Editor's Note: Please see the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula report for an additional shrimp-fishing opportunity in Hood Canal on May 25.

OLYMPIA - Rivers throughout Washington will open for trout fishing June 1, adding to the growing list of piscatorial possibilities in the weeks ahead. Also that day, stretches of the Skagit and Skykomish rivers open to fishing for hatchery spring chinook salmon.

First, though, comes the May 22 opener of shad and hatchery steelhead fishing in portions of the lower Columbia River. Also, ongoing statewide seasons for trout, bass and perch are improving with warmer weather. Saltwater anglers have a full plate of options, too, including seasons for halibut, lingcod, rockfish and Cabezon.

Decisions, decisions.

Halibut catches have been good along the coast and into Puget Sound. So good, in fact, that the recreational season off the north coast of Washington closes tonight (May 18) at 11:59 p.m. when the catch is expected to reach the first quota. Fishing in marine areas 3 and 4 is expected to reopen in June, so stay tuned. Waters off Ilwaco and Westport remain open, as do the San Juans and other potentially productive fishing grounds.

Shrimp fishing closed today in Discovery Bay, followed by Marine Area 8 at the conclusion of fishing on Saturday, May 21.

While shrimp quotas are going fast, crab season is just around the corner. Marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south Puget Sound) will all open to crab fishing June 18, seven days per week, under new fishing rules adopted earlier this month by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.

To help extend this year's season, the commission reduced the daily bag limit from six to five Dungeness crab in all areas of Puget Sound, and limited fishing in some areas with the highest effort to four days per week. For more information on the season, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/may05/may1605a.htm on the WDFW website or call the WDFW Shellfish Hotline at (866) 880-5431.

Fishing for big walleye is "red hot" at Moses Lake, while the action for hatchery stocked rainbow trout, perch, crappie, smallmouth and largemouth bass is going strong elsewhere in eastern Washington.

Wildlife-viewing opportunities are also blossoming across the state. The International Orca Fest of the San Juan Islands runs May 20-23 on San Juan and Orcas islands, while Vancouver's annual Sturgeon Festival is set for this weekend (May 21-22).

Migrating songbirds are being tallied on mountain slopes across eastern Washington, and colorful hummingbirds are frequenting backyard nectar feeders on both sides of the Cascade Range.

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the outdoor recreation season for many. It also coincides with birthing time for many wildlife species, and that can mean trouble.

People who mistakenly believe the animals need rescuing often discover newborn deer fawns, seal pups, baby birds and other young wildlife. Even with the best intentions, removing such animals from the wild reduces their chance of survival, puts human handlers at risk, and violates a state law that allows only licensed rehabilitators to hold wildlife in captivity.

The best ways to help a lone wild baby is to give it a wide berth to avoid stressing it or its parents, and to restrain pets that might harass animals.

