For those who think the weather's been hot, consider the salmon-fishing opportunities coming up in the days ahead:

• Lake Washington: A three-day sockeye fishery is set to begin Saturday, July 29, and run through Monday, July 31. In 2004, the last time the fishery opened, anglers caught 27,600 sockeye within a few miles of downtown Seattle.

• Buoy 10: The mouth of the Columbia River opens for salmon fishing Aug. 1 as tens of thousands of chinook and coho press in from the coast. Although the fishery doesn't usually peak until the end of the month, anglers often pick up some nice fish on opening day.

• Pacific Ocean: Fishing is finally picking up off the Washington coast, with average catch rates ranging from one to 1.5 salmon per angler. Starting Aug. 11, the fishery will open seven days per week coastwide and anglers will be able to keep up to two chinook per day.

• Northcentral Washington: Fishing for chinook salmon recently opened on sections of the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers, after 25,000 fish passed Rocky Reach Dam. Many of those fish are expected to enter the fishery soon.

"Salmon fishing really heats up at this time of year," said Tim Flint, statewide salmon manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "Anglers have some choices to make with so many fishing opportunities available around the state."

For many in the Seattle area, the choice is simple.

"The sockeye fishery in Lake Washington is hugely popular, partly because the chance of catching salmon is so high," Flint said. "That, along with the metropolitan setting, really makes the fishery a unique experience."

To participate, anglers must carry a freshwater or combination fishing license and salmon catch record card. Any salmon that is not released must be immediately recorded on the catch record card. Under freshwater fishing rules, anglers may only fish with one rod and must stop fishing once they have reached their personal daily limit. For additional information, see the North Sound regional report below.

Regardless of where they fish, salmon anglers should consult the Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet for changes in fishing regulations that occur Aug. 1 in many waters, Flint said. The pamphlet is available wherever fishing licenses are sold and on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

For more information on fishing and other outdoor experiences currently available throughout the state, see the region reports below.

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Anglers will have a chance to catch some sockeye salmon on Lake Washington after all. An unexpected three-day recreational fishery for sockeye in the lake is set to begin July 29, and last through July 31.

  After a couple weeks of higher-than-anticipated sockeye counts at the Ballard Locks, state and tribal salmon co-managers agreed to update the strength of the Lake Washington sockeye run to about 411,000 salmon. The new sockeye projection, which includes expected returns through August, is well above the spawning escapement goal of 350,000 salmon.

  "This summer's sockeye return to Lake Washington is larger than anticipated and strong enough to allow for an exciting recreational fishery," said Tim Flint, WDFW salmon resource manager. "This is a one-of-a-kind fishery."

  Fishing will be allowed from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. The daily limit is two sockeye, measuring at least 15 inches. All other salmon must be immediately released unharmed. No fishing will be allowed within 100 yards of the floating bridges. Waters within 1,000 feet of the mouth of the Cedar River in Renton also will be closed to all fishing.

  Anglers must carry a freshwater or combination fishing license and salmon catch record card. Any salmon that is not released must be immediately recorded on the catch record card. Under freshwater fishing rules, anglers may only fish with one rod and must stop fishing once they have reached their personal daily limit.

  Elsewhere in the region, anglers only have a few days left to hook a sockeye on the Baker River. That fishery, which is open from the mouth of the river to the Highway 20 Bridge at Concrete, wraps up July 31. The daily limit is two sockeye at least 12 inches in length.

  On the Skykomish River, the spring chinook fishery also remains open through the end of July. The Sky is open from the Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe to the Wallace River, and has a daily limit of two hatchery chinook at least 12 inches in length.

  On the saltwater, resident coho fishing is good from Edmonds down to Tacoma, said Steve Thiesfeld, Puget Sound recreational salmon manager for WDFW. "Anglers are catching a good number of 2- to 5-pound coho in Marine Area 10, especially near Jefferson Head and in the Elliott Bay fishery," Thiesfeld said.

  Recent creel checks at the Shilshole and Armeni boat ramps give some indication of angler success. On July 21, 384 anglers checked 39 coho at Armeni, while 130 anglers accounted for 37 coho at Shilshole. The following day, 379 anglers brought home 35 coho at Armeni, and 120 anglers checked 96 coho at the Shilshole ramp.

