Bluebirds have been sighted in the Puget Sound lowlands, spring chinook salmon have begun to enter the Columbia River and smelt dippers have taken their first daily limits on the Cowlitz. Spring is still several weeks away, but signs of the changing seasons are beginning to appear throughout the state.

Even so, conditions may still be "iffy" for the trout fishery that begins March 1 at dozens of lakes in Eastern Washington, said Jeff Korth, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"Even with forecasts of rain and warmer daytime temperatures, there's a good chance Columbia Basin lakes will still be iced up for the opener," Korth said. "Since the ice won't be thick enough for ice fishing, it could delay the fishery a bit."

A minimum of four inches of solid, clear ice is the safety standard established by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Ice hasn't been a problem on the Cowlitz River, where warming water temperatures helped smelt dippers get their first limits of the season Feb. 16. The fishery is open each Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through March 31, but dippers are advised to check WDFW's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/smelt/index.htm) for updates before they head out.

"Smelt can be here today, gone tomorrow, so it's always best to check before you go," said Joe Hymer, another WDFW fish biologist.

Salmon anglers, meanwhile, have been doing well in several areas of Puget Sound, particularly around the San Juan Islands. Steelhead fishing has been best on the Olympic Peninsula, where a recent creel check on the Sol Duc River turned up 53 anglers with 26 fish. Steelheaders in northwest Washington should be aware of regulation changes on the Skagit, Cascade and Sauk rivers, described in the North Sound report below.

Still hungry for razor clams? A six-day dig has been tentatively scheduled March 7-12, provided that marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat. Twin Harbors will be open for digging all six days, while Long Beach will open March 8-9 only. For more information on that fishery, see the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula report below.

The regional reports that follow provide an overview of fishing and wildlife-viewing opportunities throughout the state.

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Time is running out for anglers casting for steelhead, as a number of the region's rivers and streams close to sport fishing at the end of February. Meanwhile, the blackmouth season is going strong out on Puget Sound, where anglers continue to hook some nice salmon.

  "The San Juan Islands seem to be the best bet for blackmouth," said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. "Fishing has been pretty good around the islands for the past several weeks, and I expect that to continue as we move into March."

  Through Feb. 29, anglers fishing Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) can keep two hatchery blackmouth - resident chinook - as part of their two-salmon daily limit. They must, however, use single-point hooks and release wild chinook, which have an intact adipose fin. Regulations change for the islands March 1, when anglers will have a daily limit of one chinook salmon.

  Anglers participating in the recent Roche Harbor Salmon Derby took advantage of the good fishing. A total of 335 anglers landed 141 fish during the two-day derby. Randall Opel finished first with a 19-pound, 14-ounce fish he caught near Humphrey Head off of Lopez Island. The Arlington resident took home $10,000, while Michael Bredeson of Everson pocketed $5,000 for his second-place 16.12-pound salmon. Damon Peterson of Bellingham was awarded $1,500 for his third-place fish, which weighed in at 15.4 pounds.

  Up next for derby anglers in the region is the Anacortes Salmon Derby scheduled March 29-30 out of the Cap Sante Marina. Tickets for the event are $50 per person, with proceeds going toward scholarships to benefit young adults interested in pursuing an education in fisheries and a related natural science. Top prize for the derby, which is hosted by the Fidalgo Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers, is $10,000. For more information visit http://www.anacortessalmonderby.com.

  In contrast to the San Juans, central Puget Sound has been slow for blackmouth, Thiesfeld said. "I haven't heard many reports from marine areas 8-2 and 9," he said. "From what I understand, there just hasn't been that much bait around."

  Selective fisheries for hatchery blackmouth continue into April in marine areas 9 (Admiralty inlet), 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner). Anglers fishing in those areas can keep two hatchery blackmouth as part of their two-salmon daily limit.

  Thiesfeld reminds anglers that the waters south of a line from Foulweather Bluff to Olele Point in Marine Area 9 remain closed to salmon fishing.

  In the rivers, WDFW has modified regulations for recreational steelhead fisheries on the Cascade, Sauk and Skagit rivers and Fisher Slough. With low returns of steelhead expected this year to the Skagit River basin, those changes were needed to protect wild steelhead, said Bob Leland, WDFW's steelhead program manager.

