Falling temperatures could be good news for anglers on both sides of the Cascades in the first month of the new year.

In eastern Washington, a solid freeze could make a number of popular lakes safe for ice fishing. Four inches of solid, clear ice is the safety standard established by the U.S. Coast Guard.

On the westside, a string of cold, dry days could help bring rain-swollen rivers under control, improving conditions for steelhead fishing. As of today (Jan. 10), the forecast looked promising, said David Low, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"Anglers are getting pretty antsy," Low said. "Steelhead fishing could be spectacular if the forecast holds and the water keeps dropping. Anglers should be able to find fish anywhere they go."

Low was remarking on fishing prospects on the Olympic Peninsula, but the same could be said about steelhead angling from the Skagit to the Cowlitz rivers. With the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday fast approaching, he recommended that anglers keep a sharp eye on the weather forecast and stream flow data.

Meanwhile, razor clam enthusiasts are waiting for final word on new digs tentatively scheduled this month and next. As recently announced by WDFW, Twin Harbors Beach will be open for razor clam digging Jan. 19-21 if marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat. As with previous openings this season, digging would be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight.

Final word on that dig will be announced about one week before the scheduled opening, once the results of the marine toxin tests are known. Shellfish managers are also planning another dig at four beaches in mid-February, as reported in the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula section below.

Hunting seasons for ducks and geese continue through Jan. 28, while swans, bald eagles and a variety of other wintering birds remain on display throughout the state.

Whether successful or not during past seasons, deer, elk, bear and turkey hunters are reminded that they must submit their mandatory hunting harvest reports by Jan. 31 to avoid a $10 penalty when purchasing 2007 hunting licenses.

For more information about current outdoor-recreation opportunities in Washington, see the regional summaries below:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Unpredictable weather has made fishing spotty for both saltwater and freshwater anglers in the region.

  On Puget Sound, angler effort increased during the Christmas holiday, but has tapered off since the arrival of another round of wet and windy conditions. Only five anglers were checked with two chinook at the Everett ramp during creel checks the first week of January. That's well below the 99 anglers who brought in 26 blackmouth during the final week of 2006.

  "Windy conditions have made it difficult for some anglers to get out on the water," said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fisheries biologist. "However, some experienced anglers, who have found breaks in the weather, are putting nice fish in their boats."

  Thiesfeld said marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) have been productive. However, Marine Area 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) has been slow.

  Anglers participating in the selective fishery in marine areas 8-1 and 8-2 can keep up to two hatchery chinook per day, so long as the fish measure at least 22 inches in length. Wild chinook salmon, which have an intact adipose fin, cannot be brought aboard the boat.

  In Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), anglers have a daily limit of one salmon, and chinook must be at least 22 inches long. Theisfeld reminds anglers that the salmon season in Marine Area 10 closes at the end of the month.

  In the rivers, recent storms have made steelhead fishing a bit erratic. However, anglers who made it out to some of the region's rivers during favorable weather conditions have done fairly well, said Chad Jackson, WDFW fish biologist. "I've heard reports of anglers doing well at Reiter Ponds and at Tokul Creek," Jackson said. "Anglers on the North Fork of the Stillaguamish have also been picking up a few steelhead."

  Anglers should check WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) for more information on fishing closures and regulations.

• Hunting: Brant goose numbers in Skagit County are high enough to allow a seven-day hunt later this month, two days longer than last year. Brant hunting in the county will proceed as scheduled Jan. 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27 and 28, with a daily bag limit of two geese.

  The seven-day season, adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in August, was given the green light after nearly 6,100 brant were counted during an aerial survey of Fidalgo, Padilla and Samish bays, said Don Kraege, waterfowl section manager for WDFW. At least 6,000 brant must be counted in Skagit County before hunting is allowed.

  "Numbers of brant are down this year, but expected harvest rates during the seven-day season are still within our management objectives," said Kraege. About 9,500 brant were counted during aerial surveys in 2006 and about 10,000 the previous year. "We're not sure why the numbers are down this year, but it could be a number of factors, such as poor production on the breeding grounds and possible shifts to other wintering areas."

