Updates: Sturgeon retention ends July 24 on the Columbia River between Bonneville and The Dalles dams, and the sturgeon fishery below the Wauna powerlines will remain closed. See news release. Halibut fishing will reopen Aug. 4 in Marine Area 1 on a Friday-through-Sunday schedule. See rule change.

With summer fishing seasons now in full swing, anglers in Washington state have plenty of options about how to spend their free time. Salmon, steelhead, trout, crab and sturgeon are all available to sportfishers in waters specified under state fishing rules.

Hoping to land a salmon or two? The salmon fishery off the Pacific coast got off to a fairly slow start, although anglers have been catching some nice chinook averaging 15 to 20 pounds from Ilwaco to Neah Bay. Salmon fisheries are also under way in several areas of Puget Sound and on the Columbia River, where anglers have been catching good numbers of hefty chinook from Woodland to Brewster.

For hatchery steelhead, the obvious hot spot has been the Cowlitz River, where two out of three anglers have been taking home legal-sized fish. Steelhead fishing in the lower Columbia River is also expected to pick up now that more fish are being counted at Bonneville Dam.

Rather head for the high country? With the snow receding, dozens of high-mountain lakes have become accessible to anglers casting for rainbow trout, cutthroat and other species. As noted in the Southwest Washington report below, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recently planted two alpine lakes on the western slope of Mount Adams with 4,000 rainbows each.

Most areas of Puget Sound are also now open for Dungeness crab, as outlined on WDFW's sport-fishing website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/). Coming up, the southern portion of Marine Area 7 opens July 15 on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule.

With the exception of emergency rules, fishing regulations are outlined in WDFW's Fishing in Washington pamphlet, available wherever fishing licenses are sold and posted on the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm). Emergency rules are recorded on WDFW's Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500) and Shellfish Hotline (866-880-5431), and are posted on the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

With so many fisheries now open around the state, anglers need to make sure they know the rules for specific waters before they cast a line or drop a crab pot, said Bruce Bjork, chief of WDFW's enforcement division.

"Our goal isn't to issue citations," Bjork said. "Our job is to make sure everybody follows the rules, both to preserve the resource and in fairness to other fishers. We urge anglers to read the regulations before they leave home and follow them once they get to the fishing grounds."

With that in mind, the reports below provide a summary of fishing options - and other recreational opportunities - now available in each region of the state.

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Summer salmon fishing is now in full swing and anglers are having some success catching coho in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), although fishing remains slow for chinook at the Tulalip bubble.

  Creel checks at Shilshole Ramp indicate 58 anglers hooked five coho on July 8. But the catch improved the following day, when 62 anglers were checked at the ramp with 23 coho. Anglers fishing in Marine Area 10 have a daily limit of two salmon, with no minimum size limit. Anglers must release chinook salmon, and handling rules are in effect.

  Elsewhere in Marine Area 10, the Sinclair Inlet fishery remains open with a daily limit of two salmon, and beginning July 14, the Inner Elliott Bay fishery gets going. That fishery also has a daily limit of two salmon but is only open Fridays through Sundays.

  The Tulalip Bay "bubble" salmon fishery has yet to heat up. Checks at the Everett Ramp showed 138 anglers with only three chinook on July 7, and 201 anglers brought home only two chinook the following day. Anglers fishing the Tulalip bubble are reminded that the fishery is open each week from Friday through noon Monday and runs through Sept. 25. There is a two-salmon daily limit and chinook must be 22 inches in length to retain.

  Another option is Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands), where anglers are hooking a few salmon. Fish checks July 8 at the Coronet Bay public ramp showed 38 anglers hauled in four chinook. Anglers have a daily limit of two salmon, and can only keep one chinook, which must be 22 inches in length to retain.

  And beginning July 16, the Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) salmon fishery gets under way with a daily limit of two salmon. Anglers must release chinook and chum salmon, and handling rules are in effect.

