October 3-16, 2001

Contact: Craig Bartlett, (360) 902-2259

As the seasons change, so do opportunities for outdoor recreation in Washington state. Just as the swallows have gone south and the first wave of dunlins has arrived from the north, so too has the outdoor calendar marked the change from summer to fall.

Nowhere is that change more pronounced than on the Washington coast, until recently the scene of the hottest salmon fishery in years. The coastal salmon fishery is now closed except for a portion of Marine Area 3 near LaPush and the action is shifting to inside waters from the Skagit River to Columbia River tributaries.

In Lake Washington, anglers will have a opportunity to catch and retain up to two coho salmon a day in water north of the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and east of the Montlake Bridge from Oct. 4 through Oct. 31. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced the opening when it became clear that the coho run to Lake Washington is much larger than earlier predicted.

In Issaquah, thousands of visitors are expected to mark the return of salmon to the Issaquah Hatchery at the 32nd annual Issaquah Salmon Days Festival, which runs Oct. 6-7.

Razor clams are also back on the agenda, with the first recreational dig of the fall season scheduled to open at noon Oct. 16. Provided that test results show the clams are safe to eat, the season opener and a second dig Oct. 18 will take place at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches. A third dig scheduled to begin at noon Oct. 20 will also include Kalaloch Beach.

Check out the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula regional summary for more information on those digs, or access the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website for a complete listing of razor clam openings through Jan. 1, 2002.

Meanwhile, hunters are gearing up for everything from ducks and geese to deer and elk as seasons for those and other species near.

The general season for duck hunting opens statewide Oct. 6, when the goose season also gets under way in all areas except Management Areas 2A and 2B. The general season also opens that day for pheasant, California quail and bobwhite, offering bird hunters a range of opportunities for the months ahead.

Looking for bigger game? The modern firearm season for deer opens Oct. 13 throughout the state, and muzzleloaders can take deer or elk in select game management areas when those seasons get under way Oct. 6.

"Many hunters are looking forward to getting out for the first time this year, but we are cautioning everyone to be extremely careful with anything that could cause a wildfire – particularly east of the Cascades," said Dave Ware, WDFW game division manager. Ware also reminds hunters that they are required to report their hunting activity to WDFW this year if they hold a deer, elk, black bear or turkey tag. Successful hunter are required to report within 10 days of killing an animal while unsuccessful hunters must report by Jan. 31, 2002.

The reports can be filed over an automated, toll-free telephone line by calling 1-877-945-3492 or by accessing fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov on the internet.

For information about regulations governing specific hunting and fishing seasons, consult the WDFW pamphlets "Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules," "Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons" and "Fishing in Washington." All three pamphlets are available at WDFW regional offices and at http://wdfw.wa.gov/ on the internet.

For regional information about outdoor opportunities through mid-October, see the area summaries below.

North Puget Sound:

• Fishing: While much of northern Puget Sound's marine areas remain open for salmon fishing for one or more species, some of the best fishing has shifted into the extreme terminal areas and rivers, said WDFW fisheries biologist Curt Kraemer. "It was a tremendous saltwater season, and this should translate to very good salmon numbers in a lot of our streams," Kraemer said. He suggested going after coho in the Snohomish, Nooksack, and Skagit rivers. Make sure and check each river's daily bag limit and other rules before heading out. In addition, a strong return of mostly hatchery coho salmon is providing salmon-fishing opportunity in Lake Washington. Fish counts at the Chittenden Locks in Ballard show the coho run has exceeded 30,000 fish, which is higher than expected. Beginning Oct. 4 and running through the end of the month, anglers can keep two coho salmon per day 12 inches or larger. The fishery is scheduled for north of the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and east of the Montlake Bridge. No fishing is allowed within 100 yards of the floating bridge. The Stillaguamish River will remain closed to fishing for coho salmon this year because of low numbers. However, Kraemer said the favorable ocean survival conditions that have helped produce this year's bumper crops of salmon throughout western should benefit the Stilly through solid escapement this year. Cutthroat trout fishing could be excellent this fall, Kraemer said, particularly on those streams that had huge pink salmon returns. Cutthroat feast on salmon eggs as long as the spawning continues, and should be catchable as long as low water conditions continue. Another option: WDFW is planting 193 rainbows weighing about 5 pounds a piece in Wilderness Lake during the next week and 283 rainbows weighing 2 to 3 pounds a piece in Lake Meridian. Should make for some good fishing in those King County Lakes.

