With spring fisheries now well under way, saltwater anglers are pulling halibut from Puget Sound and catching lingcod off the coast. Steelhead fishing is winding down on westside rivers, but rising catch rates for hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon are moving in to fill the void.

In addition, fishery managers have approved the first morning razor clam dig of the season April 19-22 on various ocean beaches. (See the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula regional report below for details.)

But none of those popular fisheries attract more attention than the lowland lakes trout-fishing season, set to open Saturday, April 28 throughout the state. More than 300,000 anglers are expected to cast a line in hundreds of trout-stocked lakes on that day alone.

"For many anglers, this fishing season opener really is like New Year's Day," said Jeff Koenings, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "We manage a variety of fisheries in Washington, but the lowland lakes trout season has the greatest participation by far. And that makes it a real celebration."

WDFW is stocking more than 22 million trout in lakes and streams throughout the state this year - most of which will be in place for the season opener. Those fish include rainbow, cutthroat, brown, and eastern brook trout; kokanee; and more than twice as many triploids (averaging 1.5 pounds apiece) as last year.

Three WDFW publications, all available online, provide some useful information for anglers planning to participate in this year's trout fishery:

• Washington Fishing Prospects provides tips on fishing areas, listed by county and water, throughout the state. See http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/prospects/index.htm.

• WDFW's Hatchery Trout Stocking Plan outlines stocking schedules, by lake and species, for this year's fishery. See http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/index.htm.

• The annual Fishing In Washington sport fishing rules pamphlet is available from license dealers, WDFW offices and on the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm. Anglers should note that new rules for May 1, 2007 through April 30, 2008 will be posted and available in printed form later this month. New fishing rules that go into effect May 1 will be highlighted on the "What's new for 2007" page of the 2007-2008 pamphlet.

All anglers, age 15 or older, must have a valid 2007-08 fishing license to fish in Washington. Licenses can be purchased via the Internet (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/), by telephone (1-866-246-9453), or at hundreds of license dealers across the state (listed on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lic/vendors/vendors.htm).

Of course, fishing isn't the only way to enjoy the great outdoors. A spring wild turkey hunt runs through May 31 statewide, and current wildlife-watching opportunities run from arctic loons to gray whales.

For more information about fishing, hunting and wildlife-watching throughout the state, see the regional reports below:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: As the region's blackmouth and steelhead fisheries come to a close, more anglers are starting to shift their attention to other fishing opportunities. The halibut season is under way in Puget Sound, and openings for other bottom fish are not far off. And one of the most anticipated fisheries occurs later this April, when the lowland lakes trout season kicks off.

  Beginning April 28, anglers can cast a line in many of the region's lakes, where thousands of legal-sized trout have been planted. Information on stocking schedules for rainbow, cutthroat and triploid trout is available on WDFW's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/index.htm).

  During the first few weeks of the season, anglers should focus on fishing higher in the water column, where the stocked trout tend to remain after being placed in a lake, said Jon Anderson, WDFW resident trout manager. "After they're planted, the trout usually can be found in the top 3 to 5 feet of water," he said. "After a few weeks, drop the hook deeper."

  Meanwhile, freshwater anglers have only a few more days to cast for steelhead. The catch-and-release steelhead fishery on the Skagit and Sauk rivers closes at the end of the month. Anglers on the Skagit can fish for steelhead from the Dalles Bridge to the Cascade River, while those on the Sauk can fish from the mouth of the river to the Darrington Bridge.

  Out on the saltwater, the region's blackmouth fishery also is coming to an end. Only the selective chinook fishery in marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) remains open, and those two areas close April 30.

  But anglers are still finding some blackmouth as the season enters its final days. According to creel checks at the Everett boat ramp, 310 anglers hauled in 48 chinook during the second weekend in April. At the Edmonds ramp 22 anglers brought home six chinook that same weekend, while 21 anglers checked five blackmouth at the Mukilteo ramp.

  Anglers in marine areas 8-1 and 8-2 can keep up to two hatchery chinook per day, so long as the fish measure at least 22 inches in length. Wild chinook salmon, which have an intact adipose fin, cannot be brought aboard the boat.

  Halibut fishing opened April 9 throughout the region. Mutiny and Admiralty bays, as well as Eastern and Partridge banks usually are the best bets for flatfish early in the season. Halibut fishing is open five days a week, Thursday through Monday, with a daily limit of one halibut and no minimum size limit.