  Before heading out, anglers are encouraged to check out the various regulations for each fishery in WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

  Crab fishing has been spotty throughout northern Puget Sound. Marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), and the southern portion of 7 (San Juan Islands) are open Wednesday through Saturday. The eastern portion of Marine Area 7 opens July 15, and also will be on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule. See WDFW's sport-crabbing website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/) for more information.

  To participate in the fishery, all crabbers age 15 or older must obtain and carry a current Washington fishing license. In addition, all crab fishers - regardless of age - must obtain and carry a catch record card and a crab licensing endorsement to fish for crab in Puget Sound. The crab endorsement costs $3 for crabbers age 15 and over, but is free to fishers under age 15.

  Prefer shrimp? The coonstripe and pink shrimp fishery is still open throughout the region, and shrimpers can drop a pot in marine areas 8-1, 8-2, the northern and central portions of 7 and a portion of 9. Details on the fishery, such as the required minimum mesh size and maximum fishing depths, are available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crabreg/.

  On the freshwater, anglers can cast for sockeye salmon on the Baker River. The fishery is open from the mouth of the river to the Highway 20 Bridge at Concrete. The daily limit is two sockeye at least 12 inches in length.

  The Skykomish River remains open through the end of July for spring chinook fishing. The Sky is open from the Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe to the Wallace River, and has a daily limit of two hatchery chinook at least 12 inches in length.

  Throughout the region, fishing for trout at numerous lakes, rivers and streams also remains a possibility for anglers. For more rules and details on the trout fishery and other freshwater fisheries, anglers should check WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: Now's a good time to head to the Ballard Locks and check out sockeye salmon passing the fish ladder viewing windows. Through July 9, 119,496 sockeye had passed the fish ladder. That's 84,724 more sockeye than last year at the same time. The Ballard Locks are located in northwest Seattle where the Lake Washington Ship Canal enters Shilshole Bay and Puget Sound. For information call the locks' Visitor Center in Seattle at (206) 783-7059.

  Further north, two female wood ducks and their newborns were spotted at Wiley Slough in Skagit County. One mother was caring for four ducklings while the other looked after 10 babies, according to a birder reporting to Tweeters website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/). Female wood ducks have grayish-brown bodies, spotted flanks and a white teardrop surrounding each eye, according to the Seattle Audubon Society (http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/index.aspx). Females lay between nine to 14 eggs, incubating them for 25 to 35 days. After one day, hatchlings leap from the nest able to swim and feed themselves. The mother, however, continues to tend to the young birds for about six weeks. Rarely seen on marine waters, wood ducks prefer wooded wetlands and slow-moving rivers. And now is the time of year to spot wood ducks. The birds are common in the lowlands west of the Cascades from March through August.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: The coastal salmon season is under way and anglers are hooking some high-quality fish. Meanwhile, other fishing opportunities abound as crab fishers continue to drop pots around the region and rockfish anglers near bag limits. On the freshwater, more high-country lakes open for trout fishing and the Sol Duc is hot with summer coho.

  Although the salmon season off the ocean coast got off to a relatively slow start, the fish being reeled in were "beautiful," according to Wendy Beeghley, WDFW fish biologist. Beeghley noted the slow start is similar to last year's and was expected due to the projected decline in coho and chinook salmon returns to the lower Columbia River, "which especially dictates how the south coast does," she said.

  "The chinook in particular are bright and beautiful fish, averaging 15 pounds and a lot are over 20 pounds," Beeghley said. "And the coho coming in are good too, averaging five-to-six pounds."

  In Neah Bay, catch rates increased from about half a fish to one fish per person by the weekend, with three-quarters being coho, according to WDFW reports. In La Push, anglers were pulling in about one fish per rod, about half being chinook. In both areas, the fishery is open Tuesday through Saturday with a two-fish daily limit, only one of which may be a chinook. Wild coho must be released.

  In Ilwaco, private boats were catching about one fish for every three rods, while charters were doing better with each angler getting slightly more than one fish. Most were coho. While the catch in Westport was averaging about one fish for every two people, about two-thirds of those were chinook. Marine areas 1 and 2 are open Sunday through Thursday with a two-fish daily limit, only one of which may be a chinook. Wild coho must be released.