For more details, see the regional reports below:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: The final month of spring is full of fishing opportunities across the region. On the saltwater, anglers have their choice of fishing for halibut, lingcod, rockfish and Cabezon. The best action for lingcod and rockfish seems to be taking place in areas scattered throughout the San Juan Islands. Halibut hook-ups appear to be hit-and-miss, with some success reported by anglers fishing big lures over flat-bottomed areas, including Hein and Partridge banks. There is a one-fish daily limit for halibut (no minimum size). Lingcod, meanwhile, have been hitting the bait hard in several areas around the San Juans, says Greg Bargmann, WDFW marine fish program manager. "Lingcod really like rocky reef areas that also contain a change in depth, along with lots of current," he said. "They will lay in wait for food to come to them as it's carried past them on the current. They'll pounce on whatever swims by." Preferred baits for lings include whole herring, sole, flounder or greenling. "A ling will try to eat anything that fits in its mouth, and they have a pretty big mouth," said Bargmann, adding that they can hold on tight to prey. "Sometimes anglers will bring a ling to the surface that isn't actually hooked - it just won't give up the bait. So be sure to have the landing net ready when a keeper ling comes to the surface." There is a one-fish daily limit for lings, which must be between 26 and 40 inches in length to retain. Spearfishing for lingcod in the region opens May 21 with a one-fish daily limit and no size restrictions. The rules for rockfish retention include a one-fish daily limit (no minimum size); no yelloweye or canary rockfish may be retained. Two Cabezon of any size can be retained daily. There's no lack of possibilities for freshwater fishing, as trout, bass, catfish and perch are hitting bait and lures on lakes throughout the region. Good fishing has been reported at many lakes, including McMurray and Clear lakes in Skagit County, Goodwin and Stevens in Snohomish County. However, the spot with the hottest fishing action for the next couple of weeks might be Seattle's Green Lake, where more than 4,000 hefty surplus rainbow trout broodstock averaging two pounds apiece are scheduled to be planted today (May 18). Larry Tsunoda, WDFW regional fisheries biologist, said the surplus fish are from Trout Lodge, the private aquaculture company that provides WDFW with its sterile triploid trout for stocking in lakes across the state. Green Lake is ringed with a number of fishing piers, while small rowboats and pontoon boats also make good platforms for fishing. No motors, including electric motors, are allowed on Green Lake. Across town, Lake Washington continues to provide good fishing for smallmouth bass up to four pounds. Anglers are tossing a variety of colored plastic worms at the smallies, while perch can be picked up with a good old-fashioned nightcrawler. Rivers and streams open June 1 to fishing for trout and other game fish. Under the statewide freshwater rule for trout, there is a two-fish daily limit and a minimum size of eight inches. However most of the region's streams have a rule requiring trout to be at least 14 inches in length to retain. Curt Kraemer, WDFW's regional fish program manager, said small lures or flies (wet or dry) can work well when fishing for trout in western Washington rivers. The Cedar River, which empties into the southern end of Lake Washington at Renton, is one stream that's expected to again be a focal point of angler attention. Fishing on the Cedar is open under selective gear rules from the mouth in Renton upstream to the Landsburg Road Bridge. The river had a lot of fishing pressure early in the season last year, said but Kraemer is betting angler effort might be a bit down this year. "The river was a little hit-and-miss last year, so the pressure could be lower for this year's opening," he said. Stream-caught rainbow trout that are 20 inches in length or longer are considered steelhead and must have a clipped adipose fin to retain, except on the Green River where anglers can retain one wild fish per year. June 1 is also the first day of fishing for hatchery spring chinook salmon on portions of the Skagit and Skykomish rivers. Check the 2005 "Fishing in Washington" sport fishing rules pamphlet before wetting a line in your favorite river. Also remember to check for emergency rule changes, http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm on the Internet, or by calling (360) 902-2500. Shrimp fishing has been strong in marine areas 8-1 and 8-2, which stretch from Deception Pass to Possession Point inside of Whidbey Island. Recreational shrimpers have been hauling up about 2,000 pounds of shrimp each day of the fishery. With a 10,000-pound sport quota, the fishery will close at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. Recreational crab seasons have been set for the year, and they're not very far off. Marine areas 7 South (San Juan Islands), 8-1 (Deception Pass to East Point), 8-2 (East Point to Possession Point), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), 11 (Tacoma/Vashon) and 12 (Hood Canal) will open July 1, Wednesday through Saturday, plus the entire Labor Day weekend, before closing the evening of Sept. 5 for a catch assessment. Marine Area 7 East (San Juan Islands) will open July 16, Wednesday through Saturday, plus the entire Labor Day weekend, closing for a catch assessment Sept. 30. Marine Area 7 North (Sand Juan Islands) will open Aug. 17, Wednesday through Saturday, plus the entire Labor Day weekend, closing for a catch assessment Sept. 30. The daily limit will be five crab per fisher.