  The chinook bite in Elliott Bay also is decent, said Thiesfeld. "Overall, the start of the salmon fishery in Elliott Bay is going well," he said. "It's much better than last year, which was a pretty down year."

  The Inner Elliott Bay fishery is open Friday through Sunday each week with a two-salmon daily limit. Anglers fishing outside of the Elliott Bay fishery in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) have a daily limit of two salmon, with no minimum size limit, and must release chinook salmon. Beginning Aug. 1, anglers fishing in Marine Area 10, including the Elliott Bay and Sinclair Inlet fisheries, must release chum salmon.

  The Tulalip Bay "bubble" salmon fishery continues to be slow. Checks at the Everett Ramp showed 127 anglers with only four chinook July 21, and 272 anglers brought home 12 chinook the following day. "This is usually when the bubble hits its stride, but it has yet to heat up," Thiesfeld said. "We hope it picks up soon."

  Anglers fishing the Tulalip bubble are reminded that the fishery is open each week from Friday through noon Monday and runs through Sept. 25. There is a two-salmon daily limit and anglers must release any chinook measuring less than 22 inches.

  Another option is Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands), where anglers have hooked a few chinook. On July 21, fish checks at the Coronet Bay public ramp showed 17 anglers hauled in four chinook, while 69 anglers checked in nine chinook the following day. Anglers have a daily limit of two salmon, and can only keep one chinook, which must measure at least 22 inches in length. Beginning Aug. 1, anglers in Marine Area 7 must release wild coho and chum salmon.

  Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) also is open for salmon, and beginning Aug. 1, fishing opportunities in the region will increase when marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) open.

  Before heading out, anglers are encouraged to check out the regulations for each fishery in WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

  Instead of dropping a hook, drop a pot. Crab fishing is open in marine areas 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10 and the southern and eastern portions of Marine Area 7 Wednesday through Saturday each week. See WDFW's sport-crabbing website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/) for more information.

  To participate in the fishery, all crabbers age 15 or older must obtain and carry a current Washington fishing license. In addition, all crab fishers - regardless of age - must obtain and carry a catch record card and a crab licensing endorsement to fish for crab in Puget Sound. The crab endorsement costs $3 for crabbers age 15 and over, but is free to fishers under age 15.

  The coonstripe and pink shrimp fishery also remains open throughout the region, and shrimpers can drop a pot in marine areas 8-1, 8-2, the northern and central portions of area 7 and a portion of area 9. Details on the fishery, such as the required minimum mesh size and maximum fishing depths, are available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crabreg/.

  Fishing for trout at numerous lakes, rivers and streams also remains a possibility for anglers throughout the region. For more rules and details on the trout fishery and other freshwater fisheries, anglers should check WDFW's 006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: A birder in Bellingham heard the unmistakable calls (low-pitched, gurgling) of purple martins at the intersection of Woburn and Iowa streets. After searching the area for half an hour, the birder was unable to spot the purple martins, according to Tweeters website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/). The largest swallows in North America, purple martins have purple-black bodies and forked tails. The martins forage for flying insects mostly in flight, and there are unconfirmed reports of single birds eating 2,000 mosquitoes a day, according to the Seattle Audubon Society (http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/index.aspx). Purple martins are the least common swallows in the state, but when spotted are usually found in western Washington.

  Out on the saltwater, the San Juan Islands have been the hot spot for orca sightings. One observer reporting to the Orca Network (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html) spotted killer whales from the three resident populations, known as J, K and L pods, headed toward False Bay at San Juan Island. About 90 orcas make up Puget Sound's resident J, K and L pods, which are protected under the state and federal endangered species lists.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: Salmon fishing off the Pacific coast is picking up, according to Wendy Beeghley, WDFW fish biologist, who noted that the quality and size of the fish continue to be top rate. And beginning Aug. 11, salmon fishing on the coast will open seven days a week and anglers will be allowed to keep two chinook as part of the two-fish daily limit.