  Meanwhile, rockfish anglers continue to do well, getting close to their limits of 10 fish daily in both West Port and Neah Bay, Beeghley said.

  Salmon fishing is also open in Sekiu/Pillar Point and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca (marine areas 5, and 6). Sekiu is starting slowly, said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist, but anglers are finding fish some days. "Dogfish seem to be an issue," he added. Effort in the Port Angeles area is very high. On July 8, for instance, 362 anglers turned out to fish and pulled in 46 chinook and 26 coho. That's typical for the eastern strait, said Thiesfeld, but it should pick up. These waters are open daily, with a catch limit of two fish. Wild chinook, coho and chum must be released.

  Salmon fishing continues in marine areas 11 (Vashon Island to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge), 10 (Bremerton), 12 (Hood Canal, south of Ayock Point only) and 13 (South Puget Sound) on a daily basis, with a daily limit of two salmon. Commencement Bay remains closed to salmon fishing until Aug. 12. "Marine areas 11 and 13 are the places to be right now," said Thiesfeld. "Also Sinclair Inlet near Bremerton should be good for the next couple of weeks, as we build toward the peak of the chinook run around the end of this month."

  For more information about rules and restrictions in specific areas, anglers can check the Fishing in Washington (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) pamphlet. Additional information about the 2006 salmon fishing season is also available in WDFW's pre-season press release (http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=apr0706a).

  Crab fishing is open seven days per week in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge) through Feb. 28. Most other areas of Puget Sound are open for crab fishing Wednesdays through Saturdays, including marine areas 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 11 (Tacoma/Vashon) and 12 (Hood Canal). In addition, these areas will be open the entire Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-4, before closing for a catch assessment. Fishing will resume in areas where the catch quota has not been met, on dates to be announced by WDFW.

  The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five male Dungeness crab with a shell width measuring at least 6¼ inches, plus six red rock crab of either sex with a shell width of at least 5 inches. All undersized crab, female Dungeness crab and all softshell crab of either sex must be returned to the water.

  To participate in the fishery, all crab fishers age 15 or older must obtain and carry a current Washington fishing license. In addition, all crabbers - regardless of age - must obtain and carry a catch record card and a crab licensing endorsement to fish for crab in Puget Sound. The crab endorsement costs $3 for crabbers age 15 and over, but is free to fishers under age 15. Anyone who fishes for crab without carrying a catch record card is subject to a fine of $80.

  Those fishing in Hood Canal are also asked to report any Dungeness crab bearing a bright green tag on the underside of their shell. The tagging study is part of research to better understand crab movement in relation to low dissolved oxygen events in southern Hood Canal. Sport or tribal fishers who catch a crab bearing the distinctive green tag are asked to call the department toll free at 866-859-8439 and report the tag number along with the date, location, and depth of capture. More information on crab fishing is available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/.

  While the warm weather and low flows continue to slow the bite on the coastal rivers, anglers are catching some summer chinook on the Chehalis River, said Rick Ereth, WDFW fish biologist. The prime spot continues to be between Oakville and Elma, he said. Ereth noted that returning summer steelhead from the 2004 plant of steelhead smolts into a tributary of the upper Chehalis near Doty should be available from the South Fork Chehalis confluence upstream to Pe Ell. He suggested fishing in the early morning or late afternoon when steelhead are more likely to bite. Ereth advised taking particular care not to trespass in this area, as much of the land along this stretch of the river is private property.

  The chinook have been elusive on the Hoh River with only a few fish being caught, but the rains being forecasted could bring more in, said David Low, WDFW fish biologist. The Sol Doc River is already picking up. "It's time for summer coho," Low said. Anglers have been getting a lot more fish there, mostly ranging 5-7 pounds, the last couple of weekends, he said. "I did hear one weighed in at 14 pounds."

