April 18-May 1, 2001

Contact: Madonna Luers (trout opener), 509-456-4073 Craig Bartlett (razor clams), 360-902-2259

OLYMPIA – Fishing has been good for the past month in many parts of Washington, from the hatchery spring chinook salmon season that just closed on the lower Columbia River to rainbow trout fishing on early-opening lakes in the northeast.

But the biggest statewide fishing season opener of the year is just ahead.

April 28 marks the opening of hundreds of lakes, stocked with thousands of hatchery-reared, catchable-size trout. Up to half a million people are expected to turn out for opening day, pursuing more than 17 million fish in nearly 4,500 lowland lakes and reservoirs across Washington.

This traditional last-Saturday-of-April opener usually signals the start of good fishing and pleasant weather on many waters that are technically open year-round, too. It's an opener that in many communities has become a social event, as much about families and friends getting together as it is about first-of-the-season fishing.

And if you're unpacking your pole for the trout opener, you might want to pull out your clam shovel, too. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has tentatively scheduled what could be the last razor clam dig of the season at coastal beaches April 26, 27 and 29.

Final approval for the dig depends on the results of a final marine toxin test, so clam diggers should call the Shellfish Hotline (360-796-3215) or check the agency's website before heading to the beach. Final test results should be available by April 24.

Diggers are also advised to purchase their 2001 license before they go to avoid potential lines at the counter in coastal communities. License dealers throughout the state are listed on WDFW's website. Licenses can also be purchased over the phone (1-866-246-9453), although you'll have to act fast because you must allow five days for the license to arrive in the mail.

Look for information about hours open to digging and affected beaches under the fishing summary for the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula region below.

To prepare for the trout opener, hatchery crews at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have been stocking waterways with over 13 million trout and kokanee fry – along with more than half-a-million warmwater species like walleye and bass – that will now be catchable-size. They're finishing up their fish stocking this week and next with nearly 3 million yearling or catchable-size trout, 84,000 triploid rainbow trout that average 1½ pounds each, and over 39,000 surplus hatchery broodstock from two to five pounds each.

With all those fish as an enticement, this opener could get crowded at some lakes, especially those with public boat launches. Fishers are urged to be patient, courteous, and careful. Remember to use personal floatation devices for everyone in boats and for children on shore.

Resident anglers 16 years of age and older must have a valid freshwater fishing license, available for $20 at hundreds of license dealers across the state, all WDFW offices, and over the telephone (1-866-246-9453). All resident and non-resident children 14 years of age and under fish free; 15-year-olds fish on a $5 license.

Every fishing license buyer receives a free Access Stewardship Decal, which must be on any motor vehicle parked in a WDFW fishing access parking lot.

Copies of WDFW's annual Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet, Hatchery Trout Stocking Plan and Washington Fishing Guide ("Where To Catch Fish In the Evergreen State") are available on the agency's Internet website, at WDFW Regional Offices and at agency offices in Wenatchee (509-662-0452), and Olympia (360-902-2700).

The following regional reports provide more specific information on "best bets" for the April 28 fishing opener, as well as other fishing and wildlife recreation opportunities:

North Puget Sound:

• Fishing: A number of popular fishing waters have been stocked with a variety of trout including the usual quarter-pound size, half-pound fish and triploids that top a pound when planted. Triploid-stocked lakes in Snohomish County include Blackmans, Bosworth, Flowing, Silver and Storm, as well as Martha Lake at Alderwood Manor, says Chuck Phillips, regional fish manager. King County lakes stocked with triploids include Geneva, Greek, Pine, Steel and Wilderness. Meanwhile on saltwater, all the region's marine areas remain closed to crabbing at present. The crab closure now includes ring nets, wading and diving, as well as pots. Shell condition testing is being conducted in the Everett/Port Susan area and, if the regions follow patterns of previous years, sport crabbing may open in the Everett area by late April. The Oak Harbor area is expected to open in the early part of June; the San Juans near the end of June; Bellingham-to-Anacortes areas about mid-July, and the Blaine-Birch Bay areas in mid- to late August.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Fishing: The opening day of lake fishing during the last weekend of April will share the marquee with what could be the last razor clam opening of the season. WDFW has been preparing for the April 28 lowland lake opener by planting 450,000 catchable-size trout in lakes throughout the region along with 14,500 triploid trophy trout weighing 1½ to 2 pounds apiece. Twenty-five lakes in Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties are being stocked with the popular triploids and most public lakes will be swimming with newly planted rainbow and brown trout. (See the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishcorn.htm for the agency's planting schedule.) In Pierce County, four additional lakes will be planted this year in time for the April 28 opener, including Clear, Tanwax, Ohop and Crescent lakes. But why wait to wet your line? Several area lakes, open year round, are stocked with tripoids and ready to go, including Lake Spanaway in Pierce County, Lake St. Clair and Offut Lake in Thurston County, Lake Sylvia in Grays Harbor County and Kitsap Lake in Kitsap County. Meanwhile, on the coast, a spring razor clam dig is scheduled April 26, 27 and 29 at all razor clam beaches. Pending the results of a final marine toxin test, digging will be allowed during morning (a.m.) hours until noon April 26 and 27. On April 29, the open period will be extended until 2 p.m. to give diggers a chance to take advantage of the 11:48 a.m. low tide. Beaches scheduled to open for the spring dig include Long Beach, Twin Harbors (North Cove, Grayland, Westport), Copalis (Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City, Copalis), Mocrocks (Iron Springs, Roosevelt, Pacific Beach, Moclips) and Kalaloch (between the South Beach Campground and Brown's Point). Diggers should call the Shellfish Hotline (360-796-3215) or check the agency's website after April 23 for the results of the final marine toxin test before heading to the beach. And if you're passing by Hoodsport April 28 or 29, you might want to join in the Hood Canal Oyster Bite, where you can cast a vote for your favorite oyster stew or shuck your own at Sund Creek. Finally, for die-hard steelheaders, anglers are still reporting some success on the Sol Duc River which – like the Quillayute system – closes to steelhead fishing April 30. Fishing will re-open June 1 for hatchery steelhead on the Quillayute system. The Quillayute and Sol Duc Rivers only will remain open for salmon through June 30. Anglers already report catching some spring chinook on the Sol Duc.

• Wildlife viewing: As if there isn't enough to choose from on the last weekend in April, the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival takes flight April 27-29 in Hoquiam. Thousands of people are expected to flock to the annual festival to watch millions of shorebirds – from sandpipers to plovers – dance with the wind and tides. This year's festival will feature lectures by area birding experts, natural art exhibits and birding field trips to the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, Ocean Shores and Bottle Beach State Park near Westport, the Olympic National Forest and Point Grenville. Unlike clam diggers who lay for low tide, birders can expect the best viewing about two hours before high tide. High tides during the three-day festival will be 5:27 p.m., 6:22 p.m. and 7:25 respectively. And for a somewhat different kind of wildlife viewing, the seventh annual "Procession of the Species" will take place in downtown Olympia on April 21 at 6:30 p.m. This celebration of the natural world, in which participants don masks, costumes, and other colorful creations of plant and animal species, is held in conjunction with the Olympia Spring Arts Walk. You can leave your binoculars at home for this event.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Even though spring chinook fishing is currently closed in the mainstem Columbia, spring chinook fishing on the tributaries is getting close to prime, according to WDFW Fish Biologist Joe Hymer. "Effort and catch are both increasing on Wind River and Drano Lake," Hymer says. "There's plenty of opportunity in the lower Wind, White Salmon, and Klickitat rivers, plus Drano Lake and fishing on the Kalama and Lewis rivers is picking up, too." Fishers are reminded that Drano Lake is closed on Wednesdays starting today through the end of May. Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife will update the upriver spring chinook run size and sport catch figures on Friday (April 20) to determine whether the main stem Columbia River will be reopened on a short-term basis for more spring chinook fishing. Check the WDFW website for press releases and fishing rule changes. The general lake opener scheduled for April 28 promises to be exciting in Southwest Washington, reports Fish Biologist John Weinheimer. The biggest push, he says, is for triploid trout, which will be a big draw in addition to normal opening day action. Weinheimer says biologists expect trout fishing to be pretty good at Rowland Lake in Klickitat County, and on Kidney Lake in Skamania County. The lakes in Clark County are open year round, but there will be plenty of interest at places like Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond and also at Kress Lake in Cowlitz County. Mineral Lake in Lewis County, an opening-day water, should attract large crowds. "We don't expect real severe problems with water levels on our lowland lakes, so there should not be any problems for launching boats," Weinheimer said.

