July 24-Aug. 6, 2002

Contact: Doug Williams, (360) 902-2256

OLYMPIA – Salmon anglers in Washington state will continue to have plenty of fishing options in the weeks ahead, including a recently announced three-day Lake Washington sockeye salmon fishery, scheduled July 26-28.

The sockeye fishery, the first since 2000, is the latest in a wide range of fishing opportunities stretching from the Pacific coast and Puget Sound to the upper Columbia River.

On the coast, catch rates for chinook salmon have been so high that fisheries managers at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) became concerned that an early closure might be necessary to avoid exceeding the quota. To help prolong the season – and extend fishing opportunities for coho salmon – WDFW increased minimum size limits on chinook to 26 inches in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) and to 28 inches in Marine areas 2, 3 and 4 (Leadbetter Point to Neah Bay).

Further south, fall chinook fishing opens Aug. 1 in Buoy 10 waters at the mouth of the Columbia River, with near-record numbers of fish expected to return. Tules, those lower Columbia hatchery fish known for their strong performance on the line, are expected to make up half the run.

Anyone tired of salmon fishing on the ocean can switch to halibut fishing for one day only, Aug. 3, in Marine areas 3 (LaPush) and 4 (Neah Bay).

Then there's great hatchery summer-run steelhead fishing in the lower Columbia tributaries, such as the Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis rivers, and improving summer steelhead fishing in rivers on the north Olympic coast and in northern Puget Sound, where great fishing for Dungeness crab can also be found.

The upper Columbia River is awash in both chinook salmon and chinook salmon anglers, particularly below the Wells Dam, where fish are averaging about 12 pounds. Meanwhile, trout and bass are being caught in lakes throughout western Washington, while bass, catfish, walleye and other fish can still be caught in eastern Washington lakes.

The entire state has received its share of warm, dry weather, heightening wildfire fears. Fishers, campers, hikers and other outdoors enthusiasts are urged to check for local for burn bans and to use extreme caution with fire.

Hunters should bear in mind that Aug. 3 is the deadline for purchasing raffle tickets for this fall's special big game permit hunts. The special permits are for one additional buck deer (no restriction on antler points), two bull elk (one additional eastside, one additional westside without restrictions on antler points), one moose (either sex), one mountain goat and one bighorn sheep ram. Tickets are $5 each, except for sheep which are $10 per ticket. For more information see page 22 of the Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet available at WDFW offices, license dealers, or on the department's website.

Those who need to take the Hunter Education course, required before a hunting license can be purchased for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1972, are encouraged to enroll during the month of August. Check the course listings by county on pages 70-72 of the statewide hunting pamphlet.

Details on all the fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the state can be found in the following regional reports:

North Puget Sound:

• Fishing: Lake Washington will grab the spotlight from other salmon-fishing areas when the first sockeye fishery in two years opens for a three-day fishery, July 26-28. Additional sport fishing opportunities could be added after fisheries managers review catch data from the initial fishery. Watch for news about additional sockeye fisheries on the WDFW website. WDFW Fisheries Biologist Curt Kraemer offers the following advice for those who haven't fished for sockeye in Lake Washington: "The best gear to use is usually either a size 3/0 bare colored hook (red or silver or gold) trolled very slowly behind a flasher, or a U-20 Flatfish in a red, silver or gold pattern," he said. The depth of the fish is variable, so anglers will have to adjust their gear up or down depending on what the depth finder is showing. Expect to catch fish in the 5-pound range, with a few fish coming in a little heavier. "Bleed the fish right away and get them on ice as soon as possible," Kraemer advises. "If you take care of them right away, they'll be some of the best-tasting fish you'll ever eat." Terminal fisheries in Elliott and Tulalip bays continue on their weekly schedule, with some nice chinook salmon being taken, particularly in the Tulalip Bay bubble fishery, but overall catch-per-angler effort has been pretty low in both terminal fisheries, according to fish checks. The "Tulalip Bubble" is open 12:01 a.m. Friday through 11:59 a.m. Monday of each week, with a two-fish daily limit. The Elliott Bay fishery is open on a Friday through Sunday schedule each week through Aug. 18, with a two-fish daily limit. All chum must be released. Anglers have taken a few nice chinook lately from the San Juan Islands as well, including one 51-pound slab caught a few weeks ago off the west side of San Juan Island itself. Marine Area 8-1, including Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay, opens to salmon fishing Aug. 1. All chinook must be safely released. The same rule applies for Marine Area 8-2, which also opens for salmon fishing Aug. 1. A few coho salmon are also starting to show up in some portions of northern Puget Sound. After getting off to a difficult start with the early summer's unusually high water, northern Puget Sound's steelhead fishery has settled into a more typical pattern, with steelies holing up in the usual places. The Skykomish, Green and Stillaguamish rivers all have decent numbers of steelhead in them, and fishing pressure has been reported light. The Reiter Pond area on the Skykomish opens for steelhead fishing beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 27. Check the 2002/2003 "Fishing in Washington" regulations pamphlet for detailed information about seasons, gear restrictions and other information. Trout fishers in lakes will either have to go deep to find fish in the warm weather during the day, or restrict their fishing time to first light or just before dark. Try trolling a small fly on a light leader, or go deep with a single egg and very little weight. Crabbers are reminded that the northernmost part of Marine Area 7 remains closed to crab fishing until sampling indicates more legal-sized crab are hard shelled. In the portion of Marine Area 7 which recently opened for Dungeness crab fishing, success remains good. "Crabbers are getting their limits and they aren't encountering too many crab with soft shells in the area between Larrabee State Park and Eliza Island" reports WDFW Shellfish Biologist Don Velasquez. Crabbers in the Everett area are having more trouble getting their limits. "The season opened earliest here and the high effort has probably contributed to lower catch rates in that area," he said. Clam harvesters and beach explorers have good minus tide conditions in the next few weeks. There's a nice minus tide in the early afternoon of July 26, while good minus tides for Aug. 5-8 in the late morning hours should provide plenty of access to clam beds. Check the WDFW 2002/2003 "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet or the shellfishing section of the WDFW webpage at http:www.wdfw\.wa\.gov for details on seasons, gear and regulations. The shellfish rule change hotline is at (866) 880-5431.

• Wildlife viewing: Good low tides over the next few weeks will give beachcombers an up-close look at marine life that's usually hidden under water. Keep children in hand around the water's edge, and don't let dogs run free –– there are often juvenile marine mammals such as harbor seal pups alone on the beach at this time of year. If you do spot young wildlife, give it a wide berth and keep pets and children away. There's been a thick stream of sockeye salmon going through the Ballard Locks, and the show promises to be good for at least a few more weeks. Check bays and estuaries throughout northern Puget Sound, including the Samish Flats, or the Skagit Wildlife Area, for thick flocks of shorebirds working the tidelines for food – and watch for peregrine falcons patrolling those same areas and preying on shorebirds. Backyard bird enthusiasts are reminded to keep birdbaths and other water sources filled with fresh water during the warm weather – many resident and migratory birds depend on these neighborhood watering holes.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Fishing: Coho salmon are accounting for an increasing share of the catch in the red-hot salmon fishery off the Washington coast, although anglers are still pulling two chinook aboard for every coho they catch in Marine Area 2 (Westport). Concerned that anglers could reach the coastwide chinook harvest guideline before they can take full advantage of this year's coho quota, WDFW imposed new size limits on chinook to help prevent early closure of the season. Starting July 21, the minimum size limit for chinook was raised from 24 inches to 28 inches in Marine Areas 2 through 4 (Leadbetter Point to Neah Bay). In addition, a new 26-inch size limit was imposed in Marine Area 1 off of Ilwaco, where the chinook tend to be smaller and coho more abundant. As of July 21, anglers had caught approximately 49 percent of the coastwide chinook allocation, but just 9 percent of the coastwide coho quota, according to WDFW estimates. While fishing remains good in all four ocean areas, it's hard to beat the Hoh River when it comes to producing lunkers. Bill Freymond, WDFW fish biologist, reports that eight anglers on four guided trips caught six adult chinook last week weighing up to 48 pounds. Most of the run is comprised of 5-year-old fish, many in the 30- to 40-pound range, and fishing should remain good in the weeks ahead, Freymond said. He reminds anglers that all wild steelhead caught on the Hoh must be released and that selective gear rules are in effect above Willoughby Creek and in the South Fork Hoh. On the lower part of the nearby Calawah, hatchery summer steelhead are plentiful but "spooky" (easily scared off the bite), providing a challenge for skilled fly or spin anglers. Bait, of course, is also effective, especially sand shrimp on light line with the smallest possible hook, very early in the morning. Summer runs have also been returning to WDFW's Sol Duc Hatchery, which means they are available throughout the lower Sol Duc River. Remember that all wild (unmarked) chinook and coho must be released through August and that the Elwha River is closed to fishing from the mouth to the outlet of the WDFW rearing channel through September 30 to protect wild chinook listed as "threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act. For those who like their fish big and flat, there will be a one-day recreational halibut fishery in Marine areas 3 (LaPush) and 4 (Neah Bay) Aug. 3 to allow anglers to harvest the remainder of this year's quota. Those looking to harvest crab or shrimp have a number of choices within the region, although the shrimp fishery in the Port Angeles Shrimp District closed July 22. For an update on open shellfish areas, call WDFW's toll free Shellfish Hotline at 1-866-880-5431.

