For many anglers, "opening day" is synonymous with the start of the lowland lakes trout-fishing season, which gets under way April 28. More than 300,000 Washingtonians are expected to descend on trout-stocked waters throughout the state that day to kick off the new season.

But anglers - and hunters, too - are also looking forward to a variety of other new seasons, ranging from halibut fishing in Puget Sound to turkey hunting throughout the state, opening this month.

"April really marks the start of the new year for fishing and hunting," said Jeff Koenings, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "While some winter fisheries are still going strong, the cycle begins again this month with a new year of outdoor activities. Whether you like to fish, hunt or observe animals in the wild, this is a great time to get in on the action."

Key dates for anglers and hunters to keep in mind in the coming weeks include:

• April 9 - Sportfishing for halibut opens in most areas of Puget Sound (marine areas 6-11 and 13) five days a week, Thursday through Monday.

• April 7-8 - A two-day spring turkey hunt for hunters under 16 years of age is scheduled statewide.

• April 15 - The general spring turkey hunt opens for hunters of all ages and runs through May 31, two weeks longer than last year. See WDFW's Washington Wild Turkey Spring Season pamphlet for details http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm.

• April 15 - Lingcod fishing opens off Neah Bay in Marine Area 4. The fishery has been open in ocean marine areas 1-3 since March 17.

• April 19-22 - A razor clam dig is tentatively planned at various ocean beaches on morning tides, pending the results of marine toxin tests. See the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula regional report below for more information.

• April 28 - Several hundred lowland lakes open to trout fishing across the state for the biggest "opening day" of the year.

For most people, a valid 2007-08 fishing or hunting license is required to participate in these or other fishing or hunting seasons. The exception is young people under age 15, who may fish for free. All 2006-07 licenses expired March 31.

Fishing and hunting licenses may be purchased over the Internet (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/), by phone (1-866-246-9453), or from license vendors throughout the state (see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lic/vendors/vendors.htm for a list).

While waiting for new fishing seasons to begin, anglers have been making the most of those already under way. Catch rates for blackmouth have remained strong in those areas of Puget Sound that are still open, and fishing for spring chinook has been picking up on the Columbia River.

Birders, meanwhile, are enjoying the influx of spring migrants and gray whales have been putting on a show for onlookers in Puget Sound.

For more information on fishing, hunting and wildlife-watching activities throughout the state, see the regional reports that follow.

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Anglers are starting to gear up for halibut, but they shouldn't set their salmon rods aside just yet. There's still time to get out on the water and participate in the blackmouth fishery, which could continue to provide decent fishing for anglers in the region.

  "We're entering the final weeks of what has turned out to be a great blackmouth salmon season," said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. "And anglers are still finding chinook in some spots, especially in Marine Area 8-1."

  Anglers in marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) have through April 30 to hook a blackmouth. Anglers in those areas can keep up to two hatchery chinook per day, so long as the fish measure at least 22 inches in length. Wild chinook salmon, which have an intact adipose fin, cannot be brought aboard the boat.

  The only other area open in the region for blackmouth is Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), where anglers have through April 15 to fish for salmon. Anglers in Marine Area 9 have a daily limit of one salmon, and chinook must measure at least 22 inches in length.

  Saltwater anglers itching to drop a line for a big flatfish don't have to wait much longer. The halibut season gets under way April 9 in marine waters throughout the region. The fishery will be open five days a week, Thursday through Monday, with a daily limit of one halibut. There is no minimum size limit for halibut caught in any area.

  Meanwhile, freshwater anglers can still cast for steelhead. The catch-and-release steelhead fishery on the Skagit and Sauk rivers continues through April. Anglers on the Skagit can fish for steelhead from the Dalles Bridge to the Cascade River, while those on the Sauk can fish from the mouth of the river to the Darrington Bridge.

  Brett Barkdull, WDFW fish biologist, reminds Skagit River anglers fishing from boats, sleds or any other floating device equipped with a gas or electric motor that it's illegal to fish while under power during the catch-and-release season. Rules and regulations for the Skagit River fishery, as well as other freshwater and saltwater fisheries, can be found in WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: Sightings of gray whales continue in the region. The best spot seems to be the Saratoga Passage area, where whale watchers have reported several recent sightings. An observer reporting to the Orca Network (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html) identified one of the gray whales as "Patch," an annual visitor with a large white spot on his right side. The whales are part of a large population making its annual journey north from the coast of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, where the animals spend the summer feeding before heading south again. While most continue on to Alaska, some gray whales linger in the waters of the Pacific Northwest during the summer months.