  During the week of July 17, charters fishing out of Ilwaco (Marine Area 1) posted some of the best catch rates on the coast, averaging 1.5 salmon per angler. Private boats scored about one fish per angler, mostly coho. Charter boats fishing out of Westport (Marine Area 2) caught fewer salmon - just under one per rod - but more than half of those fish were chinook. Both areas are open on a Sunday-through-Thursday schedule until Aug. 11, when they switch to seven days per week.

  Anglers fishing out of LaPush (Marine Area 3) and Neah Bay (Marine Area 4) also averaged about one fish per rod, mostly coho. Those areas will be open Tuesday through Saturday until Aug. 11, when the fishery opens seven days per week.

  The coho are good size for this time of year, averaging six to seven pounds, said Beeghley, noting that "it's typical for them to grow a pound or two a week now." The derby winner in Westport on July 24 was 29 pounds, "but I've seen even bigger ones than that," she said.

  Catch rates for salmon are also improving in Marine Area 11 (Vashon Island to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge) said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. "The action has definitely picked up, and right on schedule," he said. For instance, at Point Defiance Boathouse, a WDFW creel check on July 19 measured a catch rate of one fish for every two rods. The next day, it was about one chinook for every 1.4 rods. At Narrows Marina on July 23, anglers were reeling in a chinook every 1.8 rods. Fishing in Marine Area 11 is open daily. Commencement Bay remains closed to salmon fishing until Aug. 12.

  Salmon fishing is also open in marine areas 10 (Bremerton), 12 (Hood Canal, south of Ayock Point only), 13 (South Puget Sound), 5 (Sekiu/Pillar Point), and 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) on a daily basis, with a daily limit of two salmon. Chinook release is required in marine areas 5, 6, and 10, except marked, hatchery chinook may be retained west of Ediz Hook. Chinook also may be retained in Sinclair Inlet. Fishing has been fair on Hood Canal, said Thiesfeld, but has slowed down in the South Sound and the Strait.

  Anglers will get another chance to catch halibut starting Aug. 4, when Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) opens for Pacific halibut fishing three days per week - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Fisheries managers determined there were enough fish to re-open the fishery for one weekend. After a catch estimate, they will announce whether the fishery will open for a second weekend in August. The WDFW website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/halibut/index.htm) and recreational fishing hotline (360-902-2500) will be updated with the new season information as soon as it is available.

  Or how about a big, meaty tuna? Anglers fishing 40 to 50 miles offshore from Ilwaco have been reeling in lots of them, according to Wendy Beeghley. "That's actually pretty close in for tuna fishing," said Beeghley, who heard of one charter that averaged 14 fish per person, and private boats getting 10 fish for every two-to-three people. There is no bag limit for tuna, which can really fill up the dinner table. "They average 14-15 pounds and that's almost all meat," said Beeghley.

  With temperatures breaking heat records in some parts of the region, anglers can generally improve their odds by moving from lakes to streams, said Hal Michael, WDFW fish biologist. "Even the so called 'warm-water fish' don't like this weather," he said. "People are fishing deeper. Going out in the very early morning and late evenings is best." But given it's a hot time of year, anglers should consider heading for cooler areas, higher elevations and moving waters. Michaels noted, for example, that he's heard the slower moving sections of the Chehalis River have been producing good numbers of smallmouth bass and rock bass.

  Weather shouldn't be an issue for the youngsters lining up to reel in a jumbo rainbow trout at the Kids Fishing Pond at the Thurston County Fair Aug. 2-6. The WDFW pond will be set up inside a big tent for catch-and-release from noon-2:30 and 4:00-6:00 each day. Anglers age 14 and under can participate.

  Crab fishing is open seven days per week in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge) through Feb. 28. Most other areas of Puget Sound are open for crab fishing Wednesdays through Saturdays, including marine areas 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 11 (Tacoma/Vashon) and 12 (Hood Canal). In addition, these areas will be open the entire Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-4, before closing for a catch assessment. Fishing will resume in areas where the catch quota has not been met, on dates to be announced by WDFW.