  Mid-summer is the time when lake fishing tends to become more specialized, said Hal Michael, WDFW fish biologist. "The angler looking for kokanee will head for Alder Lake, for instance. Black Lake is known for it's bass fishing." For trout, an increasing number of anglers are heading to high-elevation lakes, most of which WDFW stocks with small fish every two-to-four years, Michael said. "Look on the department's website for which lakes have been stocked (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/)," he said, noting that more high-elevation lakes will open up as weather warms and snow melts. "Many of these lakes have very short seasons, but are beautiful to hike to and fish."

• Wildlife viewing: Those peregrine falcons hatched atop a crane at the Port of Olympia appear to have successfully grown to independence, according to Kelly McAllister, WDFW wildlife biologist. "They all left the nest and it has been some time since anyone has seen all four of them together," he said. "I last saw two of them flying around with their parents on June 22." McAllister noted it's been a good year for Port of Olympia falcons. A female who was born there in 2004 mated with a male who was hatched on the Washington Mutual Tower in Seattle. They set up housekeeping on the Ballard Bridge, where they raised a single offspring there this year.

  Many pond-breeding amphibians that have an aquatic larval stage go through a life transformation at this time of year as well, McAllister said. Pacific tree frogs, northern red-legged frogs, and western toad tadpoles have had their hind legs for some time, but now sprout front limbs and lose their tails to become the hopping animals we're familiar with. They can now seek refuge in moist forests where many will spend the dry season and winter. Some salamanders will lose their gills and move to land as well.

  Members of the Cascadia Reseach reported seeing an injured, juvenile humpback whale swimming past Johnson Point near Olympia on July 10. The researchers believe the whale was hurt by a collision with a boat. A mother and juvenile humpback had been seen several times around Vashon Island in the previous days. Meanwhile, several orca whale pod sightings kept boaters, fishers and waterfront residents on the lookout around the South Puget Sound area between June 30 and July 2, as reported on the Orca Network (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html#recent). Pods have been seen on two occasions in Hammersly Inlet, just west of Shelton. There have been three reports of whale sightings, singles and pods, around Anderson and McNeil Islands. Also, from Johnson Point (Northeast of Olympia) up both sides of Hartstine Island in Case Inlet and Pickering Passage, several sightings of orca pods were reported during this period as far north as Stretch and Reach Islands.

  Different ecosystems of South Sound area will be the subject of Erica Guttman's presentation at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge on July 19 at 7:00 pm. She is the native-plant salvage coordinator for Washington State University, Extension. Her talk, "South Sound Naturescapes: The Big Picture" will cover prairies, riparian areas, and marine shorelines, and the plants and animals to be found there. It is part of the refuge's summer lecture series, which takes place at the Visitor Center auditorium. For more information, call the refuge office at 360-753-9467.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Catch rates for summer steelhead are picking up on the lower Columbia River tributaries - particularly the Cowlitz River, where catch rates have been hovering around two keepers for every three rods. Meanwhile, anglers are still pulling in hefty summer chinook on the Columbia mainstem above Woodland, while others await word on sturgeon fishing in areas both above and below Bonneville Dam.

  Although steelhead have been running behind schedule on the Columbia mainstem, fishing has been red hot on the Cowlitz River from Mission Bar to Mill Creek. Creel checks conducted July 3-9 in that area counted 96 boat anglers with 62 hatchery fish. Bank anglers have also been catching some fish at Blue Creek. Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist, reminds anglers that the daily limit for hatchery steelhead was recently increased to three fish on sections of the Cowlitz and North Fork Lewis rivers currently open to steelhead fishing. As always, all wild, unmarked steelhead must be released unharmed.

  "The Cowlitz is clearly the hot spot for summer steelhead fishing right now," Hymer said. "Anglers shouldn't go to the Cowlitz expecting to catch a three-fish bag limit, but it's certainly possible." Along with fish entering the river for the first time, 363 adult steelhead were recycled from the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery downstream to the Olequa boat launch during the first week of July and 98 spring chinook adults were recycled into the upper river. "The hatchery had no trouble getting broodstock this year," Hymer said.