  Anglers also can drop a line for other bottomfish, such as lingcod, rockfish and cabezon, beginning May 1. During the hook-and-line season (May 1-June 15), there's a one-fish daily limit for lings, which must be a minimum size of 26 inches and a maximum size of 40 inches. For rockfish, there is no minimum size and anglers must keep the first legal rockfish caught. Anglers fishing for cabezon have a daily limit of two fish, and there is no minimum size limit.

  Anglers out on Puget Sound will soon have an opportunity to drop a shrimp pot. The shrimp season opens throughout the region May 5. Details are available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crabreg/.

  Before heading out, anglers should check the rules and regulations for freshwater and saltwater fisheries in WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: Gray whales continue to grab the headlines in the region, as some of the large marine mammals mill about Puget Sound during their annual journey north. Most of the whales are headed to the Arctic Ocean, where they spend the summer feeding, before heading back south to the coast of Mexico. Some gray whales stop short of migrating all the way to the Arctic and instead linger in the waters of the Pacific Northwest during the summer months.

  While grays are receiving most of the attention, other marine mammals of note have been spotted in the area as well. A minke whale was recently seen in the waters between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend and there have been sightings of a pod of killer whales traveling Haro Strait, near San Juan Island. The orcas, members of J-Pod, were spread out in two or three groups displaying some "percussive and aerial behavior," according to an observer reporting to the Orca Network (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html).

  Warmer weather and longer days have made for great birding in the region. One birder at the Montlake Fill spotted 37 different species, including a snow goose, a Canada goose, a glaucous-winged gull, a red-tailed hawk and a flock of American pipits. "Pretty good for the last two hours of daylight," the birder noted on Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/).

  Meanwhile, birders have an opportunity to take part in the Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds May 18-19. The festival is a celebration of birds and nature in and around downtown Edmonds, the Edmonds marsh and along the waterfront. The event features bird watching, guided walks, speakers, workshops and social activities. For more information visit the Puget Sound Bird Fest website at http://www.pugetsoundbirdfest.com/index.htm.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: Anglers face a variety of choices as spring fishing seasons continue to unfold throughout the region. Go saltwater fishing for halibut or lingcod? Go river fishing for steelhead or spring chinook on the north coast? Dig razor clams during a mornings-only dig scheduled April 19-22 at various ocean beaches?

  For many anglers, "fishing season" begins April 28 on opening day of the lowland lakes trout season. On Washington's single biggest fishing day, anglers can choose from among 110 lakes in the region stocked with rainbow, cutthroat, brown trout and triploids.

  Lakes stocked with more than 3,000 trout include Wentworth Lake in Clallam County; Sandy Shores in Jefferson County; Mission and Wildcat lakes in Kitsap County; Devereaux Lake in Mason County; Ohop and Spanaway lakes in Pierce County; and Clear, Deep, Hicks and Long lakes in Thurston County. Updated information on WDFW fish plants is available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/weekly/. For tips on fishing options, by water and county, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/prospects/index.htm.

  Anglers should be aware that access to two lakes in Jefferson County – Horseshoe and Ludlow – is currently limited to non-motorized vehicles only due to logging operations in the area. For that reason, WDFW has postponed stocking those two lakes until late June, when those logging operations are nearing completion.

  In Thurston County, youngsters ages 5-14 can get a head start on the season at a one-day fishing event at Long lake Park on April 21. The area open to fishing includes the waters within the swimming buoy line between the fences at the north and south boundaries of the swimming beach. Children must be pre-registered in order to participate. Information on registering and the event is available by calling Lacey Parks and Recreation, (360) 491-0857.

  Meanwhile, recreational halibut anglers have been out in force near Port Angeles (Marine Area 6), pulling in more than 40 of the big flatfish since the season began April 9. Marine areas 6-11 and 13 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound) are open five days a week, Thursday through Monday, through June 16.

  This month and next are the best months to catch halibut, said Greg Bargmann, WDFW marine fish manager. "The earlier in the year, the better," he said. Bargmann advises anglers to check the tides and go out when there's minimal change. "Fish bite best when the tide is moving slowly, with no significant highs or lows," he said.

  Anglers should note the following additional halibut openers occurring throughout May:

  • Marine Area 1(Ilwaco) will open May 1, seven days a week until 70 percent of the quota is reached, or until July 15, whichever comes first. The fishery will reopen on Aug. 3 and continue three days a week, Friday through Sunday, until the remaining quota is reached, or Sept. 30, whichever comes first. It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess any bottom fish, except Pacific cod and sable fish with halibut on board.

