May 30-June 13, 2001

Contact: Margaret Ainscough, (360) 902-2408

It's time to go fish, with June 1 marking the opening of river and stream fishing throughout Washington, crabbing in Hood Canal and areas of northern Puget Sound, and salmon fishing in the Tacoma area.

If that's not already enough incentive to head for the water, Free Fishing Weekend is coming up June 9 and 10. On those days, no license is required to fish or gather shellfish in Washington, regardless of residency or age. However, anglers must stick to waters open to fishing, and all other rules, such as size and bag limits, remain in effect. Free catch cards are required for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut, and Dungeness crab.

Fishers should watch for special restrictions on some rivers and streams for protection of wild salmonids. Many of these waters have restricted catch limits and gear rules so anglers should check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) 2001 "Fishing In Washington" regulation pamphlet before fishing. See regional reports below for more information on specific waters opening June 1.

On salt water, Hood Canal crab fishing opens Friday morning (June 1), while sport crabbing in the northern portion of Marine Area 8-1 (the Skagit Bay vicinity) opened last Saturday for fishing Fridays through Mondays.

Meanwhile, Friday also brings the opening of salmon season in the Tacoma-Vashon area (Marine Area 11), which in recent years has yielded exciting action for fishers.

Shad season has come into its own on the Columbia River main stem with both boat and bank angling successful now. Wildlife watchers also will find a trip to the viewing windows at the dams worthwhile for an impressive underwater look at this year's run.

For those visiting WDFW lands and access sites, WDFW Access Stewardship Decals are not required for parking during Free Fishing Weekend. But every other day of the year, fishers, wildlife watchers, hunters and anyone else using WDFW lands must have the yellow decal affixed to the rear of any motor vehicle parked in WDFW access area lots. Decals are issued free with the purchase of a fishing, hunting or shellfishing license. Other users can purchase the decals separately for $10. The penalty for failure to display the decal is $66.

Hunters seeking special fall hunting permits are reminded that June 10 is the deadline for submitting their applications. For the first time this year, those applications must be made over the telephone or Internet. The toll-free telephone number to submit permit applications is 1-877-945-3492. The website for submitting permit applications is www.fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov on the Internet

Current recreational opportunities by region include:

North Puget Sound:

• Fishing: The opening of river and stream fishing June 1 means the kick-off of the region's season for hatchery summer steelhead. Fishers are reminded that the bag limit is two fish per day, and all wild fish (identifiable by an intact adipose fin) must be immediately released unharmed. Fishing is expected to improve as summer progresses to the traditional season peak around July Fourth; top spots are expected to include the Skykomish, Snoqualmie and Green rivers. Fishing may be easier than usual this year because the past dry winter will mean less run-off in the rivers, says Curt Kraemer, WDFW district fish biologist. He also reminds fishers that the North Fork Stillaguamish won't see any two-salts returning this year, due to budget cuts that affected hatchery production two years ago. Meanwhile in Puget Sound, new fishing opportunities for Dungeness and red rock crab are available with the recent opening of the northern portion of Marine Area 8-1 (waters north of a line between Snatelum Point on the southeast corner of Penn Cove and Rocky Point on the northwest corner of Camano Island.) Sport fishing there is open Fridays through Mondays. Fishers are reminded that they are required to complete crab catch record cards. For lake fishers, waters recently stocked with triploid trout include Pine, Steele and Wilderness lakes.