  Steelhead fishing in the lower Columbia and other area tributaries has been "a little tougher" in recent days, but that could be changing, Hymer said. After pulling 2,300 hatchery steelhead from the lower river in June - the third highest catch for that month since 1973 - anglers saw success rates fall as the number of fish moving over Bonneville Dam slowed to 60 percent of the historical average. But with dam counts now pushing above 1,200 fish per day, Hymer said better fishing is sure to follow. During the first week of July, bank anglers fishing below Woodland averaged one legal steelhead for every 12 rods and boat anglers averaged a fish for every 20 rods. Most of those fish have been running 6 to 10 pounds, Hymer said.

  With temperatures rising and water levels dropping, Hymer said migrating steelhead will likely seek out the cooler waters at the mouths of the such rivers as the Cowlitz, Lewis and White Salmon - as well as Drano Lake - en route upstream.

  Unlike steelhead fishing, the best fishing for summer chinook salmon on the lower Columbia River has been from Woodland up to Bonneville Dam. Creel counts conducted there during the first week of July show that boat anglers averaged an adult chinook for every 9.4 rods and bank anglers averaged one fish for every 27 rods. "Current conditions call for a change to fall fishing tactics," Hymer said. "I'd recommend fishing deeper water, using spinners or wobblers."

  Although summer chinook are still crossing the dam at a rate of more than 1,000 fish per day, the run is expected to taper off as the season comes to an end July 31, Hymer said. By that time, the season's catch in the lower river is projected to reach 4,800 fish, the highest number since 1968, he said.

  "This has definitely been one of our better seasons for summer chinook, and anglers are still finding some 'June hogs' below Bonneville," Hymer said. "As usual, we saw some 40-pound-plus fish and heard rumors about 50-pound fish."

  Through the rest of July, the Gorge will likely offer the best fishing for summer chinook, said Hymer, noting that bank anglers also have been having some success in the Dalles Pool. On the Klickitat River, the catch has mainly been spring chinook and summer run steelhead, he said.

  Sturgeon anglers, meanwhile, have been awaiting word on fishing opportunities both above and below Bonneville Dam. In recent days, fishery managers have been crunching catch numbers for the fishery below the Wauna powerlines, which has been closed to sturgeon retention since July 5. Brad James, a WDFW fishery manager, said additional fishing days are doubtful, because the catch through the Fourth of July appears to be very close to the 16,000-fish harvest guideline for that area. A final decision will be announced soon on the WDFW Region 5 Fishing Hotline (360-696-6211, ext. 1010) and the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/).

  Anglers fishing for sturgeon in the Bonneville Pool should also check those sources in the coming days, said James, noting that the catch for that area is also nearing the 700-fish harvest guideline. During the first week of July, anglers fishing the Bonneville Pool were averaging one legal-size fish for every four rods. Anglers also caught some legal-sized sturgeon the first week of July above the powerlines from Longview to Kalama. Sturgeon retention is allowed from the powerlines to Marker 85 below Bonneville Dam through the end of July on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

  Anglers fishing in the lower Columbia River are also still catching shad, although counts at Bonneville Dam have dropped below 10,000 fish per day. As of the end of June, the shad catch below the dam stood at 170,000 fish, the highest on record. Meanwhile, boat anglers fishing the Bonneville Pool averaged nearly five bass per rod - plus some walleye - during the first week of July. Boat anglers have also been catching some bass in The Dalles and John Day pools.

  Looking for a chance to beat the heat and catch some trout? Council Lake and Takhlakh Lake on the western slope of Mount Adams were each planted July 10 with more than 4,000 rainbows weighing three to the pound. Unlike many high lakes, Council and Takhiakh - both in Skamania County - have campgrounds with drive-in access. "Aside from the fishing, it's hard to beat the view of Mount Adams from Lake Takhiakh," said John Weinheimer, a WDFW fish biologist. "Both of these areas were covered in snow until just recently, so this was our first chance to get up there and plant these lakes."

  As the snow continues to recede, anglers will gain access to more high lakes, including those in the William O. Douglas, Goat Rocks and Indian Heaven wilderness areas, Weinheimer said. He did, however, add a word of caution: "Make sure you pack mosquito repellent if you plan to fish, camp or hike at the higher elevations. The mosquitoes can get pretty fierce up there at this time of year."

