May 1-14, 2002

Contact: Madonna Luers, (509) 456-4073

It's May, and that means more fishing, wildlife watching, and other outside playtime activities throughout Washington.

Fishing is prime at this time in waters across the state, many that recently opened or are beginning to host fish available for sport harvest. The hundreds of hatchery trout-stocked lakes that opened on April 27 were not fished as heavily as in past years, probably due to cool, wet weather in many areas, so there's plenty of action to come. Besides last year's trout fry and this spring's catchable-size trout stocking, many lakes received 1-1/2-pound triploid (sterile) trout and excess hatchery broodstock up to six pounds apiece. Hatchery spring chinook salmon fishing is under way on the Yakima and Snake rivers, where runs are expected to pick up any day.

Bird watching is also prime in early May. More species of migrant birds are probably spotted now than at any other time of the year. On their way to breeding grounds further north, many make feeding and resting stopovers at Washington's coastal estuaries, streamside areas, and even backyard feeding stations. And of course some of these migrants choose Washington habitats for nesting.

It's no wonder that International Migratory Bird Day is celebrated the second Saturday of May each year with bird watching tours, identification classes, and other events; check regional reports below for specifics.

Other animals are more active and watchable now, too. It's a feeding frenzy for many species that are either preparing to give birth soon, such as deer, or are already rearing young, such as raccoons. The spring plant growth they depend on includes wildflowers, more species of which are blooming this month as the season advances.

Spring turkey hunting continues through the first half of May. Harvest appears to be good in the usual areas of abundant turkey populations: the northeast, southeast, Klickitat County and southwest.

More details on current fish and wildlife recreation are in the following regional reports:

North Puget Sound:

• Fishing: While inclement weather may have been a factor in lower angler turnout in other parts of the state, the northern Puget Sound region had no weather problems. "The rain showers were pretty much over by daylight, and there was no wind to speak of, so it was really decent weather for an opening day," said WDFW Fisheries Biologist Curt Kraemer of conditions from Snohomish County north to the border. And the fishing was decent, too, with several lakes producing nice limits of recent trout plants and some holdover trout that topped a pound or more. "Angler effort was down on some lakes, while other lakes appeared to have normal fishing pressure," Kraemer said. "With this cool weather, and with lower angler pressure, I would expect trout fishing to remain good for at least the next few weeks." Kraemer said two very different methods of fishing typically result in good fishing success through May. "Still fishing with Powerbait just off the bottom is a great way to catch a lot of trout. Or, anglers usually have a lot of success trolling a small fly and fishing in the top three or four feet of water." Carrey's Special or Woolly Buggers in browns, blacks or greens are two tried-and-true flies for early season trout fishing. "Use a small split shot or slow sink line and troll very slowly with an electric motor or better yet, oars," Kraemer said. Bass have begun moving around more with the warming water. "The smallmouth and crappie should start spawning once the water heats up just a few more degrees," Kraemer said. "We've still got a few weeks before the largemouth bass start spawning." Perch have finished spawning and are spreading out to various water depths again. A kids' fishing clinic is set for May 11 at Everett's Silver Lake City Park. A $5 registration fee gets entrants (ages 5 to 14) a t-shirt, rod and reel, and an opportunity to fish for stocked trout. Deadline for registration is Friday, May 3, but there may be room for additional participants. Call the Everett city parks department, (425) 257-8300, for more information. For saltwater anglers, fishing for ling cod and cabezon opens May 1 in Marine Areas 5-13. Puget Sound spot shrimp fishing in Marine Areas 9 and 10 closed April 28, but shrimping is expected to remain open for a few weeks longer in Marine Areas 7 and 8, depending on harvest rates. "Overall, the catches have been decent, and the participation has been really strong," said Mark O'Toole, WDFW shellfish biologist. Shrimpers are reminded that there is a daily limit of 80 spot shrimp per person as part of the daily 10-pound limit, and a maximum of four shrimp pots can be fished and carried onboard each boat.