  Hunters participating in the brant season must have prior written authorization and a harvest information card from WDFW. Hunters need to record their harvest information immediately after taking a brant, and return the completed harvest report to WDFW by Feb. 15. Hunters who fail to return the report by Feb. 15 will be ineligible to hunt brant in the 2007-2008 season.

  Other goose hunts in the region continue through Jan. 28. However, snow, Ross and blue geese hunts in Goose Management Area 1 (Skagit, Snohomish and Island counties) ended Jan. 7. Hunters also have through Jan. 28 to hunt ducks.

  More information on waterfowl hunting is available in WDFW's Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons hunting pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/water.htm.

  Whether successful or not during past seasons, deer, elk, bear and turkey hunters are reminded that they must submit their mandatory hunting harvest reports by Jan. 31 to avoid a $10 penalty when purchasing 2007 hunting licenses.

• Wildlife viewing: Birders are flocking to Skagit County to catch a glimpse of a whooper swan. The swan, an uncommon visitor to Puget Sound, was last spotted along the Pioneer Highway in the Conway area. Whooper swans are large white birds with black and yellow bills. They breed mainly across northern Europe and Asia, and regularly winter on the Aleutian Islands. "I found it hard to stop watching this wonderful creature, knowing how far it must have come to pay us a visit," wrote one birder on the Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/).

  Elsewhere, a birder in Woodland heard the distinct "peat-peat-peat-peat" of a swamp sparrow near the Lewis River. Swamp sparrows are reddish-brown birds with dark stripes down their backs. The sparrows winter in marshy and brushy swamps near open water, and are mostly solitary birds except when migrating.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: Prospects look good for steelhead fishing and another razor clam dig this month, but neither was certain as of the second week of 2007.

  For steelhead anglers, weather remains the biggest unknown. After a month of heavy rain and high water, rivers throughout the region were dropping into shape in advance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. With snow on the ground, the weather forecast called for a string of cold, dry days in mid-January.

  "Anglers are getting pretty antsy," said David Low, WDFW fish biologist. "Steelhead fishing could be spectacular if the forecast holds and the water keeps dropping. Anglers should be able to find fish anywhere they go."

  While anglers have been finding fish in some of the smaller rivers and creeks on the northern Olympic Peninsula, large rivers such as the Bogachiel and Hoh were still running too high to fish through the first week in January, Low said. "The smaller rivers usually drop back into shape the quickest," he said.

  Low cautioned anglers that wild steelhead are making up a growing percentage of the fish moving into area rivers. "So it's important to take a close look at them if you plan to keep them," he said.

  As most anglers know, wild steelhead can be distinguished from hatchery fish by their intact adipose and ventral fins. Retention rules for wild steelhead are outlined on page 29 of the Fishing in Washington rule pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

  While anglers keep an eye on the weather, razor clam enthusiasts are waiting for final word on new digs tentatively scheduled this month and next.

  As recently announced, Twin Harbors Beach will be open for razor clam digging Jan. 19-21 if marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat. Results from those tests are expected about one week before the planned dig. As with previous openings this season, digging would be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight.

  "This month's opening is specifically designed to give diggers an opportunity to take advantage of the large number of clams still available at Twin Harbors," said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. "At most other beaches, we're trying to conserve clams so there will still be some available for digs this spring."

  Clam diggers may, however, have a greater selection of beaches during the first two days of a three-day dig tentatively scheduled in February.

  Four beaches - Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mocrocks and Kalaloch - will be open for digging Feb. 16 and 17 between noon and midnight if marine toxin tests are favorable. Twin Harbors will also remain open Feb. 18 during the same hours if the test results allow the dig to proceed as planned.

  As with this month's proposed dig, Copalis Beach will remain closed in February because of the relatively low number of clams available for harvest there, Ayres said.