• Wildlife viewing: Weekend naturalists interested in expanding their understanding of the marine environment while contributing to valuable research projects might consider booking a trip aboard the Mary Beth, a 43-foot research vessel running full- and half-day excursions out of Port Townsend. Passengers have an opportunity to monitor water quality, record shellfish catches and log plankton data while observing seabirds, seals and other marine mammals. An underwater camera also allows passengers to view the undersea world below deck during tours of Port Townsend Bay, Sequim Bay and the entrance to Discovery Bay. "Our passengers have been truly excited about making a contribution to science while they explore Washington's marine environment," said Jim Norris, owner of Marine Resources Consultants, which operates the tours in partnership with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Dubbed the "Menzies Project" after the shipboard naturalist aboard Capt. George Vancouver's 1792 visit to Puget Sound, the partnership is also helping WDFW with important crab and shrimp research in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. "This kind of intensive, hands-on research can be prohibitively expensive for a public agency," said Rich Childers, WDFW shellfish biologist. "We expect that the data we receive from the Menzies Project to play a major role in our management of the crab and shrimp resource." Information about research cruises is available on the Internet or by calling (800) 566-3932.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: With Buoy 10 opening Aug. 1 for salmon, anglers will likely find the fall chinook action just getting better as the month continues, says Joe Hymer, WDFW regional fish biologist. In the estuary, the chinook bite mainly on herring with some anglers using flashers to entice their catch. Anglers are reminded that most of the Buoy 10 area is Oregon water and thus subject to Oregon rules regarding party fishing. Unlike Washington, which moved to allow party fishing in areas where saltwater licenses are valid, Oregon requires each fisher who has limited to stop fishing even if others on the boat have not caught their fish. Further up the Columbia, the fish tend to be found in 30- to 40-foot-deep waters in the mainstem and at the mouths of tributaries such as the Cowlitz, Lewis, and Little White Salmon rivers. That's because the migrating chinook tend to seek out cooler water of the tributaries as the Columbia temperature rises. Mainstem Columbia water temperatures measured at Bonneville Dam are already nearing 68 degrees and continue to rise, Hymer notes. Also "hot" right now is hatchery summer steelhead fishing in the lower Columbia tributaries. The best results are found on the Cowlitz River where boat fishers were averaging 1.2 steelhead per rod and bank fishers were bringing in an average of a fish for every four rods last week. Fishing has been particularly good from Mission Bar upstream to the Barrier Dam. There are still lots of hatchery steelhead in the Kalama and Lewis rivers where, as in the Cowlitz, a number of returning hatchery fish are being recycled back downstream for additional angler opportunity. Anglers are reminded the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers have a three hatchery steelhead daily limit. On the lower mainstem Columbia, bank anglers averaged one fish kept or released per every 5.5 rods last week with the best results from Kalama downstream to Cathlamet. Boat anglers at the mouths of the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers should begin to take advantage of this year's steelhead bonanza as the upriver fish seek temporary refuge in the cooler waters found at the mouth of the rivers. Yesterday, 5,500 steelhead were counted at Bonneville Dam; the run doesn't typically peak until early August. An estimated 450,000 upriver steelhead are expected to enter the mouth of the Columbia in 2002, which would be the second- largest return on record. Steelhead action on the lower Wind and White Salmon rivers and Drano Lake should improve steadily as the fish counts increase and the mainstem warms, Hymer said. Sturgeon fishers are reminded that all sturgeon must be released beginning July 25 in lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam. Catch-and-release fishing will be in effect through Sept. 30. Trout fishers are finding a number of recently planted rainbows in Mayfield Lake, as well as land-locked coho in Riffe Lake. At Lake Scanewa (Cowlitz Falls Reservoir) some 3,000 catchable-size rainbows are scheduled to be planted the last week of July, and Skate Creek and the Tilton River are also scheduled for stocking through the summer. Warmwater fishers are doing well at John Day Pool where walleye catches last week were averaging three-quarters of a fish per rod for boat anglers.