• Wildlife viewing: Killer whales are the featured attraction of the "International Orca Fest of the San Juan Islands," May 20-23. Activities include a whale symposium, whale watching, environmental street fair, music, food, fun run and more. Events are scheduled for Lopez, Orcas and San Juan islands. Details are available at http://www.orcafest.com/ or by calling 888-468-3701, ext. 1. According to birding enthusiasts who have reported their sightings to the Tweeters Birding Network (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/), hundreds of brant geese are still resting and feeding at the southern end of Samish Bay. The birds were rafting with large numbers of surf scoters and scaup. Acrobatic swallows are nesting and feeding throughout the region, including tree, violet green, barn and cliff swallows. Purple martins can also be seen scattered throughout the region. These are Washington's least-common swallow and the one of the largest swallows in the world. They have taken well to nesting in human-supplied nesting boxes, and are quite fond of nesting over open water. Another report on Tweeters raises the question: Was this rufous hummingbird off its rocker, or just having a good time? A birder who lives in central Whidbey Island had hung a ball of nesting material from the eave of a house and had noted several bird species flying to the ball and plucking off a beakful of the fluffy stuff. One morning the correspondent watched as a rufous grabbed the nesting ball and got it spinning like a playground merry-go-round, then held on and rode the twirling orb. "I know it's tempting to apply human emotions to other animals when they have different motives, but it sure looked like the bird was having fun," the homeowner wrote.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: River fishing opens June 1 statewide, providing another alternative to the ongoing troutfest on area lakes. "Rivers generally aren't as productive as stocked lakes, but it's sure fun to work a stream for wild cutthroat or rainbow trout," said Larry Phillips, WDFW fish biologist and avid angler. In the Olympia area, Phillips likes fishing the Deschutes River, where anglers will be allowed to retain two trout (14 inch minimum) per day as of June 1 from the Henderson Blvd. bridge downstream to the Highway 99 bridge in Tumwater. "The fishing should be good, which is why it's a popular area," Phillips said. But then, the same could be said of a lot of area lakes. Hicks Lake in Thurston County has been producing brown trout up to five pounds apiece, with plenty of action to go around, Phillips said. Ward and Summit lakes, also in Thurston County, have all been giving up legal-sized kokanee, he said. Gibbs Lake in Jefferson County has been producing good catches of rainbow trout since opening day, and just got a fresh plant of triploids May 16. Kitsap Lake was also scheduled to receive more triploids, as was Phillips Lake - another top performer in Kitsap County. "You don't have to be there the day those fish are planted to get in on the action," said Thom Johnson, a WDFW fish biologist stationed at Snow Creek. "They'll be biting for at least a couple of months." Young anglers from age 5 to 14 should be aware that WDFW and Pierce County Parks are sponsoring a Fishing Kids event May 21 at American Lake in Lakewood. For more information, contact the parks department at (253) 798-4176. At age 7, Austin Nachatilo of Rochester already got his trophy fish of the year - a 16 pound, 11 ounce rainbow, caught on opening day at the Elma ponds. What did Nachatilo think when he saw it jump. "I thought, 'I think we're going to smoke that one,'" he told the Olympian newspaper. Speaking of big fish, anglers hauled 3,637 halibut averaging 20.5 pounds apiece out of marine areas 3 and 4 (La Push and Neah Bay) during the first five days of fishing. That amounts to an estimated 74,420 pounds of flatfish, just 7,000 pounds short of the quota for the first fishing period. The halibut fishery in marine areas 3 and 4 will close today (May 18) at midnight, then reopen June 16 for up to two days to harvest the remainder of the north coast's 115,437-pound annual quota. Meanwhile, halibut fishing continues apace on the south coast (marine areas 1 and 2), where anglers had taken about half the quota by May 17. "We're seeing lots of limits out of Westport and Ilwaco, although the fish are about five pounds lighter than on the north coast," said Greg Bargmann, WDFW marine fish manager. Spot shrimp quotas in Puget Sound are also going fast as fishing pressure continues to mount, although sufficient quota remains in Hood Canal to extend the sport shrimp season by one day, May 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Discovery Bay will close to shrimp fishing today (May 18) at 3 p.m. In Marine Area 8, where spot shrimp are running just shy of 11 to the pound, the season will end after five days of fishing at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21. "Catch rates are about the same as last year in Marine Area 8, but fishing effort is up 10 percent," said Mark O'Toole, WDFW shellfish biologist. As previously announced, similar pressures had already prompted closures in marine areas 9, 10 and 11 farther south in Puget Sound. But if spot shrimp fishing is on the wane, crab season is just around the corner. Marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south Puget Sound) will all open June 18 seven days per week, under new fishing rules adopted earlier this month by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. To help extend this year's season, the commission reduced the daily bag limit from six to five Dungeness crab in all areas of Puget Sound, and limited fishing in some areas with the highest effort to four days per week. For more information on the season, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/may05/may1605a.htm on the WDFW website or call the WDFW Shellfish Hotline at (866) 880-5431.

