lora Leschner, regional wildlife manager. "This time of year, brant are close to the shoreline feeding to store up food for their Arctic migration," Leschner said. Visitors to Birch Bay State Park should keep an eye out for brant on the beach feeding on sea lettuce, she suggests. Those with spotting scopes can check leg bands visible on many of the birds, giving a clue to their origin. Other good spots to look for black brant include remnant eel grass beds on the Kitsap Peninsula, Hood Canal, Three Tree Point and near Edmonds, she suggests. Black brant passing through this area on their way north from Mexico are joined by white-bellied brant which winter here in Washington. The white-bellied brant head to the central-high Arctic for the summer, while the black brant are destined for the Alaska coastline. For more information visit the International Brant Monitoring Project's website at http://sd69.bc.ca/~brant on the Internet. There is an opportunity to learn more about brant this weekend (April 6 through 8) at the brant festival in Parksville-Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island; visit the festival website at http://www.brantfestival.bc.ca/ on the Internet. Meanwhile, shorebird watchers can glean more information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's website at http://www.fws.gov/r7enved/sssp.html on the Internet.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Fishing: The blackmouth fishery will come to a close April 10, but fishing is still going strong in a number of areas, including the "winter hole" near Port Angeles and north Puget Sound. Thirty-three anglers brought in 13 chinook averaging 9 pounds at Ediz Hook ramp on a recent Saturday. Recent rains have also made for a lively steelhead fishery on north coast rivers. On the Bogachiel/Quillayute, 160 anglers interviewed during the last week of March reported catching 85 wild steelhead and releasing 35 of them. On the Sol Duc, 113 anglers reported catching 112 fish and releasing 86, while 103 anglers reported catching 63 steelhead on the Hoh. But if you want to catch big trout without putting a lot of mileage on your car, you should know that the triploids are coming to area lakes throughout the region. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has begun stocking lakes in Kitsap, Jefferson, Pierce, Thurston and Grays Harbor with specially bred lunkers that weigh in at 1.5 pounds apiece. Stocking will continue through April in lakes such as Benson, Haven, Philips and Wooten in Mason County; Gibbs and Horseshoe lakes in Jefferson County and dozens more throughout the region. Check out the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishcorn.htm on the Internet for more information. Several public meetings have been scheduled on Hood Canal fisheries for the 2001 crab and shrimp seasons: Shoreline: 7 to 9 p.m. April 18, at Shoreline Community College, Room 1515. Silverdale: 7 to 9 p.m. April 19, Central Kitsap High School Auditorium. Chimicum: 7 to 9 p.m. April 23, Chimicum High School Auditorium. Shelton: 7 to 9 p.m. April 24, Shelton High School Auditorium.

• Wildlife viewing: Migration time means bird stopovers for feedings in the area. Swans were reportedly gathering in the Chehalis Valley along Highway 12, and a snowy owl is still hanging around at Damon Point near Ocean Shores. Black brant are prevalent along Hood Canal, from the Hamma Hamma river delta north to the Dabob Bay, Marrowstone Island and Indian Island. They are staging but still there in pretty high numbers, according to Jack Smith, WDFW wildlife biologist. The gray whale migration north to the Bering Sea is under way, and wildlife enthusiasts may wish to check out a Westport whale-watching tour. Birders will be gearing up soon for the shorebird festival at Bauerman Basin; it starts April 27.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Things are coming together for spring chinook fishing on the Columbia River mainstem, according to WDFW Fish Biologist Joe Hymer, with last week's averages at a fish caught/released for every 4.6 rods among boat anglers and approximately the same for bank anglers. Hymer suggests bank anglers in the Hamilton/Cascade Island area use a medium-weight rod and plunking spin glows with 4 to 8 ounces of weight. Fairly short casts seem to be working for people on the bank. Many boat anglers are having success trolling herring with 1 ˝ to 3 ounces of weight, or by anchoring and using herring or lures. Best boat fishing seems to be in 10 to 20 feet of water. Fishers may want to refer to the WDFW web site fishing reports and link to the Army Corps Dam Count for details on the season. Be alert for possible regulation changes. Wind River and Drano Lake fisheries should pick up soon, and there are reports of good catches at Kalama on the Lewis River, Hymer says. Catchable-size trout have been planted in: Lake Sacajawea in Longview, 4,300 rainbows; Kress Lake near Kalama, 4,400 rainbows; Klineline Pond, 5,000 rainbows; Lacamas Lake near Camas, 5,000 browns; Fargher Lake near Battle Ground, 2,000 brown trout.

• Wildlife viewing: Wood ducks have started to arrive in the Cowlitz Wildlife Area, and sightings have been reported on Oxbow Lake and the Spears Unit. Also to arrive are tree swallows and pied-billed grebes. The first bluebird was seen recently on Peterman Hill. Recent visits to the Mossyrock Unit ponds resulted in observations of Canada geese, mallards, buffleheads, hooded mergansers, wood ducks and common snipe. Swofford Pond is being visited regularly by several foraging bald eagles, and Kosmos, Mossyrock and Swofford Pond also are good places to catch sight of elk foraging in maintained meadows. Wood duck boxes on portions of the Cowlitz Wildlife Area are being used by flying squirrels and screech owls. Don't forget an interesting wildlife viewing opportunity this year may be the spring chinook return on the Columbia River. Visitors may take in the show through viewing windows on the Washington side of the Bonneville Dam.