  The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five male Dungeness crab with a shell width measuring at least 6¼ inches, plus six red rock crab of either sex with a shell width of at least 5 inches. All undersized crab, female Dungeness crab and all softshell crab of either sex must be returned to the water.

  To participate in the fishery, all crab fishers age 15 or older must obtain and carry a current Washington fishing license. In addition, all crabbers - regardless of age - must obtain and carry a catch record card and a crab licensing endorsement to fish for crab in Puget Sound.

  Those fishing in Hood Canal are also asked to report any Dungeness crab bearing a bright green tag on the underside of their shell. Sport or tribal fishers who catch a crab bearing the distinctive green tag are asked to call the department toll free at 866-859-8439 and report the tag number along with the date, location, and depth of capture. More information on crab fishing is available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/.

• Wildlife viewing: Sharp-eyed observers spotted some interesting birds around the region during mid-July. A northern mockingbird was seen flying from tree to tree in Grayland on July 16, as reported on the Tweeters birdwatchers website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/). These birds are rarely found in Washington, and mostly only in winter. They have nested in the state's central Columbia Basin at least three times. The migration of the northern mockingbird is not well understood. A northern mockingbird was seen at the same Grayland location in May 2005.

  Meanwhile, the smallest bird to breed north of Mexico, a calliope hummingbird, paid a visit to a Port Townsend resident's back yard on July 19. These birds are Washington's smallest hummingbird and the world's smallest long-distance, avian migrant. In and around Elma, flocks of red crossbills have been seen twice. Because of these elusive birds' nomadic behavior, it is difficult to specify where they may be found. They are abundant in Washington only when there are good cone crops, so their presence varies annually. The males are brick-red with black wings; females greenish-yellow with black wings.

  While large, yellow and black western tiger swallowtail butterflies are still plentiful all over the region, start watching for some other types of species beginning in August. What woodland skippers lack in size and bright color, they make up for in attitude, darting and skipping rapidly from flower to flower, according to Ann Potter, WDFW wildlife biologist. Woodland skippers have a one-inch wingspan and are tawny, golden-orange, with a black and brown pattern on top and a blocky yellow band underneath. "If you think you see an odd bee go by, look closely; it may be this butterfly," she said.

  Spiders and slugs and ants, oh my! The Tahoma Audubon Society will host a guided hike, along with educational activities around the invertebrate theme "Wings, Legs & Mucous" on July 29 from 10 a.m. until noon at the preserve near Graham in Pierce County. For more information, call Gabriel Newton at 253-565-5479.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: The popular Buoy 10 salmon fishery opens Aug. 1, when new salmon-fishing rules also take effect in many other areas of the Columbia River and its tributaries. Some of those regulations are more restrictive, others less, so anglers are advised to check the Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) before casting a line.

  While the Buoy 10 salmon fishery usually doesn't peak until late August, it can produce some nice fish right from the get-go, said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist. "If conditions are right, anglers can hook up with some adult chinook and ocean-sized coho right from the start," Hymer said. "It's tailor-made for salmon anglers with boats that are too small for ocean fishing."

  The fishery, which extends from Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line east of Astoria, will be open seven days per week. The daily limit is two salmon, only one of which can be a chinook, from Aug. 1 through Oct. 31. Anglers can keep any chinook - fin-clipped or not - so long as it is at least 24 inches long. They can also retain any adipose-clipped coho measuring at least 16 inches, but must release any wild coho, sockeye or chum they catch.

  The Buoy 10 fishery also has other attractions. Barbed hooks are allowed, and anglers may fish with either a saltwater, freshwater or combination license. "Party fishing" rules will be in effect, allowing all anglers aboard a boat to fish until the daily limit for all licensed and juvenile fishers aboard has been reached. And regulations allow jigging for anchovies and other baitfish, using up to three treble hooks or nine single-point hooks, not to exceed 3/8 inches between the point and shank.

  Shore-bound anglers also have some options. Fishing off the North Jetty, where anglers can cast in either direction, is open seven days per week when the fishery for either Buoy 10 or Marine Area 1 is open. Barbed hooks are allowed, and the daily limit and size restrictions follow the most liberal regulation in either area.