• Wildlife viewing: For most people, viewing wildlife in a natural setting is its own reward. But for residents of Crescent Valley - and 15 other special areas identified in Pierce County's wildlife plan - it can also lead to reductions in their property taxes. That process will begin June 3 at 3 p.m. with Gig Harbor BioBlitz 2005 - a 24-hour inventory of fish, mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians - sponsored by the Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance. "The BioBlitz is the first effort to collect wildlife data within this biologically rich area," said Michelle Tirhi, a WDFW biologist helping to organize the inventory. "Landowners can learn how rich this area is in wildlife, how to maintain that richness and how to save tax dollars." Other organizations participating in the effort include the University of Washington, Tahoma Audubon, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek among others. Pierce County's tax-relief program is restricted to residents of certain areas, but anyone with a scientific background and field experience with wildlife can participate in the BioBlitz, Tirhi said. Those interested can contact Tirhi at (253) 813-8906. Another area of Pierce County rich in wildlife species - but largely off-limits to the general public - is Fort Lewis, covering 86,000 acres in Pierce and Thurston counties. Earlier this month, WDFW biologist Kelly McAllister was allowed to conduct field research at the fort, starting at Fiander Lake in the Rainier Training Area. "There were hundreds of thousands of western toad tadpoles in the lake," McAllister said. "It was an amazing sight." From there, he moved on to the Artillery Impact Area, where soldiers had a day off from practicing with the big guns. "Wildflowers were blooming everywhere," said McAllister, noting that the firing range also provides habitat for the largest known population of Taylor checkerspot butterflies in the state." One key reason for the profusion of both wildflowers and butterflies is that the native prairie is a "high-burn area," he said. "Frequent fires keep the scotch broom and other invasive plants in check, providing excellent habitat for some native species." But for humans, military security - and common sense - make the firing range a poor place to observe native wildlife without special permission.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Things are looking up for Columbia River anglers. Although the mainstem remains closed to fishing for spring chinook, fisheries for shad and hatchery steelhead are now set to open Sunday, May 22 on portions of the lower river. Initially put on hold because of potential impacts to spring chinook, both fisheries were approved May 17 by Washington and Oregon resource managers after dam counts showed a modest increase in returning springers. Shad counts are also improving, as are water levels and visibility, said Joe Hymer, WDFW fish biologist. "The shad come first, followed by summer steelhead a few weeks later," Hymer said. Starting May 22, shad fishing will be open from the mouth of the Columbia River upstream to Bonneville Dam. There is no daily bag limit. Steelhead fishing will be allowed from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to the Interstate 5 bridge. Any adult spring chinook hooked during these fisheries must be immediately released unharmed, although anglers may retain up to six hatchery jacks between Rocky Point/Tongue Point and the Interstate 5 bridge. Heavy rain slowed the bite during the second week of May on some tributaries where spring chinook fishing is allowed, although some rivers kept producing right through the heaviest flows. Success was limited on the Cowlitz River and at Lake Scanewa, which opened to spring chinook fishing May 14. About one in five boat anglers caught a springer that week on the Kalama River, while those fishing the Lewis River averaged just short of one fish for every two rods. Anglers fishing the Lewis also caught a few summer run steelhead, weighing into the mid-teens, Hymer reports. Despite the rain, catch rates remained constant at Wind River, averaging about one fish for every six boat anglers. Bank anglers generally did well fishing below the Fisher Hill Bridge on the Klickitat River, while those fishing at the mouth of the White Salmon River caught a few hatchery steelhead as well as some spring chinook. Meanwhile, sturgeon fishing on the Columbia River has been improving from the estuary all the way to the gorge, Hymer said. "Anglers are averaging about two sturgeon per boat in the gorge and one per boat in the estuary," he said. "That's not too bad." Those looking for more action might consider a bass-fishing trip to the Bonneville or The Dalles pools. During the second week of May, boat anglers averaged 13.5 bass per rod in the Bonneville Pool and more than nine fish per rod at The Dalles Pool. Trout fishers might want to consider that 5,656 half-pound rainbows were released from net pens May 6 at Mayfield Lake and that 3,800 catchables were planted in Mineral Lake three days later. No reports are currently available on angling success. Final note: The northern pikeminnow reward fishery is up and running on the Columbia River. Anglers are paid cash for every one of these predatory fish they catch. Check out http://www.pikeminnow.org on the Internet for more information, or call (360) 906-6707 in Vancouver or toll free (800) 858-9015.