  Anglers fishing the Cascade, Sauk and Skagit rivers and Fisher Slough must now follow selective gear rules. The rules require anglers to use unscented artificial flies or lures with single-point barbless hooks and knotless nets. Those and other selective gear rules are listed on page 26 of WDFW's Fishing in Washington regulation pamphlet, which is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm. There will be some exceptions, however, for the use of motorized vessels on the Skagit River.

  On all three rivers and the slough, anglers have a daily limit of two hatchery steelhead. "These emergency changes allow anglers to continue to harvest hatchery fish, while reducing impacts to this spring's wild steelhead return," Leland said.

  Puget Sound wild steelhead, which are identified by an intact adipose fin, were listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act last year. Anglers fishing the Cascade, Sauk and Skagit, as well as Fisher Slough must release any wild steelhead they intercept.

  Leland notes that the Cascade and a portion of the Sauk remain open only through February. Several others rivers in the region also close at the end of the day on Feb. 29. For more information on the Skagit River basin emergency rule changes, as well as regulations for other rivers, visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

• Hunting: WDFW is accepting applications for spring black bear hunting permits through March 13. To be eligible for a permit, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2008 hunting license that includes bear as a species option. A drawing will be held in mid-March for 295 permits in western Washington and 235 permits on the east side of the state. Successful applicants will be notified by March 31.

  Hunting licenses, bear transport tags and bear permit applications may be purchased online (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/), by phone (866-246-9453) or at any license vendor in the state. Applications, which require a correct hunt choice number, may be submitted online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ or by calling (877) 945-3492.

• Wildlife viewing: As spring approaches, birders are beginning to find a number of interesting species throughout the region. On a recent visit to the Montlake Fill, one birder spotted two western meadowlarks in a tree, east of the big pond, according to a report on the Tweeters website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/). The birder also noted several other birds, including wigeons, a gadwall, shovelers and mallards.

  Farther east, a husband and wife team spent some time birding in the Snoqualmie Valley. The pair found three Virginia rails and a couple of brown creepers in the Stillwater area. Later in the day, the couple sighted a male ring-necked pheasant in the fields and thickets near Fall City Farms.

  Elsewhere, a couple of birders spotted a bohemian waxwing among a flock of cedar waxwings at William F. McCormic Park in Duval. The duo also spent some time at WDFW's Cherry Valley Wildlife Area, where they saw about 15 bald eagles, a northern harrier, three red-tailed hawks and nearly 70 trumpeter swans.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: Blackmouth fishing is getting off to a slow start in parts of Puget Sound, but steelhead anglers are having some success on the northern peninsula. Rather eat clams? If so, be aware that a six-day dig is tentatively scheduled for early March.

  While the fine weather enticed anglers out during President's Day weekend, the blackmouth weren't cooperating for many of those fishing in Hood Canal, said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. "There was a lot of effort in the canal, but just a few boats were dialing it in," he said.

  Lack of baitfish, such as herring and candlefish, was the likely reason for the poor showings. "Bait fish are critical," Thiesfeld said. "Wherever they go, the blackmouth will follow. On opening day, bait fish were scarce in central Hood Canal and so were blackmouth for most anglers. Hopefully, a bunch of bait fish will move in and then we'll see more salmon."

  At Point Defiance (Marine Area 11), a creel check Feb. 16-17 showed 161 anglers caught 11 blackmouth, while the average was about one fish for every five anglers farther north in Marine Area 6. A creel check at John Wayne Marina showed 111 anglers caught 21 blackmouth while 339 anglers checked at Port Townsend Boat Haven caught 63 fish.

  Meanwhile, sunny days and lots of anglers made the 32nd annual Discovery Bay Salmon Derby near Sequim a success during President's Day weekend. Approximately 130 salmon were submitted over three days, with the $3,000 first prize going to John Goldingay of Driftwood Key, who reeled in a 19.4-pound salmon.

  Next up is the 26th annual Geoduck Restaurant Salmon Derby, which takes place March 1-2 on northern Hood Canal. The derby is part of the 2008 Northwest Salmon Derby Series sponsored by the Northwest Marine Trade Association and offers a $600 first prize. For more information, call the Geoduck Restaurant in Brinnon at (360) 796-4430.