  That shouldn't be a problem at Merwin Fish Hatchery near Woodland, where WDFW is sponsoring its annual special fishing event July 15 for kids with disabilities. Nearly 200 kids and their families are expected to participate in the event, co-sponsored by Pacific Power, CAST for Kids, Vancouver Wildlife League, Fish First and local businesses.

  WDFW will plant the wheelchair-accessible hatchery waters with up to 6,000 trout ranging in size from 1 to 9 pounds. Some 250 volunteers are expected to serve as one-on-one fishing coaches assisting youngsters throughout the day. Rods, reels, tackle and T-shirts will be provided for the young fishers to use and keep.

  The registration period for the event ended July 7, but additional information is available by calling 1-800-899-4421 toll-free.

• Wildlife viewing: The first wave of shorebirds has begun arriving in coastal areas on their return flight from breeding in the Arctic, touching down in marshes and mudflats throughout the region. Bird-watchers should start seeing an increasing number of greater yellowlegs, long-billed dowitchers, western sandpipers and least sandpipers at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and other areas, said Bill Tweit, a WDFW fish manager and avid birder. "For a lot of shorebirds, the basic strategy is to get to the Arctic, breed, and get out as quick as possible," he said. "There's really no percentage for them to wait around until the weather turns cold."

  Many species of anadromous fish are also on the move, as evidenced by the changing picture through the fish-viewing window at Bonneville Dam. Chunky summer chinook salmon are still on display, although summer steelhead have overtaken them in terms of the number of fish passing up the fish ladder every day. During the past month, the daily count of summer chinook - some weighing more than 40 pounds - has dropped from more than 4,000 to less than 1,000. More than 1,300 summer steelhead were counted at the dam July 12, double the number a week earlier. Fewer than 6,000 shad were counted that day, down from a high of more than 250,000 a day in mid-June.

  To see this annual parade of fins and scales, take Washington State Highway 14 east to Milepost 40 (about 5 miles from Stevenson) and turn into the Bonneville Dam visitor center. The visitor center is the glass building at the end of the powerhouse.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Deer Lake, just north of Spokane in southern Stevens County, is the place to catch lake trout and smallmouth bass. In fact, WDFW Fish Biologist Jason McLellan encourages anglers to catch and keep all legal mackinaws and smallmouth at Deer Lake to boost the fishery's ratio of kokanee and rainbow trout. McLellan's surveys of Deer Lake's fish populations last year showed a very high density of the predator lake trout, smallmouth bass and a "suppressed" population of kokanee and rainbows. "We could use the removal of some of those predator fish to get things back in balance," he said. Lake trout at Deer Lake are running about three to five pounds with an occasional 10-pounder. No more than two of the daily trout catch limit of five fish can be over 20 inches at Deer Lake, so McLellan says that pretty much means the first two lake trout caught will be it for the day. Currently those fish are at depths of 30 to 45 feet in the lake, so downriggers with "quick fish," flat fish, or larger Rapala lures with leaded line work best. "Some anglers have also been jigging for them off the bottom," McLellan said. "But as the season goes on they're not that deep." Deer Lake follows statewide bass catch rules: only bass less than 12 inches or greater than 17 inches may be retained, with a daily limit of five of which only one can be over 17 inches. McLellan notes that trout catch rates at Deer Lake have been good, too, especially with increased stocking this year of bigger triploid rainbows. As with all trout fishing throughout the region at this time of year, fish early or late in the day when water and air temperatures are cooler.