  Anglers planning ahead may also want to note that the 31st Discovery Bay Salmon Derby will be held Feb. 17-19, with drop-off stations at the Port Townsend Boat Haven gas dock, Gardiner Boat Ramp and John Wayne Marine. Anglers participating in the state's oldest-running derby will compete for cash and other prizes worth more than $10,000. Details and rules are available at http://www.DiscoBaySalmonDerby.com or by calling 360-797-7711.

• Hunting: Seasons for ducks and geese run through Jan. 28. Goose hunting is allowed seven days per week in Management Area 3, but is limited to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Wednesday only in Management Area 2B (Pacific County).

  Whether successful or not during past seasons, deer, elk, bear and turkey hunters are reminded that they must submit their mandatory hunting harvest reports by Jan. 31 to avoid a $10 penalty when purchasing 2007 hunting licenses.

• Wildlife viewing: A small group of birders on a recent visit to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge spotted a number of different species, including a sitting among a large mixed flock of waterfowl. Northern shrikes are annual winter visitors to Washington, however they are typically more common on the eastern side of the Cascades. The medium-sized songbirds frequently winter in lowlands, but prefer areas where trees and shrubs provide cover. When hunting, the birds watch their prey from a perch and then swoop down and snatch their target, which is often small rodents or birds. The birders also spotted a Eurasian wigeon, several red-tailed hawks and sharp-shinned hawk that made a pass at a small flock of golden-crowned sparrows.

  During the Grays Harbor Christmas Bird Count, which took place Dec. 23, observers tallied a few numbers worth noting. A total of 5,777 American wigeons were counted, four times the numbers usually seen during previous Christmas Bird Counts, according to a report on the Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/). Counts of mallards (1,840), surf scoters (632) and common goldeneyes (355) also hit new highs.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Most area rivers have been running too high for serious steelhead fishing so far this year, but that could change in the days ahead. A cold front moving into the area during the second week of January could slow flows enough to improve fishing conditions just in time for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, said Wolf Dammers, WDFW fish biologist.

  "If the snow doesn't turn to rain, the rivers could drop back into shape in time for the weekend," Dammers said. "Anglers have been catching a few hatchery steelhead at Blue Creek and the Barrier Dam on the upper Cowlitz River, but steelhead fishing has been pretty tough in most other areas."

  One exception is Kress Lake near Kalama, where WDFW has planted more than 1,000 excess hatchery steelhead from the Cowlitz River since late December. The department hasn't been conducting creel surveys there, but Dammers said he's heard from several anglers who have done very well. "A guy from Lake Stevens called last week to say that he and his buddy hooked 10 to 17 steelhead each day over a four-day period," Dammers said. "The angler said all the fish were in good condition and that he and he and his fishing partner had a great time."

  Anglers may catch and keep up to two steelhead per day as part of their five-trout limit in Kress Lake, and are not required to record steelhead caught in the lake on their catch record cards. The same rules apply at South Lewis County Park Pond near Toledo, where WDFW is also planting excess hatchery steelhead from the Cowlitz River. Dammers said he didn't have any current reports on fish at the county pond.

  Meanwhile, the Columbia River sturgeon fishery has reopened up to McNary Dam, although most of the action has been in The Dalles Pool, said Brad James, WDFW fish biologist. Eighteen boat anglers reported catching six legal-size fish and releasing one more in a week-long creel survey ending Jan. 7, he said. Four boat anglers fishing the Bonneville Pool caught one legal-size fish and five sub-legals that week.

  "Most sturgeon are out of the estuary and have moved upriver at this time of year," James said. "Fishing will improve throughout the river in the next few months as the water warms up and sturgeon redistribute themselves."

  Current fishing rules for white sturgeon on the Columbia River are as follows:

  • From the mouth to the Wauna powerlines: sturgeon may be kept seven days a week through April 30. The minimum size is 42 inches.