• Wildlife viewing: At this time of year an early morning walk might yield good results for owl watchers, possibly revealing a juvenile barn owl, barred owl, or great horned owl nestled against a tree trunk and visible in broad daylight, reports Russell Link, regional urban wildlife biologist. The tip-off might be a group of cawing crows. While looking up into trees, watch for hairy woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers. The males have a red spot on the top of their heads. Three beautiful neo-tropical migratory birds to look for are the lazuli bunting, the Bullock's oriole, and the black headed grosbeak. Cedar waxwings are incredibly abundant in places this time of year.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Fishing: Razor clam digging is over for the season and a four-day, Wednesday-and-Saturday shrimp fishery on Hood Canal was scheduled to end today (June 30). But that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of other fishing opportunities in the weeks ahead. The Hood Canal crab fishery, for example, gets underway at 7 a.m., Friday (June 1) – a full six weeks earlier than usual. The fishery will be open four days per week – from one hour before official sunrise on Fridays through one hour after official sunset on Mondays – until further notice for all legal methods, including crab pots, ring nets, wading and scuba diving. The open area includes all waters of Hood Canal (Marine Area 12) and the portion of Marine Area 9 north of the Hood Canal Bridge and south of a line from Foulweather Bluff to Olele Point. Under WDFW regulations, crab gear may not be placed in the water prior to one hour before official sunrise on Fridays and must be out of the water by one hour after official sunset on Monday evenings after each four-day fishing period. Greg Bargmann, WDFW groundfish manager, reports that halibut fishing has been booming out of Ilwaco in recent days, with some fish running up to 180 pounds. Fishing has been slower in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but Westport is scheduled to reopen June 6 for at least one day to allow the harvest of 3,884 pounds remaining from the area's allocation. Neah Bay, where catch rates have been strong in recent weeks, will close to halibut fishing at 11:59 p.m. June 1 but will reopen for a four-day fishery July 1-4. Meanwhile, the June 1 opening of salmon fishing in Marine Area 11(Tacoma-Vashon) promises to again yield exciting results for anglers, according to WDFW's Tony Floor. "There's no question there will be fish there on opening day, it's just a question of how many," says Floor. "In the past few years, fishing has been fantastic in the Tacoma area; it's become the benchmark for consistently good catches of hatchery-destined chinook." He reports that Sound Sound salmon fishing in Marine Area 13, which opened May 1, has picked up, especially off the north end of Anderson and Ketron islands. June 1 is opening day for summer steelhead on north coast rivers, including the Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah, Lyre. There is also an occasional dip-in hatchery summer run on the Hoh. Wild, unmarked steelhead must be released; check the Fishing in Washington pamphlet for specific regulations. Meanwhile, WDFW recently planted a number of area lakes with large, triploid trout including Harts (200), Spanaway (300), Clear (300), Tanwax (465), Ohop (500) and Rapjohn (100) in Pierce County.

• Wildlife viewing: The Associated Press recently picked up a newspaper story out of Wenatchee about a local utility district's efforts to entice a pair of ospreys off a power pole by planting an even taller pole nearby. That story could have just as easily been written in this region, where the big birds routinely install themselves atop tall trees, power poles and cellular towers to nest. "Cellular towers seem to be the coming thing for ospreys," said Jack Smith, regional WDFW wildlife manager. Smith said he recently got a call from a cellular company seeking advice about what to do with a pair nesting atop a tower near Vaughn on Highway 3. "They eventually decided to work around them until fall," when the nesting season is over and ospreys return to South America for winter, Smith said. He noted that state law restricts tampering with osprey nests when birds or eggs are present. Another nesting pair is currently on display on a power pole near Porter on Highway 12. "Someone called and said they'd seen a pair of eagles, but they were actually ospreys," Smith said. Like eagles, ospreys can have a wingspan of up to five feet, but – unlike eagles – have a black "mask" across their eyes and a dark tail. Watch for them throughout the summer on the tallest tree or structure you see.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Shad season has heated up, and tens of thousands are heading past the Bonneville and The Dalles dams. Last Sunday, 100,000 shad were counted at Bonneville Dam and another 100,000 were counted at The Dalles Dam; season totals through this past Monday were nearly a half-million fish. Fishers don't need a boat for success in this no-limit fishery. Try fishing off the mainland shore below Bonneville Dam or on Cascade Island. Gear can be as simple and inexpensive as a single bead and a gold hook. Last week, bank anglers averaged over six shad per rod based on incomplete trips. One party of four had more than 90 shad last week, and several others had 30 to 40 fish. Expect plenty of company; nearly 300 bank anglers were counted last Saturday. A less crowded area to try is off the docks in Camas/Washougal. For those who have a boat, fishing Ives Island near Beacon Rock or Camas/Washougal is recommended. Last week's checks showed the best spot was near Ives Island where the average was over 60 shad per rod. For information about dam counts, fishing success and a fact sheet about the history of shad in the Columbia River and tips on how to catch and prepare shad, check the WDFW web site on the Internet for Shad Fishing in Washington". Spring chinook salmon fishing in the Wind River continues to be successful with some anglers catching their four-fish limits, especially in the upper river from Shipherd Falls to below the hatchery. River flows have dropped, so lighter gear works better, says WDFW Fish Biologist Joe Hymer. Bait of choice has been clusters of salmon eggs. Sturgeon fishing is good at both ends of the lower Columbia. In the estuary. Boat anglers at the Deep River ramp in Grays Bay averaged almost 3/4 legal per boat last weekend. Effort is increasing in the estuary; 250 private boats and 14 charters were counted there during last Saturday's flight. In the gorge just downstream from Beacon Rock, boat anglers averaged slightly less than half a legal per boat. Bank anglers just below Bonneville Dam were also catching some fish. For steelhead, good returns to the hatcheries on the North Fork Lewis and Washougal rivers should mean good fishing in those locations. For trout, Goose Lake north of Carson was recently planted with 6,300 brown trout and 5,675 cutthroats averaging about a half pound each. In addition, Kidney Lake near North Bonneville received 500 triploid rainbows averaging two pounds each. Some streams that usually receive plants of hatchery trout for the June 1 opener include Clark County's Canyon Creek and Skamania County's Little White Salmon River. Klickitat County plants are at Bird, Blockhouse, Bloodgood, Bowman, Mill, Outlet and Spring creeks. Jewitt Creek and Little Klickitat, inside the Goldendale city limits are juvenile-only, meaning only anglers 15 and younger are allowed to fish. With Free Fishing Weekend coming up, anglers may want to contact the WDFW Region 5 office in Vancouver at (360) 696-6211 for updates on which areas will be planted with trout.

