January 26 - February 8, 2005

Contact: Craig Bartlett, 360-902-2259

In recent weeks, fishing conditions in Washington seem to following the story line of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." You know, "This one's too hot, this one's too cold . . ."

On the eastern side of the state, unseasonably warm weather has made ice fishing a risky proposition on many lakes, while rivers are running high and muddy. On the other hand, coldwater conditions on the Columbia River above Vancouver have slowed the sturgeon bite, while rivers in the Puget Sound area have yo-yoed between freezing and flooding.

So how will anglers, like Goldilocks, know when conditions are just right?

"Watch the weather report," said Mike Gross, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) who monitors fisheries on the Olympic Peninsula. "At least in this area, fishing conditions can change in just a few days."

Once that happens, anglers could be rewarded for their patience. Drawn by high water, increasing numbers of wild steelhead are moving into 11 rivers on the Olympia Peninsula, where anglers can retain one wild fish per season. (See the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula regional report below for more details.) Once the upper Yakima River drops into shape, it should present good opportunities to catch whitefish and catch-and-release trout, and the annual smelt run could begin any day on the lower Columbia.

In addition, several new areas in Puget Sound will open to blackmouth fishing in February, and WDFW has tentatively scheduled a razor clam dig on evening tides Feb. 5, 6 and 7 on the Washington coast. For details on these and other new fishing opportunities, see the regional reports below.

Meanwhile, hunting seasons for ducks and geese come to an end Jan. 30. Big-game seasons ended in December, but hunters have one more important task: 2004 hunting activity reports are due by Jan. 31 for each deer, elk, bear and turkey tag. Even unsuccessful hunters, as well as those who bought tags and didn't hunt, must report if they purchased a tag. Call the toll-free reporting line, 1-877-945-3492, or file a report online at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov on the Internet. Data collected from hunters provides wildlife managers with important information for the management of Washington's game.

Anybody seen the rare redwing that drew well over a thousand bird-watchers to Olympia in recent weeks? For the latest on that wayward visitor - as well as wildlife-watching, fishing and hunting opportunities now available throughout the state - see the regional reports below:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: The blackmouth action has been slow in Marine Area 10, which is the region's only marine area open to salmon fishing. Blackmouth-fishing opportunities expand to marine areas 7, 8-1 and 9 beginning Feb. 1; marine areas 8-2 and 11 open Feb. 16. When open, all areas have a one-fish daily limit, and blackmouth must be 22 inches in length to retain. Look for blackmouth hugging the sandy bottoms as they search for sand lance, a favorite food. Favorite blackmouth gear include fresh herring or jigs that are mooched off the bottom, herring or other baitfish trolled near the bottom, or any number of lures, including spoons or imitation squid. Blackmouth will also congregate around bottom "structure," such as a shelf or a boulder field where herring and other bait will concentrate. Possession Point, the southern portion of Camano Head and Hat Island can all be productive spots. A few squid can still be jigged from downtown Seattle piers and the fishing piers at Des Moines and Edmonds. Freshwater anglers have had a frustrating time waiting for good river conditions to pursue steelhead, with flows in most streams yo-yoing between low and clear, then high and muddy. "We've seen a burst of fish to the hatchery racks between the flooding and the freezing," said Curt Kraemer, WDFW regional fish program manager. "We're likely at the tail end of the hatchery run and we should begin to see more and more wild fish." Remember that all wild steelhead caught on northern Puget Sound rivers must be released. Fishing for trout in year-round waters should be improving soon, particularly during a calm afternoon when the conditions are right for an insect hatch. Pass Lake, which is open year-round to catch-and-release fly fishing, can produce some great catches in February. No internal combustion engines are allowed on the lake, and most anglers fly fish from a float tube.

• Hunting: The general season for waterfowl wraps up Jan. 30, and reports from the field indicate good hunting should be available until the final day. Big-game hunting seasons have ended, but hunters have one more important task, and that is reporting their 2004 hunting activity for each deer, elk, bear and turkey tag by Jan. 31. Even unsuccessful hunters, as well as those who bought tags and didn't hunt, must report if they purchased a tag. Call the toll-free reporting line, 1-877-945-3492, or file a report online at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov on the Internet. Data collected from hunters provides wildlife managers with important information for the management of Washington's game.