• Wildlife viewing: A recent bald eagle survey along the I-5 corridor indicates there may be many sightings of eagles along the corridor and east. Among the more notable observations recently was a golden eagle at Swofford Pond, keeping company with numerous bald eagles. Three common loons continue to use Swofford Pond, thrilling visitors with their haunting calls. The best time to hear them is after sunset. Ospreys have returned in force during the past two weeks and are occupying several nests throughout the area. Green-winged teal, wood ducks and hooded mergansers are among the more recent waterfowl arrivals on the Mossyrock Unit ponds. House wrens are proclaiming their breeding territories in dense, brushy field-edge habitats throughout the wildlife area. Common loons also have been regular visitors, and a river otter was sighted there recently as well. An American bittern was seen along Squaw Creek on the Kiona Creek unit. Ruffed grouse can be heard drumming throughout many areas on the wildlife area, as males advertise their availability for breeding. Many bird species are very visible and/or audible, as they gear up for the nesting and breeding season. A large group of band-tailed pigeons was observed adjacent to the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery unit. The first spring warblers have arrived; brightly colored yellow-rumped warblers can be seen along forest edge habitats throughout the Cowlitz Wildlife Area.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Best bets for the April 28 lake opener include Spokane County's Badger Lake (12 miles south of Cheney) and West Medical Lake, Lincoln County's Fishtrap Lake (6.5 miles east of Sprague), Stevens County's Waitts Lake (4 miles west of Valley on U.S. Highway 395), Pend Oreille County's Davis Lake (5 miles south of Usk) and Sacheen Lake (11 miles southwest of Newport), Ferry County's Ellen Lake (14 miles north of Inchelium), and Asotin County's Headgate Pond (juveniles and seniors only, near Asotin Creek). Year-round waters that have been producing nice trout and other species include Newman Lake, just east of Spokane, Rock Lake, just north of Ewan in Whitman County, and Bennington Lake near Walla Walla. Lake Roosevelt's trout and kokanee fisheries are also reportedly doing well now. Many of the Tucannon River impoundments in the southeast that have been open since March 1 have been re-stocked and are producing nice catches, including Columbia County's Beaver and Watson lakes.

• Wildlife viewing: Advancing spring brings a procession of returning migrant species of birds and heightened activity of other animals. A human rendition of this "Procession of the Species" is scheduled in Spokane's Riverfront Park on Earth Day, April 22, at 1 p.m. when all ages don masks, costumes, banners, and other colorful creations of plant and animal species to celebrate the natural world; join in or just watch and learn about fish and wildlife at WDFW's booth at the day-long Earth Day festival in the park.

• Hunting: Spring turkey hunting opened April 15 and the number of participants and level of enthusiasm rivaled traditional deer hunting openers. Wild turkeys are abundant throughout this region and the season remains open through May 15.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW fish biologist Jeff Korth reports that Blue and Park lakes, the "jewels of the Columbia Basin," may be the best on the April 28 lake opener. Blue Lake received 200,000 rainbow trout fry and Park Lake received 150,000, and those fish should be solid 12-inch yearlings now. There will also be the occasional 14-to-15-inch carryover trout, Korth says, and catch rates should be four to five fish per angler. Both Blue and Park were also each stocked with 4,000 brown trout that should be 14 inches, plus carryover browns up to 18 inches. Warden and South Warden lakes will open on the 28th for the first time in about 20 years and they, too, should be good bets. Korth explains that the Warden lakes used to open March 1, but because they were ice-bound two out of three of those openers, they were changed this year to the late April season. Trout fry stocking in the Warden lakes since their rehabilitation in 1998 has not panned out for a number of reasons, so 32,000 catchable-size trout were recently stocked. Korth expects a "pretty fair fishery" for 9-10 inch rainbows and a good number of 15-16 inch rainbows and browns on the opener. Grant County's Deep Lake should also be good, stocked with 15,000 rainbow fry (that will be 11-12 inches now), 40,000 kokanee fry (8-10 inches now, 14-15 inches this fall), plus 10,000 catchable-size (10 inch) rainbows, and 1,200 triploid pound-plus rainbows. Other Grant County lakes that could be productive on the 28th are Perch Lake, where limits of 11-12 inch rainbows was the rule last year and could be again, Vic Meyers Lake, where anglers will probably average three to four large trout (in 12-13 inch, 15-15-inch, and pound-plus age categories), and Dry Falls Lake, which is under selective gear and one-trout rules and catch rates are usually eight to 10 fish per angler. Other waters that could be good bets for the opener include Douglas County's Jameson Lake (8 miles south of Mansfield), Franklin County's Dalton Lake (5 miles northeast of Ice Harbor Dam) and Railroad Pond (2 miles northeast of Mesa), Okanogan County's Alta Lake (southwest of Pateros), Pearrygin Lake (Methow Wildlife Area), and Spectacle Lake (9 miles northwest of Tonasket). The following lakes that opened March 1 in the Columbia Basin recently received more rainbows: Burke, 2,250 fish running 15 inches and 1,500 9-inchers; Quincy, 3,000 15-inchers and 1,000 9-inchers; Upper Caliche, 500 15-inchers; and Martha, 1,500 15-inchers running a pound-plus.