  The blackmouth season started Feb. 16 in marine areas 5, 6,11 and 12 and runs through April 10. Fishing is non-selective and the daily limit is one salmon, regardless of species. Chinook must measure at least 22 inches. Marine Area 13 (south Puget Sound) will open March 1 through April 30.

  On the northern Olympic Peninsula, anglers took advantage of recent drier weather to try for steelhead on area rivers. During the President's Day weekend, a creel check showed 30 anglers on the Bogachiel caught 12 wild steelhead (seven released) and two hatchery fish. On the Sol Duc, 53 anglers caught 26 steelhead, including 21 wild fish, two of which were released. Anglers on the lower Hoh caught 27 wild (15 released) and nine hatchery fish, while on the upper Hoh, 125 anglers averaged about one fish for every three rods.

  "Mid-February offered good fishing with decent weather and dropping flows," said Mike Gross, WDFW fish biologist. "But now, some rivers have started to drop and become clear to the point that fish are holing up and becoming wary. Hopefully we'll get just enough rain for the rivers to get back in shape. When that happens, we'll see some fresh fish on the move."

  With wild steelhead now in the majority, Gross reminds anglers that retention of wild steelhead is currently limited to one fish per year on the Bogachiel, Calawah, Clearwater, Dickey, Goodman, Hoh, Hoko, Pysht, Quillayute, Quinault or Sol Duc rivers. Elsewhere, they must be released. Retention rules for wild steelhead are outlined on page 33 of the Fishing in Washington rule pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

  For those preferring razor clams, a six-day dig has been tentatively scheduled March 7-12. Twin Harbors will be open for digging on all six days, while Long Beach will open March 8-9 only, provided that marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat. The proposed six-day razor clam dig will open on evening tides March 7 and 8, then switch to morning tides March 9-12, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager.

  Digs also may be scheduled on morning tides in April at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Copalis if enough clams are available for harvest, Ayres said. Kalaloch will remain closed throughout the 2008 season.

  Clam digs on evening tides are allowed only during the hours between noon and midnight, while each morning dig must be completed by noon, Ayres said. He also reminded diggers to note the switch from standard to daylight time, which begins March 9.

  As currently scheduled, opening dates and tides are:

  • March 7, Friday, 6:21 p.m., +0.3: Twin Harbors only

  • March 8, Saturday, 6:58 p.m., +0.5: Twin Harbors and Longbeach only

  • March 9, Sunday, 8:28 a.m., +0.3: Twin Harbors and Longbeach only (switch to morning tides)

  • March 10, Monday, 9:12 a.m., 0.0: Twin Harbors only

  • March 11, Tuesday, 9:59 a.m., -0.1: Twin Harbors only

  • March 12, Wednesday, 10:51 a.m., 0.0: Twin Harbors only

  Anglers looking ahead to halibut season might want to check out opening dates and other information on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/halibut/. Seasons will open April 10 in most areas of Puget Sound, followed by additional openings in May on the coast and the western Strait of Juan de Fuca. This year, fishing off the coast of Westport (Marine Area 2) will be limited to two days a week (Sundays and Tuesdays) after the initial opening day on Thursday, May 1.

• Hunting: WDFW is accepting applications for spring black bear hunting permits through March 13. To be eligible for a permit, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2008 hunting license that includes bear as a species option. A drawing will be held in mid-March for 295 permits in western Washington and 235 permits on the east side of the state. Successful applicants will be notified by March 31.

  Hunting licenses, bear transport tags and bear permit applications may be purchased online (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/), by phone (866-246-9453) or at any license vendor in the state. Applications, which require a correct hunt choice number, may be submitted online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ or by calling (877) 945-3492.

• Wildlife viewing: Birders have noted a welcome sign of spring on the Tweeters bird-watching website (http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TWET.html). Western bluebirds are returning to the Fort Lewis area in western Pierce County. An intense nest-box program at Fort Lewis has helped boost the Western bluebird population and re-establish breeding pairs in other areas of western Washington.

  Tree swallows and violet-green swallows also are returning to nest boxes in the Scatter Creek area in Thurston County. On another note - local Pacific chorus frogs have begun their spring singing in area marshes. The Scatter Creek Wildlife Area is located in Thurston County, 20 miles south of Olympia.