• Wildlife viewing: Trout anglers fortunate enough to be on the water for opening day on April 27 may have seen the first few fuzzy duck chicks following their parents in search of a meal. There are thousands of migrating shorebirds moving north through the region during this time of the year - check Padilla Bay, the Samish Flats, or the Skagit Wildlife Area during tide changes for great views of large flocks of dunlins, sandpipers, and other common birds. Less-common birds you can also expect to see this time of year include greater and lesser yellowlegs, as well as a few lingering snow geese. Closer to Seattle, check out the Mercer Slough Nature Park, just off 118th Avenue Southeast between Interstates 90 and 405 in Bellevue. There's always plenty of waterfowl in the slough, including mallards, Canada geese and goldeneyes, and May is the perfect month to see lots of young paddling after their parents. Later in the season, visitors to the slough can often catch a glimpse of beaver, muskrats and river otter. Backyard bird feeders are now being visited by the first American goldfinches of the spring. The goldfinch is the official Washington state bird. Expect to see more hummingbirds levitating around nectar feeders, salmonberry blossoms, and other food sources. Remember to keep feeders clean and the nectar fresh.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Fishing: Fishing trips that were cut short by cool, wet weather on last Saturday's lake opener mean lots of trout remain for anglers to enjoy now and throughout the summer. Many fishers who turned out for opening day took home large trout as their reward for braving the elements, reports WDFW's Jay Hunter. Triploid and broodstock rainbow trout showed up in good numbers, with anglers sorting for these fish in many lakes and returning caught 10-inch planters to the water. On several lakes the angler catch was over five fish per angler, with released fish added into the "fish kept" totals. Anglers' average catches by county, based on a varying number of lakes sampled in the opener were: Thurston County, 3.56 fish; Pierce County 2.25; Jefferson County 2.66; Mason County, 3.01; Kitsap County 3.29, and Grays Harbor, 4.17. The region's stand-out lake, based on WDFW creel checks, was McIntosh in Thurston County, which averaged 6.8 fish. Mason County's Stump Lake was not far behind with a 5.6-fish average catch. Other highlights from WDFW creel checks included: Failor Lake (Grays Harbor County), 3.7 fish; Tarboo Lake (Jefferson County) 3.7 fish; Buck Lake (Kitsap County), 3.4 fish, and Clear Lake (Pierce County), 3.5 fish. Meanwhile on the Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers on the north coast spring chinook fishing is the main focus. Regulations are the same as last year (check the 2002-03 pamphlet for details) with the addition of harvest opportunity on hatchery steelhead during the month of May. In the past, anglers were required to release all steelhead caught incidental to salmon fishing in May. This year, anglers are allowed to keep up to two hatchery-origin steelhead while fishing for salmon in May.Wild steelhead must be released from May 1 through Nov. 30. The Hoh River will be open for spring/summer chinook May 16 through Aug. 31, from the mouth to Willoughby Creek. One adult salmon and two hatchery steelhead may be retained five days per week (Wednesdays-Sundays) through May. After June 1, steelhead fishing is open for two hatchery adults per day, seven days per week , however, salmon be retained only Wednesdays through Sundays. The section of river from Willoughby Creek to Morgan's Crossing boat launch opens June 1, seven days per week, for the retention of up to two hatchery steelhead per day with selective gear rules through Oct. 15. Salmon fishing is closed there, however, until Oct. 16. The river from Morgan's Crossing boat launch to the Olympic National Park boundary also opens June 1, for the retention of up to two hatchery steelhead per day with selective gear rules in effect through next April 15. All salmon caught there must be released. The South Fork Hoh River opens on June 1, seven days per week, for retention of up to two hatchery steelhead per day with selective gear rules in effect until next April 15. All salmon caught must be released. Check the WDFW 2002-03 sportfishing rules pamphlet for further details. Also, anglers headed for waters inside Olympic National Park are advised to check the park's fishing rules.

• Hunting: The hunt is on for eastern wild turkey, with the Willapa Valley between Frances and Raymond, and the upper Kennedy Creek area near the Thurston and Grays Harbor county line, particularly likely spots, says Jack Smith. Hunters should be prepared for gated roads on many hunting areas on timber land, some of which are accessible on foot or bicycle, says Smith.