  Meanwhile, bird watchers have been busy at the Montlake Fill, where numerous species have been spotted recently. One birder found six greater white-fronted geese mingling with some Canada geese. The white-fronted geese are often seen in small, mixed species flocks and are common in western Washington from late August through mid-October and again from mid-April to mid-May. The birder also spotted lots of shovelers, a pair of bald eagles and a few hooded mergansers.

  Another visitor to the fill spotted a northern rough-winged swallow. The swallow was among violet green and tree swallows, according to the birder's report on Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/). Northern rough-wings, which have a slow and deliberate wing-beat, are common in western Washington from mid-April through August. The swallows are mostly seen near farms and floodplains of the region's major rivers.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: Some anglers are looking forward to halibut season, while others wait for trout fishing to open April 28 on hundreds of lowland lakes across the state. Then again, many of those anglers are already on the water catching lingcod, steelhead and other fish in season.

  The recreational halibut season starts April 9 in most areas of Puget Sound (marine areas 6-11 and 13). These fisheries will be open five days a week - Thursday through Monday - with a daily limit of one halibut. There is no minimum size limit for halibut caught in any area. Best bets in April for catching a big flatfish are marine areas 6 and 9, said Michele Culver, regional director for the coastal area. "The fishing should be good, and we've heard that April is the best time to go," Culver said.

  Most charter boats fishing lingcod out of Westport are averaging one to 1.5 fish for everyone on board, said Carol Henry, WDFW marine resources analyst. Most lings are running 6-8 pounds. "The weather's been a bit rough for the smaller, private boats, but the charter boats are doing well," she said. Lingcod fishing opened March 17 in coastal waters south of Cape Alava (marine areas 1, 2 and 3) and will open April 15 in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay). Additional information about the lingcod fishery and other bottom fish is available on the WDFW Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500) and the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

  Meanwhile, WDFW hatchery crews are stocking 110 lakes throughout the region with 615,000 legal-size, jumbo and broodstock trout. Thirty-three area lakes and ponds are also stocking up on 1.5 pound triploids. For a complete trout-stocking schedule for the region, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/regions/reg6/index.htm.

  Youngsters ages 5-14 can take advantage of a one-day fishing event at Long Lake Park in Thurston County on April 21 - a week before the season opener. The area open to fishing includes the waters within the swimming buoy line between the fences at the north and south boundaries of the swim beach. Children must be pre-registered in order to participate. Information on registering and the event is available by calling Lacey Parks and Recreation, (360) 491-0857.

  Over on the Olympic Peninsula's north coast rivers, steelhead anglers on the Sol Duc and Upper Hoh are still averaging one fish per two rods as the season winds down. Fifty anglers on the Sol Duc reported catching 25 wild steelhead and releasing 21 of them on the March 30-April 1 weekend, when 99 anglers fishing the Upper Hoh caught and released 55 wild steelhead. Steelhead fishing will be open through April 15 on the Hoh River and through April 30 on the Sol Duc.

  Even better, 46 anglers on the Bogachiel reported catching 35 wild steelhead and releasing all but seven of them. On the Calawah, three anglers caught and released nine wild steelies. Steelhead fishing will be open through April 30 on the Quillayute River system, which includes the Bogachiel, Calawah, Sol Duc and Quillayute rivers.

  The arrival of the first spring chinook salmon at the Sol Duc Hatchery signals the start of another season ahead. "This springer showed up a little bit later than last year, but now they're on their way," said Brian Russell, WDFW hatchery manager. Russell said he expects somewhat lower numbers from last year's 1,003 count.

  Saltwater anglers can compete for prizes at the 2007 Sekiu Spring Salmon Derby, scheduled April 7-8 with weigh-in at Olson's Resort. First prize for the biggest salmon is $1,000. Anglers 12 and younger can also try their luck by signing up for the Kids Derby Ladder. For more information, call Olson's resort at 360-963-2311, or the Sekiu Chamber of Commerce at 877-812-4933.