• Wildlife viewing: The Kosmos Unit of the Cowlitz Wildlife Area was a great place for waterfowl and raptors last week including sightings of a resident bald eagle, a Northern harrier, Canada geese and mallards. Great blue herons also are frequently sighted on several different units. Visitors to the Cowlitz Wildlife Area are reminded to use special caution due to current logging activities on Peterman Ridge, the Champion Haul Road (Kosmos Unit), 400 and 300 haul lines on the south side of Riffe Lake and toward Cowlitz Falls. Yield to log trucks, use extreme caution around corners and stay to on the right of the roadway. Drivers parking along haul roads should be careful not to block logging truck traffic or impair other drivers' line of sight. Parking at Taidnapam Park is highly recommended for safety. Recently large streaming groups of cascade frog tadpoles were observed in clear water at Forlorn Lakes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. These "lines" of tadpoles followed shoreline contours when making their migration from one part of the small lake to another. In some cases they congregated near the shoreline in dense masses One small adult frog was also found at the shoreline near one of these masses. Birder Stuart Johnson recently reported an American redstart breeding at Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve in Klickitat County. This is a new breeding record for the species in Klickitat County. The redstart is more commonly found in eastern deciduous forests and extends its range into the northern boreal forests of the northern United States and Canada. The American redstart is a very active bird even by the standards of warblers, and is commonly seen catching flies and other flying insects in the air. The bird has the habit of fanning its brightly marked tail from side to side. The male bird requires a full year to acquire its distinctive black and orange coloration.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: High country lakes are producing some good trout fishing these days. Small lakes at elevation throughout the Colville National Forest in Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties – many with nice campgrounds to make a weekend of it – are good bets. Despite the summer's heat, there's still good trout fishing in Spokane area lakes during morning and evening hours. WDFW fish biologist Chris Donley reports that catch rates remain strong at Fishtrap Lake in Lincoln County. "This is a good time of year for anglers to get out and get busy catching warmwater fish," Donley said. No particular lake is any better than any other right now, he says, but try Chapman's largemouth and smallmouth bass, Long Lake's bass, perch, crappie, and bullhead catfish, or Newman Lake's bass, bluegill, and tiger muskies. The sloughs and backwaters of the Snake River in the south end of the region are producing some decent channel catfish and bass catches now, too.