  Those who participated in the President's Day weekend Great Backyard Birdcount have until March 1 to enter their checklists. As of Feb. 20, participants have submitted more than 68,000 checklists, observed 623 species and counted nearly 8 million birds. More information and results is located at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Smelt dippers may get another chance to snatch a 10-pound limit from the Cowlitz River in the days ahead if the third Saturday in February was any indication. Those who worked at it and chose the right location caught good numbers of smelt Feb. 16 as far upriver as Kelso.

  "Water temperatures, river flows, and visibility are favorable and we're still seeing a lot of seals and seabirds downstream to Skamokawa," said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist. "Those are all good signs for smelt dipping. If current conditions continue, dipping could be productive during the next few Saturdays."

  Smelt dipping on the Cowlitz River is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each Saturday - and daily on the mainstem Columbia River - through March. All other Columbia tributaries remain closed. The 10-pound daily limit for the Cowlitz equates to about a quarter of a five-gallon bucket. The daily limit on the Columbia River is 25 pounds.

  Weekly updates on fishing conditions are available on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/smelt/index.htm. Hymer strongly recommends checking that website - and others maintained by anglers' organizations - before heading out.

  "Smelt can be here today, gone tomorrow - especially in a year like this when weak returns are predicted," Hymer said. "But the best fishing is usually on the leading edge of the run, so this is a good time to dust off your dip net and watch the reports."

  With water temperatures rising, other fisheries are also beginning to spring to life. During the week ending Feb. 17, seven boat anglers fishing The Dalles Pool caught nine legal-size walleye, while those fishing the Bonneville Pool were sampled with their first two keepers of the year. Fishing should be good as fish fatten up for the spawn, Hymer said.

  Boat anglers fishing for sturgeon also caught a few legal-size fish - along with some sublegals - in the Bonneville Pool and The Dalles Pool that week after being frozen out for nearly a month. Few legal-sized catches were recorded below Bonneville Dam, but a survey team counted 111 boats fishing sturgeon in that area - a big increase over previous weeks. Most of the fish appear to be in the warmer Willamette River at the moment.

  Anglers should note that the gated entrance to Lions Park - also known as Martin's Bar - on the Columbia River at Woodland is closed until late July or early August. The Army Corps of Engineers is depositing dredge spoils on an adjacent site and the regular entrance site has been closed as a public safety measure. The Port of Woodland has posted the directions to an alternative access site on the gate leading into Lions Park.

  Meanwhile, late-run winter steelhead bound for the Cowlitz and Kalama hatcheries still appear to be in a holding pattern. Few of those fish had shown up at the hatcheries - or in the catch - through mid-February, although Hymer said there is still time for a good fishery. "There's still time for that fishery to break loose," he said. "We should start seeing some action pretty soon."

  During the second week of February, just 25 winter-run steelhead were recovered at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery along with 429 coho salmon adults. Tacoma Power employees released 103 coho adults and 18 winter-run steelhead into Lake Scanewa at the Day Use Site and 34 coho adults and four winter-run steelhead into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton that week.

  Did someone say spring chinook? Several springers, including an 18-pounder, have recently been reported caught by lower-Columbia anglers, signaling the start of the season ahead.

  The mainstem Columbia River is open to spring chinook retention from Buoy 10 to the I-5 Bridge through Feb. 24, but will close for salmon, steelhead, and shad Feb. 25 through March 23 before new regulations for this year's fishery take effect. New seasons, approved Feb. 15 by the Columbia River Compact, are as follows:

  • Buoy 10 to the west power lines on Hayden Island: Salmon fishing will be open seven days per week from March 24 to April 4 with a daily limit of one hatchery adult chinook salmon.

  • West power lines on Hayden Island to Bonneville Dam: Salmon fishing will be open from March 16 through April 30, with a daily limit of one hatchery adult chinook salmon. Beginning March 24, the sport fishery will be closed for all species from one hour after official sunset Mondays to one hour before official sunrise Wednesdays.

  • Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam: Salmon fishing will be open seven days per week from March 16 through May 10 with a daily limit of two hatchery adult chinook salmon. Bank fishing only from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines located about six miles below The Dalles Dam.