• Wildlife viewing: Check out the bird life at Grant County's Sun Lakes Wildlife Area, one of several in the Columbia Basin used by millions of waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, and others for resting and feeding on their annual migrations along the Pacific Flyway. You'll see Canada geese, mallards, redheads, canvasbacks, ringnecks, ruddy ducks, gadwalls, blue and greenwing teal, shovelers, pintails, goldeneyes, and wood ducks. Shorebirds, terns, pelicans, sandhill cranes, swans, gulls, Brewer's, red-winged, and yellow-headed blackbirds, killdeer, meadowlarks, prairie falcons, red-tailed and Swainson's hawks, golden eagles, and colonies of burrowing owls may also be found.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Most lakes in this region are open year-round, but fish stocking and fishing both pick up around the late-April opener. Anglers may find the best fishing at these waters: Benton County's Columbia Park Lagoon (juveniles and families only; in Kennewick); Chelan County' s Fish Lake (16 miles north of Leavenworth); Yakima County's Myron Lake (in Yakima), I-82 ponds #4 and #6, and Rotary Lake (in Yakima along Greenway Trail); Kittitas County's Fio Rito lakes (4 miles southeast of Ellensburg) and Mattoon Lake (Ellensburg).

  The Yakima River opens to spring chinook salmon fishing April 21, due to a forecast of 26,100 returning fish. The river will be open from the state highway 223 bridge at Granger (river mile 83) to the painted "closed water" boundary line 3,500 feet downstream of Roza Dam at river mile 127.2. Up to two wild or hatchery salmon of at least 12 inches can be kept or released per day, with a season limit of 10 chinook per person; the run is predicted to be 62 percent wild fish and 38 percent hatchery fish. The season will run through June 15 unless the run size is below forecasted levels and harvest is greater than expected. Bait is allowed but the "non-buoyant lure restriction" and "night closure" are in effect (see the fishing rules pamphlet for definitions.) Those who intend to fish from the Yakama Reservation river bank (south or west bank), extending from the mouth of Ahtanum Creek (near the I-82 bridges at Union Gap) downstream to the Granger Bridge, must purchase a Yakama tribal fishing permit in addition to a 2001 WDFW freshwater fishing license. Fishing for steelhead in the Yakima remains closed and any steelhead caught must be immediately released unharmed. The Yakima is closed to fishing for all species 400 feet downstream of Sunnyside (Parker) Dam; 400 feet downstream of Wapato Dam; and 400 feet upstream from the upstream side of the Yakima Ave./Terrace Heights Road bridge in Yakima, including the area adjacent and downstream of the Roza Wasteway No. 2 fish barrier rack next to Morton & Sons, Inc. "Closed Water" boundaries will be designated with signs and painted landmarks (trees, boulders).

  Also opening on April 21 and running through June 15 is the Columbia River Ringold area bank fishery for spring chinook salmon. This fishery, which normally opens on May 15, takes advantage of a forecasted run of up to 2,800 fish. None of these fish are needed for hatchery broodstock, due to Mitchell Act funding cuts, so all of them are produced for recreational fishing. The earlier season will also improve the eating quality of the fish. The fishery is adjacent to WDFW's Ringold Hatchery (in Franklin County, north of Pasco) from the WDFW markers 1/4 mile downstream of the Ringold irrigation wasteway outlet to the markers one-half mile upstream of Spring Creek (hatchery outlet). Only the hatchery side of the river is open and for bank fishing only. Any chinook, regardless of presence or absence of an adipose fin, may be retained. There is a two fish daily limit and 12-inch minimum size. All steelhead must be immediately released unharmed.

• Wildlife viewing: Watch for nesting bald eagles near Tieton Dam and the Peninsula Campground on Rimrock Lake in the Snoqualmie National Forest, east of White Pass off Highway 12. Osprey, waterfowl, and other wildlife also are seen there.