  Last year, anglers caught 9,223 chinook and 6,878 hatchery coho by the time the Buoy 10 fishery closed Dec. 31. This year's fishery is expected to be similar, except with fewer chinook and more coho predicted, Hymer said. "But we'll have a better idea once the fishery is up and running," he said.

  On the same day the Buoy 10 fishery gets under way, fishing rules will change on several other areas of the Columbia and its tributaries. Changes effective Aug. 1 include:

  • No more than one adult chinook salmon - clipped or unclipped - as part of the daily bag limit for anglers fishing the mainstem Columbia River upstream to Bonneville Dam. Two adult chinook - clipped or unclipped - may be retained in the Deep, Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis (including the North Fork), Green, Toutle (including the North Fork), Washougal, Wind and White Salmon rivers, and in Drano Lake.

  • Night closures and non-buoyant lure restrictions on the Columbia mainstem from Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam. Non-buoyant lure restrictions also will be in effect on sections of the Wind, White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers as well as Drano Lake.

  • A requirement to release wild, unmarked coho from mouth of the Columbia upriver to the Hood River Bridge and on many of the tributaries noted above. For a river-by-river listing of regulation changes effective Aug. 1, see the Fishing in Washington rule pamphlet.

  • Closure of the hatchery spring chinook season on the Grays and Elochoman rivers. The last day of spring chinook fishing on those rivers is July 31.

  While anglers are still picking up some summer chinook below Bonneville Dam, catch rates have been best for hatchery steelhead. During the week of July 17, boat anglers fishing from the mouth of the Cowlitz River downstream averaged one steelhead for every three rods. The Cowlitz, itself, is still the best-producing tributary for steelhead, but those feeding the Bonneville Pool should start heating up as the Columbia mainstem continues to get warmer, Hymer said.

  Meanwhile, anglers hoping to take home a sturgeon from the lower Columbia are running out of time. The fishery from the Wauna power lines upstream to Marker 85 is currently open to sturgeon retention Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but switches to catch-and-release upstream to Bonneville Dam Aug. 1. It will next open to sturgeon retention Oct. 5. Catch-and-keep sturgeon fisheries below the power lines and in the Bonneville Pool are closed for the year.

  As recent thermometer readings would suggest, this is high season for warmwater fish. Boat anglers fishing the Bonneville Pool have been averaging nine bass per rod. Those fishing The Dalles Pool have been averaging three walleye per rod, and those fishing the John Day Pool have been scoring and average of six bass and one walleye per rod.

  Bank anglers have also been reeling in some landlocked salmon at Riffe Lake behind Mossyrock Dam. A recent creel check found that 12 anglers had caught 16 coho and nine chinook. They released nine of the coho and all but one of the chinook.

• Wildlife viewing: Now that Mount St. Helens is again open to climbers, dozens of people a day are making the trek to the volcanic rim. The U.S. Forest Service urges climbers determined to reach the crater to take a dust mask and goggles as a precaution against ash and debris. Fortunately, some of the best wildlife watching is at lower elevations, where hikers are less exposed to volcanic activity around the lava dome. Elk can often be seen in summer from highway viewpoints, grazing on grasses sprouting from the volcanic mudflow. "One of the great things about a trip to Mount St. Helens area is that you can see species recolonizing the area that was devastated by the 1980 eruption," said Bill Tweit, a WDFW fish manager and avid birdwatcher. "Watch for savannah sparrow and pipit above the timberline, much of which was removed in the eruption."

  Other bird species commonly seen around Mount St. Helens in summer include Barrow's goldeneye, American kestrel, osprey, sora, spotted sandpiper, Wilson's snipe, common nighthawk, willow flycatcher, warbling vireo, barn swallow, northern roughed-winged swallow, red-eyed junco, red-winged blackbird, and various warbler species. Golden eagles, prairie falcon and horned larks are seen occasionally. Wildflowers are numerous throughout and are visited by various species of butterflies.