  • Marine Area 2 (Westport/Ocean Shores) will open May 1, five days a week, Sunday through Thursday, until 95 percent of the quota is reached. During this time, fishing will be open seven days a week in the northern nearshore area south of the Queets River. Once the catch reaches 95 percent of the quota, fishing in the nearshore area will be limited to Fridays and Saturdays until the remaining quota is taken - or Sept. 30, whichever occurs first.

  • Marine areas 3 and 4 (Neah Bay and LaPush) will open May 15, three days a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, until the May quota is reached. The fishery in that area will then reopen on selected dates in June within certain boundaries.

  • Marine Area 5 (Seiku) will be open May 24 through Aug. 3, five days a week, Thursday through Monday.

  Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) is closed to fishing for halibut and a number of other species due to low dissolved-oxygen conditions.

  All areas open to fishing have a one-fish daily catch limit and two-halibut possession limit, regardless of whether those fish are fresh or frozen. There is no minimum size limit for halibut caught in any area. For additional information, call the Fishing Hotline at (360) 902-2500 or check the WDFW website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/halibut/).

  The lingcod fishery in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) got under way April 15, giving anglers a chance to land some of the abundant fish in the area. Creel reports from opening day near Sekiu on the Strait of Juan de Fuca showed an average of one fish for every angler.

  But weather conditions along the south coast near Westport have been thwarting lingcod anglers, said Wendy Beghley, WDFW fish biologist. "When nature cooperates and people can get out, they're catching fish," she said. "But so far the weather's been pretty challenging."

  Anglers should note the minimum size for lingcod in Marine Area 4 is 24 inches, rather than 22 inches in marine areas 1-3 on the south coast below Cape Alava. All four marine areas are open seven days a week through Oct. 13. Details on regulations and additional information about the lingcod fishery is available on the WDFW Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500) and the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

  As long as the weather holds, anglers on the Bogachiel and Calawah rivers should be able to catch a few wild steelhead before the season closes April 30, said David Low, WDFW fish biologist. "We're hearing there's some good-sized steelhead out there, if people can get out on the rivers," Low said.

  Meanwhile, spring chinook are showing up in the Sol Duc and Quillayute rivers, where about 1,300 hatchery fish are expected to return this year, said Low. He also reminds anglers that the Hoh River reopens May 17 for spring chinook as well. Before heading out, anglers should check WDFW's Fishing in Washington pamphlet, posted at the website noted above.

  Rather dig razor clams? A morning dig is scheduled April 19-22. One beach - Twin Harbors - will open for digging Thursday, April 19, joined by Long Beach on Friday, April 20. Those beaches plus Copalis, Mocrocks and Kalaloch will open for digging Saturday, April 21. All beaches except Kalaloch will be open for digging Sunday, April 22. All digging on those beaches must be finished by noon. Details are available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/razorclm/season.htm.

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey season runs April 15 through May 31 throughout the state. WDFW's Wild Turkey Spring Season brochure is available at the department's regional offices and website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: Get ready for one of the biggest bird-watching events of the year when hundred of thousands of shorebirds descend on Grays Harbor County to feed and rest on their northward migration. The 12th annual Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival will be held April 27-29 at Hoquiam High School, and will offer field trips, lectures and viewings of the yearly birding spectacle that occurs in the Grays Harbor Wildlife refuge and other area sites. More information is available at http://www.shorebirdfestival.com.

  Just south of Westport, birders report seeing - and hearing - a northern mockingbird near the Beachcomber grocery store in Grayland. This slim, gray, black and white bird, whose presence is not common in western Washington, is known as the "American nightingale."

  The rare arctic loon has been spotted among Pacific and common loons making their way between the Hansville store and the lighthouse at Point No Point, which is located on the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula. Enthusiasts also report seeing several Townsend's solitaires as well as several harbor porpoises swimming in the area.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: More than 300,000 anglers across the state - including thousands from southwestern Washington - are expected to turn out April 28 for opening day of the lowland lakes trout season. Mineral Lake in Lewis County always draws a crowd, as does Swift Reservoir in Skamania County and the Rowland Lakes in Klickitat County. At these and many other lakes set to open around the region, the daily catch limit is five trout per day, no minimum size.

  Then again, many anglers will forgo the "opening day" tradition for a chance to catch a spring chinook salmon on one of several tributaries to the Columbia River. The mainstem fishery below the Interstate 5 Bridge closed April 16, but the action on Columbia River tributaries should start heating up soon, said Joe Hymer, WDFW fish biologist.