• Wildlife viewing: he 18th annual Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Festival is set for Feb. 5-6, with a full weekend of events scheduled in and around the communities of Concrete, Marblemount and Rockport. The festival features food, entertainment, educational displays and - perhaps best of all - great opportunities to get close-up views of bald eagles in the eye-popping scenery of the upper Skagit River. More information is available online at http://www.skagiteagle.org/bef/index.html or by calling (360) 853-7283. Birding opportunities abound throughout the region, including good numbers of swans in Whatcom and Skagit counties, plus a few here and there in Snohomish and King counties. WDFW's Skagit Wildlife Area has been home to a rusty blackbird, an uncommon winter guest in western Washington. Rusty blackbirds look similar to the more common brewer's blackbird, but lack the iridescence. Seattle-based birders don't have to travel far at all to see a great variety of species. For example, birders who recently visited the popular Montlake Fill birding area, just east of the University of Washington on Union Bay, reported spotting a peregrine falcon, two sharp-shinned hawks, one cooper's hawk, a belted kingfisher, and seven Anna's hummingbirds, which were seen performing their intricate courtship behavior. In addition, a number of waterfowl were seen on the bay, including hooded mergansers, wood ducks, gadwall, bufflehead, coots, pelagic and double breasted cormorant, pied billed and western grebe and numerous wigeon, mallards and other ducks. Elsewhere in the greater Seattle area, a barred owl was spotted recently in a backyard fir tree near the Crossroads area of Bellevue, while a nearby Redmond backyard was hosting a common redpoll. Just a bit bigger than an American goldfinch, common redpoll are an uncommon visitor to western Washington and are more often found east of the Cascades. They breed in the sub-arctic forests and thickets of Alaska and Canada. For more birding news, check out the Tweeters birding website on the Internet.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound

• Fishing: High stream flows fed by heavy rains made it impossible for steelhead to see - much less take - bait on area rivers during the third week of January. As of Jan. 23, creel checkers found only a handful of anglers on the Quillayute River system and none on the upper Hoh River. But that situation could change quickly, once those rivers drop back into shape, said Mike Gross, WDFW fish biologist. "Watch the weather report," he advises. "If the skies don't open up again, fishing conditions should improve dramatically over the next week." Once they do, anglers are likely to encounter an increasing number of wild steelhead, drawn upstream by the heavy flows. That has special significance for 11 rivers on the Olympic Peninsula, which are subject to new rules regarding retention of wild steelhead, Gross said. Last September, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission ruled that anglers may retain one wild steelhead per season if it is caught in designated waters of 12 state rivers, all but one of them on the Olympic Peninsula. The Commission's action applies to winter-run steelhead caught in designated sections of the Bogachiel, Calawah, Clearwater, Dickey, Goodman, Hoh, Hoko, Pysht, Quillayute, Quinault and Sol Duc rivers. It also applies to wild, summer-run steelhead on the Green River in King County, although that fishery closed for the season Nov. 30. On all other rivers in Washington, anglers must release any wild, unmarked steelhead they catch. Because the Commission's action on wild steelhead came after the pamphlet was printed, the new retention rule on the 12 designated rivers was not included in WDFW's Fishing in Washington pamphlet, said Bob Gibbons, WDFW Inland/Anadromous Fish Manager. "The department publicized the new wild-steelhead retention rule at the time it was approved, but we're still getting questions from anglers," Gibbons said. "Remember, the rule is one wild steelhead per season, not one wild steelhead per river." Gibbons recommends that anglers fishing for steelhead on the north coast rivers check WDFW's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/jan05/jan1805a.htm) for a description of the areas open to retention of wild steelhead. As most saltwater anglers know, blackmouth fishing opens Feb. 1 in several areas of Puget Sound, including Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet). Four other areas open Feb. 16, including marine areas 5, 6, 11 and 12. As noted in the Fishing in Washington pamphlet, the rule for all those areas is one chinook per day measuring at least 22 inches. Clam diggers are reminded that WDFW has tentatively scheduled another razor clam dig on evening tides for Feb. 5, 6 and 7. Low evening tides those days are at 3:41 p.m. (+0.3), 4:38 p.m. (-0.3) and 5:30 p.m. (-0.7), respectively. Final approval of the three-day dig will be announced by Jan. 31, provided that marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat. In the first of two required tests, clams tested at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks all met state and federal health standards. Those tested at Kalaloch continued to show elevated domoic acid levels, disqualifying the beach from the February opening. Like the other beaches, Kalaloch will be tested again before a later opening, tentatively scheduled March 6, 7 and 8. No digging will be allowed on any of these dates before noon.