  In addition to opening the mountain to climbers, the Forest Service also opened several hiking trails on the north side of the mountain that had been closed since the most recent eruption in 2004. These include Truman trail No. 207, Windy Ridge No. 216E, Willow No. 207A, Loowit Falls Viewpoint No. 216F and a portion of Loowit No. 216, which circles the mountain in a 30-mile loop. All offer views of wildlife species on the rebound from the catastrophic eruption of 1980.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Summer heat is forcing anglers higher and fish deeper. The north end of the region includes many small, deep lakes at higher elevation with somewhat cooler air temperatures that make for more comfortable fishing. "But you still need to fish very early in the day or late in the evening," said WDFW District Fish Biologist Curt Vail. "The water is still warm and fish hide in deep, shaded water during the heat of the day. They're more actively feeding at night and into the early hours of morning when they can see better. So some of the best fishing is at night or just before dawn, when the skies are clear."

  Vail said that Davis Lake in Ferry County and Yocum Lake in Pend Oreille County are producing nice cutthroat trout. Summit Lake in Stevens County has nice rainbow trout and Elbow Lake just to the west has eastern brook trout. Elbow Lake, at just 48 acres, is best suited for float tube or shore fishing. At about 4,300 feet elevation, Big Meadow Lake west of Ione in Pend Oreille County is a good bet for reeling in 12-inch and larger rainbows. The Little Pend Oreille chain of lakes, from Frater and Leo lakes in Pend Oreille County to Heritage, Thomas, Gillette and Sherry lakes in Stevens County, are producing rainbows in the 10-inch range and tiger trout up to 14 inches.

  Catch-and-release fishing for rainbows up to a pound and a half and 17.5 inches long continues to be good in the evenings and early mornings at Starvation Lake near the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge southeast of Colville. Vail noted that water temperatures near the bottom of shallow Starvation Lake are over 70 degrees now, so daytime fishing there is a bust. In addition to being catch-and-release only, Starvation has selective gear regulations which includes no motorized boats. Fishing at McDowell Lake, also on the refuge, is slow since milfoil treatment was completed earlier this month. Vail said McDowell will be drawn down soon to prepare for a fishery rehabilitation treatment this fall.

  Curlew Lake near Republic in Ferry County continues to produce 10- to 12-inch rainbows and near-state record size tiger muskies, which must be at least 36 inches long to keep. Many of the northeast district's fishing lakes within the Colville National Forest have U.S. Forest Service campgrounds and other facilities. For more information see http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/colville/forest/maps/.

  Vail also noted that the Pend Oreille River is producing good catches of large northern pike. The river is also a good bet for largemouth bass, especially from Ione to Box Canyon Dam, and smallmouth bass in the Metaline Falls area. Although not at a high elevation, Waitts Lake in southern Stevens County continues to be a good evening spot to catch rainbows and brown trout, plus some largemouth bass and yellow perch. The public access site on Waitts is closed through Aug. 13 for reconstruction work, but three resorts offer access. Kokanee at Loon Lake, also in southern Stevens County, is pretty much a "nighttime show," Vail said, not only because of the daytime heat, but Jet Ski and other non-fishing boat traffic disturbance.

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW District Wildlife Biologist Steve Zender in Chewelah said late July through August is the best opportunity to view whitetail deer bucks in northeast Washington. "Antler growth is nearly complete on the larger bucks but velvet won't be shed until early September," Zender said. "We find that later, as the hormone levels rise and the velvet is shed, the bucks apparently become more wary and it's not so easy to view them." Zender reports bucks are now feeding in alfalfa fields and clear-cuts in the evening throughout the district. "Timing is everything," he said. "The last hour and a half before dark is about the only part of this warm weather time when deer venture out."

  Moose, common loons, bald eagles and more are readily seen around Big Meadow Lake between Aladdin and Huckleberry mountains, west of Ione in Pend Oreille County. Take County Road 2695 to reach the Colville National Forest campground and day-use area on the lake and surrounding meadows. See http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/colville/forest/recreation/camping/camp/bigmeadowlake.

