March 6-19, 2002

Contact: Madonna Luers, (509) 456-4073

Spring is not official yet, but you can feel it when a fish tugs on your line.

Anglers across the state are enjoying catches at early-opening and newly-stocked year-round waters, as well as in rivers with early selective fishing seasons. And where fishing is still warming up, anglers are watching the arrival of migrant birds between bites.

Many ice-free Columbia Basin waters that opened March 1 are producing 12- to 18-inch rainbow trout, notably the Hamptons, Caliches, Martha, Quincy and Burke lakes. Other March 1-opening trout waters are the scene of good catches. Rainbows up to a pound are being caught at several well-stocked, year-round waters throughout the state. Steelheading in many rivers throughout the state is still good. Smelt dipping is hot in lower Columbia River tributaries.

On March 9, three more eastside trout-fishing waters will open – Fishhook Park Pond in Walla Walla County, Pampa Pond in Whitman County and, for catch-and-release only, Amber Lake in Spokane County.

On March 16, the mainstem Columbia River, from the I-5 bridge near Vancouver upstream to Bonneville Dam, and from the Dalles Dam to McNary Dam, will open to sport fishing for hatchery-marked (adipose fin-clipped) spring chinook salmon. The Dalles and John Day pools will also be open from March 16 through May 15; last year these pools were open for just three days of chinook fishing. This year's run of Columbia River spring chinook is expected to be the second-largest return since fish counting began 64 years ago; last year's 508,000 fish return was the largest.

There's plenty more fishing excitement to come in the weeks ahead, so the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) encourages you to beat the rush and buy a 2002 fishing license before it's required on April 1.

The 2001 license is valid through the end of March, but anglers can be fishing on March 31 instead of standing in line to get re-licensed. An adult freshwater license is $21.90; the saltwater license is $19.71; shellfish/seaweed licenses are $7.67, and a combination of all three is $39.42, plus dealer fees. There are hundreds of license vendors at sporting goods stores and other retail outlets across the state; you can find the one closest to you at the department's website on the Internet. Or you can purchase on-line with a credit card at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/.

The following regional reports provide more details on current fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities:

North Puget Sound:

• Fishing: Trout fishing is starting to pick up on lowland lakes that are open year ‘round, notes WDFW Fish Biologist Curt Kraemer. "The chronomids (little winged insects) have begun hatching, producing some excellent fly fishing, especially mid-day on warm calm days," he said. Also, expect warmwater fish like bass to come out of their cold-water-induced sluggishness over the next month. Kraemer says smallmouth fishing would be best on the outer edges of tapering points in fairly deep water, while largemouth bass can probably be found in shallow, protected bays. Spring bass fishing is temperature-dependent, Kraemer said, with the best fishing coming when water temperatures are on the rise. For those who just can't picture themselves flinging brightly-colored rubber worms at a bass, there's still blackmouth to be caught in northern Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. While catch rates have been generally poor in central Puget Sound, anglers seem to be having better luck the farther north they go. Also, blackmouth tend to bite better when there's a lot of tidal action; flat tides usually mean poor blackmouth fishing.