• Hunting: Goose hunting opens Oct. 6 throughout much of western Washington, including northern Puget Sound, with a daily bag limit of four geese. Snow goose hunting opens Oct. 6 in Goose Management Area 1, which includes Island, Skagit and Snohomish counties. Snow goose hunters in Area 1 are required to have written authorization and a harvest report form before heading out to hunt. The general hunting season for duck, coot, and snipe season runs Oct. 6-17, then Oct. 20 through Jan. 20, 2002.

• Wildlife viewing: This is a transitional time for birdwatchers in northern Puget Sound, with the last of the summertime visitors migrating south through the lowlands, and the first overwintering migrants arriving in the region. Look for migrating raptors, readily visible from ridgetop viewpoints throughout the Pacific Northwest. Shorebirds and seabirds are also moving through the region, including Bonapartes gulls, parasitic jaegers, and phalaropes in places like Possession Point and Point No Point. This is a great time of year to visit the Tenant Lake Interpretive Wildlife Center, just a few minutes from Ferndale in Whatcom County. The wildlife center, which features a boardwalk and a unique raised-bed scent garden with identification information labeled in both Braille and English, offers up-close views of many migratory birds and other wildlife. Take the Ferndale exit from Interstate 5, head west to a railroad trestle and turn left onto Hovander Road. Turn right onto Nielson Road and continue to the end of the road.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Fishing: After a blockbuster ocean salmon fishery that kept anglers and charter boats busy all summer, a comfortable calm has settled over the Washington coast. But it won't last long. October 16 marks the start of the 2001-02 razor clam season, which is sure to bring diggers by the thousands back to coastal beaches. Provided that test results show the clams are safe to eat, the season opener will start at noon Oct. 16 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches. A second dig is scheduled Oct. 18 at the same time and on the same beaches, followed by a third dig at noon Oct. 20, which will also include Kalaloch Beach. Low tides for those three days are 6:59 p.m. (-0.8), 8:33 p.m. (-1.2) and 10:05 p.m. (-0.1), respectively. "We expect some great digging this season," said Dan Ayres, WDFW razor clam biologist. Ayres noted that the coastwide recreational allocation of 5.26 million clams is nearly twice that of any of the previous five years. WDFW has scheduled additional digging opportunities through New Year's Day, and will announce further openings after completing a mid-season harvest assessment. For razor clam openings through Jan. 1, call the Shellfish Rule Change Hotline toll-free at 1-866-880-5431 or access WDFW's website. But if you're still set on catching more salmon, WDFW fisheries biologist Wendy Beeghley recommends the Chehalis River above the Highway 101 Bridge. She caught a 25-pound chinook and an 8-pound "dime bright" coho there during the last weekend and said other anglers were "in the fish" too. "Fishing is definitely picking up on the Chehalis," she said. And consider this: WDFW is planting several hundred rainbows weighing up to 5 pounds apiece in Pierce County lakes this week. Spanaway Lake will get 283 3-year-olds averaging 5 pounds each, Wapato Lake will get 100 2-year-olds between 2 to 3 pounds and Harts Lake will get 94 2-year-olds weighing 2 to 3 pounds.