  "With the mainstem now closed below Bonneville Dam, the focus is shifting to the `tribs'," Hymer said. "We should see a lot more spring chinook caught in rivers ranging from the Cowlitz to the Klickitat in the days ahead."

  Anglers fishing the North Fork of the Lewis River caught some spring chinook during the week ending April 15, although none were checked on the Cowlitz River. Boat anglers fishing near Blue Creek did, however, average nearly one late-run hatchery steelhead for every two poles. Bank anglers also caught some fish. Tacoma Power personnel recovered 53 adult spring chinook along with 275 winter-run steelhead at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.

  The first spring chinook of the season was checked at Drano Lake during the same week, and more are clearly headed that direction. On April 16, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers counted 804 spring chinook passing Bonneville Dam - nearly as many as the cumulative total this year through April 12.

  "As those numbers continue to rise, it won't be long before fishing improves upriver," said Hymer, who advises anglers to keep an eye on online "dam count" totals to assess fishing prospects above Bonneville Dam. See http://www.cbr.washington.edu/dart/adult.html.

  Hymer reminds anglers gearing up to fish for hatchery spring chinook salmon in the Wind River that new regulations are in effect this season. In a year when chinook salmon returns to the Wind River are predicted to be down significantly, anglers fishing that river may retain only one - rather than two - hatchery spring chinook per day.

  Night closure and non-buoyant lure restriction also will be in effect on the Wind River this year. In addition, the river will remain closed to all fishing upstream from a point 400 feet below Shipherd Falls until the catch-and-release steelhead season begins in September.

  As in previous years, anglers will be required to release any wild, unmarked spring chinook they catch any time during the season.

  Anglers should be aware that the mainstem Columbia from Tower Island powerlines, located about 6 miles below The Dalles Dam, to McNary Dam is scheduled to remain open to fishing for hatchery salmon and hatchery steelhead through April. Some spring chinook have been sampled just below John Day Dam in recent days.

  Upriver anglers waiting for the chinook catch to pick up might want to try fishing for walleye in the John Day Pool. Thirty-seven anglers checked during the week ending April 15 averaged nearly one keeper per pole. For downriver anglers, Hymer suggests fishing for sturgeon on the Columbia River from Vancouver downstream. "It's a sleeper fishery," he said. "While most people were out fishing for chinook, a handful of anglers were getting some nice sturgeon."

  But if history is any guide, the lowland lakes trout opener April 28 will have the greatest draw. Tips on fishing areas, listed by county and water, can be found in Washington Fishing Prospects, available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/prospects/index.htm. Fish stocking details, by county and lake, are available in the Hatchery Trout Stocking Plan on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/index.htm.

• Hunting: The spring wild turkey season runs through May 31 - two weeks longer than last year - throughout the state. The general season follows a special hunt April 7-8 for young people age 16 and younger. Most turkey hunting in the region focuses on Merriam's turkeys in Klickitat County, but some eastern turkeys can be found in Cowlitz and Lewis counties. For more information, a Wild Turkey Spring Season brochure is available at WDFW regional offices and on the department's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm).

• Wildlife viewing: Just as soon watch migrating salmon as catch them? A prime spot is the fish-viewing window at Bonneville Dam, where thousands of spring chinook salmon will be on display over the next few weeks. As of April 16, about 3,000 springers had moved up the fish ladders since the first fish arrived Feb. 28. But in the days ahead, at least twice that many chinook salmon - some weighing 40 pounds or more - are expected to pass by the viewing window in a single day. More than 8,647 fish moved past the dam May 6 last year - the highest daily count of 2006 - followed by thousands more through the end of the month.

  To see the annual parade of spring chinook for yourself, stop by the Washington Shore Visitor Complex off Washington State Highway 14. Go east to Milepost 40 (about 5 miles from Stevenson) and turn into the Bonneville Dam visitor center. The visitor center is the glass building at the end of the powerhouse. To monitor daily fish counts from home, check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/fishdata/home.asp. Look through the viewing window online at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b/fishcam.asp.

  A drive-through trip to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge can produce a surprising number of bird sightings, as a pair of recent visitors reported to the Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/). One hailing from Kenmore, the other from Camano Island, the two birders reported seeing common yellowthroat, yellow-rumped warbler, a kingfisher, osprey, lesser and greater yellowlegs, a double-crested cormorant and a mating pair of American kestrels. They also saw a number of turtles and a coyote walking at the water's edge. The coyote, they wrote, "looked very mangy and scruffy."