• Wildlife viewing: The sturgeon, the largest and oldest fish in the Columbia River watershed, is the inspiration for the Sturgeon Festival, scheduled May 21 and 22 this year in Vancouver at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE. Columbia Way. The free festival will feature environmental activities for all ages from noon to 4 p.m. both days. For children, environmental games and relays, and interactive learning stations will be available. Teens and adults can watch salmon and sturgeon dissections, discuss environmental issues and career opportunities with staff from natural resource agencies and environmental organizations, and find out what sort of aquatic life inhabits the backwaters of the Columbia River. Saturday's special event features Eartha the Ecological Clown. The Creature Features show of exotic reptiles and the Mother Nature's Garden puppet show will be featured events on Sunday. More information is available by calling WDFW's Brad James at (360) 906-6716 or Bev Walker with the City of Vancouver at (360) 696-8478. Those who want to start the day with some bird sightings might consider a side trip to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, always teeming with avian life. During a recent visit, a contributor to the Tweeters birdwatching website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/) spotted turkey vultures, American kestrel, greater yellowlegs, red-tailed hawk, cinnamon teal, greater scaup and many other species.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW central district fish biologist Chris Donley of Spokane reports that perch are biting at Bonnie and Downs lakes in southwest Spokane County and crappie and smallmouth and largemouth bass are biting at Long Lake, the reservoir off the Spokane River. Bass are also hitting lines at Eloika Lake in the north end of the county, Liberty Lake on the eastside, and Chapman Lake near Cheney. Walleye are being sought and probably caught by knowledgeable evening anglers at Sprague Lake on the Lincoln-Adams County line. Rainbow and cutthroat trout fishing in many well-stocked area lakes are continuing to produce good catches. Amber, Badger, Williams, West Medical and Fishtrap lakes continue to lead the pack, Donley said. Clear Lake trout fishing has been especially good lately with some nice brown and tiger trout coming out along with rainbows. "This is prime time," said Donley. "There's no where you can go and NOT catch fish right now." WDFW district fish biologist Curt Vail of Colville says fishing continues to improve at many waters in the north end of the region. Deep and Cedar lakes in Stevens County remain best bets. Rocky Lake, and Ferry County's Ellen Lake are well stocked to carry them through this first year after rehabilitation and will be better as the season progresses. June 1 marks the start of even more fishing when many rivers and streams open throughout the region. Some stretches have been open year-round, but many others are closed until June to allow trout to spawn. The daily trout catch limit on rivers and streams is two trout of at least eight inches in size. An exception in the region is the Little Pend Oreille River where up to five Eastern brook trout of any size can be harvested. Northern pike harvest is prohibited on the Pend Oreille River through June 10 to comply with FDA rules about WDFW and Kalispel Tribe fish researchers' use of an anesthetic to capture and tag a sampling of pike in that waterway to learn more about them. As always, check the fishing rules pamphlet for the details of all regulations before hitting the water anywhere in the region.

• Wildlife viewing: WDFW fish biologist Debbie Milks of Dayton reports a great opportunity to observe juvenile great blue herons still in their nests. The "heronry" or communal nesting area is located between WDFW's Lyons Ferry Fish Hatchery and the Lyons Ferry Marina on the Snake River, accessible by boat. The nests are built on steel structures that support the horseshoe railroad bridge, she explained. They're located on the two southernmost (Lyons Ferry Marina side) supports of the bridge, up and down each support. Milks was recently boating in the area when she observed more than 20 nests in the heronry. "The juvenile great blue herons were fully fledged and huddled in their nests," she recalled. "Each nest contained one to three young birds and the adults were staying right near the nests, as if posing for family photos." Milks estimated that it won't be long before the juveniles are out of the nests, so she encouraged wildlife viewers to make a trip now to enjoy the herons. WDFW Spokane regional office manager Lois Blanchette notes a nesting pair of osprey atop a power pole on Dartford Drive where it crosses the Little Spokane River. "There are also at least two pileated woodpeckers in the Gleneden neighobrhood greenbelt along the Little Spokane," she said. Gardeners who love birds should mark their calendars for the sixth annual Backyard Bird & Plant Fair, June 4-5, at Firwood Wholesale Nursery in Deer Park.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW district fish biologist Jeff Korth reports that walleye fishing is "red hot" at Moses Lake. "This is probably the premiere spot in the state for walleye fishing right now," he said. "There are a lot of walleye stacked up in Moses Lake, most in the 18- to 22-inch range, so they easily meet the rules of an 18-inch minimum size and no more than one fish over 24 inches in length." Korth says anglers are both trolling and jigging to reel in limits (five per day) of the tasty fish. Potholes Reservoir is probably also producing good catches of walleye, he said, although he had no current information. WDFW district fish biologist Art Viola of Cashmere says the million dollar question in Chelan County is "When will the Icicle open?" Viola predicts a June 1 opener for spring Chinook salmon on the Icicle River, which traditionally opens in mid-May but is delayed this year by a late run. "The fish are not only late," Viola said, "but they're surprisingly fewer in number than we expected." Anglers will simply have to stay tuned for an emergency fishing rule change announcement on the Icicle. Meanwhile, Lake Chelan is producing good catches of 11- to 12-inch kokanee. Lake trout or "Mackinaw" are also being caught at Lake Chelan at a rate of about two to three fish per hour. Viola said other rainbow trout lakes throughout the region continue to provide good fishing with recent additional hatchery stocking. Beehive Reservoir, Clear, Lily and Wapato lakes are all very good bets. Roses Lake, which has been open year-round, continues to yield lots of 12- to 13-inch rainbows.