• Hunting: For all the early concern about the potential impact of the drought on game animals, this year's hunting prospects are looking good, said Jack Smith, WDFW regional wildlife manager. Whether your prey is deer or grouse, indications are good that you'll see some action. The modern firearm season for deer opens Oct. 13 throughout the state, and muzzleloaders can take deer or elk in select Game Management Areas (GMU) when those seasons get under way Oct. 6. For deer, it's hard to beat the Vail Tree Farm, which has long been the most productive area for deer hunting in western Washington, Smith said. On the other hand, it can get pretty crowded. To find the area that's right for you, Smith recommends checking the 2000 Game Harvest Report on the WDFW website. The report lists the number of hunters, as well as their success rates, for hunting units throughout the state. Smith reminds hunters that they are required to report their hunting activity to WDFW this year if they hold a deer, elk, black bear or turkey tag. For those planning to hunt ducks when the season opens Oct. 6, Smith recommends staking out an area close to the water, whether on Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor or the Nisqually River Delta. "Later in the season I'd suggest the Chehalis Valley, but the weather hasn't blown the birds off the water yet," Smith said. The same is true of geese, but Smith reminds hunters that GMUs 2A and 2B – which include Grays Harbor, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz and Clark counties – will remain closed to goose hunting to protect dusky geese when the season opens Oct. 6. Meanwhile, pheasant hunters might want to check out the WDFW's guide to pheasant-release sites, "Western Washington Pheasant Release Program," to plan their hunt when the general season opens Oct. 6.

• Wildlife viewing: If you want to keep up on bird migrations but can't get to the coast or the Sound yourself, check out the Tweeters website. Dozens of birders share accounts of their day's sightings, with notations of "95 sandhill cranes at Bowerman Basin," "61 golden-crowned kinglets at Damon Point," and "one mourning dove along Brady Loop." One contributor, a Bothell woman who founded the Olympic Vulture Study, advises birders to be on the lookout for flocks of turkey vultures crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca headed south. The prime viewing will last through the first week of October, she reports. In her note on the website, she notes that 1,138 turkey vultures were sighted crossing the Strait in one three-hour period on Sept. 26, 1998. "The sight was pretty impressive," she writes, exhorting readers to "look up – what crosses the Strait at Salt Creek one day drifts down the Puget Trough the next." Of course some wildlife experiences just can't be shared. Kelly McAllister, a WDFW wildlife biologist, recently reported encountering a cougar on the road in the Vail Tree Farm. "It was a big animal and leaped from the road to a log on a steep slope, then one more leap took it out of sight into the brush," he said. "I was so impressed by its size and obvious strength that it was rather chilling. What a remarkable predator."

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Coho opportunities are in transition from early to late stocks but fish are present in the lower Columbia River tributaries such as the Grays, Elochoman, Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis rivers, says Joe Hymer, WDFW fish biologist at the Region 5 office. On Oct. 1, the bag limit went to six fish, of which four may be adults, in the Upper Cowlitz, Cispus and Tilton rivers and Lake Scanewa. The numbers of fish to be released there depend on returns to Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. Also, anglers are reminded that bonus adult hatchery coho limits are in effect in most other Southwest Washington rivers. Meanwhile, fall chinook fishing recently opened in the lower Cowlitz and North Fork Toutle. Anglers should keep in mind that, as of Oct. 1, chinook must be released in prime spawning areas such as the Cowlitz between Blue Creek and Mill Creek and the North Fork Toutle from the Highway 504 Bridge near Kidd Valley upstream. Areas with good prospects for late chinook include the North Fork Lewis and Klickitat rivers, as well as Drano Lake. Sturgeon fishers are back in business with retention again allowed downstream from Bonneville Dam as of Oct. 1. Prime prospects are between the dam and Longview, according to Hymer. Limits are one fish per day, with a yearly limit of 10 fish per year (April 1 through March 31). Meanwhile, hatchery sea-run cutthroat trout are available in the mainstem Columbia from Longview downstream. A bonus bag limit of five trout, including no more than two hatchery steelhead, is in place in the lower Cowlitz River. Record-size catches are being reeled in a number of waters this year, and lakes are no exception– the six-year old state tiger muskie record was broken three times in late September on Mayfield Lake. A Chehalis fisher landed a 31.4- pound tiger muskie Sept. 22, and a companion caught a 30-pound fish later the same day . Just a few days afterward, the new record was surpassed when a third angler brought in a 38-pound muskie Sept. 25. The old record was 28 pounds, said Hymer.

