As long as outdoors enthusiasts are ready for rapid changes in Washington state's famously fickle winter weather, there are a number of fishing and wildlife-viewing activities available throughout the state.
The best bet for steelheading can probably be found in several Olympic Peninsula streams. While fishing was slowed recently by high, muddy water, fisheries managers expect cool, dry weather to drop rivers into shape and improve catch rates.
The winter blackmouth fishery is well under way throughout much of Puget Sound. Anglers have had some success finding these resident chinook salmon in parts of the San Juan Islands and in waters from Port Townsend to Edmonds. The blackmouth season resumes Feb. 16 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Hood Canal and central Puget Sound.
Fishing has been spotty in eastern Washington. This would normally be prime time for ice fishing for trout, but above-average temperatures make venturing onto lake ice a dangerous proposition. Steelhead fishing on the Snake River and tributaries can produce good results in February, although hook-ups can be few and far between.
Planning for this summer's salmon fisheries is just about to begin. WDFW's annual preseason forecast public meeting is scheduled March 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the auditorium of Office Building Two on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. Puget Sound, coastal and Columbia River salmon forecasts will be discussed, along with potential fishing opportunities. See WDFW's "North of Falcon" website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/northfalcon/ for more information.
Birders continue flocking to downtown Olympia where a rare redwing has reappeared after a brief absence. For birding of a more domestic nature, the eighth-annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is set Feb. 18-21.
Developed and managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, the GBBC encourages people to enjoy the birds around them by going out into the "great backyard" during any or all of the count days and keeping track of the highest numbers of each bird species they see. Sightings can be reported over the Internet at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.
March 6 is the deadline for purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to hunt one month longer and harvest three extra wild turkeys this spring. The $5.43 raffle tickets are available at WDFW license vendors across the state or on-line at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. Two winners will be drawn next month and notified before their special extended season opens April 1, which is two weeks before the standard April 15 opening date.
Spring bear hunting permits are on sale now through March 13 at WDFW license vendors and on-line at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/.
Here are more fishing and wildlife-viewing opportunities across the state:
North Puget Sound
- Fishing: Anglers going after blackmouth have been finding some decent fishing action in waters off Bellingham and Edmonds, while the bite in the Seattle area has been slow. A variety of hardware has been proven effective with the fish, including combinations of a green glow spoon fished behind a small red or green flasher. A mooched herring can also be effective. As always, be sure to keep the gear just off the bottom. Anglers with an onboard depth finder should scout for boulder fields, shelves and other bottom structure where bait will often congregate. Areas currently open for blackmouth fishing are the San Juan Islands (Marine Area 7), Deception Pass down to Saratoga Passage (8-1), Admiralty Inlet (9) and central Puget Sound waters from Seattle to Bremerton (10). Marine Area 8-2, which includes Port Susan and Port Gardner, opens to blackmouth fishing Feb. 16. Check the "Sport Fishing in Washington" pamphlet for more details, and be sure to call the WDFW fishing rule change hotline (360-902-2500), or online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm on the Internet before launching the boat. Steelhead fishing has generally been slow in most of the area's rivers, but there are reports of successful outings on rivers scattered throughout the region. The middle stretch of the Green River, in the Flaming Geyser vicinity, has produced a few fish, as has the Nooksack and the Snohomish River system. Some hatchery fish can still be picked up in Tokul Creek, and the Reiter Ponds area on the Skykomish might be worth a try, too. The general consensus is that the hatchery steelhead run is just about over. Wild steelhead must be safely released in all freshwater areas within the region. There are reports of decent catches of whitefish in some streams, most notably the upper Green River. Anglers interested in finding whitefish should look for good numbers of fish in deeper pools. Fishing on lakes that are open year-round can be good this time of year. Lake Washington can produce good catches of perch and trout, while Pass Lake, which is just north of Deception Pass on Fidalgo Island, has been providing good catch-and-release flyfishing for fat rainbow and brown trout up to 20 inches in length. Try trolling a chironomid pattern with a sinking line and remember that motors are prohibited on Pass Lake. Anglers interested in learning about possible summer salmon fisheries should mark March 10 on the calendar. That's the date for WDFW's Puget Sound regional discussion on salmon forecasts, potential fishing opportunities and other information. The meeting will be at WDFW's Mill Creek office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd. More information on the preseason salmon management process is available on WDFW's "North of Falcon" website, at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/northfalcon/ on the Internet.