• Wildlife viewing: The big news in birding is the recent and repeated sighting of a falcated duck on the Samish Flats south of Bellingham. Falcated ducks are fairly rare in Washington state, and it's a significant event for birders when one appears. They're on the flashy side as far as ducks go, with the eye-catching looks of a wood duck or harlequin duck. They have large, angle-shaped green heads and striking body coloration. The Samish Flats male has been sighted several times among a flock of wigeon, strutting his stuff and sticking out like a multicolored sore thumb. Another brightly colored bird has made a welcome appearance in several Pacific Northwest locations: The rufous hummingbird. Their annual late-winter arrival is a good reminder to make sure hummingbird feeders and hummingbird-attracting plants are ready for a full season of service. Clean the feeder thoroughly with hot water before adding nectar. The quick recipe for homemade nectar is four parts water to one part regular cane sugar. Boil the water, remove from heat, add sugar, stir well, cool to room temperature and fill the feeder. A feeder placed in direct sunlight will quickly spoil, so find a spot without direct sunlight, add just a little nectar at a time and adjust to the demand. Remember that hummingbird feeders are merely a place for the birds to catch a quick snack, and the bird's best food source is a wide range of small winged insects. For lovers of bigger birds, there are still more than 500 trumpeter swans scattered throughout Whatcom County's farmlands. "Living with Carnivores" workshops by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Defenders of Wildlife, and other agencies and groups are scheduled 7-9 p.m. on March 18 at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave., in Bellingham, March 19 at the Monroe Fire Hall in Monroe, and March 27 at Mt. Si High School, 8651 Meadowbrook Way in Snoqualmie. For more information about these workshops, and co-existence with coyotes, bears, cougars and wolves, contact USFWS at 360-753-4370 or tbuckley@defenders.org.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Fishing: The north coast experienced high water early in the last week of February, but the rivers dropped nicely into shape later in the week. In the Bogachiel/Quillayute system 203 anglers were interviewed reporting catches of 40 wild steelhead (16 released) and 24 hatchery steelhead. Among 22 anglers interviewed on the Calawah; 10 wild steelhead were caught (five released), and two hatchery steelhead were caught. On the Sol Duc 75 anglers were interviewed with 70 wild steelhead caught (40 released) and three hatchery steelhead caught. On the Hoh 71 anglers interviewed over the weekend caught 34 wild steelhead (17 released) and 20 hatchery fish. Hatchery steelhead catches are just about over for the year. Most of the fish reported last week were released. Look for increased success on wild fish from here on. Last year's drought and earthquake affected springs serving WDFW's Puyallup Hatchery, substantially reducing flows and rearing capacity. As a result a portion of this station's trout production will be planted earlier than usual. Lakes scheduled to be planted with rainbows March 4 - 8 in Pierce County are: Bonney Lake (1,000); Harts Lake (6,000); Wapato Lake (1,000) and Waughop Lake (1,000 fish). Kapowsin, Spanaway and Ohop lakes all received February plants of 5,000 rainbows to reduce rearing densities at the hatchery. In King County, lakes scheduled for rainbow plants this week include: Green Lake (2,500); Twelve Lake (2,000) and Morton Lake (4,500). All these lakes are scheduled to receive additional plants later in the spring.

• Wildlife viewing: Turkey vultures are headed our way. According to postings on the Tweeters website, north-bound vultures were spotted in Oregon in mid-February. A carrion eater that ranges along the West Coast from Canada to Cape Horn, the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) soars gracefully in wide circles for hours, holding its wings in a broad "V" and tilting quickly from side to side. The Turkey Vulture Society website offers sketches, photos, biological facts and related websites. The Olympic Vulture Society collects reports of sightings by e-mail to tvulture@vei.net. Though there are signs of spring, many other winter visitors and on-the-move migrants are still easy to find. Tree swallows are back from southern climes and may be seen circling about their favorite haunts– open fields, ponds and lakes. Trumpeter and tundra swans can be found along the Chehalis River in places like Brady Loop Road near Montesano. Black brant will increase in number along many Puget Sound shoreline areas well into April. Bald eagles have congregated on the Nisqually River and its tributaries, as they do each year from late January through much of March. The unusual late run of chum salmon in this river makes it a favored destination for hungry eagles. However, while migrants and young eagles feast on salmon, resident adult birds have more serious things to attend to. March is the month when many females lay their eggs. Once eggs are laid, eagles dedicate themselves to the month-long chore of incubation. With nesting activity getting under way in the region for a variety of bird species, hummingbird enthusiasts are advised to have feeders cleaned and at the ready. The first warm, rainy evenings of late winter stimulate movements of frogs and salamanders between forest and breeding pond. Listen for the sounds of Pacific treefrogs chorusing from the local wetland. Breeding season is in full swing for many frogs and salamanders at low elevation. The Pacific treefrog is the loudest, but sophisticated listeners will hear the low grunts of red-legged frogs and, a lucky few may hear the soft, hollow rapping sound of the endangered Oregon spotted frog. Keep an eye out when driving at night for a glimpse of rough-skinned newts, red-legged frogs, Northwestern salamanders or Pacific treefrogs, among others.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Some smelt dippers have been coming up with great results in Washington's lower Columbia tributaries. Joe Hymer, fish biologist in Vancouver, reports he and his wife reached their 20-pound limits within 20 minutes on a recent trip to the Lewis River. Although he says the action may be changing almost daily, smelt are still in the mainstem Columbia up to the Interstate 205 bridge and in tributaries including the Cowlitz near Lexington/Castle Rock and in the Lewis and Grays rivers. "The trick is to get to the right spot on the right day," he added. Meanwhile, more hatchery spring chinook have been spotted heading up the Columbia, and some are being caught in the lower river below the Interstate 5 bridge. Fishing opens March 16 on the mainstem river from the Interstate 5 Bridge to Bonneville Dam, where nearly 100 spring chinook had been counted by the end of February. Anglers are reminded the Army Corps of Engineers is closing access to Cascade Island, located just downstream from the new powerhouse at Bonneville Dam, for security reasons. The Washington mainland shore, also known as Hamilton Island, will remain open. Wind River and Drano Lake also open March 16. The Dalles and John Day pools open for hatchery spring chinook the same day, but it's early for much action there, says Hymer. Steelhead fishers can find late-stock hatchery fish in some waters; the Kalama and Cowlitz rivers are probably the best bets, says Hymer. Those rivers will remain open although a number of other tributaries close March 16. The mainstem Columbia from Bonneville Dam to McNary are still producing hatchery steelhead, mostly summer-run fish that overwintered from last season. Last week anglers were averaging better than one fish per rod at John Day Pool. A few walleye are also starting to be caught in John Day Pool and should begin biting soon in The Dalles Pool. Recent fish releases include Klineline Pond (2,000 rainbow trout averaging two-thirds of a pound) and Kress Lake (weekly plants of steelhead averaging eight pounds each with 500 fish released to date). Fish stocking information for the region is now available on the WDFW website.

