February 22 - March 7, 2001

Contact: Madonna Luers, (509) 456-4073 Virginia Painter, (360) 902-2256

OLYMPIA – More than 50 eastside trout lakes open March 1, selective fishing for chinook salmon on the lower Columbia River begins March 12 and the blackmouth fishery now picking up speed in Puget Sound runs through April 10.

Those are important dates for anglers to remember, but so is this one: Fishing licenses for the 2001-02 season go on sale March 1, just in time for the many new angling opportunities getting underway.

Current licenses are valid through March 31, but after that a new license is required by any angler wishing to take advantage of the saltwater and freshwater fisheries coming up in months ahead.

This year, a new computerized system is expected to make buying a fishing license easier and faster than ever before. Known as "WILD," the Washington Interactive License Database also will provide Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) with better information for enforcement and harvest management work.

More than 500 license dealers statewide, including WDFW offices, are equipped with the licensing computers (see WDFW's listing of dealers by region on the website). Licenses can also be purchased over the telephone toll-free after March 1 (1-866-246-9453).

The new WILD system is also just in time to conduct the Spring turkey hunting raffle drawing for a special April 1-May 31 permit season. Hunters must buy their licenses and the five-dollar raffle tickets March 1-18 to be eligible for the two permits that allow a full month longer season and three turkey tags each. Raffle tickets may be purchased in person at license dealers statewide or by calling the toll-free licensing line, 1-866-246-9453.

For some anglers, the March 1 opening of more than 50 eastern Washington lakes is reason enough to buy a new license. Although this year's opener could be good (if that famous eastside sun thaws things out enough), those hatchery-stocked rainbows will be biting well into the new season.

Seven of the March-opening waters are man-made impoundments off the Tucannon River in southeast Washington's Columbia County. Coffeepot Lake in Lincoln County and Spectacle Lake in Okanogan County also open March 1. The rest of the March 1 opening waters are in central Washington's Columbia Basin, most in Grant County. All are listed under "Special Rules - Eastside Lakes" in the 2000-2001 WDFW fishing regulations pamphlet, which is in effect through April 30, 2001. See regional reports that follow for more information.

Lower Columbia mainstem spring chinook anglers can look forward to the longest sport fishing season this year since the late 1970s. Right now and through March 11, the mainstem Columbia from the I-5 Bridge downstream is open to fishing for spring chinook, and any chinook may be retained. But Beginning March 12, the open area increases from Bonneville Dam downstream. At that time, it becomes a selective fishery, and only adipose fin-clipped chinook may be retained. It's possible the season may remain open seven days a week through April, due to a large forecasted return.

For those who can't wait for the extended area to open on the Columbia River, blackmouth salmon are providing some great fishing from Sekiu to the bottom of Puget Sound. Here's the latest on fishing and other wildlife activity across the state:

North Puget Sound:

• Fishing: The season for blackmouth salmon got off to a respectable start Feb. 16, with anglers finding moderate success from Bellingham to points south. At the Glenn Street ramp in Bellingham, 30 anglers brought 13 chinook ashore on Feb. 17, and 72 anglers pulled up 18 fish the next day. At Edmonds Marina, 30 anglers brought in 17 chinook while 32 anglers pulled in 19 chinook at Shilshole Bay. Most fish weighed from 6 to 8 pounds, although salmon weighing in the teens were not uncommon. The season continues through April 10. But when it comes to hatchery steelhead, anglers have only through Feb. 28 to fish in three terminal areas on the north Sound. Areas now open include the Cascade River from the mouth to the Rockport-Cascade Road bridge, the Skykomish River from 1,500 feet upstream to 1,000 feet downstream of the Reiter Ponds outlet and Tokul Creek from the mouth to the posted cable boundary. The areas were re-opened to fishing Feb. 15 because egg needs for area hatcheries had been met. That is not true for wild steelhead stocks on a number of area rivers, which will close March 1 to all fishing to protect the lowest return in more than two decades. Rivers closing that day include the Skagit River system (including the Sauk River and Fisher Slough), the North Fork Stillaguamish River, the Snohomish River system (including the Snohomish, Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers) and the Puyallup River system (including the Carbon River). Certain areas of the Stillaguamish and the Snohomish rivers will remain open for other species, but any steelhead caught in these areas must be released immediately.