• Wildlife viewing: International Migratory Bird Day on May 11 will be celebrated at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, just outside Olympia, with guided bird walks, children's activities and educational displays. Contact the refuge at (360)753-9467 for more information. Although the Gray's Harbor Shorebird Festival is over, chances to see the birds will continue for the next week to 10 days, says Jack Smith, WDFW's regional wildlife manager. Evenings are an especially good viewing time. The most likely sightings will be western sandpipers, dunlin, dowitchers and semi-palmated plovers, he predicts. Last weekend's festival lived up to its name with a bonanza of shorebirds, judging from birders' reports on the Tweeters website and elsewhere. Plenty of action was reported from locations in the area and en route, including Brady Loop Road, Johns River Wildlife Area, the Schouweiler Road wetland west of Elma and Bottle Beach State Park. One of the best viewing locations reportedly was immediately south of the Bottle Beach State Park entrance, where good numbers of shorebirds were observed during tide changes foraging at close range in flooded areas and freshwater margins. A Tweeters website correspondent reported tens of thousands of shorebirds at Bottle Beach as the tide came in, including thousands each of western sandpipers, dunlin, short-billed dowitchers, semi-palmated plovers and black-bellied plovers. Numerous shorebirds also showed in the flooded fields at high tide including short-billed dowitchers, long-billed dowitchers, semi-palmated plovers, greater and lesser yellowlegs, least sandpipers and others. At Bowerman Basin the bushes along the sandpiper trail were bustling with the activity of common yellowthroats and other songbirds, including Bewick's wren, yellow-rumped warblers and golden-crowned sparrows. At Damon Point State Park, Pacific golden plovers and dunlin were reported in breeding plumage. At Twin Harbors State Park near Westport, a variety of seabirds were seen bobbing in the surf, including at least one red-throated loon, common loons and several Pacific loons, along with a large number of common murres swimming close offshore, a red-necked grebe, surf scoters, red-breasted mergansers and western sandpipers.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: The lowland lake opener last Saturday brought some excellent catches for trout anglers, reports John Weinheimer, district fish biologist. Standout waters and average catches, county by county, include Mineral Lake (Lewis County), 2.3 fish per rod; Kress Lake (Cowlitz County), 3.1 adult fish per angler with recently planted steelhead showing up on many lines; Klineline Pond (Clark County), three fish per angler, with a third of the catch composed of triploid trout; Kidney Lake (Skamania County), and Rowland Lake (Klickitat County) were also in the three-fish per-rod range although one lucky angler reported catching 30 fish in two hours. Also in Klickitat County, Horsethief Lake anglers averaged 4.5 fish per rod. Kokanee fishers will find the upper boat ramp on Merwin (Lake) Reservoir re-open. Spring chinook angling will re-open downstream of Bonneville Dam beginning Sunday (May 5). The fishery for hatchery spring chinook, hatchery steelhead, and shad is scheduled to be open through Wednesday (May 8). The fishery could be reduced or extended, depending on the updated upriver run size. Yesterday (April 30), the upriver run size was updated to 293,000. However, that was before the day's count of 26,300 adult chinook at Bonneville Dam were added. As the run moves upstream over the next couple of weeks, places such as the upper end of Bonneville Pool and The Dalles and John Day pools should improve, says Joe Hymer, WDFW fish biologist. Last week, boat anglers averaged one-half hatchery chinook per rod last week in upper Bonneville Pool. In The Dalles Pool, bank anglers averaged one chinook kept or released per six rods last week. Counting fish released, bank anglers in John Day Pool averaged a chinook per three rods while boat anglers averaged one per 10 last week. Those waters are scheduled to remain open through mid-May for hatchery chinook, hatchery steelhead, and shad provided the sport catch allocation has not been met. Meanwhile, angler effort and catches are increasing in Bonneville Pool tributaries such as Wind River and Drano Lake, where anglers can keep both marked and unmarked chinook. Hymer reports 130 boats at Wind River last Saturday morning, and similar numbers on Drano Lake. Last week, boat anglers at Wind River averaged one-half chinook per rod while at Drano Lake the catch rate was one fish per three rods. Bank anglers are also catching fish at both areas. Fishing should only get better as more fish move up into those areas. Some catches also are being reported in the Klickitat River, which is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis rivers are also open for hatchery chinook. Effective today (May 1), the salmon limit on the Lewis River (including the North Fork) is reduced to six salmon, no more than one of which may be an adult. On the North Fork Lewis River from Johnson Creek to Colvin Creek, fishing goes to bank angling only as of today (no boats), while the river from Colvin Creek upstream to Merwin Dam closes to all fishing. Although some winter-run steelhead continue to be caught on the Cowlitz and Kalama, increasing numbers of summer steelhead are beginning to show. Steelhead fishing above the Kalama Falls Hatchery goes to catch and release only as of today. On the East Fork Lewis River, recently adopted permanent regulations require steelhead anglers to use only artificial flies or lures with a single barbless hook; no bait will be allowed. Anglers are reminded all sturgeon caught on Sundays and Mondays below Bonneville Dam must be released through May 13. Fishing for sturgeon from boats from Beacon Rock upstream is prohibited today through mid July. For warmwater anglers, walleye were being caught at an average of three-quarters of a fish per rod for boat anglers below John Day Dam last week. Bank and boat anglers are finding bass from Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam.