  Rather dig razor clams? WDFW is tentatively planning a dig for April 19-22 - the first of the season scheduled on morning tides. If marine toxin tests are favorable, one beach - Twin Harbors - will open for digging Thursday, April 19, joined by Long Beach on Friday, April 20. Those beaches plus Copalis, Mocrocks and Kalaloch will open for digging Saturday, April 21. All beaches except Kalaloch will be open for digging Sunday, April 22. All digging on those beaches must be finished by noon.

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey season runs April 15 through May 31 throughout the state. The general season follows a special hunt April 7-8 for people age 16 and younger. For more information, a Wild Turkey Spring Season brochure is available at WDFW regional office and on the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: For birding enthusiasts who want to take advantage of the new Olympic Loop route, spring's the time to do it. Postings on Tweeters, the birding website http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/digests/, are reporting sightings of the usual and rare birds all around the region.

  Sitting pretty among the snow, cackling, Canada and white-fronted geese along Brady Loop road near Elma are a couple of barnacle geese. If they aren't escapees from someone's collection, these eastern-hemisphere birds are very rare for these parts. Repeated sightings of the distinctive silver, black and white geese have delighted birdwatchers for some time this spring.

  In addition, turkey vultures are back from their winter stay down south and have been spotted all around the Elma area, joining migrating ospreys that have been observed sitting in a long-established nest along the Wenzel Slough Road.

  Southwest of Elma, Grays Harbor County will recognize one of spring's amazing rituals as hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to feed and rest on their northward migration. The 12th annual Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival will be held April 27-29 at Hoquiam High School, offering field trips, lectures and viewings of the yearly birding spectacle that occurs in the Grays Harbor Wildlife refuge and other area sites. More information is available at www.shorebirdfestival.com.

  For those heading north, reports from the recent Olympic Birdfest in Sequim include sightings of ruddy ducks, greater yellow legs, Caspian terns, Anna's hummingbird, mountain bluebirds and a palm warbler.

  Nearby at the Dungeness Spit, birders are finding harlequin ducks, red-breasted mergansers, horned grebes, common loons, northern pintail, scoters, canvasbacks, buffleheads, bald eagles, sanderlings, and red-breasted nuthatches.

  Several gray whales were seen swimming between Bremerton and the Hood Canal Bridge during the last few days of March. Updates on whale sightings are located at http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html, which includes instructions on reporting whales.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Catch rates for spring chinook salmon have been picking up on the lower Columbia River, but not as fast as they did last year. Boat anglers fishing from the Interstate 5 Bridge downstream to Buoy 10 averaged one chinook for every 12.5 rods during the week ending April 1. That compares to an average catch rate of one chinook for every 5.6 rods during the same week last year, when anglers caught an estimated 2,000 springers in just seven days of fishing.

  Through March 2007, nearly 34,000 angler trips produced just 1,200 chinook kept and 350 released.

  "Anglers have been catching spring chinook in fits and starts," said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist. "Just when the fishing starts to pick up, it slacks off again. But the run is still building and the fishery could take off at any time."

  Like last year at this time, boat anglers fishing the Columbia River off Cathlamet have had the highest success rates. The average catch there last week was one spring chinook for every 8.7 rods, compared to one for every three rods during the same time last year.

  Overall, spring chinook fishing on the lower Columbia River has been fairly consistent with this year's pre-season run estimate of 164,000 fish, said Hymer, noting that an estimated 225,000 fish returned to the river last year. With the season in the lower river scheduled to run through April 15, fishery managers from Washington and Oregon are assessing the catch through March in relation to pre-season estimates. Those findings will be posted on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/crc/crcindex.htm by April 4.

  Meanwhile, some spring chinook are starting to show up in the catch on the Lewis River, where the first summer-run hatchery steelhead of the season recently found its way to the trap below Merwin Dam. More summer steelhead and spring chinook should start arriving to the Lewis and Kalama rivers in the weeks ahead, Hymer said.

  Late-run winter steelhead are also still providing some action on the Cowlitz River.