• Wildlife viewing: Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area in Lincoln County recently saw an influx of double-crested cormorants on the west lake near the road. Area manager Juli Anderson notes that earlier white pelicans and Great blue herons were on the east lake, but moved just moved north, possibly up to Coffeepot Lake or other waterways. Area assistant manager Mike Finch reports that at least one of the kestrel boxes at Swanson Lakes produced three to five offspring this year, based on the five he saw sitting on the ground under the box last week. All of the birds had adult plumage already, so Finch wasn't sure if two were the parents, or all were "kids." A river otter has been spotted by anglers at southwest Spokane County's Williams Lake; others have also been recently reported near the shoreline of upper Long Lake. "A Look at the Animals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition" is the topic of the next campground interpretive program starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park, in Columbia County, five miles west of the Touchet River Bridge in Dayton. The summer program series, celebrating the anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is conducted by park ranger Gary Lentz, who can be reached at 509-337-6457 for more information. WDFW fish biologist Debbie Milks of Dayton suggests your own Lewis-and-Clark-like exploration of southeast Washington with a day-long road trip: From Washtucna, take Highway 261 south six miles then turn left to continue on 261 for nine miles to the Palouse Falls turn off. Along the winding road through wheatfields, rangeland, and basalt cliffs you'll see hawks, meadow larks, pheasants, chukars, coyotes, marmots, and mule deer. As you turn off 261 you'll head down a dirt road through rangeland. You may think you're lost or have taken the wrong road, but keep going. Eventually you'll cross railroad tracks and end up in a small but quaint park overlooking Palouse Falls. You won't be able to see the falls until you walk over to the view point, located on top of a cliff. The falls are breathtaking, with rock formations at the top that look like chimneys and spires. The water plunges over the cliff into a round pool and often you'll see a rainbow in the spray. Looking downstream is beautiful, the perfect place for landscape photography. You may even see a rattlesnake hiding in the grass – remember, this is eastern Washington. After you leave the park, head south for six miles on 261 to Lyons Ferry Hatchery. If you call ahead (509-646-3454), you can schedule a tour, or just stop by the visitor center. The hatchery raises rainbow trout, steelhead, and spring and fall chinook salmon. You might see one of the two fighter aircraft that train daily from Spokane's Fairchild Air Force Base buzzing through the canyons, down the Palouse River, over the Snake River and south toward Prescott. It's really a rush to hear them – and a reminder of changes since Lewis and Clark. As you're leaving the hatchery, notice the Joso railroad bridge over the Snake River, one of the largest horse shoe railroad bridges in the country. Have a picnic at Lyons Ferry State Park, located at the mouth of the Palouse River, where you'll find a sign with Lewis and Clark information. The ferry is still there, although it has degraded and is no longer running. This ferry carried people and cars across the Snake River before the bridge was erected. Continue on 261 south over the Snake River. As you begin to cross the bridge, look up on the left side for an osprey nest where two adults are often feeding fish to young. Continue on to see Little Goose Dam, the historic town of Dayton, or on to Walla Walla and the Whitman Mission National Historical Site where you can walk a part of the Oregon Trail.

• Hunting: Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area manager Juli Anderson reports that mourning doves are starting to show up "in all the usual places" at the 19,000-acre area in central Lincoln County. With dove hunting season starting on the first of September, it's not too early to scout and Anderson recommends hunters check out the section of Seven Springs Dairy Road between Reiber Road and Grant Road.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: The upper Columbia River summer chinook salmon fishery is going strong and WDFW regional fish program manager Joe Foster says it looks like the best area is the section open in the Wells Pool. Foster reports that creel checks show anglers averaging about one adult salmon per boat, many with the two-adult limit, and some landing three or four. Most are the in 12-pound range. "So far fishing pressure has not been too high," Foster said. "It's mostly an early morning show, just prior to sunrise, about 4:30 a.m, until about 8 or 9 a.m. Trolling flashers and herring or sardines seems best, with fair action on Wiggle Warts and some other silly-named lures." Right below Wells Dam has been productive in the past during this special fishery, Foster noted, but no specific creel checks are available from there. The Wenatchee confluence is usually another popular area, but Foster notes that this year it has been hampered by very high flows in the river, and thus very poor success by anglers. "Lots of water is being passed down out of Grand Coulee," Foster explained. The Columbia is open through mid-October in the stretch from Priest Rapids Dam upstream to Wells Dam, and between the State Route 173 bridge near Brewster and the State Route 17 bridge at Bridgeport, including the extreme lower portion of the Okanogan River, downstream of the U.S. 97 bridge to the mouth. The daily limit is six salmon, but no more than two can be adult fish. All sockeye salmon and steelhead must be released unharmed. Coho salmon caught above Priest Rapids Dam must be released unharmed. Trout fishing has been good at several Okanogan County lakes, including Conconully Reservoir, Fish Lake and Spectacle Lake. Spectacle closes July 31st but is producing some nice fish right to the end. Potholes Reservoir in the Columbia Basin has been yielding some whopper walleye. Some tagged walleye have been caught and anglers are reminded to report those to the WDFW regional office in Ephrata at 509-754-4624. Potholes perch fishing remains slow because the water level is so high. That extra water has made sand dune boating on the reservoir easy, though. Potholes rainbow trout are running up to four pounds, both from the Mardon Resort dock and from boats.