  Dry conditions at this time of year can bring wild animals in search of food and water closer to people than they might otherwise venture. Deer find irrigated vegetation tastier than dry fare, and cougars will sometimes follow the deer. Likewise, black bears are on the prowl for easy pickings if wild berry patches are spent. Be alert to the possible presence of these potentially dangerous wild animals. Enjoy them from a distance by giving them a wide berth. Avoid attracting them by keeping campsites tidy and storing food in wildlife-proof containers away from tents. More information about minimizing the chances of an encounter with cougars or bears is at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/cougar/cougar.htm for cougars, and at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/blkbear/blkbear.htm for bears.

  Remember that dry, warm weather and lush vegetation from earlier rains have made perfect conditions for wildfires. Watch for local restrictions, and be careful with smoking materials, campstoves and campfires, and when parking warm motor vehicles on dry grass.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Chinook salmon fishing recently opened on the Okanogan River from the Highway 97 Bridge near the mouth to the Highway 97 Bridge just south of Oroville, and on the lower Similkameen River from the mouth upstream to the county road bridge in Oroville. This extension of the ongoing upper Columbia River and lower Okanogan River fishery is due to a strong return of summer chinook, which are stable and not listed under the Endangered Species Act. The daily limit is six chinook salmon, with no more than two adult fish. All coho and sockeye must be released. On the Similkameen River, everything except salmon must be released. Non-buoyant lure restrictions and night closures are in effect for all species on both rivers. The season runs through Sept. 15.

  WDFW District Fish Biologist Bob Jateff said the Methow River and tributaries should be good trout fishing through August as the water level continues to decline. He reminds anglers that the Twisp and Chewuch river sections, along with the Methow River section from Foghorn Dam to Weeman Bridge, will be closed to fishing starting Aug. 16. The remaining section of the Methow River from Foghorn Dam (near Winthrop) downstream to the Lower Burma Road Bridge (near Methow) will remain open until Sept. 31. "Catch-and-release and selective gear rules apply to these areas and anglers should check the pamphlet carefully because there are sections of each river that are closed to fishing of any kind," he said.

  Jateff also noted Okanogan County's Leader Lake is still producing good catches of bluegill and crappie. "Leader is a good lake for kids," Jateff said. "It has excellent shore access and the fish can be easily caught with a worm and bobber. There's also a good boat launch site for those who want to fish the upper end of the lake where shore access is more limited."

• Wildlife viewing: The Columbia River's Wells dam pool south of Pateros offers "pretty good viewing for a variety of ducks and geese, herons, common loons, bald eagles, ospreys and white pelicans," said WDFW District Wildlife Biologist Beau Patterson. "The best loon viewing is in the Wells Dam forebay where loons can be seen feeding and occasionally heard calling," he said. "The best location for white pelicans is above the Okanogan River confluence. The other species can be seen throughout the area."

  Patterson also recommended spending early and late hours of the day looking for wildlife in the middle and upper elevations of the east Cascade Mountains. "Look for elk south of Highway 2, especially toward the Colockum Wildlife Area," he said. "A variety of colorful songbirds can be seen, including northern orioles and western tanagers. Some of the best viewing is along forest openings with abundant deciduous trees and shrubs in the margins, and along waterways. The pipeline trail, just west of Leavenworth along the Wenatchee River, offers good birding opportunities."

  WDFW District Wildlife Biologist Scott Fitkin said now is a great time to get up into the high country in the Okanogan and experience the alpine environment. "The Hart's Pass-Slate Peak area northwest of Mazama is one of the most accessible alpine areas in the state," he said. "The wildflower show there now supports a tremendous variety of butterfly species. In fact, Okanogan County supports the state's greatest butterfly diversity. The only Washington records for two alpine species are on Slate Peak." Fitkin also suggested watching for other alpine residents, like ptarmigan, hoary marmots and pikas.

  Fitkin noted that two of the state's three common loon chicks produced this year are in the Okanogan district. One chick is on Lost Lake in eastern Okanogan County and another is on Blue Lake on the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area. Fitkin says both adults and chicks are readily observable this time of year.

  Spotted mule deer fawns are becoming more visible in the valleys of Okanogan County, Fitkin says, particularly on irrigated ground at dawn and dusk.