  Lake Roosevelt fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass and rainbow trout is a good bet, according to WDFW Habitat Biologist Perry Harvester, who recently fished "with few other anglers" near Keller's Ferry. "Walleye fishing was very good using worm harnesses in 12 to 25 feet of water with most fish ranging from 16 to 19 inches and one about six pounds," he reported. "Smallmouth bass were plentiful with most in the 10- to 14-inch range. Rainbow fishing was great using large streamer flies with a piece of worm trolled behind pop gear, flashers, or dodgers at 20 feet. Many of them range between 16 and 22 inches and up to about three-and-a-half pounds with a few larger." Due to the large size of the reservoir, Harvester says there are many areas where you can have great fishing with no other anglers in sight. He also noted that Roosevelt's rainbows are some of the best eating anywhere with bright red, flavorful meat. "Bring a cooler full of ice if you plan on keeping your catch during hot weather as they will spoil quickly in the heat," he said.

  Speaking of heat, many small fishing waters are not so fishable now with water temperatures up and fish not biting. The shallow lakes on and around WDFW's Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area in Lincoln County are a good example. Area Manager Juli Anderson reports the Twin lakes, Z-lake, and other waters are "not the best places to fish right now, but if you do, make it very early morning or late evening in the deepest spots."

  Escaping summer heat in pools of cool river and stream water is good for both people and fish. But creating small log or rock dams on flowing waterways can be bad for fish trying to move up or down. WDFW fish biologists in the southeast district of the region report finding several such "recreational dams" impeding passage of salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. Even small, hand-built dams on fish-bearing waters are illegal, but biologists believe many summertime outdoor recreationists simply have no idea how harmful their attempts to cool off in a backed-up pool can be for fish.

• Wildlife viewing: Butterflies are out and about throughout the region. The northeast district is a good place to look for a wide variety because of the diversity of habitats, from high and dry slopes to moist boreal forests and boggy meadows. In fact, the Washington Butterfly Association's seventh annual conference is scheduled July 14-16 in Metaline Falls in Pend Oreille County. Conference field trips through the area promise glimpses of 14 skipper species, including the long dash and Peck's skipper, plus silver-bordered fritillaries and Queen Alexandra's sulphurs. For more information about attending the conference or joining a field trip, see http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabaws/conference.htm.

  Last month's precipitation and this month's heat have hatched an abundance of bugs, and that means insect-eating birds are also abundant. Of particular recent note are flycatchers, medium-sized birds with large heads and flat bills that typically dart from a fixed perch to catch insects on the wing. Many are drab-colored with pale eye-rings and wing bars, like the willow, Hammond's and dusky flycatchers. Others are more striking, like the Say's phoebe, western kingbird, and western wood-pewee. All but the kingbirds, which forage more in the open, are not always readily seen, however. Swallows are usually always more visible and are even more so now as fledglings join adult birds to learn the aerial acrobatics used by these species to scoop up insects. Watch near waterways for groups of tree, violet-green, bank, cliff, northern rough-winged, or barn swallows. During evening hours watch for common nighthawks feeding on the wing, along with the most common insectivorous mammal, little brown bats.

  In the course of other field work, WDFW staffers throughout the region report seeing wild turkey and pheasant chicks, whitetail and mule deer fawns, and elk calves. They also remind wildlife viewers to be especially careful with anything that could inadvertently start a wildfire in the region's fields and woods, such as warm motor vehicles parked on dry grass, campfires or stoves, and smoking materials.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: The summer chinook salmon fishing season that opened on the upper Columbia River at the beginning of the month has been very good so far. WDFW Fish Biologist Art Viola reports the fish are bright and 25 to 35 pounders are common. The Brewster section of the river, up to and including the mouth of the Okanogan River, appears to be seeing the most effort. During opening weekend, 435 anglers were checked in that area, and about one out of four had landed a salmon. A total of 375 anglers were checked in the Wenatchee section where a little better than one out of three had salmon. Ninety anglers were checked in the Wells Dam tailrace area where a little less than one out of two had salmon.

  Additional areas of the Okanogan River may open as the season progresses. Check for changes at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm. Anglers are reminded that research on live salmon capture methods is under way on the Okanogan River. Watch for bright orange buoys attached to nets in the water and avoid boating over them, especially near the mouth of the Okanogan River. The research is in cooperation with the Colville Confederated Tribes to identify wild broodstock sources for the new Chief Joseph Fish Hatchery, scheduled to begin production of chinook for all anglers by 2011. For more information see http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=jun2606b.