  Eleven boat anglers, mostly at Blue Creek, reported catching six steelies during a creel survey ending April 1. Forty bank anglers caught 10 steelhead and released three others during the same week. No spring chinook were found in the creel but that should change soon. Hymer reminds anglers that no fishing is allowed within a 100-foot radius of the new outlet structure located downstream of the Blue Creek boat ramp at the Cowlitz Hatchery.

  Above Bonneville Dam, fishing has been slow for steelhead and spring chinook salmon on the Columbia River and its tributaries. Anglers have been catching some steelhead in the John Day Pool, but Hymer noted that the chance of catching a springer above Bonneville is still low given that only 87 fish had been counted moving past the dam as of April 2. "That number should increase significantly in the next couple of weeks, said Hymer, noting that more than 8,600 spring chinook passed the dam in a single day last year. He advises anglers to keep an eye on the "dam counts" - available on the Army Corps of Engineers website (https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/fishdata/home.asp) or the DART website (http://www.cbr.washington.edu/dart/adult.html) -- to gauge upriver fishing prospects for spring chinook and steelhead in the days ahead.

  Fishing for legal-size sturgeon has been slow in most areas of the Columbia River except around Vancouver where it's been improving. The Dalles Pool is "catch-and-release" only through the end of the year. Boat anglers are, however, averaging a half to three-quarters of a walleye per rod in the Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day pools. Boat anglers fishing behind John Day Dam are also catching some bass.

  Hundreds of lowland lakes are now being stocked for the statewide trout opener April 28, but many waters around the region offer good fishing right now. Two year-round waters - Silver Lake in Cowlitz County and Swofford Pond in Lewis County - were just planted with catchable-size rainbows at the end of March. Silver Lake received 7,448 of them and Swofford Pond got 3,600. For the latest information on fish plants, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/weekly/ on the WDFW website.

  Trout anglers are also advised that the Lewis River Power Canal will open to fishing from the fishing pier upstream to the access road at Swift Dam on April 28.

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey season runs April 15 through May 31 - two weeks longer than last year - throughout the state. The general season follows a special hunt April 7-8 for young people age 16 and younger. Most turkey hunting in the region focuses on Merriam's turkeys in Klickitat County, but some eastern turkeys can be found in Cowlitz and Lewis counties. For more information, a Wild Turkey Spring Season brochure is available at WDFW regional office and on the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: The mute swan at Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge that drew the attention of birders last year is still there - and apparently as feisty as ever. Wilson Cady, who writes the "Afield" column for the Vancouver Audubon Society, came across the swan March 31 and immediately reported the sighting to the Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/). "This bird was aggressive and displaying even after I got out of my truck and photographed it from about a 50-foot distance," Cady wrote in his online posting. "It then produced a strange call which negated the term `mute' swan."

  Cady didn't describe the call he heard, but mute swans are known to produce a loud hissing sound when agitated. Standing up to four feet tall and weighing as much as 27 pounds, mute swans can be a formidable adversary for animals as large as a fox and are sometimes known to attack humans. "Lonesome George," as the bird Cady spotted is known, was first reported in February 2006 on the main pond at the national wildlife refuge. Common in Europe, mute swans are rare in most parts of the United States, including the Pacific Northwest. Adults can easily be distinguished from trumpeter swans by their bright orange beaks.

  While at the refuge, Cady also spotted an American bittern, several Virginia rails and a common yellowthroat. Birders in the area should also watch for calliope and black-chinned hummingbirds, which begin to show up at feeders in spring. Kingbirds can also be seen perching on fence lines and occasionally taking wing to catch flying insects.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW fish hatchery crews are busy stocking trout in lakes throughout the region in preparation for the April 28 lowland lakes fishing season opener. But they're also stocking waters that are open year-round, and those may be ones to hit now.

  Year-round Eloika Lake, north of Chattaroy off Highway 2 in north Spokane County, recently received 5,000 catchable-size (8-12-inch) brown trout from the Spokane Fish Hatchery. Eloika is actually known best for its spring largemouth bass and crappie fishing. Many Eloika anglers voluntarily practice catch-and-release with the bass to allow them to grow to the four to six-pounders occasionally landed. Crappie anglers at Eloika must follow a nine-inch size minimum and 10-fish daily catch limit.