- Wildlife viewing: This year's Skagit Bald Eagle Festival is officially over, but that doesn't mean there aren't still plenty of birds to see on the upper Skagit River. Good concentrations of bald eagles should be haunting gravel bars and big trees along the stream for weeks to come. Trumpeter and tundra swans are still scattered throughout the region, including an estimated 500 of the magnificent birds at the Johnson DeBay Slough swan preserve near Mount Vernon. For birds on a much smaller scale, head to Tenant Lake in Whatcom County where a birder recently counted 70 barn and tree swallows. A half-dozen of the swift little birds were also seen flying over the Samish Flats, while 12 juvenile and adult barn swallows were tallied over the Kent Ponds in southern King County. The eighth-annual "Great Backyard Bird Count" is set for Feb. 18-21. Birding enthusiasts are asked to tally the highest number of each bird species they see for all or part of the counting period. There's no fee or registration, and reports can be submitted online at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc on the Internet. Last year's count resulted in nearly 50,000 individual checklists totaling more than four million birds and more than 500 species nationwide.
Olympic Peninsula/South Sound
- Fishing: Anticipation seems to be the name of the game in several fisheries around the region. Anglers fishing off Point No Point have seen some action since Marine Area 9 reopened for blackmouth Feb. 1, but many are waiting to see what Point Defiance and other areas opening Feb. 16 have to offer, said Chuck Johnson, WDFW Puget Sound recreational fishing enhancement coordinator. "The reports for Point No Point weren't bad, but the real test is how areas like Marine Area 11 produce," Johnson said. Other areas opening for blackmouth fishing Feb. 16 include the Strait of Juan de Fuca (marine areas 5 and 6) and Hood Canal (Marine Area 12). Johnson said blackmouth caught since Feb.1 generally ranged from six to eight pounds, although some catches over 20 pounds have been reported in northern Puget Sound. "Historically, the fishery has improved as the season progresses, and we're really hoping to see that happen this year." Anglers fishing for steelhead on area rivers feel much the same way. Success rates dropped considerably during the first week of February for anglers fishing rivers like the Bogachiel, Quillayute and upper Hoh on the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula. But the rainfall that put a damper on those fisheries could bring a new pulse of fish in the days ahead, said Mike Gross, WDFW fish biologist. "Just looking at the weather forecast and where we are in the run, I'd expect to see those catch rates go back up," Gross said. Noting that the majority of steelhead now moving into area rivers are wild stock, Gross reminds anglers that they may retain a total of one wild steelhead per year from designated sections of the following rivers: the Bogachiel, Calawah, Clearwater, Dickey, Goodman, Hoh, Hoko, Pysht, Quillayute, Quinault and the Sol Duc. Elsewhere, any wild steelhead caught during the remainder of the season must be released. That hasn't stopped steelhead anglers from showing up in droves to fish rivers like the Wynoochee, the Satsop and the Chehalis farther south. (One contributor to an on-line fishing chat room likened the drift boat traffic on the Wynoochee River to I-5). The fishing on those rivers has been fair to good, with sand shrimp and eggs the bait of choice. Anglers are also catching some steelhead on the Puyallup River, although the action has generally been slow with water levels rising and falling with each new downpour. Looking forward to digging some razor clams? The next dig is tentatively scheduled on evening tides March 6, 7 and 8, although beach openings are contingent on the results of marine toxin tests conducted by WDFW and the Washington Department of Health. Check the toll-free Shellfish Hotline (866-880-5431), the WDFW website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/) or your local newspaper for updates.
