July 11-24, 2001

Contact: Craig Bartlett, (360) 902-2408

If you want to catch salmon, thousands of anglers will tell you Westport is the place to be. Then again, countless others will say the same thing about Ilwaco, La Push and Neah Bay.

In fact, the entire Washington coast – as well as some inside waters – is swimming with salmon, offering some of the best fishing opportunities in more than a decade.

"All areas of the coast are producing very well," said Tony Floor, recreational fishing coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "As predicted, this is clearly a big year for salmon fishing on the coast."

Not that the coast is the only place to catch a salmon these days. Starting July 15, the mid-Columbia river will open for summer chinook between Priest Rapids Dam on the Grant-Yakima County line and Wells Dam on the Chelan-Douglas County line, where fishing is expected to be very good over the next few months.

Anglers are also doing well in the San Juan Islands (Marine Area 7), Tulalip Bay and a number of other areas of Puget Sound. These and other salmon fisheries are discussed in the regional summaries below.

On the coast, the main driver behind this year's red-hot fishery is a projected run of 1.5 million hatchery-bred coho salmon to the Columbia River – twice as many as last year. Naturally spawning coho stocks are up too, but anglers are required to release any coho that does not have a clipped adipose fin, identifying it as a hatchery fish.

Chinook salmon are also making a good showing on the coast, numbering one for every two coho caught in some areas. Chinook salmon are generally running 12 to 15 pounds, while coho are weighing in between 4 to 6 pounds, said Doug Milward, WDFW coastal fisheries manager.

"We're also seeing a fair number of smaller chinook in the catch – around 8 or 9 pounds – which indicates a healthy run of younger fish," Milward said.

In the Sekiu area (Marine Area 5), the chinook fishery closed after the recreational quota of 2,000 fish was reached after nine days of fishing. That area remains open to hatchery-coho retention, however, and lots of anglers are filling their two-salmon daily bag limit there.

It appears unlikely, however, that there will be a sockeye fishery this year in Lake Washington. After meeting with tribal representatives July 10 to review fish counts through the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard, WDFW fisheries managers expressed doubt that sockeye returns would be sufficient to allow a fishery and still meet spawning goals for the lake. A final decision was expected by week's end.

There are plenty of sockeye passing through the locks to give spectators a good show, though. As discussed in the North Puget Sound section below, an average of 9,000 salmon pass by the lighted viewing area every day, attracting visitors from throughout the world.

Whether hiking in the woods or fishing on the open ocean, July is a great month for outdoor recreation in Washington. But don't let the nice weather lull you into a false sense of security. The recent drowning of an Oak Harbor crab fisher and his son offers a sobering reminder of the importance of taking safety precautions when preparing to go out on a boat.

"It's important that everyone in the boat wear a life jacket, approved by the U.S. Coast Guard," said WDFW safety officer Scott Loerts. "But before you even get to that point, make sure that the weather and the tides are safe for boating. Even in summer, it's not uncommon to encounter rough water."

WDFW also asks that anyone planning to recreate on shore be especially careful with fire this year.

"With dry conditions throughout the state, it's critical that everyone be extremely careful with campfires, cigarettes and anything else that can start a forest fire," said Steve Pozzanghera, WDFW deputy assistant for the Wildlife Program. "This could be a long, hot summer."

North Puget Sound:

• Fishing: Hopes for a Lake Washington sockeye season are dim, but there's plenty of salmon fishing on Puget Sound. WDFW's Tony Floor reports "fabulous" salmon fishing in the San Juans, with strong returns of chinook from Puget Sound hatcheries and Canada's Fraser River. Chinook fishing is also far beyond expectations in the Tulalip Bubble, with a strong run heading back to the Skykomish hatchery. Meanwhile on area rivers, fresh returns of summer-run steelhead continue to show, says WDFW fish biologist Curt Kraemer. The Skykomish River is one of the best spots right now. Fishing activity is expected to shift upstream soon. With this year's low snow pack and mild weather, alpine lakes are opening up earlier than usual, he added. And receding snow and less snowmelt is leaving mountain streams in prime shape for trout fishing.