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Many excellent trout fishing waters open April 28 in this region and fish biologists believe it will be a great opener if the weather cooperates. Chris Donley, WDFW central district fish biologist, expects the top producing waters to include Badger, Williams, and West Medical lakes in southwest Spokane County and Fishtrap Lake on the Lincoln-Spokane county line.

  "Badger's rainbows and cutthroats are averaging 10 to 12 inches, with some up to 20 inches," Donley said. That catch will mostly come from the near 60,000 cutthroat fry and near 80,000 rainbow fry that have been stocked and growing in Badger the past couple of years. This spring, Badger also received 5,000 eight- to 12-inch rainbows, 200 two- to five-pound surplus hatchery rainbow broodstock, and 2,016 triploid rainbows weighing three-quarters to 1.5 pounds.

  Donley also likes the prospects at Williams Lake, where he expects anglers to catch limits of 11- to 20-inch trout. Spring fry plants over the past couple years at Williams total almost 182,000 rainbows and over 45,000 cutthroats, Donley said. This spring Williams also received 10,000 eight- to 12-inch rainbows, 400 two to five-pound surplus hatchery rainbow broodstock, and almost 3,000 triploids running three-quarters to 1.5-pounds apiece.

  "West Medical opening day catches will be even better than last year, mostly from the 200,000-plus rainbow fry stocked there," Donley said. West Medical was also stocked with 10,000 eight to 12-inch rainbows, 400 two to five-pound surplus hatchery rainbow broodstock, and 2,016 triploids.

  Donely predicts "another peak production year for Fishtrap Lake," which has plenty of 11- to 16-inch rainbows along with fry plants now running 10 to 12 inches. Fishtrap received over 98,000 rainbow fry over the last couple years, plus 15,000 eight to 12-inch rainbows, 400 two to five-pound surplus hatchery rainbow broodstock, and 2,417 triploid rainbows this spring.

  Medical Lake is going to be good this year, too, Donley said. Rainbows and browns are running to 20 inches and tiger trout up to 18 inches. Fishing at Medical Lake is under selective gear rules, with a 14-inch minimum size and two-fish daily catch limit. "Fish Lake will also be good for eastern brook trout and tiger trout, a brook-brown hybrid," Donley said. "Brook trout should average 8 to 16 inches and tiger trout will be seven to 20 inches." Fish Lake received nearly 12,000 tiger trout fry, almost 6,000 brook trout fry, and 400 two-plus-pound surplus hatchery brook trout broodstock.

  "Clear Lake should also be pretty decent with all the stocking we've done there," Donley said. Clear has received 85,000 rainbow fry, 55,000 brown fry, and 20,000 tiger fry over the last couple years, plus 30,000 eight to 12-inch rainbows, 10,500 eight to 12-inch browns, 50 two- to five-pound surplus hatchery rainbow broodstock, and 2,261 triploids running two-thirds to 1.5 pounds this spring.

  Donley says two mixed-species lakes in Spokane County that open April 28 could also be fairly productive. Downs Lake gets 5,000 catchable-size rainbows every year, but it also has lots of yellow perch and a fair population of bass and crappie, he said. Chapman Lake gets 7,500 rainbow catchables, added to more than 100,000 kokanee fry that have been growing since last spring. "Chapman's kokanee fishing won't be great on this opener, but it will pick up later in the season," Donley said.

  Donley also noted that several year-round lakes in Spokane could be good bets for warmwater fish on April 28 - especially for anglers who want to avoid the crowds at the usual trout hot spots. Eloika and Bonnie lakes offer good perch fishing and Silver Lake has bass, crappie and bluegill.

  Other central district waters that opened earlier this spring under selective gear rules continue to provide good catches. These include Spokane County's Amber Lake, where rainbows are averaging 12 to 20 inches, and Lincoln County's Coffeepot Lake, where rainbows are averaging 12 inches.

  The Tucannon River impoundments in Columbia County opened for trout fishing last month, but hatchery crews continue to stock them and other area waters with catchable-size rainbows. Curl Lake opens April 28 and is being stocked with eight to 12-inch and some 14-inch-plus rainbows.