  Year-round Long Lake, the 5,000-plus-acre reservoir also known as "Lake Spokane" off Long Lake Dam, recently received 2,500 catchable-size (8-12-inch) brown trout from the Spokane Hatchery. Last fall Long Lake received 12,000 cutthroat trout fry and 25,000 brown trout fry that are usually of catchable size by now. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are also fair game in Long Lake, although the bass season shifts to catch-and-release May 1.

  Year-round Rock Lake, near Ewan in northwest Whitman County, has already received some of its 2007 allotment of 30,000 catchable-size (8-12-inch) rainbow trout and 20,000 brown trout. Last fall Rock Lake was stocked with 40,000 rainbow fry and 35,000 brown trout fry.

  "Rock Lake is usually a good bet at this time," said WDFW fish biologist Jason McLellan. "Some really nice browns and rainbows come out of there by those who know how to navigate it in a boat." Rock Lake is notoriously windy and its 2,000-plus acres of narrow, long, and deep waters have basalt shelves that, if not avoided, can be boat-eaters, he explained.

  McLellan says recent overcast, windy, rainy and even snowy days of spring might not be comfortable for fishing, but they can actually make for just as good catching as sunny days. Trout and other fish have excellent eyesight, he explained, and there is no evidence that those conditions hamper their ability to see food sources.

  Lakes that opened March 1 continue to provide good fishing. Coffeepot Lake, northeast of Odessa in Lincoln County, is yielding rainbow trout mostly in the 15 to 22-inch range. Coffeepot has selective gear rules with a daily limit of one trout with a minimum size of 18 inches. Southwest Spokane County's Amber Lake, under catch-and-release rules, is providing 11 to 22-inch rainbows and an occasional cutthroat trout. Amber shifts to a catch-and-keep season for two trout daily on April 28. North Silver Lake in Spokane County was recently stocked with 2,500 catchable-size (8-12-inch) rainbows. North Silver is under selective gear rules with a two-trout daily limit and 14-inch minimum size.

  In the south end of the region, the Tucannon River impoundments open since March 1 - Beaver, Big Four, Blue, Deer, Rainbow, Spring and Watson - continue to produce good catches of eight to 12-inch rainbows. Fishhook Pond, east of Burbank in Walla Walla County, has also been open since March 1 and has been restocked since then with catchable-size rainbows.

  Other southeast waters open year-round that were recently stocked with catchable-size rainbows include Asotin County's Golf Course, Silcott and West Evans ponds; Columbia County's Dam, Dayton Juvenile, and Orchard ponds; Walla Walla County's Jefferson Park and Lions Park (College Place) ponds for juveniles, and Quarry Pond and Bennington Lake (Mill Creek Reservoir); and Whitman County's Pampa and Riparia ponds. For hatchery trout stocking numbers per waterway, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/index.htm.

  WDFW Enforcement Officer Rob McQuary of Walla Walla recently checked anglers on the lower Walla Walla River and Columbia River. "The channel catfish are starting to bite," he reported, " but cold temperatures are keeping the fish from cooperating."

• Hunting: The northeast part of the region is ready for the thousands of hunters expected to flock to the opening of the wild turkey hunting season April 15. With turkey densities greatest in Stevens County, the town of Colville calls itself the "Wild Turkey Capital of Washington" and celebrates with "Wild Turkey Daze" events, from a Wild Turkey Federation banquet on April 7 to a five-kilometer fun run on April 21. Young hunters - those under 16 years of age - get a head start with a special turkey season April 7-8.

  WDFW wildlife biologist Dana Base of Colville reports turkey-hunting opportunities in game management units 101-136 should again be the best in the state. "Over the last week or so I've been hearing turkeys gobble most every morning and evening," he said, "and I've even some toms displaying. The turkeys are also broken into smaller groups now and are moving back into spring and summer range, away from the livestock pastures and backyard feeders that typically comprise turkeys' 'winter range'." Base noted that winter itself is not quite over in the northeast with recent snowstorms leaving good tracking conditions.

  The second best place in the state to hunt turkeys, at least in terms of traditional harvest rates, is the southeast part of the region, in game management units 139-186. There the birds are Rio Grandes, (rather than the Merriam's subspecies of the northeast), and gobbling and displaying toms have also been heard and seen regularly.