• Wildlife viewing: Sockeye salmon returning to Lake Washington continue to provide a spectacular show at the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard. More than 205,500 sockeye had been counted there as of Monday (July 9), with counts averaging more than 9,000 fish per day over the last week. The locks, at 3015 NW 54th St. in Seattle, are open to visitors form 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and the fish ladder features lighted viewing windows, where visitors can stand eye-to-eye with the sockeye as they swim upstream to spawn. Above ground viewing areas also are splashing with sockeye activity.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Fishing: As predicted, the coastal salmon fishery started with a bang this year, with anglers bringing home two-fish limits from Ilwaco to Neah Bay. "Most people are getting their limits before noon," said Mark Cedergreen, a Westport charter boat representative. Anglers caught nearly one chinook for every two hatchery coho harvested in Marine Area 2 (Westport), and the Sekiu area (Marine Area 5) closed to chinook retention after anglers hit the 2,000-chinook quota after nine days of fishing. That area remains open to hatchery coho, although naturally spawning coho (identified by an intact adipose fin) must be released there and elsewhere along the coast. Estimated catch totals through July 8 were as follows: Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), 1,886 chinook, 9,555 coho; Marine Area 2 (Westport), 3,137 chinook, 7,408 coho; Marine Area 3 (La Push), 165 chinook, 725 coho; Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay), 544 chinook, 4,308 coho. WDFW has beefed up coastal patrols – bringing in officers from as far away as eastern Washington – to enforce selective fishing rules and other regulations. Salmon fishing is also showing steady improvement in south Puget Sound, said Tony Floor, WDFW recreational fishing coordinator. Claybanks and Point Defiance are producing chinook between 8 and 22 pounds in the Tacoma area, while the south end of Anderson Island and inside Ketron Island are a good bet further south, Floor said. Crabbing will expand significantly Monday, July 16 at 7 a.m. when marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 and 6 (Strait of Juan de Fuca), 11(Tacoma-Vashon) and 13 (south Puget Sound) open to all legal types of gear. The crab harvest on Hood Canal, which remains open Fridays through Mondays, is a "mixed bag," with some crabbers doing a lot better than others, said Dave Sterritt, WDFW shellfish biologist. "Some people say it's slow compared to last year," Sterritt said, "but then last year's catch was exceptional." His advice: "Fresh bait can make a big difference." On a cautionary note, Sterritt said some people have been spotted wading for crab on days when the Hood Canal fishery is closed. "Closed means closed, regardless of the method used for harvesting crab," Sterritt said. "We'll be watching for violators." Meanwhile, lake fishers are reporting success on Spanaway Lake, American Lake, Silver Lake and Alder Lake.

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW recently issued a public request that seems to have captured the imagination of headline writers across the country: If you see a wild pig while out and about on the Olympic Peninsula, the agency wants to know about it. WDFW biologists have become concerned about the increasing number of reports about wild pigs, which are likely the descendants of European wild boars imported to the Peninsula in the 1930s. These aren't ordinary pigs. They have tusks, long guard hairs and can weigh up to 300 pounds. "They also have a nasty temperament and can do a great deal of damage to native vegetation and wildlife if left unchecked," said Steve Pozzanghera, deputy assistant director for the WDFW Wildlife Program. If you see one, the number to call is (360) 249-1222. If, however, you want to see some fascinating animals in a somewhat more civilized setting, take the family to Northwest Trek, a 635-acre wildlife park in Eatonville. Cougars, bison, grizzly bears, black bears, bighorn sheep, porcupines, caribou, sandhill cranes, snowy owls and many other species are on display – many in a free-roaming area viewed from a tram – daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Ask about the baby elk born June 14.) A summer camp is also available. For entrance fees and other information, call 360-832-7182 or check out the Northwest Trek website.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Fishing action here is focused on summer-run hatchery steelhead, with catch rates looking good on the lower Columbia, according to WDFW fish biologist Joe Hymer. Below Bonneville Dam, bank anglers are keeping an average of one steelhead for every seven rods based primarily on incomplete trips. A few chinook jacks also are appearing in the catch. One indication of the strength of this year's run is that 53,000 steelhead had been counted at Bonneville Dam as of July 8, while the recent 10-year- average run size has been 17,000. Some tributaries are also still producing good numbers of hatchery steelhead, he added, including the Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis, Washougal and Klickitat rivers. The news is good for sturgeon fishers in lower Columbia estuary too, Hymer noted. Private boat anglers sampled last weekend at Deep River were averaging one legal fish for every 2.5 rods. Most anglers aboard sturgeon charter boats in Ilwaco were reaching their one-fish daily limit, with some boats returning for the day by 9 a.m. last week. Meanwhile, bass angling has been good in Bonneville and John Day pools. Last week boat anglers in Bonneville averaged 12 bass per rod, while fishers at John Day were bringing in nine bass per rod. Boat fishers were finding walleye at an average of 0.5 fish per rod in John Day Pool. A fisher was checked with a 35.5-inch walleye in Bonneville Pool last week, Hymer said. For trout fishing, one of the better spots of the moment is Riffe Lake. Waters receiving regular trout plants throughout the summer include Skate Creek, the Tilton River and Lake Scanewa (Cowlitz Falls Reservoir). See Southwest Washington Creel Reports for more information.