• Wildlife viewing: Waterfowl numbers have remained steady at Swofford Pond in the Cowlitz Wildlife Area over the last few weeks, with large rafts of coots (200-plus) and wigeon, common mergansers, buffleheads, ring-necked ducks, Canada geese and double-crested cormorants visible. Buffleheads have also been seen on some of the smaller loafing ponds on the Mossyrock Unit and coots are present in the backwaters of the Harmony area. Wildlife area staff have seen small flocks of Western meadowlarks and savannah sparrows on the Kosmos Flats, as well as a small band of Roosevelt elk along Riffe Lake. A mink was recently observed traveling across a thin layer of ice in one of the forested wetland areas. Logging operations are under way in many surrounding areas on Peterman Ridge and visitors are reminded to yield to logging trucks and use extreme caution when traveling in the area. In recent weeks, Canada geese have continued to use fields and wetlands in large numbers in the Shillapoo Wildlife Area. Flocks of sandhill cranes are also a common sight in the area along with egrets and occasional swans. Numerous ducks can be seen, including mallards, wigeon, teal, pintails and shovelers. A lone snow goose was seen mixed with a flock of Canada geese as well. Great blue herons are on their nests near Vancouver Lake park and raptors, including red-tailed and rough-legged hawks, kestrels, northern harriers and bald eagles are easy to spot throughout the area. A contributor to the Tweeters website reports recently spotting tree swallows and violet-green swallows at the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge near Cathlamet.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: The seven Tucannon River impoundments that opened on March 1 to rainbow trout fishing got off to a slow start, due to cold weather and some remnant ice. But that only means that these fully-stocked waters will be producing nice catches throughout the spring and summer. Fishhook Park Pond, along the Snake River in northwest Walla Walla County, and Pampa Pond, southwest of LaCrosse in Whitman County, are also rainbow-stocked and open March 9. These ponds warm early and provide better fishing now, so they were changed from a late-April opening date to March 1, starting in 2003; to provide more angler opportunity this season, rule changes were made to allow this month's opening. Rainbow trout fishing was excellent at Lincoln County's Coffeepot Lake on the March 1 opener and should continue through the season. WDFW Fish Biologist Chris Donley reports lots of 14 to 20-inchers caught and released at Coffeepot. Water temperatures are still in the 35-degree range, so Coffeepot's bass and perch won't be hitting lures and flies until later. Coffeepot is under selective gear rules with a two-trout daily keep limit. Another popular selective fishery in southwest Spokane County – Amber Lake – opens March 9 for catch-and-release fishing until April 27, when up to two trout of 14-inch minimum size can be kept. Rainbows can still be caught at the region's winter-only lakes – Hog Canyon, Fourth of July, Hatch, and Williams – through March 31. Walleye are being caught at the mouth of the Spokane River (Lake Roosevelt's Spokane Arm) until the end of March when that area closes for two months to protect spawners. Steelhead are still being caught in the Grand Ronde River of the Snake River system.