  The spring turkey season runs two weeks longer this year, through May 31. All turkey hunters should study all regulation details in the Washington Wild Turkey Spring Season pamphlet, available at WDFW offices, license dealers, and at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm.

  Spring black bear hunting also starts April 15 and runs through May 31 for 225 hunters who drew special permits in eastern Washington game management units. With healthy bear populations, 70 of those permits are new this year in northeast units.

  All bear and turkey hunters must report their hunting activity either by telephone (877-945-3492) or on the Internet at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. The report information is used by WDFW to better monitor hunter effort, distribution, harvest and trends.

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW wildlife biologist Dana Base of Colville reports elk are beginning to come out into traditional meadow environments where the grass has been greening up. "Fairly reliable places to see elk this time of year include Calispell Lake and Johnnie Georges Fields in Pend Oreille County, and Mitchell Flats and Spirit Junction in north Stevens County," he said.

  North Spokane County area commuters who use the Bruce-Argonne Road route in early morning have been enjoying roadside views of elk on Peone Prairie, where a growing herd uses greening agricultural fields for that spring forage.

  WDFW wildlife biologist Howard Ferguson of Spokane recently checked on the bald eagle nesting pair at Clear Lake in southwest Spokane County. One eagle was apparently incubating eggs while the other was flying around the lake, perhaps looking for a meal of fish. Ferguson also observed hundreds of common mergansers using the lake.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW district fish biologist Jeff Korth of Moses Lake reports the "April Fool's Day" fishing season opener in the Columbia Basin produced decent catches of large fish for lots of anglers, although blustery spring weather "may have put a damper on the overall catch-per-angler averages." On the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge north of Othello in Grant County, Upper Hampton Lake anglers averaged about 1-1/2 fish each. Catches were mostly 15-inch rainbow trout, with about 42 percent running a little over 19 inches. Lower Hampton Lake anglers averaged less than one fish each, most running a little less than 14 inches, with 40 percent near 20 inches. Most Lower Hampton anglers were releasing eight to 10-inch yearling rainbows caught on lures or flies.

  The Pillar-Widgeon chain of lakes, and other small "seep" lakes south of Potholes Reservoir that opened April 1, were not checked as extensively. Widgeon Lake anglers averaged two fish each that ran about 17 inches. Other fish checked at these waters averaged 15 to 17 inches.

  Dry Falls Lake, just west of Coulee City in northern Grant County, also opened April 1 for selective gear fishing and a one-trout daily catch limit. Many anglers caught and released up to four fish each, including 14-inch yearlings and 16-18-inch carryovers including brown trout. Many eight to 10-inch rainbows, from fall fingerling stocking, were also caught and released. Korth says spring fingerling plants at Dry Falls have had poor survival the past three years or more, so last fall more fingerlings were stocked. "That should translate into more two-plus-year-olds and better catch rates in the future," he said.

  Korth also noted that three Grant County waters, with selective gear rules and a one-trout daily catch limit, are receiving 1½-pound triploid trout this week or next: year-round Beda Lake just south of Winchester Wasteway, and March 1-opening Lenice and Nunnally lakes in the Crab Creek Wildlife Area east of Beverly.

  Some large (several pound) rainbows have reportedly been recently caught on Potholes Reservoir. Walleye fishing is expected to pick up at Potholes soon. Rufus Woods Lake, the 7,800-acre Columbia River reservoir on the Douglas-Okanogan county line, is still producing catches of big rainbows.

  WDFW district fish biologist Bob Jateff of Omak reports good catch rates on nine to 10-inch rainbows at Spectacle Lake on the April 1 season opener. Spectacle, which is near the town of Loomis in Okanogan County, also produced a few carryover trout to 13 inches. "Spectacle should continue to provide good fishing throughout its six month season," said Jateff. "Anglers need to remember that when fishing with bait, the first five fish caught are part of the daily limit whether released or kept."

  Washburn Island Pond near Brewster in Okanogan County also opened April 1, mostly for catches of largemouth bass and bluegill. "We encourage anglers to remove as many bluegill as possible from Washburn to provide a more balanced fishery," Jateff said. He notes internal combustion engines are prohibited in Washburn, but electric motors can be used and there's a well-developed boat launch at the site.