• Hunting: With a new general deer hunt opening Oct. 13, prospects are average or above in parts of the region. Last spring's survey on the Klickitat Wildlife Area showed 54 fawns per 100 adults, better than the recent average of 45 fawns to 100 adults. Mild winter appear to be the reason behind the favorable numbers. Ryderwood and Coweeman game management units are likely to be good spots as well. Meanwhile, pheasant season got off to a good start at Shillapoo Wildlife Area, where an estimated 200 hunters took part in the opening day. The harvest rate was about half a bird per hunter overall, but was higher on the Vancouver Lake unit where the average was almost one bird per hunter. The South unit, twice as big, had fewer hunters. Hunters are reminded that all deer, elk, black bear and turkey tag holders are now required to submit harvest reports, even if they come home empty-handed or end up not hunting this year. The reporting deadline is Jan. 31, and those who don't file will be blocked from purchasing tags next year. For convenience, WDFW is offering two reporting methods– by a toll-free telephone call to 1-877-945-3492 or over the Internet at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.

• Wildlife viewing: Migratory birds that winter in the Shillapoo Wildlife Area and the surrounding Vancouver Lake Lowlands have started to show up in good-sized flocks. During the past week flocks of sandhill cranes were easy to locate along Lower River Road and flocks of Canada geese including the Cackling subspecies were also seen. Dusky Canada geese have also been reported. Wildlife watchers will also want to keep an eye out for common egrets which have also been spotted in the area. Some shorebirds are migrating through the Cowlitz Wildlife Area, providing a limited viewing opportunity. Cowlitz Wildlife Area staff report seeing a small flock of seven or eight marbled godwits at the east end of Riffe Lake, and a single spotted sandpiper (winter plumage) on the north side of Mayfield Lake. They also report a set of large bear tracks on Swofford Flats last week. Wintering birds will be welcomed back to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge with the Annual Bird Fest, Oct. 13-14, sponsored by the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bird Fest 2001 activities include a variety of presentations and slide programs, raptor shows, guided field trips, and water excursions designed for everyone from the budding naturalist to avid birdwatchers. Special tours will be offered to view sandhill cranes flying in at sunset to a refuge roosting area. The refuge's geological, archaeological and cultural resources will be highlighted by an archaeologist. Special activities are also planned for kids. For more information or a schedule of Bird Fest 2001 events, contact Yvette Donovan at (360) 887-4106.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Snake River steelhead trout fishing is getting better and better as water temperatures drop, reports WDFW fish biologist Glen Mendel of Dayton. Dam counts for steelhead are very high, with around 5,000 a day going over Little Goose and Lower Granite. Most are hatchery fish that can be harvested at the newly increased rate of three per day. Some steelheaders report limits already being caught on the upper Snake near the Oregon border. This steelhead run is gearing up to be the best in decades and good fishing is expected to continue through November. WDFW's Tucannon Fish Hatchery has excess rainbow trout that will be stocked in a few area waters this week, Mendel reports. Blue and Rainbow lakes in the Tucannon River basin in Columbia County will receive about 500 one-third pound rainbows. Mendel encourages fishing on these lakes before they close Oct. 31. Year-round Quarry Pond in Walla Walla County will receive 800 to 1,000 of these trout.

• Hunting: Pheasant and quail are in good numbers throughout the region but bagging them on the Oct. 6 opener could be challenging unless the warm and dry conditions change. The best of hunting dogs are having a tough time picking up bird scent and crackling-dry fields are difficult to traverse quietly. As Hungarian and chukar partridge hunters have learned since that season opened Oct. 1, work riparian and spring areas to find birds. Waterfowl hunters will find many potholes and ponds that held ducks or geese last year are now dry and birdless; larger waterways will be key for success on that Oct. 6 opener. Deer hunters may find the same challenges when the general modern firearm season opens Oct. 13, unless conditions change with rain and cooler temperatures. Whitetails are plentiful, especially in the north half of the region, and many mature bucks have already been observed jousting with each other as the breeding season approaches. Several moose
• Wildlife viewing: Warm days and cool nights are beginning to bring out fall colors as larch, cottonwood, aspen, and other trees are now turning. That makes it a colorful time of year for hiking the woods to spot wild animals and their seasonal behavioral changes. Buck deer are polishing antlers and practicing jousts on tree branches. Squirrels are busy collecting and stashing seeds and nuts for the winter. Migratory birds of many species are descending upon woodlots in loudly chattering flocks for rest stops.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Potholes Reservoir's usual early fall rainbow trout bite hasn't started yet with air and water temperatures remaining a little higher than normal. Potholes bass fishermen have also been struggling to land much recently. Walleyes are being caught at Potholes, although most have been under the 18-inch minimum. Lots of small perch, crappie and bluegill are in the catch at the Mar Don dock with a few big ones mixed in. Moses Lake perch and trout fishing continues fair to good.