  • From the Wauna powerlines to Bonneville Dam: Sturgeon may be kept Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only through July 31 - except for the spawning sanctuary from Marker 85 upstream which is closed to all fishing from May through July. The minimum size is 42 inches.

  • Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day pools: Sturgeon may be retained seven days a week until the guidelines are met. However, fishing will be closed from May through July in the two spawning sanctuaries, located below John Day Dam downstream 2.4 miles and McNary Dam downstream 1.5 miles. From Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam, the minimum size is 42 inches. From The Dalles Dam to McNary Dam, the minimum size is 48 inches.

  James noted that fishery managers will sponsor a public hearing Jan. 25 in Vancouver to consider adopting season modifications for the sturgeon fishery from the Wauna powerlines to Bonneville Dam. At that hearing, fishery managers will consider options for providing additional retention opportunity to access up to 4,000 sturgeon left over from last year's harvest guideline. The hearing will be held at the Water Resource Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, Wash. For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/crc/crc14dec06notice.htm.

  Smelt dippers caught a few fish Jan. 6 on the Cowlitz River, "but so far we haven't seen anything like a big push upriver," James said. Returns are expected to be poor this year, but chances of getting a limit should increase through mid-February, when the run usually peaks, he said. The Cowlitz River is open to smelt dipping from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each Saturday through March 1.

• Hunting: Regular hunting seasons for ducks and geese run through Jan. 28 around the region. A special late Canada goose season will begin Feb. 3 in Management Area 2A for graduates of the Advanced Hunter Education (AHE) program and young hunters 15 and under who accompany them. AHE will receive notices of hunt eligibility this month.

  Whether successful or not during past seasons, deer, elk, bear and turkey hunters are reminded that they must submit their mandatory hunting harvest reports by Jan. 31 to avoid a $10 penalty when purchasing 2007 hunting licenses.

• Wildlife viewing: Area wildlife watchers should be aware that WDFW has closed access to the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area through April 30 to reduce stress on wintering elk. "The four-month closure is designed to help give wintering elk the best chance of survival," said Dave Ware, WDFW game manager. "The presence of humans can put additional stress for elk during times of cold temperatures and declining forage."

  More than 60 elk died of malnutrition and related causes last winter in the 2,744-acre wildlife area, which is owned and managed by WDFW. This year, starting this month, the department plans to start feeding the 300 to 400 elk gathered in the mudflow area.

  "Because the rough weather came early this season, we have time to address the situation while there's still time to do some good," said Ware, noting that weather conditions will determine how long WDFW will continue this year's feeding program.

  Ware noted that winter access closures are one of a number of strategies contained in a new management plan for the wildlife area adopted by WDFW this month. Other provisions of that plan, developed in consultation with a variety of area organizations, include:

Increasing forage production for elk

Increasing hunting opportunities to reduce the herd's size consistent with available habitat

Preventing erosion

Improving habitat to facilitate the recovery of fish populations in the Toutle River Basin.

Prohibiting dogs in the wildlife area to avoid elk harassment

A copy of the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area Management Plan is posted on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/management_plans/index.htm.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW enforcement officers patrolling winter fishing lakes in the Spokane area report recent weather patterns of deep freezes followed by warm-ups, wind and rain have not produced adequate ice for safe fishing. The last time ice on Hog Canyon Lake was eight inches thick was New Year's Eve. At the same time, ice on Fourth of July Lake was only about three inches thick. U.S. Coast Guard guidelines recommend at least four inches of solid, clear ice for safe use by fishers. See more information about ice fishing safety at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regions/reg1/ice_fishing.htm. Sporadic fishing at both of those rainbow trout-stocked lakes has been producing good catches, including a few 20-inch-plus fish. Another extended deep freeze, as currently forecasted, could make ice fishing at those lakes a possibility once again.

  Anglers are catching some Yellow perch and crappie at Eloika Lake in north Spokane County and at Sprague Lake on the Lincoln-Adams county line. Patrolling officers recently reported "sketchy" ice at Sprague Lake access areas, but changing conditions could make for decent ice fishing.