• Wildlife viewing: If the fish aren't biting, they're at least watchable in Lake Creek, the outlet stream of Coffeepot Lake in Lincoln County. WDFW Fish Biologist Chris Donley reports rainbow trout are stacking up in that waterway, right near the fishing access to the lake, in preparation for later spawning. Lake Creek is closed to fishing, but Donley says it's a great opportunity for quiet and careful observation of these beautiful fish. North of Coffeepot, at WDFW's Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area, waterfowl can be easily viewed from Seven Springs Dairy Road between the two Swanson lakes. Area Manager Juli Anderson reports tundra swans, western Canada geese, mallards, pintails, teals, buffleheads, canvasbacks and other ducks. Further north in the region, WDFW wildlife biologist Steve Zender reports swans, geese, and ducks showing up in the waterways of the Colville and especially Pend Oreille valleys. There's still lots of snow in the Pend Oreille Valley but birds are on the river and will be on other standing water as temperatures warm. Zender also reports deer and elk starting to show up in valley fields or south and west slopes as snow goes off and the first signs of "green-up" appear. Ferry and Stevens county areas are best for viewing in late afternoon to dark. "Living with Carnivores" workshops by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Defenders of Wildlife, and other agencies and groups are scheduled 7-9 p.m. on March 6 at the Stevens County Commissioners Office in Colville and March 7 at Sadie Halstead Middle School in Newport. For more information about these workshops, and co-existence with coyotes, bears, cougars, and wolves, contact USFWS at (360) 753-4370 or tbuckley@defenders.org.

• Hunting: Blue Mountains spring black bear hunting permit applications are due March 10. A total of 105 permits are available across seven southeast units for the season that runs April 15 to May 31. Permit application is by phone, 1-(877) 945-3492, or Internet, http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Washington's freshwater lake fishing mecca, the Columbia Basin, opened March 1 with lots of limits of 12- to 18-inch rainbow trout at several popular waters. WDFW Fish Biologist Jeff Korth reports the best fishing will continue through the spring at lakes that were either recently rehabilitated or stocked well with catchable-size fish. Opener checks showed Lenice Lake with the highest fish-per-angler average at 5.6 and one of the lowest fish-per-hour rates at 1.6; Lenice is a selective gear water with a one-fish daily keep limit, so that average is mostly catch-and-release fishing. Lenice's fish were mostly 14- to 15-inch yearling trout, with about 20 percent of the catch in 18- to 20-inch rainbow carryovers and brown trout. No tiger trout were checked in opening day catches, but Korth reports they should be about 13 inches now in both Lenice and Nunnally lakes. Too few checks were made at Nunnally Lake on March 1 for a report, Korth notes, but it should have a great season, too. Martha Lake opening day anglers averaged 4.7 rainbows per angler, a catch rate of 3.8 hours per fish, and all 14.4-inch yearlings. At Burke Lake, anglers averaged 4.4 trout each, a 2.6-hours-per-fish catch rate, and mostly 12.3-inch yearlings with a few carryovers up to 16 inches. Upper Caliche Lake's fish per angler average was 4.2, with a catch rate of 1.7 hours per fish, mostly in 13-inch yearlings and some 16- to 18-inch carryovers. Lower Hampton Lake anglers averaged 3.5 fish each on the opener, at a 1.3 hours-per-fish catch rate; most were just over 13 inches, with some 17- to 18-inch carryovers. Both Upper Hampton and Lower Caliche lakes saw very slow fishing March 1, but both are producing all large fish, from 15 to 17 inches. Quincy Lake was also slower fishing, but those who stayed three hours or more caught limits of 13.2-inch yearlings and a few 18-inch carryovers. Other Quincy area small walk-in lakes had an average of less than two fish per angler March 1, but about 10 percent of the catch was in 16-18-inch carryovers; Crystal and Spring are the best among them, with surprisingly big 15-inch yearling rainbows at Crystal. No checks were made March 1 at Lake Lenore, where fishing usually doesn't pick up until late March or early April. Also opening March 1 was Spectacle Lake near Tonasket in Okanogan County that was well-stocked with rainbows and usually warms up late to provide good fishing through the spring. WDFW District Fish biologist Heather Bartlett suggests that anglers check with resorts on Spectacle for best current information. The region's four winter-only trout waters – Green, Lower Green, Little Twin and Rat lakes in Okanogan County – are still producing trout through the end of the month. Year-round Potholes Reservoir is also providing good rainbow fishing now and Moses Lake should be producing yellow perch soon. Hatchery-marked steelhead fishing continues through the end of the month on the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers. Anglers illegally targeting endangered steelhead on the Lower Methow River are forcing WDFW to close the stream to all fishing March 6 through 31. WDFW regional fish biologist Joe Foster warns that additional closures may be enacted if anglers target steelhead in other areas.