• Hunting: Spring turkey hunters are out in numbers on the Klickitat Wildlife Area, and reportedly were fairly successful in their first week, with at least 10 birds taken.

• Wildlife viewing: Herons have returned to their former rookery site at Frenchmen's Bar on the South Unit of Shillapoo Wildlife Area. The location had 393 nests in 2000, but was abandoned by the birds last year. The number of returnees has not yet been determined. Regardless of the species they seek, wildlife enthusiasts are reminded to avoid disturbing animal families during the spring nesting season. Young birds and animals are at their most vulnerable now; by staying on trails and keeping dogs under control, wildlife watchers can help wild newborns get a good start.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Lots of hatchery-stocked trout are still waiting to be caught in many of the region's lakes that recently opened. WDFW Central District Fish Biologist Chris Donley notes that Spokane County's Badger, Clear, Fish, West Medical, and Williams lakes are producing several sizes of fish from last year's fry plants, this spring's catchables, and the bonus triploids and broodstock. Lincoln County's Fishtrap Lake is a good bet, too. Limits continue to be caught at some lakes in the northernmost part of the region, like Stevens County's Deep and Cedar lakes, where the opener's highest catch rates were recorded. Other northern lakes will be coming into their own in the next few weeks as snow melts and water temperatures rise. WDFW Southeast District Fish Biologist Glen Mendel reports that few fish were available for the opening days of the Snake River hatchery spring chinook salmon fishery, but they are coming. The season is open Thursdays through Sundays until May 19, or earlier, depending on how the catch goes, in two areas of the Snake: from the Southway Bridge at Lewiston/Clarkston upstream to the Heller Bar boat ramp below the confluence of the Grande Ronde River (boundary waters with Idaho), and from the Texas Rapids boat launch upstream to the Corps of Engineers boat launch about a mile upstream of Little Goose Dam. The daily catch limit is one fish on the boundary waters and two fish on the Little Goose section. Salmon fishers need to remember that trout and steelhead fishing on the Snake River is closed until June 16. Mendel also reports that the Tucannon River ponds are well stocked with trout and fishing is good. "Remember that if you use bait," Mendel said, "you can't ‘high-grade' and release smaller fish in an effort to catch a limit of five bigger trout. Anglers using bait must keep the first five fish they catch, where five is daily limit." The lower Snake River could be good for smallmouth bass and channel catfish now. A fishing clinic for kids five to 14 years of age is scheduled for May 11 at the Fairchild Air Force Base Recreation Area on Clear Lake in Spokane County. Those who pay a $5 registration fee to Spokane County 4-H (509-477-2166) by May 3 will receive a t-shirt, rod and reel, and fishing instruction at the event; other non-registered participants who attend can still learn to fish and take home rods and reels, as long as supplies last.

• Hunting: WDFW North District Wildlife Biologist Steve Zender believes there will be "unusually good mid- to late- season spring turkey hunting opportunities because spring has been cool and late arriving in the northeast." Zender says turkey flocks "seemed to break up late and gobblers seem to have been quiet and reserved." But recent observations of small groups of hens well-dispersed into the forested hills means gobblers can't be far behind, he says.

• Wildlife viewing: "Birding is just where many of us less-than-perfect birders like it," said WDFW North District Wildlife Biologist Steve Zender. "New migrants are arriving in the forested environments every other day or so, but still not so many that we can't keep up with all the new songs." Zender reported recently heard singers in the northeast included ruby-crowned kinglet, yellow-rumped warbler, Nashville warbler, and orange-crowned warbler. Others that have been around awhile include spotted towhee, townsend's solitaire, nuthatches, chickadees, juncos, flickers, pileated woodpecker, and winter wren. WDFW Central District Wildlife Biologist Howard Ferguson reports two new Peregrine falcon pairs, one at Palouse Falls State Park in Whitman County and one at Coffeepot Lake in Lincoln County. The Peregine pair that usually nests on the bridge in Highbridge Park near downtown Spokane has yet to be seen this year, he said. International Migratory Bird Day on May 11 will be celebrated at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, southwest of Spokane, with a field workshop in bird identification sponsored by the Spokane Audubon Society; contact Gary Blevins (509-533-3661 or garyb@sfcc.spokane.cc.wa.us) for more information.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: A slower-than-usual lake fishing opener only means that some of the region's most popular waters will remain productive longer through the season. That includes Grant County's Blue and Park lakes, where opener catch rates were slow (only about two fish per angler), but the rainbow trout are averaging 14 to 16 inches. Warden Lake opened with nearly everyone braving the elements taking limits, as did Douglas County's Jameson Lake, Okanogan County's Pearrygin Lake, and Chelan County's Beehive Reservoir. Fishing for walleye is heating up at year-round Potholes Reservoir, and just in time for the 2002 Rod Meseberg Spring Walleye Classic tournament May 4-5; call 1-800-416-2736 for more information.