  Lake Roosevelt's winter rainbow trout fishery continues to produce for anglers willing to brave the elements on the big water. Large net-pen-reared rainbows, often ranging from 18 to 24 inches, are usually biting well through January, especially in the lower reservoir from Grand Coulee to Seven Bays.

  Trout fishing has been poor this season on winter-only Williams and Hatch lakes in Stevens County because of growing populations of illegally introduced yellow perch that feed on and out-compete the trout. Curt Vail, WDFW fish biologist, said the perch themselves are small, so the fishery overall is poor.

  Snake River steelheading has slowed. According to the most recent creel survey, the best catch rate was about 12 hours of fishing per steelhead caught in the stretch on the mainstem Snake from Ice harbor Dam to Lower Monumental Dam. See the full survey at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/snake/index.htm.

• Hunting: Pheasant, quail, and partridge hunting runs through Jan. 15. Best bets for these final and usually harsh days of the season will be in the most dense cover available, often Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage on farmland and riparian or streamside habitat.

  Duck and goose hunting continues through Jan. 28. Opportunities for geese in Lincoln, Spokane and Walla Walla counties include the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Jan. 15. Opportunities will be extended after Jan. 21 from the usual Saturday-Sunday-Wednesday-only season to every day. Check the waterfowl-hunting pamphlet for all goose zone rules - including official hunting hours. WDFW enforcement officers recently patrolling the Burbank and Wallula Junction areas of the Columbia River in Walla Walla County cited at least one waterfowl hunter for shooting at geese 48 minutes past shooting hours.

  Whether successful or not during past seasons, deer, elk, bear and turkey hunters are reminded that their mandatory hunting harvest reports must be submitted by Jan. 31 to avoid a $10 penalty when purchasing 2007 hunting licenses.

• Wildlife viewing: Steve Zender, WDFW district wildlife biologist, said January is a good time to view concentrations of upland game birds and individual raptors hunting. "Drive the quiet county roadways in northeast Washington, especially at the lower elevations in the river valleys around Colville and Chewelah to see winter groups of wild turkey, ring-necked pheasant, valley quail, and maybe even Hungarian partridge," he said. "You'll also notice bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, and rough-legged hawks hunting the open fields."

  This is also a popular time of year to start collecting shed antlers of deer, elk and moose while out hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. WDFW Wildlife Biologist Dana Base said white-tailed deer bucks generally start shedding antlers in December, moose usually in January, and mule deer and elk a little later in the winter. Base reminds antler collectors to avoid pushing animals off their needed winter range in the pursuit of these treasures.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Art Viola, WDFW district fish biologist, said steelhead fishing remains slow in the Columbia River from Rocky Reach to Wells Dam. Whitefish angling in the Wenatchee River is also poor, he said.

  Viola also reports a mix of conditions for winter trout fishing in the district. "Fish Lake is frozen with about five inches of hard ice but also a foot of slush on top," he said. "For those brave enough to venture out on Fish Lake, fishing has been very good for both yellow perch and rainbow trout. The ice on Roses and Antelone lakes is thin and dangerous."

  Bob Jateff, WDFW Okanogan district fish biologist, said winter ice fishing in the Okanogan has been pretty good so far, with recent colder temperatures providing adequate ice cover for anglers. "Little and Big Green lakes in the Omak area, Rat Lake near Brewster, and Davis Lake near Winthrop are all producing catches of rainbow trout," he said. "Anglers can expect to catch fish in the 10-12 inch range at these lakes."

  Patterson Lake in the Winthrop area opened Jan. 1 to ice fishing for yellow perch. The season will run through March 15 and there is a plowed-out WDFW access site at the lake with a toilet. Jateff said anglers can expect to catch perch in the eight to nine-inch range, along with some rainbow trout.