  In the north end of the region, Rocky Lake in Stevens County to be one of the best bets on the April 28 season opener, said WDFW district fish biologist Curt Vail of Colville. Limits of nine to 12-inch rainbows should come from the 5,000 rainbow fry stocked there last spring. Waitts Lake in Stevens County should also be very good with abundant stocking, including more than 30,000 brown trout fry from last year, 17,000 eight to 12-inch rainbows and 250 two to five-pound surplus hatchery rainbow broodstock, and 24,000 recently-released net-pen-reared rainbows.

  Marshall Lake in Pend Oreille County should also produce good catches from the 35,000 cutthroat fry stocked last fall. Cedar Lake in Stevens County, which received over 18,000 rainbow fry last spring, historically produces big rainbows on the opener. Mudgett Lake in Stevens County, which received over 10,000 rainbow fry last year, should also be good. Southern Stevens County's Deer and Loon lakes are receiving lots of triploid rainbows ranging from three-quarters to 1.5 pounds to add to opening day action. Deer Lake is slated for 3,350 triploids, along with 15,000 rainbow fry, 31,400 rainbow catchables, 500 rainbow broodstock and 900 eastern brook broodstock. Loon Lake is getting 1,063 triploids, in addition to more than 16,000 rainbow fry and nearly 110,000 kokanee fry.

  April 27 is the registration deadline for the "Fishing Kids" event on May 5 at Spokane County's Clear Lake. This annual event for kids 5-14 years of age provides beginning fishing instruction, a t-shirt, Zebco rod and reel, and other fishing goodies for just $5 per kid. Registrants must sign-up for half-hour fishing instruction timeslots from 8 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Registration forms are available at WDFW's eastern regional office at 2315 N. Discovery Place in Spokane Valley and Spokane County 4-H at WSU Extension, 222 W. Havana St. in Spokane. Call the 4-H office at 477-2638 for more details.

• Hunting: Spring wild turkey hunting opened April 15, but WDFW enforcement sergeant Mike Charron of Colville reported less participation than past years. "It was a slow opener for turkey hunting probably because of poor weather just prior to opening day," Charron said. "I also think the Sunday opener discouraged some hunters from coming from far away. Few birds were checked and few violations were found." Charron expects turkey hunting activity to pick up the next two weekends with fair weather ahead and the most abundant turkey populations in the state in Stevens County.

• Wildlife viewing: Early-nesting birds, from eagles to nuthatches, are tending newly hatched young now throughout the region. Use binoculars or scopes to view these new families from afar to avoid disturbing them.

  Birders should also keep an eye out for ospreys now back in the area. Many are adding to traditional nests near rivers, like the Spokane and Pend Oreille, and other large waters where they prey on fish.

  Skunks and raccoons are also getting ready to breed - which can pose problems for homeowners. These and other "nuisance species" - including squirrels, moles, rabbits, marmots, snakes and bats - that are attracted to crawl spaces, outbuildings, and other nooks and crannies where they can set up housekeeping. Wildlife biologists advise removing as many attractants as possible by closing up spaces from basement window wells to attic rafters and keeping pet food and garbage inside. Backyard bird feeding enthusiasts should clean up feed spilled on the ground, or discontinue feeding altogether right now. For more information on dealing with wildlife, see "Living With Wildlife" at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/index.htm.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: The April 28 fishing season opener at several Columbia Basin trout-stocked waters should be very productive, says WDFW district fish biologist Jeff Korth of Moses Lake. Best bets may be Grant County's Blue and Park lakes, which were just rehabilitated last fall and stocked with 10-12-inch rainbows, plus triploid rainbows running three-quarters to 1.5 pounds each.

  Blue Lake received 105,000 catchables and 5,901 triploids, while Park received 70,000 catchables and 3,752 triploids. "The catchables at Blue and Park should provide an average catch rate of at least three fish per angler on the opener," Korth said. "Fingerlings for the 2008 fishery will be stocked later this spring, and the Park and Blue lakes fisheries will return to their former glory."

  Vic Meyers Lake, which connects to Park Lake, was also rehabilitated last fall, and is being stocked with 3,000 catchable-sized rainbows and 280 big triploids in time for the opener.

  The rainbow catch at Deep Lake is usually very good on the opener, yielding four to five fish per angler, Korth said. Besides the usual 5,000 rainbow and 40,000 kokanee fingerlings, Deep Lake also received 5,000 catchable-sized (10-12 inches) rainbow trout this year. "The late-spring, early-summer kokanee fishery at Deep Lake has been good to those who know how to target them," Korth said, "But the better kokanee fishing comes later in the summer, in July and August."