• Hunting: Columbia Basin bird hunting may be slow on the Oct. 6 opener with warm weather, only fair numbers of pheasants and traditional waterfowling areas dry. Pheasant hunters should check with the Ephrata regional office (509-754-4624) for information about game-farm-raised rooster releases later in the season. Locally-produced ducks and geese are concentrated at larger waterways and later season hunting, when northern migrants add to the mix, may be better. Quail populations are high, especially in Okanogan and Chelan counties. WDFW wildlife biologist Scott Fitkin reports that deer populations continue to grow in the Okanogan, offering good opportunities for hunters on the Oct. 13 opener. This summer's fires should not have significant impacts on opportunity or access in Okanogan County. Dry conditions, however, will make stalking difficult and fire restrictions are still currently in place. There are several new opportunities for youth and disabled deer hunters in this region this year; check out the specific game management units on page 26 of WDFW's Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet.

• Wildlife viewing: The Chelan Ridge raptor migration counting and banding project is in full swing near Cooper Mountain on the Chelan Sawtooth Crest. The project is a cooperative one between the Okanogan National Forest and Hawkwatch International. WDFW wildlife biologist Scott Fitkin says visitors to the project area are welcome and should contact the U.S. Forest Service's Methow Ranger District (509-997-2131) for details.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Salmon fishing is still slow on the Lower Yakima River with just a few coho and chinook recently harvested. The middle Yakima, which is the area from Granger (Highway 223 bridge) to 3,500 feet below Roza Dam opened on the Oct. 1 and fishing has been slow since few coho have passed upriver of Prosser. The Naches and upper Yakima will remain closed to salmon fishing this fall. WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins says fishing is expected to pick up on the Yakima, "but perhaps warm water temperatures, as the result of warm air temperatures, are delaying upstream movement of fish out of the Columbia." Cummins says there should be plenty of coho in the Yakima once the fish move into the river. Salmon fishing has been very good in the Hanford Reach, averaging nearly a fish per boat. Cummins says the Hanford season seems to be peaking now and may wind up as a near record harvest. Steelhead fishing remains closed on the Hanford Reach, but WDFW continues working with the National Marine Fisheries Service to open it from 395 bridge in Pasco to the old Hanford powerline crossing; stay tuned for updates. WDFW fish biologist Eric Anderson reports that the Goldendale Fish Hatchery just stocked a total of 900 excess rainbow trout broodstock (2½ to 5 pounds each) into Yakima County's Myron and Rotary lakes, I-82 Pond 4, and Sarge Hubbard Pond; and Kittitas County's Fio Rito North and South and Mattoon lakes and McCabe Pond. Anderson reminds anglers to check the fishing rules pamphlet for terminal gear restrictions and catch limits at these lakes before heading out to land a lunker.

• Hunting: Quail numbers are good throughout the region but particularly in Yakima and Benton counties. Pheasant hunting should also be fairly good in the Yakima area for the Oct. 6 opener. Pheasant numbers will be boosted after the opener with releases of game-farm-raised roosters at a few sites; check with the Yakima office (509-575-2740) about where and when. Deer hunting is also expected to be good throughout the region with good overwinter survival and production. All hunters are reminded to be extra careful with anything that could start a wild fire during these extremely dry times.

• Wildlife viewing: Your own backyard may be as far as you need to go to see incoming grosbeaks, juncos, sparrows, towhees and other birds that may have summered further north and might winter in this region of Washington. Although natural food sources are still plentiful, it's not too early to set up backyard bird feeding and watering stations if you want to entice some to stay and watch them close-up. Information about supplemental feeding, plus providing year-round food sources for birds and other wildlife through habitat landscaping, is available from WDFW's Backyard Sanctuary Program packet, available for printing costs of $5 through WDFW's website on the Internet.