  Jateff also reports steelhead fishing on the Columbia River in the Brewster/Bridgeport area has slowed over the past few weeks with anglers averaging a fish every 12 hours. The most popular spots are the Pateros area, as well as just above and below Wells Dam. WDFW enforcement officers recently patrolling Okanogan waterways found no fish caught by steelheaders and no angles out after whitefish on the Methow River.

• Hunting: Duck hunters are doing very well on the Wells pool of the Columbia River. Beau Patterson, WDFW district wildlife biologist, recently checked three hunters coming off the water, each with a limit of seven ducks, including wigeon, gadwall, canvasback, redhead, greater and lesser scaup and ruddy duck.

  Waterfowl hunting continues through Jan. 28. Opportunities for geese throughout the region include the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Jan. 15. Opportunities will be extended after Jan. 21 from the usual Saturday-Sunday-Wednesday-only season to every day. Check the waterfowl-hunting pamphlet for all goose zone rules.

  Pheasant, quail, and partridge hunting runs through Jan. 15. Best bets for these final and usually harsh days of the season will be in the most dense cover available, often Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage on farmland and riparian or streamside habitat.

  Whether successful or not during past seasons, deer, elk, bear and turkey hunters are reminded that their mandatory hunting harvest reports must be submitted by Jan. 31 to avoid a $10 penalty when purchasing 2007 hunting licenses.

• Wildlife viewing: A great way to see wildlife in winter - or at least signs of their presence - is by snowshoe. This quiet, slow method of travel over deep snow can be just the ticket for spotting the unusual, or at least relieving cabin fever. Free naturalist-guided snowshoe tours through Okanogan County's Methow Valley are conducted on Saturdays, three-day weekends and holidays, giving participants a chance to 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 at http://www.mvsta.com/walks.html.

  Beau Patterson, WDFW Wenatchee district wildlife biologist, said there are excellent birding opportunities along the Columbia River pools from Rock Island Dam upstream to the Wells Pool. "Loons, grebesdabbling ducks, Canada Geese, swans and coots are present in large numbers and variety on all the pools," he said. "Bald eagles are highly visible, and some courtship activities are beginning, as well as the possibility of seeing a coot or duck preyed upon by eagles. Some passerines, as well as quail, Hungarian and chukar partridges are readily visible on some of the adjacent uplands, Patterson said. Other raptors likely to be seen include golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, kestrels, sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks and great-horned owls, with reasonable chances to see northern goshawks, and prairie and gyrfalcons.

  Both Patterson and WDFW Okanogan District Wildlife Biologist Scott Fitkin warn outdoor recreationists to avoid disturbing energy-stressed deer on winter ranges. Refrain from operating off-road vehicles - including snowmobiles - where there are deer tracks or deer are seen wintering. Restrict wildlife watching to open roads. Don't attempt to approach wintering wildlife. Delay shed-antler hunting until snow depths subside or melt clear. "We could experience increased mortality in our deer populations before winter's end and every incremental disturbance could contribute to that," Patterson said.

  WDFW enforcement officers remind dog-owners to keep their pets confined or controlled around deer, which cannot outrun dogs when snow is crusted over with ice. Officers have recently received many complaints throughout the northern end of the region about dogs chasing deer and are issuing citations to dog owners for wildlife harassment.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: This is the time to focus fishing efforts on the flowing, open waters of streams and rivers, as most of the region's year-round, trout-stocked ponds and lakes are iced over, but not necessarily thick enough for safe ice fishing.

  Some of the best river and stream fishing now is for whitefish, open on the Bumping, Naches, Tieton and Yakima rivers, and the Columbia River between Vantage and Priest Rapids Dam. Averaging 10 to 13 inches, these bony fish may be best smoked. They are relatively easily caught on maggots, small grubs, stonefly nymphs or sparsely tied artificial flies and small lures fished along the bottom of deep pools. The daily catch limit is 15 fish using the standard whitefish gear rule - one single point hook size 14 or smaller (no more than 3/16-inch from point to shank). The gear rule is designed to provide a winter fishing opportunity but minimize the chances of catching other gamefish, which are not legal to harvest at this time. Check the fishing rules pamphlet for all details.