  Other lakes in Okanogan County that opened April 1, but are under catch-and-release and selective gear rules, are Davis Lake near Winthrop, Rat Lake near Brewster, and Green and Lower Green lakes near Omak. All are producing 10 to 12-inch rainbows and all have access sites with boat launching facilities.

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey hunting season for youth only is April 7-8, with the season for all hunters opening April 15 and running two weeks longer this year, through May 31. Merriam's subspecies turkeys are gobbling in the woods of Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties and should provide good opportunities.

  All turkey hunters must report their hunting activity either by telephone (877-945-3492) or on the Internet at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. The report information is used by WDFW to better monitor hunter effort, distribution, harvest and trends.

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW wildlife biologist Rich Finger recently observed the arrival of Caspian terns at Potholes Reservoir in the Columbia Basin. "Forester's terns and black terns should soon follow," he said. "In the northern portions of Potholes Reservoir, Western and Clark's grebes are beginning courtship displays, where males and females perform a synchronized 'dance' along the water surface -- a real treat to observe." Finger warned that boaters should travel very slowly in these areas during the breeding season. "Boat wakes tend to destroy nests which are typically attached to emergent willows," he explained.

  Good numbers of sandhill cranes remain visible in the farmfields south of Potholes Reservoir. Although the post-Othello Sandhill Crane Festival tours that run through April 7 are fully booked, crane watchers can slowly cruise the backroads from Othello to Basin City in Franklin County to watch the last of the birds foraging before continuing their migration north to breeding grounds in Canada.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW Yakima and Kittitas counties district fish biologist Eric Anderson reports that stocking of year-round fishing lakes with hatchery rainbow trout that was scheduled to start this month got an early start because of good numbers of fish at Naches Hatchery.

  "Since we're not planting Wenas Lake this year because there's no public access, we're re-distributing the extra fish among the other lakes," he said. "Along with the larger triploid rainbows that are going into the south central region's lakes this week and next, we will have some fantastic fishing action here this month."

  Anglers can check the South Central Washington trout stocking schedule on the website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/regions/reg3/index.htm. Anderson also noted that the actual weekly plants are updated every Thursday at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/weekly/.

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey hunting season for youth only is April 7-8, with the season for all hunters opening on April 15 and running two weeks longer this year, through May 31. Although the south central region is not a hot spot for harvest overall, nearby Klickitat County is a good bet. Expanding turkey populations in game management units 382, 388, 578, 574, 572 and 568 are expected to provide as much as ten percent of the statewide harvest. All turkey hunters must report their hunting activity either by telephone (877-945-3492) or on the Internet at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/.

  Another kind of hunting draws lots of interest at this time of year, but participants will have to wait until May for their favorite "hunting" grounds to open. WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area southwest of Yakima is popular for collectors of shed elk and deer antlers because elk are winter-fed there. But area manager John McGowan reminds enthusiasts that entry remains closed until May 1 to protect wildlife from disturbance during late winter-early spring. Oak Creek's headquarters area off Highway 12 is the usual access point for "shed hunters" on foot or horseback, and the Oak Creek and Bethel Ridge roads are popular for vehicle access. All will open at 8 a.m. May 1.

• Wildlife viewing: The golden eagle pair that traditionally nests on the cliffs above the Tieton River, on a portion of WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area in Yakima County, has picked its nest site for this year. And that means the closure since early February of the lower section of the Tieton River Trail has been lifted.

  WDFW habitat technician Bruce Berry, who works at the wildlife area, explained that because the eagles pick a different nest site each year, the whole lower end of the trail is closed to all use until the eagles settle into nesting. "Then we post an off-limits area around that particular nest site," he said, "and allow hikers and climbers to use other parts of the three mile section." This year access to the Royal Columns and Bend climbing areas will be available because the eagles nested elsewhere. Berry noted that some years the eagles pick the climbing areas to nest and they are off-limits until mid-July. "This year everyone's happy," he said, "eagles and climbers." Berry said the nesting eagles can be spotted within 300 yards of the open portion of the trail.