  Banks Lake kokanee and rainbow trout fishing is picking up. WDFW fish biologist Matt Polacek suggests anglers try the south end and west walls of the reservoir. "The kokanee fishery is a relatively new one at Banks Lake that anglers are still discovering," he said. "We know that there are lot of fish for harvest, but angler pressure has been low."

  Polacek also reported that smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing at Banks Lakes is "great." Smallmouth up to four pounds are available along the rocky shoreline areas and largemouth are fairly abundant in the northern part and weedy bays. "Walleye fishing has slowed at Banks," he said. "Yellow perch fishing will increase as waters warm."

• Wildlife viewing: The Columbia Basin is known for its waterfowl production and this year has been better than ever. WDFW Wildlife Biologist Tom McCall recently conducted a production survey for waterfowl in northern Douglas County. "Waterfowl pairs were up this year," he reported, "probably in response to the increased precipitation and number of wetlands." For example, McCall observed 22 pairs of ducks on a portion of the survey compared to an average of nine pairs observed in the previous two drought years. Fifty-eight wetlands were counted on the survey compared to an average of 23 in the previous two years. Whether viewing with binoculars from the Basin's many small roadways or braving the wetlands' mosquitoes at wildlife areas on foot, that data translates to lots more ducks, geese and other birds to enjoy.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW District Fish Biologist Eric Anderson reports access is excellent now to alpine fishing lakes in the South Cascades. "There are some great opportunities for rainbow and cutthroat trout at Dog and Leech Lakes in the White Pass area of Yakima County and at Lost Lake near Snoqualmie Pass in Kittitas County," he said. "We continue to stock these and other high lakes and are gearing up now to start our fry plants for next summer's catches." Anderson noted that anglers can check out what's been stocked at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regions/reg3/reg3_archive.htm. All catchable-size trout stocking numbers at lakes throughout the region are also available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/regions/reg3/index.htm.

  Anderson also noted that streams and rivers are in better shape for fishing now as water levels continue to drop, especially in upper stretches and in smaller to medium-size waters.

  Good fishing for triploid and catchable size rainbow trout at Clear Lake and kokanee at Rimrock Lake in Yakima County continues. Anglers need to follow the rules on the waterway that connects the two lakes -- the North Fork of the Tieton River - because protected, threatened bull trout are in the area. Anderson said anglers must learn how to identify bull trout and release them unharmed if they inadvertently catch them.

  "This is the time of year that bull trout will slowly start migrating to their spawning areas, so they're especially vulnerable now." Anderson explained. Bull trout tend to be more aggressive and grow to larger size than other native trout like rainbow and cutthroat. They're commonly confused with the non-native eastern brook trout and in many areas of the Yakima basin both species are found in the same waters. An easy way to tell the difference is that brook trout have black spots on the backside dorsal fin, but bull trout have no distinct spots on the dorsal fin. Remember 'no black, put it back.' Rainbow and cutthroat trout have dark spots on the body, but bull trout have light cream-colored to orange-colored spots on the body. If you don't know the difference, just be safe and let it go, he said.

• Wildlife viewing: Wildlife viewing, like many other outdoor pursuits in the heat of the summer, may be best at higher, cooler elevations now. And even then it may be more bird "listening" than actually watching. Expert birders Andy and Ellen Stepniewski of Wapato report hearing or seeing a diversity of species during a recent hike from the North Fork of the Tieton River up to Shoe Lake and on to Tieton Pass. In tall fir forests ravaged by spruce budworm they heard Townsend's warblers, varied thrushes and winter wrens. Further up in open subalpine forest they heard Williamson's sapsuckers and both heard and saw a house wren. At 5,000 feet elevation, Ellen observed a northern alligator lizard, unusual in subalpine habitat. Near the summit they saw Parnassian butterflies and fritillaries among wildflowers. At Shoe Lake, among subalpine fir and whitebark pine, they watched Clark's nutcrackers unearthing seeds from their caches at the bases of fallen logs.