July 29-August 11, 1999

Contact: Madonna Luers, 509-456-4073 or Mike Judge, 360-902-2407

Early August brings the opening of the fishing season for marked hatchery coho salmon in the Strait of Juan de Fuca as well as the chance to cast for trout in alpine lakes amid meadows of wildflowers.

If you're heading for the hills, be aware that snow and ice has remained longer than normal at high elevations. By the first full weekend of August, many of the larger alpine lakes under 4800 feet should be thawed out enough to be aerially-planted with cutthroat and rainbow trout. Some smaller lakes at higher elevations, that are traditionally planted by backpacking volunteers, may not get fish at all this summer if they remain inaccessible.

The wildflower show is spectacular in some alpine areas with monkeyflowers, penstemmons, pearly everlasting, yarrow, larkspur, lupines and a host of others. Take a field guide along to figure them out. And watch for the wildlife that uses them as a food source: marmots, pikas, gray-crowned rosy finches, hummingbirds, and butterflies. In the latter category, watch for orange and black fritillaries and aptly named checkerspots, which are black with squares of red or yellow. WDFW wildlife biologist David Hays recommends butterfly watching on south-facing alpine slopes, which are more likely to be snow-free than north-facing elevations.

WDFW district fish biologist Bob Pfeifer, who aerially surveys late July conditions in the west Cascades of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, and Kittitas counties, reports that snowlines are lower than he's seen them in 18 years. Pfeiffer estimates that snow cover is extending four to six weeks beyond normal, which could mean that a few lakes will lose over-wintering fish from oxygen depletion.

Based on Pfeiffer's snow survey, the best bets for West Cascade fishing, hiking, and wildflower shows are: Stevens Pass area, Green River watershed, Pratt River valley, and the Snoqualmie Pass area. Most places above 4500 feet in Skagit and Whatcom counties may be inaccessible for awhile yet. Anything above 5000 feet may not be available at all this year.

Similar conditions persist on the east side of the North Cascades in Chelan and Okanogan counties. Over 125 high elevation lakes are in the Okanogan National Forest alone. WDFW district fish biologist Heather Bartlett reports that about 75 of those have self-sustaining populations of cutthroat or rainbow trout and about 25 are annually planted by fish hatchery crews. Fish plants are delayed due to snow and ice, but most should be completed by mid-August. Check with the Forest's ranger district or visitor offices in Twisp, Winthrop, Tonasket or Okanogan for the most recent conditions and hiking trail maps to these lakes and to mountain meadows for wildflower viewing.

For more information on specific lakes, equipment, and technique, see "Trout Fishing in Washington's High Lakes."

More coastal salmon fishing: The Strait of Juan de Fuca joins the ocean as the place for anglers to catch marked coho salmon beginning Sunday (Aug. 1).

Marine Areas 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) and 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) open Sunday with a bag limit of two marked coho. Keepers are coho that have no adipose fin on the back between the dorsal fin and tail. These marked coho were produced in hatcheries. Anglers fishing the strait must release wild coho as well as chinook and chum.

WDFW biologists report large numbers of coho are being seen in the ocean and in the strait now. The good news is the fish are averaging around four to six pounds, which is more than a pound heavier than last year's average. The ocean may have more food for the fish this year.

About 45 percent of the coho in the strait should be marked, which means some anglers may not limit on marked fish every day. In contrast, from 60 to 70 percent of the coho being hooked in the ocean off places such as Westport and Ilwaco are marked keepers.

Anglers should take special care to release wild coho without touching them to ensure their survival. A short stick with a small hook at the end makes it easy to remove the fish hook without touching the fish or removing it from the water. Touching a salmon removes its protective slime and scales and makes it more vulnerable to disease.

Hunting: The first hunting seasons of the year--black bear and cougar--open statewide August 1. Cougar bag limit is two animals now. Check the Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet (pages 24-25) for more information about harvest report card and hide sealing requirements, and all regulations.

Other fishing and viewing across the state:

• Eastern: Good trout fly-fishing should start heating up at Amber, Badger, and Williams lakes in southwest Spokane County. Rainbow trout catching is good at Starvation Lake on the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge in Stevens County, but remember it's catch-and-release with selective gear only there now. Cutthroat trout are nice at Halfmoon Lake, a small alpine fishery in the Kaniksu National Forest in Pend Oreille County. Largemouth bass are hitting in Curlew Lake in Ferry County. The Sherman Creek Wildlife Area, just west of Kettle Falls in Ferry County, is a nice spot for short day hiking to see pileated woodpeckers, Clark's nutcrackers, and forest grouse, as well as a bird's eye view of Lake Roosevelt.

• Northcentral: Potholes Reservoir in Grant County continues to produce nice rainbows both from the bank and from boats, bass fishing on buzz baits is good, and bow-and-arrow carp fishing is prolific. Lake Chelan is a good bet now for kokanee and rainbows. Try the Wenatchee River and its tributaries for trout, but remember the two fish, 20-inch maximum size limit now in effect. Trophy rainbows can be had at fly-fishing-only Chopaka Lake in Okanogan County. The Sinlahekin Wildlife Area offers camping and hiking and good chances to see both mule deer and whitetails, along with lots of other wildlife; if you head to this area west of Tonasket, remember that nearby Spectacle Lake closes to fishing July 31, but Palmer Lake remains open year-round and has good bass fishing.

• Southcentral: Rimrock Reservoir kokanee fishing is good, but fish are small (6-8 inches); troll with a "Rimrock Special" (a wedding band-type spinner- fly combination baited with maggots) behind a gang troll and 1-2 ounces of lead. Rivers and streams are finally dropping into shape, with the Yakima fair to good for catch-and-release 10-16-inch rainbow. Rattlesnake Creek may also be good for catch-and-release 8-12- inch rainbow and cutthroat. The Colockum Wildlife Area northwest of Ellensburg, which includes 6,875-foot Mission Peak, is a good spot for hiking, camping and watching bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, and a variety of birds.

• Southwest: Boat anglers in the Columbia River estuary continue to catch good numbers of sturgeon and bank anglers are catching some just below Bonneville Dam. Steelhead catches have been improving on the Columbia from Woodland to Cathlamet with about half hatchery fish. Steelhead fishing should continue to improve on the White Salmon and lower Wind rivers and in Drano Lake. Riffe Lake trout fishing has picked up recently,especially off the bridge at the upper end of the lake. Lake Scanewa just received 500 catchable rainbow trout. Another 2,900 catchable rainbows and 400 nearly pound-each rainbows were planted in the Tilton River and Skate Creek. Check out the St. Helens Wildlife Area to see elk and other wildife and witness (or join in!) some of the cooperative work going on this summer to improve habitat, like Scotch broom removal.

• Northwest: Good dry fly fishing for cutthroat on the mainstem of the Snoqualmie River (between the falls and north and middle fork junctures), especially during evening insect hatches. If you want a chance to see a loon this summer, visit the Lake Terrell Wildlife Area northwest of Bellingham where you'll also see lots of other water birds.

• Coastal: In addition to Westport and Ilwaco, LaPush and Neah Bay remain open to good ocean salmon fishing. In their two salmon limit, anglers may keep one chinook per day while fishing in Marine Areas 1 (Ilwaco) and 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores). The bag limit is two salmon, which may be any combination of marked coho and chinook, in Marine Area 3 (LaPush). Marine Area 4 (LaPush) has a bag limit of two marked coho. As a special dividend, anglers fishing in the Neah Bay and Copalis Beach areas have been treated to the sight of humpback whales breaching.