- Wildlife viewing: After a brief disappearance, the wayward redwing that has attracted more than 1,500 birders to Olympia is back on view in the same neighborhood as before. A New Jersey man, then a group of Canadians, spotted the transatlantic traveler with a flock of robins the morning of Feb. 7, prompting a new flurry of e-mails on the Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/digests/). Normally found in southern Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East, redwings are rarely seen in North America, especially west of the Rocky Mountains. Still, Olympia's redwing - also known as a Eurasian thrush - isn't the only one of its kind attracting attention on this side of the Atlantic. Two others have been reported in recent days - one in Pennsylvania, the other in Newfoundland - prompting one Tweeters correspondent to proclaim a redwing "invasion." If there's any truth to his assertion, the proof might be found in the Great Backyard Bird Count, which gets under way Feb. 18-21 throughout the North American continent. Now in its eighth year, the "GBBC" (as it is known in birding circles) invites people to report sightings in their neighborhoods to help researchers better understand bird populations in North America. For information on how to participate in the bird count, see http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc on the Internet. Olympia has its redwing, but Chimacum is currently playing host to 68 trumpeter swans, visible right off Center Valley Road. Several smaller flocks have been reported farther south at the Duckabush delta (16 birds) and the Skokomish Valley (seven birds). The Tweeters correspondent who filed that report also spotted a black scoter at Hamma Hamma, three harlequin ducks off Saltwater Park near Hoodsport and lots of Barrow's goldeneyes along the full length of Hood Canal. Anyone traveling along the Canal should also keep an eye out for killer whales, which have been sighted breeching and slapping their tails near Hoodsport.
Southwest Washington:
- Fishing: Regional anglers are finding themselves at that "awkward" stage as early-run hatchery winter steelhead wane and late-run steelies and hatchery spring chinook have yet to show, reports Pat Frazier, deputy regional fisheries manager. Things are just as lackluster for sturgeon anglers who have seen virtually no action recently. And the poor sturgeon results may be due to the fact that smelt still are a no-show as well. The silver lining in all that gloom is the hope that late-run winter steelhead and spring chinook are on the horizon. In the meantime, recent hatchery fish-recycling efforts offer anglers a bit of downstream opportunity. Possibilities include the lower Cowlitz River, where 94 hatchery steelhead were recently recycled; the area above the Cowlitz River's Interstate 5 boat launch, where 137 adult steelhead were recently recycled; and the Kalama River, where 137 newly returning steelhead and some "re-run" fish were recently logged at the Kalama Falls Hatchery. Trout fishers should have no trouble staying busy on Battleground Lake, where 2,000 catchable-size rainbows were recently planted, and Kidney Lake near North Bonneville, which recently received 1,000 trout. Another 106 hatchery-surplus adult winter steelhead were planted at Kress Lake near Kalama. On Klineline Pond, over 5,200 catchable-size rainbows were planted Jan. 20, and bank anglers caught 256 fish in early February.
- Wildlife viewing: In the Columbia River Gorge, resident peregrine falcons are starting to exhibit nesting behavior, says WDFW District Wildlife Biologist David Anderson, who advises viewers to keep an eye on cliff faces from Bonneville to The Dalles Dam for a possible glimpse of the raptors. A merlin was recently sighted near Goldendale, and the Columbia Hills in Klickitat County have been sporting golden eagles, red-tail and rough-legged hawks, Anderson adds. Meanwhile, the recent end of annual waterfowl hunting seasons makes this a good time of year to view undisturbed geese and ducks, which can be seen in large numbers at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Clark County and the Vancouver lowlands, suggests WDFW Wildlife Biologist Eric Holman. Refuge visitors are advised, however, that the road leading in Ridgefield's River "S" Unit will be closed Feb. 14-18 for improvement work. In the Woodland Bottoms area west of Interstate 5, egrets can be seen now. The egrets, with their snow-white bodies and long legs are generating "a lot of calls from people who want to know if there are storks in the area," Holman said. With spring around the corner bald eagles are putting on a show in Clark County, exhibiting the acrobatic flying maneuvers that signal courtship, Holman added. And for backyard birding enthusiasts, especially in coastal areas, it's time to clean and replenish hummingbird feeders, says WDFW's Bill Tweit. "The first group of hummingbirds are moving north, and could be showing up any time, especially in coastal areas. The first have been reported in central Oregon." Swallows are starting to show as well, and birders should keep an eye on ponds to spot the first of the season, Tweit suggests. The eighth-annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is set Feb. 18-21. Developed and managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, the GBBC encourages people to enjoy the birds around them by going out into the "great backyard" during any or all of the count days and keeping track of the highest numbers of each bird species they see. Sightings can be reported over the Internet at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc.