• Wildlife viewing: Your guests are arriving, and it's time to prepare for their welcome. If you have a swallow box in your yard, this would be a good time to clean it out, because your visitors could arrive any minute. The same is true of hummingbirds, which are sweet on feeders. Other visitors are not so common. A Northern Hawk Owl – the first one spotted in western Washington in 80 years – is attracting crowds in Whatcom County after staking out field near Blaine. If you don't have winged guests of your own and you want to chance a glimpse of this rare visitor, take the Birch Bay/Lynden exit (exit 270) off Interstate 5, head east about 1.5 miles, turn left onto Stein Road and travel about a mile to 8699 Stein Road. If you spot a crowd of people with binoculars, you're probably in the right place.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Fishing: Winds of up to 50 mph buffeted anglers on the first day of the Sekiu Salmon Derby this month, holding the catch to just four blackmouth salmon Feb. 17. On the next day, however, 92 anglers caught 34 blackmouth, weighing an average of 8 pounds. The first place fish weighed in at 19.6 pounds, followed by an 18.6 pounder – an indication that there are some big blackmouth to be caught this year. "We're expecting one of the best seasons ever," said Tony Floor, WDFW's Puget Sound recreational fisheries coordinator. Twenty-seven anglers brought eight blackmouth ashore averaging 9 pounds apiece at the Point Defiance Boathouse on the second day of the season, but Floor expects better fishing in the months ahead. The season runs through April 10 in waters stretching from Sekiu to Olympia. Meanwhile, low flows on the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula have meant more fishing days for steelhead. In a spot check on the Bogachiel/Quillayute, 55 anglers reported catching 24 wild fish (releasing 10) and 15 hatchery fish. On the Hoh River, 116 anglers reported catching 20 wild steelhead (releasing 9) and two hatchery fish. WDFW has also received reports of good steelhead fishing on the Wynoochee River in recent days. In these low, clear water conditions, WDFW fish biologist Bill Freymond recommends using lighter, less obvious gear to avoid spooking the fish. "It takes a little more finesse, but the fish will still bite in these conditions," Freymond said. If you have thoughts to share about the recreational shrimp and crab fisheries in Discovery Bay, you may want to attend a workshop scheduled by WDFW at 7 p.m. on March 5 at the Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Rd. And mark your calendar for the spring razor clam dig, tentatively scheduled April 26, 27 and 29 at all razor clam beaches. As always, final approval for the dig depends on the results of marine toxin tests conducted several days ahead of time so check the agency's website for razor clam information or call the hotline (360-796-3215) for the final word.

• Wildlife viewing: With the approach of spring, wildlife watching opportunities are becoming more abundant every day throughout the region. Look for grey whales heading north off the coast, and V-shaped flights of birds overhead. But also keep an eye on your pet, because the breeding season for coyotes has begun and that can put small animals – including cats and small dogs – in peril. Tom Keegan, manager of WDFW's upland game/fur-bearing animal section, said he has already received two reports of pet predation – one near Gig Harbor and another in downtown Olympia. ("The coyotes follow the greenbelts right into town," Keegan said.) At least through March, Keegan recommends watching you cat or small dog whenever it goes outside, feeding it indoors and containing your garbage as much as possible to avoid attracting coyotes. Some wildlife encounters are best avoided.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Lower Columbia mainstem spring chinook anglers have a lot to look forward to this year - the longest sport fishing season since the late 1970s. Right now, the mainstem Columbia from the I-5 Bridge downstream is open to fishing for spring chinook. Any chinook may be retained through March 11. Beginning March 12, the open area increases from Bonneville Dam downstream. However, only adipose clipped chinook may be retained. It's possible the season may remain open seven days a week through April. WDFW biologists are predicting the strongest smelt return in years. Starting Saturday (Feb. 24) sport fishers on the mainstem Columbia from the mouth upstream to Bonneville Dam will be able to dip 10 pounds of smelt per person per day. The season on the mainstem will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day through march 31. Meanwhile, on the Cowlitz, the only tributary where smelt fishing is allowed, it's a waiting game; the smelt still have not entered the Cowlitz. Best bet is to call the smelt hotline, (360) 696-6211 *1010 and track their progress. Smelt fishers, remember that once the fish do hit the Cowlitz, the season there is Saturday only, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and that the bag limit is 10 pounds per person. No license is required. Steelhead fishing is slowing down in this transition time between steelhead and spring chinook salmon. Sturgeon fishing from Kalama to Bonneville Dam has been fairly good at times recently with average of up to 2/3 of a legal per boat. In Bonneville Pool, recent checks showed about 1/3 of a legal per rod. A hot spot to try is between Drano Lake and Hood River. Walleye are being caught in the pool areas, including the Bonneville, Dalles and John Day pools. Trout fishing is proving successful for fishers who head to the following locations, where plantings have been done: Battle Ground Lake, 7,500 catchable rainbows, 6,050 catchable eastern brook trout and 200 surplus hatchery steelhead; Kress Lake near Kalama, 2,500 catchable rainbows; Lake Sacajawea in Longview, 1,700 catchable rainbows; and Klineline Pond 3,400 catchable rainbows and 200 surplus hatchery steelhead.