• Wildlife viewing: When fishing is slow in the Columbia Basin, anglers need only cast a gaze on the horizon or nearby wetlands to enjoy a growing abundance of migrant and resident waterfowl. You know Spring's not far off when those ducks and geese can even be viewed now in one of the region's most northern haunts – the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in Okanogan County. Area Assistant Manager Todd Baarstad reports "lots of opportunity to watch waterfowl on the smallest puddle to the largest river, initiating their paring and nesting rituals." Baarstad also notes that bluebirds are visiting many of the nest boxes placed around the county, and mule and white-tailed deer are feeding in good numbers on the hillsides as the snow gives way to the first green-up. You may be able to still catch a glimpse of bald eagle concentrations in Northrup Canyon near Grand Coulee, and along Banks Lake from Coulee City to Soap Lake, below Grand Coulee Dam along the Columbia River, and on Lake Roosevelt from Grand Coulee to Kettle Falls.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW Fish Biologist Eric Anderson reports that anglers are catching recent rainbow trout plants in the Yakima area's year-round open lakes. Recently stocked waters include Myron, Rotary, I-82 Ponds 4 and 6, Sarge Hubbard, and Granger. Myron has selective gear rules (no bait, artificial lures with a single barbless hook) and a one-fish daily catch limit; Sarge Hubbard is for juveniles only (under 15 years of age). The other lakes have the standard five-trout daily catch limit and bait allowed rules. Stocked trout are running about one-third to one-fourth-pound each, but some larger one-pound rainbows were stocked into Myron and Sarge Hubbard. Wenas Lake is scheduled to be stocked soon. Other lakes that are scheduled to be stocked soon in and around the Kittitas Valley or Ellensburg area include North and South Fio Rito Lakes, Denmark, Mattoon, McCabe, Naneum, and Woodhouse. Fio Rito and Mattoon receive a supplemental plant of one-pound rainbows. Naneum Pond is open to fishing by juveniles only. A list of all catchable trout plants in the region is available at the WDFW office in Yakima (509) 575-2740 and on WDFW's website. Anderson also reports anglers catching black crappie in the 8- to 9-inch range at the I-82 Ponds near Yakima. The fish are hitting on small white crappie jigs, he says, but the trick is to find the pockets where these fish live. Anglers need to focus on areas with structure, like over-hanging brushy shorelines, deep water pockets near weed beds and wood-strewn areas near beaver houses. Anderson notes that WDFW stocked black crappie fry in 1999 in I-82 Ponds 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 and Rotary Lake in the Yakima area, and in the Fio Rito Lakes in the Ellensburg area. "Looks like that stocking is starting to pay off," Anderson said. Anglers checked in the Yakima to Toppenish area of the Yakima River had limits of 12-14 inch whitefish. Anderson said most were using typical whitefish gear with small fly and maggot combinations. WDFW fish biologist Rick Watson reports that the few anglers who have been steelhead fishing in the Ringold area of the Columbia River near the Tri-Cities are doing extremely well. Ringold bank anglers averaged one kept fish and one released fish for every 4.1 pole hours, and boat anglers averaged about one fish kept or released for every 4.3 pole hours.

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW Habitat Biologist Perry Harvester suggests hiking the Hanford Reach National Monument, including the dunes above White Bluffs along the Columbia River for glimpses of coming spring and wildlife. Harvester reports that while there are no wildflowers out yet, "spring is definitely in the air, grass is greening up, perennial forbs are sprouting, waterfowl are pairing up, and Canada geese are claiming nesting territories on the islands in the Columbia." Besides the thousands of ducks and geese on the river, Harvester says to watch for horned larks, gray partridge, ravens, pheasant, and coyotes along the trail. "The Monument is a great place for an early spring trek in a remote area if you want dry trails and no snow," he says. "While the snow is beginning to melt off of the low foothills, many of the trails and forest roads are still quite muddy." Deer and elk are moving off wintering grounds and feeding sites and are dispersing on south-facing slopes that are greening up fast. Elk antler collectors are reminded that WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area near the winter feeding site at headquarters off Hwy.12, as well as the Lower Bethel Ridge and Cowiche units where late winter and early spring use by elk is critical, are closed through April to avoid harassing the animals.