• Wildlife viewing: In the Cowlitz Wildlife Area, black-tailed deer have finished shedding winter coats and are now sporting bright red summer hair. Bucks have begun antler growth, most seen recently have two to five inches of new velvet antler. Elk antler growth is further advanced, with substantial development of beams and lower tines. River otters have been visible at Swofford Pond, offering a quality viewing experience. This continues to be an excellent area to observe ospreys foraging as well, however, bald eagle use has decreased compared to earlier in the year. The first western tanager of the year was seen recently at the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery Unit. With a bright red head and sharply contrasting black and gold body, the male is one of our most striking summer visitors.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: The Snake River hatchery spring chinook salmon fishing season closes tomorrow (May 31) after a month of effort but relatively low harvest by anglers. WDFW fish biologists estimate that 2,500 to 3,000 chinook were landed—slow going compared to the fishery on the Clearwater River in Idaho, but Washington's Snake has more slack water area. Despite the low harvest, the special season will not be extended to avoid increasing the risk of accidental catch of threatened wild steelhead. Other river and stream fishing has been enhanced with the stocking of hatchery rainbow trout in waters where there are no conflicts with wild fish. These include Lincoln County's Cottonwood, Crab, and Hawk creeks, which are open year-round; Spokane County's Little Spokane and Spokane rivers, portions of which are open year-round or on June 1; and Whitman County's Union Flat Creek, which opens June 1. Boat access to Lake Roosevelt is improving by the day as water levels rise, so more anglers should be able to pursue trout, kokanee, and walleye fishing. The Spokane arm of Lake Roosevelt opens for walleye fishing June 1. Anglers can expect to catch post-spawning walleye as many work their way down the Spokane arm and north toward Kettle Falls. The San Poil and Kettle arms of the reservoir open to all fishing June 1. Free Fishing Weekend events include kids' fishing derbies at Columbia County's Rainbow Lake (pending its re-opening after repair of water intake structure problems that allowed endangered salmon smolts to enter), Asotin County's West Evans Pond, and Walla Walla County's Bennington Lake; check with local community media for more information. Anyone with ideas for changes in sport fishing rules should plan to attend WDFW's public meetings on June 13 at Spokane Falls Community College Student Union Building in Spokane, or June 14 at the Department of Transportation Office Building in Dayton, both 6:30 - 8 p.m.