• Wildlife viewing: Mild, spring-like conditions spell opportunity galore for bird watchers. Purple finches on the Mossyrock Unit may already be establishing breeding territories. Observations of pintails and shovelers on Swofford Pond were firsts for the year, and this location continues to offer superb viewing opportunities for waterbird, waterfowl and raptor species. Several American dippers, a.k.a. water ouzels, are using the Swofford Pond outlet through the mud flats area. These slate-gray, chunky songbirds have a delightful trilling call and are unique in foraging underwater in streams for aquatic insects. A slow, quiet approach should reveal their location, and by keeping your distance and watching with binoculars you are likely to be rewarded with the fascinating sight of these songbirds flying into and out of the water as they feed. Heavy fishing activity on the weekends tends to push birds toward the south side, however a quiet walk along the South Swofford foot trail offers excellent birding. Waterproof boots are recommended.

• Hunting: The Special Late Canada Goose Season is now at the midpoint of the season. This season is designed to provide help to farmers who are attempting to harass geese from their fields to reduce crop damage. Advanced Hunter Education graduates are selected randomly and then assigned to hunt specific farms, in cooperation with participating landowners. A few last minute hunter cancellations have created some "openings" which, due to short notice, could not be filled. This reduced the number of hunters in the field, but this is not unusual, and much of the time can't be helped. Any hunter who must cancel is reminded to let the coordinator, Jeff Lewis, know as soon as possible, to allow a replacement to be assigned. Call him at (360) 906-6755. Hunter success was high this last week in Clark, Wahkiakum and northern Cowlitz County. A farm in Vancouver requested an increase in the number of hunt parties from two to four and accounted for a large portion of the geese taken this last weekend. Although the number of hunting opportunities this year has been limited, it appears that all late goose hunters will have an opportunity to participate.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Coffeepot Lake in Lincoln County is best known for its large rainbows, caught on opening day, March 1, says WDFW district fish biologist Bob Peck. "Hopefully the ice will be gone and the sun beaming down," he says, reminding anglers that weather is always the unknown factor that can make or break the day. Later on in the season, Coffeepot is great for those who know how to fly-fish it. In fact, Bob says, Coffeepot probably has some of the best fly fishing for large rainbows in the state. The spiny ray fishing will kick in as the water warms, he says. Coffeepot has special rules: two-trout daily catch limit (instead of the statewide standard of five), selective gear rules (single barbless hook, no bait) although motor boats are allowed, and daily limits of two bass of 14 inches or less and ten crappie. Southeast Washington's seven Tucannon lakes could also be productive when they open on March 1, with generous stocking of catchable-size rainbow trout planned for the last week of February, pending weather conditions. Pray for sun, then check out Beaver, Blue, Big Four, Deer, Rainbow, Spring, or Watson - or all seven!

• Wildlife viewing: Early spring waterfowl migrations are starting and a good place to watch is Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, near Cheney (southwest of Spokane), where a few rare trumpeter swans are known to mix with the more common tundra swans by early March. Another good spot to see ducks and geese is the area from Sprague to St. John in Whitman County, along Highway 23 through Rock Creek - Cottonwood Creek drainages, south of Rock Lake. Tundra swans are returning to northeast Washington waterways, notably Kalispel Lake and Pend Oreille River areas of Pend Oreille County. Great blue herons are re-building their nests in the age-old rookery on the Little Spokane River in Spokane County. Juncos, finches, chickadees, and other wintering birds that frequent backyard feeders have new competition from red-winged blackbirds, robins, waxwings and other migrants that recently blew in.

• Hunting: Blue Mountains Spring bear hunting permit application is March 1-18. A total of 105 permits are available in seven game management units in southeast Washington during a season that runs from April 15 to May 31. No bait or hounds may be used to hunt black bears. After purchasing a license and application through the new WILD system, applicants will make their hunt choices via telephone (1-877-945-3492).