  Perch Lake is among the most consistent waters in the Basin, with limits of 11-12-inch rainbows generally the rule, Korth said. "Perch Lake receives only 10,000 fingerlings annually, and the lake is fished out in a few weeks most years, so only an occasional 15-inch carryover will be seen," he said. Korth noted that Perch Lake is mostly a shore fishery, although hand-carried boats or float tubes can be used.

  Warden Lake, once a favorite for the late April trout opener, is now plagued by spiny-rayed fishes like sunfish and bullheads, reducing survival rates for fingerling trout. "Warden Lake was stocked with 57,000 rainbow fingerlings last spring, but our sampling indicates that only about 10 percent survived," Korth said. "Another 20,000 rainbow fingerlings were stocked last fall and survival of these fish was good. Yearling rainbow from the spring stocking were 12-14-inches, but those from the fall stocking will only be eight to 10 inches." Warden's last rehabilitation was nine years ago. A few carryover rainbows at 15 inches and better should make up about five percent of opening day catches, he said, along with some large brown trout.

  Many of the Basin's March 1 and April 1 opening lakes are still fishing very well, especially Burke Lake and Upper Hampton Lake, and the selective gear fisheries at Dusty, Lenore, and Dry Falls lakes.

  WDFW district fish biologist Bob Jateff of Omak says several trout waters in the Okanogan should provide good fishing on the April 28 opener. Good bets for lots of 10- to 12-inch rainbows, and some carryover rainbows to 14 inches, are Conconully Reservoir, Conconully Lake, Wannacut, Fish, and Alta lakes.

  Pearrygin Lake, near Winthrop, was rehabilitated last fall to remove undesirable fish species, but will be re-stocked prior to the opener with both catchable-size (12 inch) and triploid rainbow trout (one to two pounds).

  Big Twin Lake, near Winthrop, suffered some winterkill but will be planted with triploid rainbows up to 1.5 pounds and catchable rainbows to 12 inches. Other good bets for selective gear lakes are Blue Lake on the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area (for rainbows and browns up to 18 inches) and Ell Lake, southeast of Tonasket (for rainbows 14 to 16 inches). Ell continues to have low water level issues but should still provide fair fishing.

  Both fly-fishing-only lakes in the Okanogan - Aeneas and Chopaka - should have slower than normal fishing for rainbow trout, Jateff said, but in both cases the opportunity exists for some exceptionally large fish. Meanwhile, Leader Lake near Okanogan should provide fair fishing for rainbow trout, as well as black crappie and bluegill.

  Jameson Lake in Douglas County should have good fishing for rainbow trout 11 to 12 inches, and some carryovers to 14 inches, said Jateff, noting that Jameson has a well developed launch site with campsites at the southern end of the lake.

  Two lakes that opened April 1 continue to provide good catches: Rat Lake near Brewster offers rainbows and browns in the 11 to 13-inch range, and Spectacle Lake northwest of Tonasket has rainbows up to 12 inches.

  WDFW warmwater fish biologist Matt Polacek reports walleye are starting to bite on year-round Banks Lake. "Last year's spring/summer fishery reports showed the highest catch rates on Barker Flats, the southwest side of Steamboat Rock, and in the Devil's Punchbowl in about 18 to 25 feet of water," he said. "Anglers were successful using a perch pattern crankbait or a perch pattern worm harness behind a bottom walker. Troll along the weed beds and if you start catching perch then you are in the right spot. Harvest was excellent last year and we hope that this year is the same."

• Wildlife viewing: It's not too early for butterfly viewing, at least not on WDFW's Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in Okanogan County. Area manager Dale Swedberg says that of the 86-plus species of butterflies that have been documented there, 13 are seen during April and 34 in May. Those include California Tortoiseshell, Milbert's Tortoiseshell, Compton's Tortoiseshell, Mourning Cloak, Hoary Comma, Green Comma and Satyr Comma, all which over winter as hibernating adults.

  "Another early butterfly that is smaller, less visible and less common is the Moss's elfin," Swedberg said. "Other butterflies that emerge in April and May are the Sara's orange-tip, spring white, western pine elfin, a number of blues and two species of green butterflies. Two species that migrate from the southwest United States or Mexico include the Painted Lady and the Monarch."

  Swedberg recommends that butterfly watchers go out on a warm sunny day, look for butterflies on flowers, around mud puddles or muddy shorelines, and have a pair of close-focus binoculars. He also suggests using a good field guide, such as "The Butterflies of Cascadia" or "The Guide to Butterflies of Washington and Oregon."