• Wildlife viewing: It's moose watching "season" in the north half of this region where cow moose are giving birth to calves. It's not the new moms and babies that you'll necessarily see, however, but last year's crop of yearling moose who have been following mom around for the past year and are now kicked out of the family unit to fend for themselves. Since moose in many areas seem to prefer lower-lying riparian or streamside areas for calving, these 300-plus-pound yearlings are often found wandering in areas close to people. That can be a problem on roads or in housing developments, especially if people don't give them a wide berth – by their sheer size moose can be dangerous. Moose don't always flee from people as readily as deer or elk, so people may mistake them as docile or even tame. But moose can be aggressive, especially toward dogs, which they see as wolf-like natural predators. Enjoy these spectacular creatures from afar, but if a problem develops contact WDFW's Spokane office (509-456-4073) for assistance. Learn about birds and other backyard wildlife at the June 3-4 "Bird and Plant Fair" at the Firwood Nursery on West Burroughs Road near Deer Park in north Spokane County. The fair is free, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and features WDFW's Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program. It's a great way to see how plants that provide food and cover for wildlife look in full growth and bloom.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Icicle River spring chinook salmon fishing is picking up, with a high percentage of 5-year-old chinook, measuring up to 24 pounds, and many 4-year-olds in the nine- to 15-pound range. The Icicle is open until July 22 from 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth Hatchery barrier dam to the mouth at the Wenatchee River. Other river and stream fishing has been enhanced with the stocking of hatchery rainbow trout in waters where there are no conflicts with wild fish, including Grant County's Hatchery Creek, which opens Friday (June 1). Several Columbia Basin lakes that opened back in March and were under-fished due to poor spring weather—like Quincy, Burke, and Warden—are producing nice catches of rainbow trout. Anyone who has ideas for changes in sport fishing rules should plan to attend WDFW's public meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m., June 5, at the Chelan County PUD Auditorium in Wenatchee. WDFW trout hatchery crews have just stocked Chelan County's Clear and Lily lakes, just south of Wenatchee, and plan to stock nearby Beehive Reservoir in time for the June 9 to 10 Free Fishing Weekend. On June 9, from 10 a.m. to noon, Beehive will be the site of the third annual family fishing event, sponsored by the "Fishin' Magician" at Fisher Radio in Wenatchee, along with Berkley, Hooked on Toys, and Skippers. Up to 200 kids 6 to 12 years of age may receive free fishing tackle at the event, and everyone will be able to borrow tackle to learn the basics of fishing. Other Free Fishing Weekend events are planned in Entiat, Bridgeport, and Winthrop; check with local community media for more information.

• Wildlife viewing: The Columbia Basin is bird watching heaven at this time of year, with thousands of acres of public lands, and much more private agricultural land, playing host to millions of breeding birds. Look now for baby birds of many species – little red-headed coots paddling after their jet-black parents across the water, muddy brown young blackbirds trying out their wings in the marsh, fuzzy-headed little burrowing owls waiting for a meal from mom at the mouth of their burrow in the shrub-steppe, pheasant chicks that look like eggs on legs running through the grass, and common nighthawks sweeping the fading dusk sky for insects to feed their nestlings. One of the many reasons this area is full of birds is because it's also full of bugs—everything from gnats and mosquitoes to flies and hornets – so be prepared, especially during the milder weather that this area is now enjoying.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: The special Yakima River spring chinook salmon fishing season ended May 29 with the allowable harvest of 2,000 fish caught by Memorial Day weekend. Other river and stream fishing has been enhanced with the stocking of hatchery rainbow trout in waters where there are no conflicts with wild fish, including Kittitas County's Wilson/Mercer Creek, which is open year-round, and Yakima County's Widehollow Creek, which opens Friday (June 1). Anyone who has ideas for changes in sport fishing rules should plan to attend WDFW's public sessions on June 5, at the Richland Rod and Gun Club meeting at the City of Richland's Highway Maintenance Building, or June 12, at the Mid-Columbia Walleye Club meeting at Carpenters Union Hall in Yakima; both sessions run from 7 to 9 p.m. Free Fishing Weekend events include the second annual Easton Fishing Derby and the 11th annual Cascade Field and Stream Club kids-only fishing contest, both on June 9. The Easton derby for all ages will be held at the three Easton gravel pit ponds just off Interstate 90 (Exit 71); two of the three ponds have been closed for WDFW coho salmon acclimation, but those fish will be gone and rainbow trout will be stocked for the event in all three waters. The Cascade Club's event will be held at Lavender Lake, three miles east of Lake Easton State Park, which WDFW hatchery crews will also stock just prior to June 9.

• Wildlife viewing: Spring slips into summer early in this region, and that means wildflowers are in full bloom, attracting butterflies that seek their nectar. The east side of the Cascades, with its more open country, provides some of the best butterfly watching in the state. Just look for flowers in open spaces and sunshine and you're bound to see skippers, monarchs, swallowtails, even "Painted ladies". WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area, just northwest of Yakima, has a variety of open habitats and wildflowers that attract butterflies, including asters, fleabanes, lupines, and penstemons. Purple, white and yellow flowers of many kinds, wild and domestic, seem to be the most attractive colors to butterflies. Moisture also attracts butterflies, so check out wet sand, gravel and mud.