• Wildlife viewing: Birds are everywhere in the Columbia Basin these days, many nesting and some just passing through. Waterfowl, shorebird, and passerine species can be seen at many locations but some of the best vantage points are areas specifically set up for bird watching. One, signed with the "Watchable Wildlife" binocular logo, is a spot on Dodson Road just north of Winchester Wasteway that includes a 2-1/2-mile circular walkway with viewing blinds, constructed as a cooperative project of WDFW and Moses Lake Audubon Society. Another is at the intersection of Dodson Road and Frenchmen Hills Road where there's a parking area just to the west. Columbia National Wildlife Refuge is always a good bet for bird-watching, too; contact the refuge at (509) 488-2668 for more information about hot spots.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: The Yakima hatchery spring chinook salmon season is "getting off to a slow start," reported WDFW Fish Biologist Jim Cummins. The hatchery fish expected by now appear to be late in coming, Cummins says, so fishing is slow now but should pick up soon. Only adiopose-fin-clipped chinook may be harvested, using a single barbless hook. All wild chinook and steelhead must be released. Cummins also reported that smallmouth bass fishing had slowed with high water in the lower Yakima for a short time, but it's good now. Bass fishing should be good through the month of May in the lower Yakima and from the Hanford Reach down, with the Patterson, Plymouth and Crow Butte areas particularly good. Channel catfish should be hitting in the Yakima this month, too. Cummins reminds anglers that Yakima Basin rivers and streams are generally closed to all fishing to protect migrating steelhead and salmon smolts until June 1. "The exception, of course, is the Yakima River itself," he said, "where juvenile steelhead and salmon may not be harvested, but where the adult salmon, bass, and catfish seasons are open. The upper Yakima is open year-round for catch and release trout fishing, and should be a good opportunity for fly anglers in May, if water flows don't swell due to melting snowpack." Cummins suggests that anglers check the new fishing rules pamphlet and WDFW website for regulations that go into effect May 1. A notable change is that there is now no catch limit for Yakima bass under 12 inches, which is different from the new statewide slot limit. WDFW research has shown that the smaller bass (under 12 inches) eat most of the juvenile salmon, Cummins said, "so we want folks to catch and take these smaller bass." Kokanee fishing generally starts to pick up in Yakima reservoirs, Cle Elum, Kachess, and Kacheelus in May, but the winter snowpack and cold water might delay the fishery until later in May. Rimrock, generally the best kokanee fishery in the region, is expected to be slower than normal due to extreme low reservoir levels last fall. Clear Lake, near Rimrock, will start producing trout this month, as will some of the mid-elevation lakes. Dog Lake may not open up until mid-May and snow in the campground could delay the fish plant. WDFW District Fish Biologist Eric Anderson reports recent catchable-size trout plants in the following waters: Kittititas Valley: Mattoon Lake, Woodhouse Ponds, Lower and Upper Hanson ponds, and Naneum Pond (juveniles only); Yakima Valley: Lost Lake, Tieton Ranger Pond, Milk Creek Pond, and Clear Lake.

• Wildlife viewing: International Migratory Bird Day on May 11 will be celebrated at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge in the Tri-Cities area with a special event starting at 9 a.m. featuring local falconers and wildlife rehabilitators giving close-up views of birds, plus expert birders giving bird-watching tours. McNary hosts thousands of migrating waterfowl species, plus spring and summer resident long-billed curlews and white pelicans. The refuge is located southeast of Pasco off U.S. Highway 12 just south of the Snake River. Refuge visitor facilities are a quarter mile east of Highway 12 on Maple Road. Call the refuge's environmental education center at (509) 543-8322 for more information about the May 11 event.