Eastern Washington:
- Fishing: WDFW central district fish biologist Chris Donley says that with cold nights and warm days, ice continues to confound fishing. "At many waters there's not enough to provide safe ice fishing and there's too much to allow boat launching or even shore casting," he explained. "There's probably some good fishing going on in some water somewhere by some determined anglers, but with the exception of Lake Roosevelt, it's kind of an in-between time right now." Lake Roosevelt continues to produce big rainbow trout and kokanee. Donley suggested anglers tune up their gear and make plans to hit waters opening March 1 - Coffeepot Lake in Lincoln County, Amber Lake for catch-and-release in Spokane County, and Tucannon River impoundments down south. The latest Snake River system steelhead creel checks show the best fishing is in the Lower Grand Ronde River, from Bogan's Oasis to state line, where steelheaders averaged about 7-1/2 hours of fishing effort per steelhead caught. Other catch rates last recorded showed the Touchet River at 14 hours of effort per fish caught, Snake River mainstem from Little Goose to Lower Granite dams at a little over 16 hours, Snake River from Ice Harbor to Lower Monumental dams at 20.5, near the mouth of the Grand Ronde River at a little over 21 hours, and the Snake from Lower Monumental to Little Goose dams at almost 39 hours.
- Wildlife viewing: Local birdwatchers report that big birds are looking for love these days - magpies, crows, ravens, hawks and owls are well into mating rituals so they can produce their slower-growing young in time to feed on smaller birds and mammals. Watch for aerial maneuvers and nest-building, and listen for raucous or plaintive calling. in particular are drawing attention as potential mates - or competing males - hoot at each other from treetops. Some birders have already reported seeing male red-winged blackbirds, robins and western bluebirds back in the area, scouting for future nesting sites. Bluebirds and other secondary cavity nesters will be looking for clean nestboxes, so now's the time to clean out last year's boxes. Although snow cover is well below normal in most parts of the region, wintery conditions persist in some areas. WDFW habitat biologist Sandy Dotts of Colville recently spotted forest grouse and snowshoe hare tracks in crusted-over snow in northern Pend Oreille County. Eastern Washington birdwatchers can participate in the eighth-annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) Feb. 18- 21 and record their counts of birds over the Internet at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc. One of the world's largest volunteer "citizen science" efforts, the GBBC is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited store owners, to help researchers better understand bird population numbers and distribution across the continent. It's called a "backyard" survey to make the point that anyone can participate, but counting can be done anywhere you happen to be that weekend - schoolyards, parks, wildlife refuges, ski hills and even the balcony of a city apartment. Once you submit your data over the Internet, you can also use the website to see where bird species are being seen locally and throughout the country.
North Central Washington:
- Fishing: WDFW enforcement officers have been patrolling the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers, which are still open to hatchery fishing, but they're finding few fishermen and no fish. 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. The allowance for retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead bearing disk tags continues in areas of the Columbia, Okanogan, Similkameen and Methow rivers currently open to steelhead fishing. Rainbow trout fishing at Rat Lake in Okanogan County continues without size and catch limits through March to allow anglers to catch anything available before the lake is rehabilitated in April.