• Hunting: With waterfowl seasons drawing to a close, it appears that this year's hunt will end the way it began: A lot of geese, but not many ducks. "This year's goose season was one of the better seasons we've had in recent years," said Jack Smith, WDFW regional wildlife manager. "The duck season, on the other hand, was below average - at least in our neck of the woods. Until the last couple of weeks, the weather was really mild so a lot of the birds remained north of here." The goose-hunting season in Area 2B (Pacific and Grays Harbor counties) ended Jan. 15; the goose-hunting season in Area 3 ends Jan. 30, along with the statewide duck-hunting season. Meanwhile, WDFW is compiling hunters' reports of last season's hunting activities to help guide future management of four key game species. Under state law, hunters are required to report their 2004 hunting activity for each deer, elk, bear and turkey tag by Jan. 31. Even unsuccessful hunters, as well as those who bought tags and didn't hunt, must report if they purchased a tag. Call the toll-free reporting line, 1-877-945-3492, or file a report online at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov on the Internet.

• Wildlife viewing: For 33 days, the small bird with rusty-red flanks held center stage, drawing an estimated 1,500 birders to a west Olympia neighborhood from all over the United States and Canada. Normally found in southern Europe, northern Africa and the Mideast, a redwing had somehow found its way to the state capital - one of the first of its kind ever spotted in North America. The feathered celebrity, also known as a Eurasian thrush, drew birders from dozens of states and several Canadian provinces. Then, on the morning of Jan. 21, it was gone. After an intense search by dozens of birders, some speculated that the redwing had moved north along with a flock of robins. But two visitors from Kentucky reported seeing the bird several days later just a few blocks away. "All I can say is that it has been a fascinating experience," said Mike O'Malley, WDFW watchable wildlife coordinator. "The huge response to the redwing is a good indication of just how much interest there is in bird watching and wildlife viewing in general." For any updates on the bird, O'Malley suggests checking the Tweeters birdwatching website. But in the meantime, there are plenty of other sights to see. Just a few miles out of Olympia, one contributor to the Tweeters website counted 23 great blue herons sitting on pilings at Woodard Bay Preserve. Killer whales have once again been spotted in Hood Canal, breeching in front of onlookers during the last week in January. In the Chehalis Valley, more than 200 trumpeter swans can be seen feeding in area fields, while loons, grebes and scoters fill the air over Ocean Shores. "It's always exciting to see a rare species like the redwing, but our native wildlife is pretty spectacular, too," O'Malley said.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: It's hard to find much good news for Columbia River fishers and low water temperatures may partly to blame, says Pat Frazier, deputy regional fish manager. Relief may be in sight, however, as river water temperatures appear to be warming considerably from recent readings of 39 degrees at Camas and 43 degrees near Longview. Whatever the reason, this year's smelt run has yet to show - although recent bird activity in the river estuary near Ilwaco suggests the smelt may be on their way into the river. Although the season opened Jan. 1, the smelt may not show up until well into February. Dipping is allowed around-the-clock daily in the mainstem Columbia River, but limited to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.,Tuesdays and Saturdays only, in the tributaries (including the Lewis, Cowlitz, Grays and Kalama rivers). The daily limit is 25 pounds in the mainstem Columbia and 10 pounds in tributaries. No license is required for smelt dipping. Would-be dippers can call 360-696-6211 and press *1010 to get updates on smelt and other recreational fishing opportunities. Cold water also is slowing the bite in the river's sturgeon fishery, Frazier said. A recent check of 22 anglers below Bonneville Dam, and another sample of nine fishers in the Longview area, failed to turn up anyone with keepers. Fishing wasn't much better in Bonneville Pool, where one fish was kept among 30 bank anglers, and two keepers were found among 24 boat fishers. It's possible the sturgeon may be leaving the mainstem Columbia to seek warmer water in the Willamette River, Frazier said. For hatchery steelhead fishers, angling was also slow, except at Blue Creek on the Cowlitz River, where 17 anglers were checked with four hatchery fish. There are only a few fishing days left at Blue Creek, which closes to angling Jan. 31. Steelheading prospects have been sweetened by Tacoma Power, which transported 70 fish to Gust Backstrom Park on the Tilton River, and 140 hatchery steelhead to the Interstate 5 boat launch on the Cowlitz. Also, WDFW recently recycled 356 winter steelhead into the lower Washougal River near Hathaway Park. There are lots of rainbow trout going into lakes, thanks to recent WDFW plants. Recent releases include: 3,100 catchable-size rainbows into Klineline Pond; 124 six-pounders and 33 10.5-pound fish at Lake Sacajewea in Longview; 20 six-pounders and 15 10.5-pound trout in Icehouse Lake near Bridge of the Gods; 35 six-pounders and 30 10.5-pounders at Kidney Lake; 20 six-pounders and 15 10.5-pound trout at Little Ash Lake near Stevenson; 20 six-pound fish and 15 weighing 10.5 pounds at Northwestern Reservoir; 20 six-pound fish and 15 10.5-pounders at Tunnel Lake, and 14 six-pounders at Spearfish Lake.