  Anglers can bone up and gear up for future opportunities at the 14th annual Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show, Jan. 19-21, at the TRAC in Pasco. Among the many fishing guide and gear vendor displays and demonstrations, there's a kids' fishing pond and free seminars by experts on virtually every kind of fishing imaginable. Show hours are 1-8 p.m. Jan. 19, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 20 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 21. Admission prices are $7 for adults, $3.50 for kids six to 12, and free for kids under six. For more details, see http://www.shuylerproductions.com/index.php.

• Hunting: Perry Harvester, WDFW regional habitat program manager, advises waterfowl hunters to look for concentrations of ducks and geese on the region's big, open waterways, like the Columbia and Yakima rivers and their reservoirs.

  Smaller waters are iced up and waterfowl-free at this time. Duck and goose hunting continues through Jan. 28. Opportunities for geese in Kittitas and Benton counties include the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Jan. 15. Opportunities will be extended after Jan. 21 from the usual Saturday-Sunday-Wednesday-only season to every day. Check the waterfowl-hunting pamphlet for all goose zone rules.

  Pheasant, quail, and partridge hunting runs through Jan. 15. Best bets for these final and usually harsh days of the season will be in the most dense cover available, often Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage on farmland and riparian or streamside habitat.

  Whether successful or not during past seasons, deer, elk, bear and turkey hunters are reminded that their mandatory hunting harvest reports must be submitted by Jan. 31 to avoid a $10 penalty when purchasing 2007 hunting licenses.

  Hunters who have already cleaned and stored their guns for the season may want to bone up and gear up for future opportunities at the 14th annual Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show, Jan. 19-21 at the TRAC in Pasco. Among the many hunting guide and gear vendor exhibits and booths, there's the Northwest big game display, an elk bugling contest, virtual shooting range, kids' air rifle range, free hunting seminars, a Dutch oven outdoor cooking demonstration and more. Show hours are 1-8 p.m. Jan. 19, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 20 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 21. Admission prices are $7 for adults, $3.50 for kids 6 to 12 and free for kids under six. For more details, see http://www.shuylerproductions.com/index.php.

• Wildlife viewing: Winter feeding of elk and bighorn sheep continues at WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area just southwest of Yakima. "We're in the middle of a pretty severe winter, so we've lost a few of the oldest and youngest elk," said area manager John McGowan. "It's natural and expected, and it's providing more forage for wintering bald and golden eagles, which you can see feeding on carcasses." McGowan said about 1,200 elk, including many very large, mature bulls, are coming into the wildlife area headquarters feeding site, off Hwy. 12 southwest of Naches, where they're fed every day at 1:30 p.m. About 180 bighorn sheep, including several nice rams, are coming into the Cleman Mountain unit of the wildlife area, just northeast of the Highway 410 and 12 junction, about half-a-mile up the Old Naches Road. where they're fed mid-morning daily. "Many of these animals are visible throughout the day and not just at these feeding times," McGowan said. Visitors can make reservations for hay truck tours with volunteers through the elk herd at headquarters by calling 509-698-5106. Most truck tours are conducted on weekends, but if the demand is great enough, tours are also provided during the week.

  Ted Clausing, WDFW regional wildlife program manager, warns all outdoor recreationists to avoid harassing deer or elk during these cold and snowy days. "These animals need all their fat reserves to get through this winter so postpone the shed-antler collecting until conditions moderate and keep the snowmobiling, cross-country-skiing, and other winter sports in areas away from traditional wildlife winter range," he said. Clausing also noted that dog owners must keep pets from chasing deer or elk at this time to avoid wildlife harassment citations.

  During these cold and snowy days, WDFW Regional Habitat Program Manager Perry Harvester reminds backyard bird feeders to keep feeders not only filled, but also cleaned to avoid spreading disease among concentrations of birds. Providing open water for birds is just as important. Birds need to both drink and bathe to keep feathers clean, which keeps them warm.