  Dry conditions at this time of year can bring wild animals in search of food and water closer to people than they might otherwise venture. Deer find irrigated vegetation tastier than dry fare, and cougars will sometimes follow the deer. Likewise, black bears are on the prowl for easy pickings if wild berry patches are spent. Be alert to the possible presence of these potentially dangerous wild animals. Enjoy them from a distance by giving them a wide berth. Avoid attracting them by keeping campsites tidy and storing food in wildlife-proof containers away from tents. More information about minimizing the chances of an encounter with cougars or bears is at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/cougar/cougar.htm for cougars, and at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/blkbear/blkbear.htm for bears.

  Remember that dry, warm weather and lush vegetation from earlier rains have made perfect conditions for wildfires. Watch for local restrictions, and be careful with smoking materials, campstoves and campfires, and when parking warm motor vehicles on dry grass.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Recent hot weather has been discouraging lowland lake fishing and encouraging anglers to head for the mountains. WDFW Fish Biologist Jim Cummins reports most mountain trails are snow free, except at the very highest elevations. "But bugs are abundant," he said. "So in most areas insect repellent is a necessity." Cummins said alpine lakes should be producing cutthroat, rainbow and eastern brook trout "until the snow flies this fall." For general high lake fishing information and potential hike-in and higher elevation fishing destinations, anglers can look at the "Trout Fishing in High Lakes" publication at http://wdfw.wa.gov/outreach/fishing/highlake.htm or the Southcentral region's high lakes recent fish stocking records at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regions/reg3/highlakes.pdf. "Just remember that many lakes have natural reproduction and do not require stocking," he said. "So don't limit your fishing choices to the stocking list alone."

  Kokanee anglers should find cooperative fish at Rimrock, Bumping, Keechelus and Kachess reservoirs. Cummins notes that Rimrock and Bumping are producing the best fishing now. "As water temperatures warm, kokanee will drop deeper into the water column," he said. "Successful anglers will troll, either using downriggers or one to two ounces of lead. Fish will likely be 20 to 40 feet deep."

  Rivers and steams have finally dropped down to summer low flows and should be producing rainbow, cutthroat and eastern brook trout. WDFW Regional Habitat Program Manager Perry Harvester notes that some streams with glacial headwaters, like the upper Cowlitz, White, and Klickitat, will be turbid and un-fishable for a while longer, due to heavy glacial till from snow melt. Many rivers and streams are managed with low catch limits and under selective gear rules. Bull trout and salmon are off limits and must be released if caught. Some areas are closed to protect bull trout. Anglers should review fishing regulations before fishing.

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW regional habitat program manager Perry Harvester says the latest heat wave makes this an especially good time to keep birdbaths replenished. It not only provides birds needed water, but it also provides closeup views for birdwatchers who remain indoors behind fans or air conditioners. Backyard bird watchers continue to report lots of rufous and calliope hummingbirds feeding at both sugar-water feeders and natural nectar-producing flowers. Birders escaping lowland heat in the mountains report a variety of birds in various habitat types, from brown creepers to yellow-rumped warblers. Identifying all species is sometimes difficult at this time of year because many are juvenile birds that lack full plumage. Harvester said that trails to even the highest elevations are open now, but hikers should be prepared with lots of water, sun protection, and insect repellent.

  Dry conditions at this time of year can bring wild animals in search of food and water closer to people than they might otherwise venture. Deer find irrigated vegetation tastier than dry fare, and cougars will sometimes follow the deer. Likewise, black bears are on the prowl for easy pickings if wild berry patches are spent. Be alert to the possible presence of these potentially dangerous wild animals. Enjoy them from a distance by giving them a wide berth. Avoid attracting them by keeping campsites tidy and storing food in wildlife-proof containers away from tents. More information about minimizing the chances of an encounter with cougars or bears is at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/cougar/cougar.htm for cougars, and at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/blkbear/blkbear.htm for bears.

  Remember that dry, warm weather and lush vegetation from earlier rains have made perfect conditions for wildfires. Watch for local restrictions, and be careful with smoking materials, campstoves and campfires, and when parking warm motor vehicles on dry grass.