• Hunting: As the hunting season comes to an end with the Jan. 30 close of statewide duck hunting and Area 3 goose hunts, hunters are reminded that one duty remains. Harvest reports are due by Jan. 31 for each deer, elk, bear and turkey tag held during the 2004 season. Even unsuccessful hunters, as well as those who bought tags and didn't hunt, must report if they purchased a tag. Call the toll-free reporting line, 1-877-945-3492, or file a report online at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov on the Internet. Data collected from hunters provides wildlife managers with important information for the management of Washington's game.

• Wildlife viewing: Mallard ducks have been observed in pairs, and courtship activity-which normally takes place in late February or early March - is beginning now in some areas of the region. WDFW staff report seeing several mallard pairs showing head bobbing and bill tipping behavior. A Tweeters website correspondent reports from a recent outing to Riffe Lake, Mayfield Lake and other spots in Lewis County, seeing species including western grebe; horned grebe, Eurasian wigeon, canvasback, cackling geese, western scrub-jay, Wilson's snipe, northern pintail, American wigeon, green-winged teal, greater white-fronted goose, ruffed grouse, tundra swans and a northern shrike.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Recent spring-like weather has left fishing lake ice undependable for ice fishing and everything from sloppy to hazardous for shore or boat fishing. Many winter-only and year-round fishing lakes in the region are still frozen over, but ice thickness is questionable. WDFW fish biologists and enforcement officers are not encountering many fishers trying their luck in these conditions. Lake Roosevelt, however, is another story. "Now is the time to hit the reservoir for big, net-pen-reared rainbow trout, kokanee, and even walleye," said WDFW central district fish biologist Chris Donley. Steelheading in the Snake River drainage is also still a fair option. The last creel checks showed anglers averaging a little over three hours of fishing per steelhead caught on the Walla Walla River, a little over four hours per fish caught on the Touchet River, and a little less than five hours per fish on the Tucannon River. Steelheading in the mainstem Snake is considerably slower, with anglers averaging almost 25 hours of effort per steelhead caught from Ice Harbor to Lower Monumental dams and from Little Goose to Lower Granite dams. Between Lower Monumental and Little Goose, steelheaders averaged about 49 hours per fish caught.

• Hunting: The last general hunting season - waterfowl - ends Jan. 30 and, based on anectodal field reports, it's likely to go out like it came in: with a whimper. Ducks and geese in traditional numbers just never moved into the region or stayed long enough this season, possibly due to extreme shifts in weather. WDFW Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Manager Juli Anderson reported that snowmelt has raised water levels at the area's two main lakes, "but not enough for waterfowlers to get excited about." Snow-less fields throughout the central part of the region seemed to have drawn more foraging ducks and geese during the past week than throughout the whole season, so the last weekend may be productive for hunters with access. Deer, elk, black bear and turkey hunters need to submit hunting reports by Jan. 31.

• Wildlife viewing: It's deer-watching time, according to WDFW wildlife biologist Dave Volsen of Spokane, who reports hundreds of whitetails foraging at all hours of the day on south-facing slopes throughout the central district. Volsen also reports multiple moose sunning themselves on south-facing slopes near Newman Lake. Canada geese have been seen in greater numbers recently, foraging on snow-less fields, including north Spokane County's Peone Prairie. Winter-killed deer and other animal carcasses are drawing bald eagles and even a few golden eagles, along with the usual ravens, crows and magpies. Backyard bird watchers report sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks routinely strafing yards full of sparrows, finches, and other small birds that have developed predictable feeding patterns through the winter.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW fish biologist Bob Jateff of Omak reports that steelhead fishing will pick up in February in the Methow/Okanogan Basin. "Recent warmer weather has helped to melt river ice and increase water temperatures," Jateff explained. "Catch rates on the Methow for the month of December were about one fish for 10 hours of fishing, and probably less in January due to ice and cold temperatures." Jateff reminds anglers that any adipose clipped steelhead should be retained - up to the two fish per day limit - to help reduce the number of hatchery fish on the spawning grounds. As of Jan. 15, steelheaders can also keep adipose fin-clipped steelhead bearing disk tags as part of their bag limit in areas of the Columbia, Okanogan, Similkameen and Methow rivers that are open to steelhead fishing. The disk tags were applied to steelhead during run-size determination and fish sampling operations at Priest Rapids Dam. The disk-tagged fish are no longer needed for monitoring purposes. The section of the Okanogan River from the Highway 97 Bridge at Omak to a line across the river 500 feet above the mouth of Omak Creek closes Feb. 16.