• Hunting: Spring turkey hunters in the region will finding the best opportunities this season (April 15 to May 15) are for Merriam's turkeys in Klickitat County. Hunter success in past years has been lower in Cowlitz, Lewis and Wahkiakum counties. Most turkey habitat areas are on public lands, but private lands are home to turkeys, too; be sure to get landowner permission before hunting.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Year-round Rock Lake is producing nice-sized rainbow trout now. Sprague Lake, another year-round-open water, may be productive for rainbows, walleye, crappie, and yellow perch. Coffeepot Lake continues to yield big rainbows (up to four pounds) for fly fishers using chronomid patterns. Triploid rainbow trout (1-1/2 pound average) will be stocked the week of April 16 in the following year-round waters: Newman Lake - 3,000; Bennington Lake - 2,000; Golf Course Pond - 300; Quarry Pond - 400; West Evans Pond - 300. Other lakes in the region will also be receiving triploids that week, but they're not open until April 28 and anglers are warned not to be tempted into jumping the gun on the season!

• Wildlife viewing: Great blue herons are very visible in the cottonwoods where they communally nest along the Little Spokane River near WDFW's Spokane Trout Hatchery and the Spokane County Parks and Recreation Department's Natural Area. Shed deer and elk antlers are treasures waiting to be found during a walk in the woods now. Most buck mule and whitetail deer and bull elk have shed their annually-grown antlers by now and are re-growing new ones. These naturally shed antlers, unattached to a skull, can be legally collected. Most will be found on deer or elk wintering grounds. If you're lucky, you'll find both sides of a buck or bull's antlers and have a matched set. Some bucks or bulls shed both sides of their antlers within hours of each other, especially the bigger-antlered animals that feel the imbalance more when one antler sheds.

• Hunting: This is the state's biggest spring turkey hunting region, with abundant populations of the big birds. Turkey hunting will be excellent for Merriam's throughout the northeast counties of Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, and Spokane, and for Rio Grandes in Lincoln and Whitman counties and in the Blue Mountains to the south. Scout them out now, if you haven't already, and secure landowner permission to hunt for the opener on the 15th. Blue Mountains spring black bear hunting also gets underway on April 15, for 105 hunters who were successfully drawn for permits.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Moses Lake is cranking out winter carryover rainbow trout up to 23 inches in length and fair-sized yellow perch, reports WDFW fish biologist Chris Donley. The month-long walleye "run" along Alder Street in the Crab Creek inlet to Moses Lake has begun, Donley notes, and shore anglers can bag trophy walleye up to 10 pounds by drifting jigs. Lenice Lake has been good for rainbow trout catches since it opened March 1 and it just keeps getting better with spring water temperatures rising; remember it's under selective gear rules. Lake Lenore has been producing Lahontan cutthroat trout below the outlet stream. Upper Hampton Lake continues to provide 20-plus-inch rainbows. Quincy and Burke lakes continue to produce limits of fair-sized rainbows. Triploid rainbow trout (1-1/2 pound average) will be stocked the week of April 16 in Okanongan County's Spectacle Lake (3,500) which has been open since March 1, and Bonaparte Lake (3,000) which is open year-round but has a trout limit of no more than one over 20 inches.

• Wildlife viewing: The sandhill cranes are in good numbers in the Columbia Basin, possibly in greater concentrations than during the Othello Crane Festival March 23-25. Tundra swans have been seen off Dodson Road, and throughout the Basin, along with many other spring migrating and resident waterfowl species. The wetlands of the Basin are very lively now with the sights and sounds of red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, coots, grebes, and other birds. Bluebirds are back and starting to nest in natural cavities and nest boxes.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: The following waters were recently stocked with catchable-size and "jumbo" rainbow trout and offer the best bets for trout fishing: Columbia Park Lagoon - 300; Bull Frog Pond - 400; Denmark Pond -- 600; McCabe Pond -- 830; Mud Lake -- 285; Sarge Hubbard - 450; Tim's Pond -- 500; and Wenas Lake - 3,100. Triploid rainbow trout (1-1/2 pound average) will be stocked the week of April 16 in the following year-round waters, most which have selective gear rules, reduced catch limits, or other special rules that anglers should check for in the fishing pamphlet: Columbia Park Pond - 1,050; Fio Rito Lake, North - 2,230; Mattoon Lake - 2,050; Mud Lake - 520; Myron Lake - 1,750; Railroad Pond - 1,400. No reports of smallmouth bass action yet on the lower Yakima River, but WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins says it should pick up about mid-April. Most rivers and streams are generally closed to all fishing at this time. A notable exception is the Yakima River from Roza Dam to Lake Easton, which is open for catch-and-release trout fishing. Fishing is relatively good, with a number of insect hatches coming off on warm days. Water flows are excellent for fishing and remain relatively low for this time of year.

• Wildlife viewing: Early wildflowers, songbirds, raptors and other wildlife are very visible now in the Yakima River Canyon area. Another good early spring spot for such viewing is the Esquatzel Coulee Wildlife Area northeast of Mesa in Franklin County; part of the channeled scablands, it includes waterfowl breeding grounds, colonies of burrowing owls and lots of coyotes.