January 12-26, 2000

Contact: Margaret Ainscough, (360) 902-2408

Colder weather may warm the hearts of hunters– the final days of goose and duck hunting this month should bring the best opportunities of the season as colder temperatures draw the birds off the water and inland.

Goose hunting ends Jan.16, and duck hunting closes Jan. 23.

Even though waterfowl populations are at record highs, unusually mild fall weather has kept the birds literally "at bay"– out on the water– in many areas.

Meanwhile, the coast offers renewed razor clamming opportunities, if tests continue to indicate that domoic acid is at safe levels.

Long Beach and Twin Harbors Beach (including North Cove, Grayland and Westport areas) are expected to be open for clam digging Jan. 20-22, while Copalis Beach should be open Jan. 22. Digging is allowed from noon to midnight, and diggers must take the first 15 clams they harvest, regardless of size. Reserves marked with orange poles and signs are off-limits to digging.

The winter clamming, which is expected to be repeated Feb. 19 and 20 at Long Beach and Twin Harbors, is offered in response to public requests for increased winter harvest opportunities. People should call (360) 796-3215 for the latest updates on shellfish regulations before heading to the beach.

2000 Winter Razor Clam Seasons
P.M. Digging Only

Beach Areas	Jan. 20	Jan. 21	Jan. 22	Feb. 19	Feb. 20
Long Beach	OPEN	OPEN	OPEN	OPEN	OPEN
Twin Harbors/North Cove/Grayland/Westport	OPEN	OPEN	OPEN	OPEN	OPEN
Copalis/Ocean Shores/Oyhut/Ocean City	CLOSED	CLOSED	OPEN	CLOSED	CLOSED
Moclips/Iron Springs/Pacific Beach/Roosevelt	CLOSED	CLOSED	CLOSED	CLOSED	CLOSED
Kalaloch	CLOSED	CLOSED	CLOSED	CLOSED	CLOSED
Kalaloch and Mocrocks which includes Iron Springs, Roosevelt, Pacific Beach and Moclips will remained closed until Spring when both beach areas may reopen for spring digging

Other current recreational opportunities include:

Northern Puget Sound:

• Fishing: Although winter steelhead fishing has been slower than normal, there's a bright spot at Bush Point on the southwest corner of Whidbey Island. The location is "a migration highway" for winter-run steelhead, and offers fishers without boats the best opportunity in the state to catch steelhead in saltwater from the beach, according to WDFW's Tony Floor. Steelheaders should watch for emergency rules requiring release of wild fish beginning later this month. Call the WDFW fishing hotline at (360) 902-2500 for the latest on rule changes.

• Hunting: Besides the last chance for duck and goose hunting, Skagit and Pacific counties also offer a brant hunting opportunity for pre-authorized hunters on nine selected days through Jan. 23. The special hunt started Saturday, and is open only to hunters who completed a state authorization form by last November. The bag limit is two brant

• Wildlife Viewing: "The Skagit Valley is loaded with wintering trumpeter swans, eagles, a whole variety of raptors and snow geese," reports WDFW Wildlife Biologist Mike Davison. For a good spot to enjoy snow geese, visit the Fir Island Farm Reserve about two miles west of Conway. Meanwhile, in the Upper Skagit Valley, bald eagle numbers continue to build, although viewing conditions fluctuate with river water levels. High waters cover river sand bars where eagles dine on spawned-out salmon carcasses, says Chuck Gibilisco, with WDFW's watchable wildlife program.

Olympic Peninsula:

• Fishing: Besides the razor clam digging opportunities mentioned above, steelhead fishing has been going strong on a number of north coast rivers, with one out of every two anglers scoring on the Sol Duc and Calawah at last report. Regional Fish Biologist Bill Freymond said he expects fishing for hatchery steelhead to remain strong for several more weeks, provided the water doesn't rise too high. If that happens, anglers can always try their luck at Wentworth Lake near Forks, where WDFW recently has been planting surplus steelhead from nearby Bogachiel Hatchery.

• Hunting: The brant hunting season began Jan. 8 in the Willapa Bay area and will continue over nine days through Jan. 23. Brant hunters were required to complete a state authorization form by last November in order to participate in the hunt.

• Wildlife Viewing: With hunters preparing the leave the field, WDFW biologists have begun their Midwinter Waterfowl Inventory to make an annual assessment of the flocks. One place they'll be checking– and wildlife watchers might consider it too– is the Chehalis River valley between Elma and Porter, where between 300 and 400 trumpeter swans were spotted on a recent weekend. Also look there for a herd of about 150 Roosevelt elk, which have moved down from higher elevations to escape the winter snow.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Cowlitz River steelhead fishing should be good for the next couple of weeks, particularly as the river level drops. A recent WDFW creel survey showed an average of every other boat angler had a keeper. The mouth of Blue Creek near the trout hatchery has been very popular. Most of the steelhead caught are three-year-olds that have spent two years at sea. Other good bets to catch a hatchery steelhead include the Elochoman, Kalama, Lewis (north and east forks) and Washougal rivers.

  Smelt dipping is open on the Cowlitz each Friday and Saturday through Feb. 19. The daily limit is 10 pounds per person. The fish can be caught from Longview to Castle Rock with the section from Longview to Kelso being the most productive. The smelt run has been poor in recent years so the fishery is being monitored by WDFW biologists. Anglers are reminded all other Washington Columbia River tributaries are closed to smelt fishing. Before leaving home to go fishing, anglers are urged to call the WDFW Region 5 office in Vancouver for updated catch information. The number is (360) 696-6211, extension 1010.