  Wildlife enthusiasts with gardens can combine interests by planting native vegetation that naturally provides food and cover for birds and other animals. Native Plant Appreciation Week is April 29 - May 5 in Washington and the Washington Native Plant Society has lots of useful information at their website, http://wnps.org.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Trout-stocked waters in the southcentral region are open year-round, with hatchery stocking continuing through the spring. Anglers can check stocking schedules at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/regions/reg3/index.htm and updates on weekly plants at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/weekly/.

  Jim Cummins, a WDFW fish biologist in Yakima, said there is still good snowpack in the mountains, so a number of higher elevation lakes are not accessible to plant. "Catchable-size rainbows were planted in Clear Lake in Yakima County, but Lost Lake near Rimrock Reservoir and Dog Lake are not accessible," he said. "In fact, Dog Lake was completely frozen on April 12. When the snow melts these lakes will be planted."

  Cummins reminds anglers that most rivers and streams are closed until June 1 to protect salmon and steelhead smolts that are migrating downstream, and to protect spawning steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout. "The catch-and-release area on the Yakima River is an exception," he said. "The reach of the Yakima is open year-round, but anglers should check the Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet before fishing."

  Smallmouth bass fishing is expected to pick up and stay good through at least the end of May in the lower Yakima River. "When spring flows are high, fishing can be difficult," Cummins said. "But when water flow is low, there is some great smallmouth fishing from Benton City down. The recent cool weather in the mountains has resulted in a steady decline in river flows, so now is the time to get the bass gear out and fish the river." Cummins said that although the majority of fish are in the one- to two-pound class, a number of fish five pounds and larger are caught every spring. Channel catfish are another good bet in the Yakima as water temperatures increase. Anglers can check Yakima River flows at http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/, where "Daily Data" is the best tab to check. The Yakima River at Kiona is the best flow to check, and water temperatures are also posted.

  Paul Hoffarth, a WDFW fish biologist in Pasco, agrees that smallmouth bass and channel catfish in the lower Yakima is improving. He notes that WDFW helped create two new primitive boat launches at Snively Road and Hyde to provide anglers access to waters below Horn Rapids Dam. Additional launches upstream of Horn Rapids Dam are located in Benton City and at Horn Rapids Park.

  Hoffarth also said the season for white sturgeon remains open at this time in the John Day Pool (John Day Dam to McNary Dam) and will continue until the quota is reached. A sturgeon sanctuary will be in effect from May 1 through July 31 from the Interstate 82 bridge at Umatilla upstream to McNary Dam. No fishing for sturgeon is allowed in this area during this time period.

  The Ringold bank fishery will re-open May 1 for spring chinook through May 31. Fishing is restricted to bank angling only on the hatchery side of the river from the WDFW markers a quarter mile downstream of the Ringold irrigation wasteway outlet to the markers a half mile upstream of Ringold Springs Creek (hatchery outlet). Daily limit is two hatchery salmon, 12-inch minimum size. Only chinook with a clipped adipose fin and a healed scar at the location of the fin may be retained. Night closure and non-buoyant lure restrictions are in effect. All wild chinook (with an intact adipose fin) must be released immediately and may not be removed from the water.

  Hoffarth said the annual stocking of triploid rainbow trout in the Tri-Cities area is complete. In addition to Railroad Pond in Franklin County and juvenile-only Columbia Park Pond in Benton County, two new lakes were planted - Dalton Lake and Powerline Lake, both in Franklin County. Powerline Lake is a walk-in lake with a healthy population of yellow perch and largemouth bass in addition to the recent triploid plants.

• Wildlife viewing: Skunks and raccoons are getting ready to breed, which can pose problems for homeowners. These and other "nuisance species" are attracted to crawl spaces, outbuildings, and other nooks and crannies where they can set up housekeeping. Squirrels, moles, rabbits, marmots, snakes and bats are among the other species preparing to raise families that are potential nuisances around human homes. To avoid problems, WDFW staff recommends closing up spaces, from basement window wells to attic rafters, and keep pet food and garbage inside. Backyard bird feeding enthusiasts should also clean up feed on the ground, or discontinue feeding altogether. For more information on dealing with wildlife, see WDFW's "Living With Wildlife" series at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/index.htm.

  Wildlife enthusiasts with gardens can combine interests by planting native vegetation that naturally provides food and cover for birds and other animals. Native Plant Appreciation Week is April 29-May 5 in Washington and the Washington Native Plant Society has lots of useful information at their website http://wnps.org.