• Wildlife viewing: Todd Bararstad, WDFW assistant manager of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in Okanogan County, reports that despite smoky skies from the fire on Lake Chelan, there's lots of wildlife watching opportunity throughout the county. "Deer are busy growing their antlers and their fawns," he says," and blue grouse, quail and chukar are becoming more and more visible now that their broods are mobile." There are also duck families on local waterways and a variety of summer songbirds to enjoy, from rosy finches at high elevations to mountain bluebirds in the meadows. Wherever you recreate outdoors in northcentral Washington at this time, be careful with anything that could start more wildfires.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: The special summer chinook salmon fishery that recently opened on the mid Columbia River in the stretch northwest of the Tri-Cities has been slow. WDFW's latest creek checks in the Vernita and Waluke slope areas, within the open stretch from the Old Hanford townsite's wooden powerline crossing upstream to Priest Rapids Dam, showed little fishing effort and catch. That season, not listed in the pamphlet, remains open through mid-August to allow anglers to take advantage of healthy runs. The standard salmon season (under permanent regulations) opening Aug. 16. WDFW fish biologists Rick Watson and Paul Hoffarth also report similar conditions in the special hatchery chinook season that also just opened in the Columbia south of the Tri-Cities. Their latest checks between McNary and the 395 bridge showed very few anglers and few fish. That fishery, also not listed in the pamphlet, continues through the end of July, from Bonneville Dam upstream to Highway 395 bridge at Pasco. The Columbia's standard fall salmon season, as listed in the pamphlet, will open Aug. 1 from the mouth of the Columbia upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco, with the usual 12-inch minimum and six-salmon-per-day catch limit with no more than two adult fish in the catch.

• Wildlife viewing: Time to head for the high country with its cooler temperatures and better opportunities to catch glimpses of wildlife. The high lakes on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, many in the Goat Rocks, William O. Douglas, and Norse Peak Wilderness Areas of the Wenatchee National Forest, are good destinations for wildlife watching. Marmots and pikas are almost sure bets. Elk and mountain goats are possible. Woodpeckers, forest grouse, gray jays, crossbills, rosy finches, and hundreds of other birds are at least heard, if not seen. And if you hike up to an alpine lake and spend time camping or picnicking there, watch for frogs, toads, and other amphibians along the shoreline. Pick up a copy of "Primer for High Lakes" in WDFW's Southcentral regional office in Yakima (call 509-575-2740 to have one mailed); the primer lists some "drive to" and "hike to" lakes, with the "hike to" lakes further divided according to level of difficulty (easy/moderate to difficult), generally based on distance from nearest trailhead. Or check out http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee for more information.

• Hunting: Young Yakima-area hunters preparing for this fall's seasons have an extra chance to take the required Hunter Education course during the first two weekends of August (Aug. 3, 4, 10, and 11). Offered by certified instructor Butch Buffaloe, this course is not listed in the hunting pamphlet with other earlier-scheduled courses. Registration is being taken at Shooter's Supply at the corner of Tieton and Queen in Yakima.