• Wildlife viewing: Black-tailed deer fawns are becoming more visible at the Cowlitz Wildlife Area, and are commonly seen up and walking with their does. Common yellowthroats and other songbirds are abundant along the edges of brushy areas and shorelines throughout the area. Hungry fish-eating birds with hungry young can been seen foraging on lakes and ponds in the wildlife area; the most visible are belted kingfishers, ospreys and bald eagles. A trio of male common mergansers is in residence at Swofford pond.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: The heat is on so it's time to head to the small waters of the high country in the northeast for fishing. WDFW fish biologist Curt Vail of Colville reports that cutthroat trout have been biting well at Yocum Lake up the LeClerc Creek Road in Pend Oreille County. The Little Pend Oreille chain of lakes – Coffin, Frater, Gillette, Heritage, Leo, Sherry and Thomas – have had fair cutthroat fishing for the most part, too, although Vail warns that fishing can be fickle from day to day. Leadbetter Lake north of Metaline Falls is producing eastern brook trout. Ferry and Swan lakes in the Scatter Creek drainage of Ferry County have decent rainbow trout fishing. If the rainbows at Curlew Lake don't bite, you might land a tiger muskie up to 20 inches instead. Or try your luck at Stevens County's Pierre Lake where a largemouth bass was recently caught, weighing in at eight-pound-six-ounce. Wherever you go to cast a line and camp or picnic, be very careful with anything that could start a wildfire – much of eastern Washington is extremely dry and firefighters are already battling blazes.

• Wildlife viewing: A pair of common loons have a chick in tow on Yocum Lake, southeast of Ione up the LeClerc Creed Road in Pend Oreille County. WDFW fish biologist Curt Vail says the breeding pair is new to Yocum this year. Loons have also been breeding in recent years at Ferry Lake, south of Republic up Scatter Creek Road off Highway 21. Be sure to give these rare birds space as they can be fairly sensitive to disturbance, especially by motorboats on the water. The Peregrine falcon chicks that last month hatched in the nest on the Hangman Creek bridge just west of downtown Spokane appear to have fledged. The two youngsters and their parents will likely be hunting swifts and other smaller birds in the area for another month or so before heading south. Spokane area backyard birders report female hummingbirds back at nectar feeders and flowers after a presumed egg incubation hiatus. If they're feeding young, they'll need lots of nectar, so keep the feeders filled and plant or hang planters of nectar-producing flowers like columbine, coral bells, and fuschia.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Mid-Columbia River summer chinook salmon fishing will open on Sunday, July 15 in the stretch from Priest Rapids Dam on the Grant-Yakima County line to Wells Dam on the Chelan-Douglas County line, plus a portion of the Wells pool, between Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster and Highway 17 Bridge at Bridgeport to Highway 97 Bridge at the mouth of Okanogan River. WDFW regional fish program manager Joe Foster says the run of chinook is expected to exceed hatchery broodstock needs by more than 50 percent. Since this stock is considered stable, not listed under ESA, Foster explains, the season will not hurt listed spring chinook and steelhead trout. The daily catch limit is six salmon, but no more than two adults (at least 24 inches in length). Wild coho must be released and the non-buoyant lure restriction will be in effect. This special season will run through Oct. 15. Icicle River spring chinook salmon fishing is slow, with most fish passing to the hatchery by now. Diehard Icicle salmon fishers are reminded that this special season closes July 22. The yellow perch fishing in Moses Lake and Potholes Reservoir continues to be very good. Moses has eight to 10-inch perch everywhere, reports WDFW fish biologist Jeff Korth, and plenty of 10 to 12-inchers for those with the patience to search. Some crappie and bluegill are also showing up in catches at both of these waters where there are restrictions: five crappie of at least 10 inches and five bluegill of at least eight inches at Moses Lake, and no more than 25 crappie and bluegill combined at Potholes. Rainbow trout are also hitting well at Moses, Potholes, Warden, Windmill, and Teal lakes. Wherever you go to cast a line and camp or picnic, be very careful with anything that could start a wildfire – northcentral Washington is extremely dry and firefighters are already battling blazes.