• Wildlife viewing This is a good time to take a sidetrip through the Columbia Basin off Interstate 90 to look for breeding pairs of waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds. WDFW's Desert, Goose Lakes, Potholes, and Seep Lake wildlife areas just southwest of Moses Lake and adjacent Potholes Reservoir, and the Winchester Wildlife Area northeast of George, together cover almost 78,000 acres of wetlands and uplands that are among the most important waterfowl breeding grounds in the state. For more information and a map, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/r2pothls.htm. WDFW District Wildlife Biologist Scott Fitkin of Winthrop reports great birding and generally good watchable wildlife opportunities on WDFW wildlife lands in the Okanogan District. Everything from western and mountain bluebirds to congregations of velvet-antlered mule deer bucks can be enjoyed now. Hot spots include the Big Valley and Big Buck portions of the Methow Wildlife Area and the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area. The Okanogan Highlands Wildflower Fest, centered in Eden Valley, will be held May 28-30; for more information contact info@edenvalleyranch.net.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins of Yakima says that with river flows lower than normal this year, the June 1 river and stream fishing season opener should provide unusually good fishing. "Normally we have pretty high water at the start of this season," he explained, "and high water makes fishing difficult. But this year trout fishing should be good right from the start, unless, of course, we get a lot more rain between now and then." Cummins said good bet for that upcoming river and stream fishing should be the mainstem of the Naches River, although anglers need to be mindful that the section from the confluence with the Tieton River to Rattlesnake Creek is catch-and-release only. The harvest sections of the Naches have a 12-inch minimum size limit, two-fish daily catch limit, and selective gear rules for trout. Rattlesnake Creek itself is also a good bet for catch-and-release fishing. "Rattlesnake is a favorite with fly-fishers who are willing to walk in to this more remote water on Forest Service land," said Cummins. "They've been hoping it's going to be low enough to have a lot of action and I don't think they'll be disappointed." Cummins also noted that the lower Yakima River continues to be good for smallmouth bass, and should remain that way well into June. Channel catfish action is picking up now on the Yakima and Columbia rivers. The upper Yakima continues to provide decent rainbow trout action. As always, Cummins reminds, check the fishing rules pamphlet for all details before heading out.

• Wildlife viewing: Deer fawns and elk calves will be making their debut soon throughout the region. WDFW wildlife biologists remind that when you're out camping or hiking, a lone baby of this kind doesn't mean it's been orphaned or abandoned. Doe deer and cow elk often leave their young for periods of time to forage on their own and to keep from drawing predators to the babies through their own body scent. Fawns and calves are born without much body scent of their own - a built-in defense mechanism to help hide them from predators. Enjoy these wildlife newcomers from a respectable distance. Swallows are filling the air along the region's waterways, feasting on insects and gathering materials for nesting; watch for violet-green, tree, rough-winged, bank and cliff species. Backyard bird watching enthusiasts in the Yakima area are reporting black-chinned, calliope and rufous hummingbirds using sugar-water feeders and nectar-producing flowers. WDFW biologists remind hummer fans to only use a solution of one-part-sugar-four-parts-water that has boiled and cooled in feeders and to avoid adding any food coloring, which can be harmful to the birds. Using red-colored feeders is all it takes to attract hummingbirds. For more information about proper backyard bird feeding, see WDFW's "Urban Wildlife" section on the WDFW website.