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| May 31- June 13, 2000 |
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OLYMPIA – June 1 signals the opening of stream and river fishing throughout Washington. These waters open later than lakes to allow wild salmonids to spawn in rivers and streams. To protect those fish, many of these waters have restricted catch limits so anglers should check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) regulations pamphlet before fishing.
The lowest daylight tides of the year in Puget Sound offer peak clam and oyster digging, expanded crab pot fishing, and tide pool viewing on Saturday, June 3. Saturday's 3.5-foot minus tide will expose Puget Sound beaches for some of the best shellfish gathering opportunities of the year. "If you're after oysters, hard-shell clams or the ultimate challenge – the elusive geoduck – this is the time to do it," says WDFW's Tony Floor.
If the allure of low tides isn't enough, many clam and oyster species are in their prime now as they fatten up and enter their spawning cycle. Shellfish gatherers are reminded that they must have a state shellfish license displayed on the outside of their clothing and dig on public beaches. They should also check the state Department of Health's marine toxin hotline at (800) 562-5632 for the latest information on emergency closures.
Free Fishing Weekend is Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11. On these dates, no license is required to fish or gather shellfish in Washington, although other rules such as size and bag limits remain in effect. Free catch cards are required for salmon, sturgeon, halibut, steelhead, and Dungeness crab. These cards, and an abundance of useful fishing information, are available at WDFW offices and license dealers. Watch for special fishing education events or derbies in local communities.
Here's a guide to top current recreational opportunities by region:
- For anglers, Marine Area 11 (the Tacoma Narrows to the northern tip of Vashon Island) opens tomorrow (June 1) for hatchery-produced spring chinook. Limits are one fish per angler per day. Halibut fishing continues through July 27 in Marine areas 5 through 13 (waters from Port Angeles through Puget Sound), closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays with a limit of one fish per day. Steelhead runs are beginning to arrive in the Green and Snohomish river systems. Wild steelhead must be released except on the Green, which historically has no wild steelhead population. Recent trout stocking continues to bring new opportunities to some Snohomish County waters including Blackman's and Goodwin lakes. Crab pot fishers now may pursue their sport in more areas of Puget Sound, including most of Marine Area 8-1 and all of Area 8-2 (waters between Whidbey Island and the mainland). The best sport crabbing prospects are likely to be found in non-commercial zones including Utsalady Bay on the north end of Camano Island; the south end of Port Gardner and areas near Possession Point on Whidbey Island. Marine bird watching is good for riders on the Port Townsend to Keystone ferry; and both marine mammals and birds may be spotted at Cattle Point Viewpoint and Lime Kiln viewpoint on San Juan Island. Saltwater State Park near Des Moines or Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island provide tide pool viewing during the June 3 low tide.
Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:
- Halibut fishing continues from the mouth of the Seikiu River on the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the opposite ends of Puget Sound, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Surveys indicate that more of the large flatfish are moving down from Canadian waters, resulting in higher quotas and better prospects on Washington's side of the border. Some of the best fishing should occur between Port Angeles and the San Juans in such established areas as Dungeness Bar, Coyote Bank and Middle Bank. Trout and salmon fishing begins tomorrow (June 1) on the Hoh River, although anglers should be sure to check the regulation pamphlet for bag limits and other rules. Juvenile-only waters recently stocked with 10-inch rainbow trout include Decoursey Pond, Wapato Lake, Bradley Pond and Waughop Lake in Pierce County; Long's Pond, Deep Lake, St. Clair Lake, Munn Lake and Lois Lake in Thurston County; Vance Creek Pond #1 and Mill Creek Pond in Grays Harbor County; Cases Pond and South Bend Mill Pond in Pacific County; and Fort Borst Park Pond in Lewis County. Songbird breeding season is in full swing and an early morning visit to any local natural area or park will be rewarded with songs of warblers, thrushes, vireos, grosbeaks, tanagers, sparrows, and other species.
- Spring chinook catches are tapering off a bit, but anglers are still pulling them in on the Wind River. Bank anglers fishing downstream from Shipherd Falls recently averaged better than one fish for every two people. The section from the High Bridge to the boundary markers below the hatchery is also a good bet, as are the Klickitat River and the Lewis River (where restrictions were recently lifted). The Lewis is also a good place to find summer steelhead, which are increasing in number in several southwest Washington rivers as spring chinook fishing subsides. Fishing for shad are available to lower Columbia River bank fishers below Bonneville Dam on the Washington mainland shore, Cascade Island (reached by crossing the dam from the Washington side), and the public dock in Washougal. Boat anglers do well on shad off Ives Island near Bonneville Dam plus the Camas/Washougal area.
- The Spokane arm of Lake Roosevelt opens for walleye fishing on June 1. Anglers can expect to catch post-spawning walleye as many work their way down the Spokane arm and north toward Kettle Falls. Those fishing for spring chinook will want to head to the Hanford Reach where the fishing is hot. Three kids' fishing derbies will be held in southeast Washington over free fishing weekend: Sat., June 10, at Columbia County's Rainbow Lake; Sun., June 11, at Asotin County's West Evans Pond, and at Walla Walla County's Bennington Lake. If watching wildlife is your thing, be on the lookout for bald eagles and osprey now nesting on the Pend Oreille River or spotting bobolinks around the Cusick Valley area. The bald eagle nest south of Newport's Selkirk High School is active and affords good viewing as well. If you're interested in bringing the wildlife to you, Firwood Nursery in Deer Park will be hosting a backyard bird and plant fair, Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4, with WDFW on site with information about the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program.
- Walleye trolling on Potholes Reservoir is hot, with most fish taken in the Crab Creek channel and Lind Coulee arm. The sand dunes area of Potholes Reservoir has been good for walleye, trout, and even the odd bass. In the Okanogan area, some winter lakes are opening for catch and release trout fishing using selective gear, including Green, Little Green (Okanogan), Rat (Brewster), Little Twin, Davis and Campbell (Winthrop). Icicle Creek spring chinook fishery has slowed due to high and cool water conditions, but is expected to pick up soon. Birdwatchers will want to check out an unusual incursion of white-faced Ibis, a rare wanderer to Washington, near Othello and Tri-Cities area. The Potholes Recreation area offers exposure to many species for enjoyment, as does the lower Crab Creek area as it follows the Saddle Mountains to the Columbia River below Wanapum Dam. The WDFW public access on Dodson Road just north of Winchester Wasteway has a shelter for water birds, and the scene over the ponds around the main Winchester channel provides miles of visibility.
- As bass fishing picks up on the Yakima and Columbia rivers and other waters in this region, anglers are reminded that new slot size limit regulations for bass are in place this year. The new daily limit is five bass less than 12 inches or greater than 17 inches in length, with no more than one bass over 17 inches. The Ringold area bank fishery on hatchery salmon and steelhead continues. Wenas Creek, between Yakima and Ellensburg, in the eastern foothills of the Cascades, is a popular birding spot this time of year. Be on the lookout for eagles, osprey, and waterfowl.
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