- Wildlife viewing The fourth-annual Grand Coulee Balde Eagle Festival, Feb. 18-20, is a good way for families to see bald eagles and other wildlife in north central Washington. The festival is centered in the town of Grand Coulee, where tour buses regularly depart to Northrup Canyon, part of Steamboat Rock State Park, off State Highway 155 just seven miles south of Grand Coulee, where eagles concentrate in a night roosting area. WDFW and the parks department have teamed up to develop an eagle-viewing site there with trails and parking lots. The eagles can usually be seen from 2 p.m. until dusk in the pine and fir trees along the south wall of the canyon. Banks Lake from Coulee City to Soap Lake, and below Grand Coulee Dam along the Columbia River, are also good eagle-watching spots. Bring a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope and dress for the cold. For more information on the festival, which is named for the original spelling of bald eagle when it was named our national bird, see http://www.grandcouleedam.org/balde/index.html on the Internet. WDFW Okanogan District Wildlife Biologist Jeff Heinlen reports that bald eagles can also be found along the Okanogan River, hanging out near traditional nest sites. "We're also hearing great horned owls calling," he said, "and seeing lots of waterfowl, including common loons, along the Columbia River at the mouth of the Methow River by Pateros." Heinlin says the lower elevations of the Okanogan Valley are snow free, which is unusual for this time of year. "This has created good hiking conditions at some of the wildlife areas in the Okanogan, such as Indian Dan Canyon and Chiliwist," he said. "These areas are usually covered in snow this time of year, so it's a good chance to go hiking and birding. Just don't forget to dress warm." Wherever you go birdwatching in north central Washington, consider joining the eighth-annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February 18- 21, and record your counts of birds over the Internet at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc. One of the world's largest volunteer "citizen science" efforts, the GBBC is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited store owners, to help researchers better understand bird population numbers and distribution across the continent. It's called a "backyard" survey to make the point that anyone can participate, but counting can be done anywhere you happen to be that weekend - schoolyards, parks, wildlife refuges, ski hills, even the balcony of a city apartment. Once you submit your data over the Internet, you can also use the website to see where bird species are being seen locally and throughout the country. Wildlife watchers interested in big game species might want to take in the North Okanogan Sportsmen's Club of Oroville's annual "Head and Horns" Show, Feb. 19-20, at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds' Agriplex in Okanogan. WDFW will host a booth at the show, which runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
South Central Washington:
- Fishing: WDFW habitat biologist and sometime-fisher Perry Harvester suggests sturgeon fishing on the Columbia River. "With the warmer water temperatures, the sturgeon are apparently biting a bit early this year in the Columbia River," he said, adding that it might also be worth a trip to the Columbia to look for pre-spawn walleye. "Just check the rules and regs for these species before you cast a line," he adds. Although no fishing checks have been made, the upper Yakima River might be decent now for whitefish and catch-and-release trout.
- Wildlife viewing: Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Bob Tuck of Selah is one of many south central Washington wildlife enthusiasts reporting recent owl activity. Tuck has a barred owl roosting in his spruce trees, likely looking for, if not already teamed up with, a mate at this time. Others note great horned and screech owls calling to potential mates - or warning competitors - from treetops throughout the Yakima area. Unusual lack of snow leaves many mid-elevation hiking trails on public lands throughout the region open to wildlife watchers. Those could be good spots to participate in the eighth-annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), Feb. 18- 21, when birdwatchers record their counts of birds over the Internet at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc. One of the world's largest volunteer "citizen science" efforts, the GBBC is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited store owners, to help researchers better understand bird population numbers and distribution across the continent. It's called a "backyard" survey to make the point that anyone can participate, but counting can be done anywhere you happen to be that weekend - forests, parks, wildlife refuges, ski hills, even the balcony of a city apartment. Once you submit your data over the Internet, you can also use the website to see where bird species are being seen locally and throughout the country.