• Wildlife viewing: The Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, northwest of Tonasket in Okanogan County, is a great place to see a wide a diversity of summering wildlife families. Mule and whitetail deer does with spotted fawns, blue grouse with trailing chicks, young red-tailed hawks cruising the skies and learning to hunt, even turtles along the area's many lakeshores looking for places to lay eggs. The Sinlahekin covers almost 14,000 acres of varied terrain and waterways, with day-use and overnight camping facilities available. Be careful with cookstoves, smoking materials, and any other potential fire starters, and follow any open fire restrictions or bans – northcentral Washington is extremely dry and firefighters are already battling blazes. If you can't make it to the Sinlahekin yourself, take a video tour of this beautiful area with manager Dale Swedberg.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Fly fishers using caddis and attraction patterns should find good fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout on the Naches, Little Naches, and Tieton rivers, and Rattlesnake Creek in Yakima County as well as the Taneum, upper Naneum, and upper Teanaway in Kittitas County. WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins also says that most high elevation tributaries to the Naches and Yakima watersheds have good populations of small cutthroat trout. The Yakima remains good in the catch-and-release section. Most streams have special rules, often requiring selective gear, so fishers should check the regulation pamphlet. WDFW habitat biologist Ken Bevis notes that many of the trout in the small mountain streams are small, six to eight inches, so the barbless hook requirement and bait prohibition are critical to releasing them unharmed. "Pinch your hook's barb down," Bevis instructs, "then use a pair of pliers to grab the hook, twist, and release the fish without even touching it. The less you handle fish you plan to release, the better, so play the fish on your line up close so you can use this plier-twist technique." Bevis says dry flies are best at this time of the year. Find a deep spot with some flow, hide in the bushes and lower the fly into the flow. If you're going to get a bite, it will be right away. Kokanee fishing is good in the Yakima Basin reservoirs, says Cummins, including Rimrock, Bumping, Kachess, and Keechelus. Best bets for lake fishing for rainbow trout are Clear and Dog Lakes in Yakima County, but a number of lower elevation lakes, such as the Fio Rito's, Mattoon, Easton Ponds, and Myron continue to produce for persistent anglers. Wherever you go to cast a line and camp or picnic, be very careful with anything that could start a wildfire – much of southcentral Washington is extremely dry and firefighters are already battling blazes.

• Wildlife viewing: It's fish-watching time, says WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins, with a bumper crop of spring chinook salmon expected to start spawning in the American River in late July. Salmon fishing is closed, but watching these beautiful fish is fun. Just keep your distance and try not to disturb them. Stay out of the water and don't place rocks in the channel to create pools. These small rock dams that streamside campers sometimes create will impede salmon migration upstream. If you see a rock dam in stream, remove it. Due to drought conditions, the American and other rivers such as the Little Naches, Bumping, Rattlesnake Creek and even the mainstream Naches and Yakima will be much lower than normal, making spawning salmon more vulnerable than normal to predation, disturbance, and poaching. Wherever you go to watch wildlife and camp or picnic, be very careful with anything that could start a wildfire – much of southcentral Washington is extremely dry and firefighters are already battling blazes.