• Hunting: Poor flying conditions grounded aerial waterfowl surveys in recent days so there is no new information about availability of ducks and geese in the Columbia Basin. The hunting season ends Jan. 30 and overall it appears to have been a relatively poor one for many waterfowlers. Migrant birds never seemed to materialize in traditional numbers this season, which always seemed to be either too cold or too warm. Deer, elk, black bear and turkey hunters need to submit hunting reports by Jan. 31.

• Wildlife viewing The Methow Valley remains snowy, so winter fans can escape spring-like conditions elsewhere and enjoy wildlife-watching on cross-country skis or snowshoes. These quiet, slow methods of traveling over snow can be excellent for spotting the unusual, or at least relieving cabin fever. Free naturalist-guided snowshoe tours continue through Okanogan County's Methow Valley on Saturdays, three-day weekends and holidays. Participants can learn more about wildlife, tracks, winter ecology, beaver ponds and more. Some tours provide free snowshoe use, while others require trekkers to rent or bring their own gear. All require a Methow Valley Sports Trail Association (MVSTA) ski or snowshoe trail pass, available at many Methow area businesses. The tours follow easy routes on groomed snowshoe trails near Sun Mountain Lodge and along the Methow River in Mazama. For more information call 509-996-4036 or see "The Nature of Winter" tours website on the Internet.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: "There isn't much going on as far as fishing goes," said WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins. "Rivers are running high and muddy due to an extended period of warm weather, recent rain and snowmelt. That puts whitefish angling on hold until things settle out. Lakes that were ice covered are beginning to thaw, but remain mostly frozen, making fishing difficult and even dangerous." Cummins said rivers are expected to recede soon, which should improve fishing prospects. "The upper Yakima may be the first to drop into fishing shape for both whitefish and catch-and-release trout," he said. "February can produce nice trout fishing action on the upper Yakima. Our short-term weather forecast calls for rain or snow showers and above-freezing temperatures, even in the mountains, so snowmelt will continue for a few days. That means it may be a week or so before most rivers are back to normal winter low flows." Cummins also said lakes should become more fishable as the ice melts, but cool water temperatures may slow fishing action. WDFW habitat biologist Perry Harvester says the down time while conditions improve may be "a good time to tie up leaders for spring chinook or maybe tie up some trout flies or maybe hit the sports shows to prepare for spring." The Central Washington Sportsmen's Show runs Feb. 4-6 at the Yakima Sundome. WDFW staff will be available at the show to talk about fishing, hunting and other wildlife recreation.

• Hunting: Poor flying conditions have grounded aerial waterfowl surveys in recent days, so there is no new information about availability of ducks and geese in the Columbia Basin. The hunting season ends Jan. 30 and overall it appears to have been a relatively poor one for many waterfowlers. Migrant birds never seemed to materialize in traditional numbers this season, which always seemed to be either too cold or too warm. Hunters seeking hope for future seasons might rally their spirits at the Central Washington Sportsmen's Show, Feb. 4-6 at the Yakima Sundome. WDFW staff will be available at the show to talk about hunting, fishing and other wildlife recreation. Deer, elk, black bear and turkey hunters need to submit hunting reports by Jan. 31.

• Wildlife viewing: Winter feeding of elk at WDFWs' Oak Creek Wildlife Area southwest of Yakima is still under way, even with the light winter, reports area manager John McGowan. Approximately 1,000 elk are feeding at the headquaters site off Highway 12, with an estimated 3,000 total elk being fed at six sites. Elk tours from old military trucks ("loud and cold!" McGowan notes) are conducted by AmeriCorp members, primarily on weekends. Groups can pre-register for these tours by calling a Senior Enviornmental Corps volunteer at 509-698-5106. Calls made within 36 hours of requested tour time are not guaranteed. A donation of $5 per individual is suggested by WDFW to cover operational costs and help pay for the elk food. McGowan also reports that numerous bald and golden eagles can be seen daily around the winter feedsites and along the Tieton and Naches rivers. He also notes that a closure of popular rock-climbing areas and access trails along the Tieton River will go into effect Feb. 1 to protect golden eagle nesting territories along the cliffs on the south side of Highway 12.