  Anticipating a strong run of spring chinook to the upper Columbia River but weak returns to the Willamette, fishery managers agreed to direct most of the salmon fishery above the confluence of the two rivers near Portland. The mainstem Columbia River will be open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead and shad during days open for adipose fin-clipped spring chinook. In addition, the Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis rivers remain open and should provide good opportunities for hatchery spring chinook and hatchery steelhead in the weeks ahead.

  Trout anglers are advised that Silver Lake near Castle Rock was planted with 2,790 catchable size rainbows Feb. 12, Kress Lake near Kalama got 1,514 Feb. 13 and Little Ash Lake near Stevenson got 801 Feb. 11.

• Hunting: WDFW is accepting applications for spring black bear hunting permits through March 13. To be eligible for a permit, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2008 hunting license that includes bear as a species option. A drawing will be held in mid-March for 295 permits in western Washington and 235 permits on the east side of the state. Successful applicants will be notified by March 31.

  Hunting licenses, bear transport tags and bear permit applications may be purchased online (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/), by phone (866-246-9453) or at any license vendor in the state. Applications, which require a correct hunt choice number, may be submitted online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ or by calling (877) 945-3492.

• Wildlife viewing: Participants in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) have until March 1 to file their lists of birds sighted during a 15-minute period from Feb.15-18. Together, those lists provide ornithologists with a snapshot of avian life throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, see the GBBC website at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc, which also features hundreds of photos taken by birders during this year's count.

  Many of the birds featured in those photos -ranging from white-breasted nuthatches to sandhill cranes - could have been taken here in southwest Washington. Those and other species have been seen in increasing numbers in recent weeks. Sandhill cranes, now arriving in the Vancouver Lowlands, are just starting to warm up for their annual display of affection before heading north with their partners. In the weeks ahead, thousands of the large birds - with wingspans of up to seven feet - will visit prime feeding areas prior to undertaking the long migration to their northern breeding areas.

  First, though, comes the dance. Sandhill cranes, which mate for life, are renown for their elaborate courtship behavior, involving acrobatic movements and an exchange of loud calls. This dance often begins with one bird, which makes a series of bowing, jumping and stick-tossing movements. Others in the flock then pick up the tempo, leaping into the air with wings outstretched. As one observer put it, the dancing pairs "look like marionette puppets frolicking delicately on strings."

  "It's truly an amazing sight to see a flock of birds, each standing four to five feet tall, dancing in a field," said Bill Tweit, a WDFW fish manager and avid bird watcher. "Once you've seen it, you won't forget it."

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Fishing for rainbow and brown trout and yellow perch through the ice at Waitts Lake in southern Stevens County comes to an end Feb. 29. But as WDFW eastern region access manager Scott Young said, "When one lake closes, another opens." Just down the road from Waitts to the southeast, Deer Lake opens March 1, and it should provide excellent fishing for lake trout - if anglers can safely reach them.

  "Most lakes in the region are still iced over but some may not necessarily be safe for ice fishing," said Chris Donley, WDFW district fish biologist. "Weather forecasts indicate more above-freezing days with below-freezing nights, and rain more likely than snow. Lake surfaces may be thawing and re-freezing, and fishing that opens March 1 may be delayed until there's more open water."

  Other lakes in the area opening March 1 are Amber Lake in southwest Spokane County for catch-and-release of rainbow and cutthroat trout; Coffeepot Lake in Lincoln County for rainbows, yellow perch and black crappie under selective gear rules; and North Silver Lake in southwest Spokane County for rainbows under selective gear rules and a requirement to release adipose-fin-clipped fish.

  (Update 02/21/08) Three Spokane County lakes - Downs, Liberty and Medical - open to fishing March 1 for the first time this year. The shift from the traditional last Saturday in April opener was made in the sportfishing regulations that go into effect May 1, but a rule change was just approved to make the March opening date effective this year. All three lakes have fisheries that can be productive earlier, pending weather conditions. Downs Lake, in the southwest corner of the county, has perch, largemouth bass, crappie, and rainbow trout. Medical Lake, near the town of the same name, has large brown, rainbow, and tiger trout. Liberty Lake, east of Spokane near the Idaho border, has largemouth and smallmouth bass, perch, crappie, and brown and rainbow trout.