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Many of the 40-plus Columbia Basin lakes that open to fishing March 1 should produce nice catches of the rainbows that were stocked last fall and spring, IF they're ice-free and accessible by the opener. Anglers can check current conditions at WDFW's Ephrata office at 509-754-4624. WDFW district fish biologist Jeff Korth predicts that Quincy and Burke lakes, south of Quincy in Grant County, will be the best bet, if the weather cooperates. These lakes were rotenone-treated in 1999 to rid them of sunfish, perch, and bass, then re-stocked with trout. "This should be their magic year," Korth said, with the first harvest of the 20,000 fingerling trout that each received last spring. Anglers can expect those trout to be 9 -10 inches now. There should also be a fair number of carryovers left from the catchable-size trout stocked last season. Spectacle Lake, near Tonasket in Okanogan County, also opens on March 1 and if it's ice-free, it should provide good fishing on the 25,000 rainbows it received last fall and the 30,000 it's due to get this spring. WDFW district fish biologist Heather Bartlett suggests that anglers check with the resorts on the lake for best current information. Year-round Sprague Lake is still kicking out the crappie through the ice, with average size 7-8 inches. Ice fishermen are also getting a few bluegill and yellow perch, with walleye fishing best at dawn and dusk to evening. The ice at Sprague is getting dangerous in spots, however, so anglers should be extra cautious. WDFW fish biologist Chris Donley reports that yellow perch fishing around the Alder Street fill area of Moses Lake should be picking up in the next couple weeks. Donley explains that as the water in Crab Creek begins to warm and flow increases, perch seeking a place to spawn are drawn to that area. There is plenty of shore access to fish there, he says, and some black crappie might be available at the same time. There is a 10-inch minimum size and five-fish daily catch limit on crappie in Moses Lake.

• Wildlife viewing: Early spring waterfowl watching is excellent throughout the Columbia Basin, but these areas in particular are productive: Wilson Creek in the Stratford area along Highway 28 in Grant County (northeast of Ephrata), including the wetlands of Crab Creek, Brook Lake, and Billy Clapp Lake on the Stratford Wildlife Area; Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and the Potholes Reservoir area, south of Moses Lake, (contact refuge headquarters, just northwest of Othello, at 509-488-2668, for more detailed information); or take a detour from Interstate 90, westbounders drop south on Highway 17 to Highway 262 and follow west along O'Sullivan Dam and south of the Frenchman Hills - Winchester Wasteway (a good bird viewing spot in and of itself), then west on Highway 26 to the Columbia River at Vantage and back to I-90. Yellow-bellied marmots ("groundhogs"), and in some places Washington ground squirrels, are evident on the open ranges of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area. Buttercups, yellow bells, shooting-stars, prairie-stars and other small early season spring flowers will begin showing their colors on the open ranges as soon as the ground thaws.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW crews actually started stocking fish two weeks earlier than usual in some year-round southcentral waters due to low water supplies at Naches Fish Hatchery. Lakes just stocked with rainbows (numbers in parentheses) include: North Fio Rito (4500), I-82 Pond #4 (2800), I-82 Pond #6 (3000), Rotary Lake (3000), Myron Lake (1000), Granger Pond (1000), and Sarge Hubbard Pond (500 ). WDFW district fish biologist Eric Anderson says that some of these waters already had some large broodstock released in them, too -- the two I-82 Ponds, Rotary, Myron, Fio Rito, and North Elton Pond. Most of the brood fish are in the four-pound range. North Elton Pond closes Mar. 31, but the other lakes are open year-round. Myron Lake has selective gear rules, and Sarge Hubbard is only for juveniles (under 15) and holders of disability licenses. A full catchable-size trout stocking schedule is available at the southcentral regional office in Yakima (509-575-2740) and will soon be available on the department's website.

• Wildlife viewing: Early spring waterfowl migrations are underway at McNary National Wildlife Refuge, near Burbank off Highway 395 (east of the Tri-Cities); sloughs off McNary Dam on the Columbia River provide excellent stopover areas for migrating ducks and geese. Western bluebirds have been spotted checking out tree cavities and nest boxes. Many other songbirds are starting to move through Washington for more northern breeding areas, so watch and listen closely - they offer a glimpse one day and they'll be gone the next.