  Anglers may keep sturgeon caught between Bonneville and McNary dams on the Columbia. The daily limit is one fish between 42 and 60 inches in the Bonneville pool. Between The Dalles and McNary dams, the daily limit is one fish between 48 and 60 inches. Bank fishing along Highway 4 below Longview also is a good place to try to hook a legal sturgeon during the smelt migration.

  WDFW also recently has stocked several lakes with thousands of trout to provide fishing opportunities in the region. In Clark County, Lacamas Lake has received 13,897 brown trout and 7,649 rainbows. Klineline Pond in Clark County received 4,998 rainbows. Recent creel surveys report several large sea-run cutthroat and steelhead as well as large WDFW-planted broodstock trout have been caught in Klineline Pond in recent days. In Skamania County, Ice House and Little Ash lakes each received 1,008 rainbows. Two other southwest Washington lakes, Sacajawea and Horseshoe, also are producing large broodstock trout for anglers.

• Hunting: Goose and duck hunting should pick up as colder weather pushes the flocks further south along the flyway. The goose season is open through Jan. 16 and duck hunting is open through Jan. 23.

• Wildlife Viewing: Hundreds of elk are visible around the base of Mount St. Helens. Pull off Highway 504 en route to the visitor's center and look for them in the valley below. While in the area, why not check the beauty of a frozen waterfall? The Lewis River has one of the state's highest concentrations of waterfalls, according to author James Luther Davis. See them along the river between Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Take the Highway 503 exit from Interstate 5 and follow it as it becomes the Lewis River Road and then Forest Road 90. The falls are located east of Swift Reservoir.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Ice fishing (check local conditions for safe ice) for trout, perch, bluegill, or other sunfish is usually good at these year-round or winter-only lakes: Davis and Sullivan lakes in Pend Oreille County; Eloika, Hog Canyon, and Newman lakes in Spokane County; Fourth of July Lake on the Lincoln-Adams county line; and Waitts and Williams lakes in Stevens County. Winter fishing for trout or walleye can also be good on Lake Roosevelt, the Columbia River reservoir off Grand Coulee Dam, and the Spokane River reservoir Long Lake. You can also enjoy "fishing" indoors at the 15th annual Northwest Gamefish Show at the Interstate Fairgrounds in Spokane, Jan 7-9.

• Hunting: Although goose hunters have through Jan. 16 to bag birds, and most of the region is open every day, the Spokane and Lincoln county area shifted from Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays only to every day on Jan. 10 (see rules pamphlet for goose management area map).

• Wildlife Viewing: The dead of winter can be a lively time for wildlife watching, whether on cross country skis or from your window. This region usually has snow cover by now, so watching can include animal tracks. Everything from deer and moose to rabbits and weasels leave tell-tale signs of their travels through the snow; armed with a tracking field guide, it's fun to figure who went there. If you're out enjoying the region's public lands (Turnbull and Little Pend Oreille federal wildlife refuges; Sherman Creek, Swanson Lakes, Tucannon state wildlife areas; Colville and Umatilla national forests), you may see owls and hawks starting to pair up, exchanging hoots or playing on the wing. If you encounter wildlife close up while skiing or snow-shoeing, give it plenty of space to avoid stressing them during this harsh time of year. If you're watching birds and other wildlife at your own backyard winter feeders, remember to provide them fresh, unfrozen water for drinking and bathing.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Ice fishing (check local conditions for safe ice) for trout, perch, bluegill, or other sunfish is usually good at these year-round or winter-only lakes: Sprague Lake in Adams County; Green, Lower Green, Little Twin, Osoyoos, and Rat lakes in Okanongan County. Winter fishing for trout or walleye can also be good on the Columbia River reservoirs, Banks and Rufus Woods lakes. Whitefish are available in many northcentral rivers through the winter; check regulations pamphlet for open waters.

• Hunting: The last part of the duck season may make up for the slow start. The Columbia Basin is usually one of the best waterfowling spots in the state. Increasing cold could make the last days of the season the best.

• Wildlife Viewing: Celebrate the new year with an outing to Okanogan County's Methow Valley to view wintering mule deer herds on the slopes above Hwy. 20 between Mazama and Twisp. Well over 10,000 mule deer – the largest migratory herd in the state – winter here. Given the right conditions, you may see 100 deer in a day of driving and watching through the valley. Cross country skiers and others who might have a closer mule deer encounter should remember to give them a wide berth to avoid stressing these animals.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Fishing for trout is usually good at these year-round or winter-only lakes: Fio Rito lakes and Mattoon Lakes in Kittitas County; and North Elton Pond in Yakima County. Depending on conditions, ice fishing can be good at Roses Lake near Mason and Fish Lake near Lake Wenatchee, both in Chelan County. Whitefish are available in many southcentral rivers through the winter; check regulations pamphlet for open waters.

• Wildlife Viewing: Wintery conditions have yet to set in at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area, just northwest of Yakima, so WDFW's winter elk feeding station there is not operational. Some elk that are used to the feeding pattern are hanging around, but the hundreds that usually congregate in the snow to feast on hay and alfalfa pellets are not to be seen. Call (509) 653-2390 for the latest information about conditions and best times to visit when feeding does begin.