  In the south end of the region, seven impoundments off the Tucannon River in Columbia County will open to fishing March 1 for hatchery-stocked rainbows - Beaver, Big Four, Blue, Deer, Rainbow, Spring and Watson lakes. However, whether or not they will all be accessible or stocked by then will depend on the weather, said Dave Clark, WDFW Tucannon Hatchery specialist. As of Feb. 20, Clark said Watson, Beaver and Deer lakes were ice-free, but Rainbow, Blue and Spring lakes were half covered with ice. "Due to road restrictions we haven't been able to plant any of these lakes yet," he said.

  But assuming the thaw continues, those lakes will likely receive their allocated "catchable-size" (about one-third pound) and "jumbo" (about one-half pound) trout before the opener. Rainbow is scheduled to receive 3,000 catchables and 100 jumbos, Spring gets 2,000 catchables and 100 jumbos, Watson 2,500 catchables and 100 jumbos, Blue 3,500 catchables and 100 jumbos, Beaver 500 catchables, and Deer 700 catchables. Clark reported Big Four Lake was completely iced over on Feb. 20 and probably would not receive its scheduled 3,000 catchables and 300 jumbos before March 1.

  Fishhook Pond in Walla Walla County and Pampa Pond in Whitman County also open on March 1 for stocked rainbow fishing, but they could also still be icy.

  If fishing action is delayed, anglers might want to enjoy the outdoors indoors at the first annual Great Western Sportfishing Show, Feb. 29-March 2, at the Spokane Convention Center. This new show features continuous seminars on warmwater fish, fly fishing, fly tying and salmon/trout/steelhead fishing, plus a casting pool, virtual reality fishing, WDFW information, and lots of fishing goods and services vendors. For more information call (509) 697-8208 or see http://www.greatwesternsportfishingshow.com.

• Wildlife viewing: Moose have made themselves very "viewable" to Spokane area residents recently by escaping heavy snows at higher elevations to browse on suburban neighborhood landscape plants and other easy meals. In some potentially problematic situations, WDFW staff have been busy either "escorting" them back to the woods or occasionally tranquilizing and relocating them. WDFW wildlife biologist Woody Myers says the moose population is growing along with the area's human population - and that the two species will have to learn to get along. "We can't move every moose that wanders through," he said. As with deer and elk, homeowners may need to explore landscaping with less palatable plants, keep livestock feed and hay protected, and minimize or avoid feeding birds. When moose are around, keep dogs and small children under control to avoid problems.

  Great blue herons are returning to communal nesting areas along waterways throughout the region, including the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers. Red-winged blackbirds have also been heard and seen in several locations.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Many Columbia Basin rainbow trout lakes open to fishing March 1 but persistent wintery conditions could delay angling action.

  "Even with forecasts of rain and warmer daytime temperatures, there's a good chance most Columbia Basin lakes will still be iced up for the opener," said WDFW district fish biologist Jeff Korth of Moses Lake. "The problem is that the ice won't be thick enough for safe ice fishing, delaying angling action. But that just means there likely won't be an opening day crowd and fishing will start more gradually and last longer through the season."

  Korth predicts Burke and Quincy lakes, on WDFW's Quincy Wildlife Area southwest of the town of Quincy in Grant County, will be among the best bets when fishing is available. Martha Lake near the town of George should also be productive, as will the Upper, Lower and West Caliche lakes. Dusty Lake, a selective gear rule fishery on the Quincy Wildlife Area, should also be good. Other small "walk-in" fisheries on the wildlife area that open March 1 are Cascade, Cliff, Crystal, Cup, Dot, George and Spring lakes.

  Lenice and Nunnally lakes, on WDFW's Crab Creek Wildife Area just east of Beverly in southwest Grant County, open under selective gear rules March 1, but won't receive triploid rainbow plants until April. Much smaller Merry Lake in the same area also opens March 1.

  Lake Lenore north of the town of Soap Lake in Grant County opens for catch-and-release trout fishing March 1. By the nature of its location in a north-south canyon, Korth says Lenore will almost surely still be iced up for the opener this year. Two to four-pound Lahontan cutthroat trout will be caught and released there by April.

  At the north end of the region, WDFW district fish biologist Bob Jateff of Omak reports steelhead fishing is starting to pick up on the upper Columbia River system. "Warmer temperatures are opening up areas that were previously frozen," he said, "including the Methow River, where selective gear rules are in effect." Jateff advises anglers to check the WDFW website frequently, because some steelheading areas could close on short notice.

  Jateff also noted that rainbow trout ice fishing opportunities in Okanogan County continue to be good at Rat Lake near Brewster, Davis Lake near Winthrop, and Big and Little Green lakes near Omak.

  "Patterson Lake in Winthrop continues to provide fishing for yellow perch," Jateff said. "A small jig tipped with a worm and fished at various depths throughout the lake has been productive. Most fish are in the eight-inch range, with a few larger perch up to 11 inches. We encourage anglers to retain as many perch as possible, regardless of size."

  Rufus Woods reservoir, on the Columbia River boundary between Okanogan and Douglas counties, continues to be the scene of very productive fishing for triploid rainbow trout from the local net pens. WDFW Enforcement Captain Chris Anderson notes the trout daily catch limit is two, and those fishing with bait for trout must quit fishing after two are either retained or caught-and-released, since bait-caught fish usually die. "Citations are being written to trout fishers who continue to cast worms and marshmallows, obviously for trout, when they've already caught two," he said. "But trout are so abundant now in the reservoir that walleye anglers are having trouble getting their gear down to their target without hooking a rainbow. Our officers must use discretion to determine intent, depending on fishing gear and methods."

• Wildlife viewing: Bald eagles continue to be seen throughout the Columbia River drainage, including the Northrup Canyon winter roost site off state highway 155, about seven miles south of the town of Grand Coulee. The site includes two small parking lots and an improved foot trail that winds up a knoll in the center of the canyon.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Beginning Feb. 25 catchable-size rainbow trout from the region's fish hatcheries will be stocked in many of the area's year-round fishing waters depending on ice conditions, said Eric Anderson, WDFW fish biologist from Yakima.

  "Most catchable-size trout weigh about one-third pound each," Anderson said. "We also stock larger 'jumbo' trout that run one-half to one pound each and some sterile triploids that weigh about one-and-a-half pounds."

  Ponds and lakes in Yakima County that will be stocked with some of these earliest trout are Granger Pond, I-82 Ponds #4 and #6, Mud Lake, Rotary Lake, Sarge Hubbard Park Pond (juveniles only allowed), Tims Pond, and Yakima Sportsmen's Pond (juveniles only allowed).

  In Kittitas County, North and South Fio Rito lakes, Mattoon Lake, McCabe Pond, Naneum Pond (juveniles only allowed), and Woodhouse Pond will be stocked. In Franklin County, anglers can go to Dalton Lake and Marmes Pond, and Columbia Park Pond (juveniles only allowed) in Benton County, will be stocked.

  For all the catchable-size trout stocking planned throughout the region, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/regions/reg3/index.htm.

• Wildlife viewing: Despite receding snow cover, about 1,000 elk continue to be very visible at WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area winter-feeding station at the headquarters site six miles west of Naches on U.S. Highway 12. Group tours by Washington Environmental Corps volunteer staff will be conducted until March 1. To make tour reservations, call 509-698-5106, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  Vehicle gates on several roads on the region's wildlife areas remain closed through April 30 to limit disturbance on critical big-game winter range. These include the Oak Creek and Bethel Ridge roads and the Sanford Pasture/ Mud Lake road system on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area; the Mellotte Road into the Wenas Wildlife Area; and the Robinson Canyon and Joe Watt Canyon roads into the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area.

  A new closure to motorized vehicle access on the Whiskey Dick and a portion of the Quilomene wildlife areas in Kittitas County is also in effect through April 30 to protect wintering elk. The area is north of the Vantage Highway, south of Quilomene Ridge Road, east of the Wild Horse Wind Farm, and west of the Columbia River.

  Pat Schille, WDFW habitat staffer from Yakima, reports bald eagles continue to be seen throughout the Yakima Valley, including the Naches River and Yakima River canyon.