September 7-20, 2000

Contact: Madonna Luers, (509)456-4073

Change is in the air across Washington and the coming autumn means more hunting, fishing and wildlife watching opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Early goose hunting season runs September 9 to 14 statewide. Canada goose populations are healthy across Washington and the early season gives hunters a chance to harvest resident birds before migrants move in next month when the traditional, longer hunt begins. Last year, the highest September goose harvest was in the Columbia basin, followed by the Yakima valley, reports Don Kraege, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) waterfowl manager.

September 15 - 25 marks the "high buck" hunting season in Washington's North Cascades and Olympic Mountains and it can be an experience of a lifetime for deer hunters. The Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak, Pasayten, Olympic Peninsula, and part of Henry Jackson Wilderness areas, plus the Lake Chelan Recreation Area, are open to three-antler-point-minimum buck deer hunting. Fall conditions in the mountains– no bugs, cool days, ripe huckleberries, beautiful colors, and fewer people – make this an incredible time for hunters and non-hunters alike to get out, says Mark Quinn, WDFW northcentral region wildlife manager.

Fishing for fall chinook salmon on the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River north of the Tri-Cities peaks during the last half of September, reports Jim Cummins, WDFW southcentral region fish biologist. These "upriver brights," averaging about 15 pounds with some running more than 40, are in prime condition now although the season runs through the end of the year. Fishing is mostly by boat, launched at White Bluff or Ringold, trolling plugs in the early morning from Ringold to Priest Rapids Dam, with the Vernita area usually the most popular.

Bird migrations are also picking up with the advancing season. From the coast to the eastern-most region of the state, shorebirds, raptors, and other migrants are moving through from northern summering areas to wintering areas further south. Even the most casual wildlife watcher can't help but notice these growing seasonal spectacles.

Despite recent cooler, wetter weather, the risk of wildfires is still high in Washington's outdoors. Because of spring's lush vegetative growth and summer's extended dry heat, some areas on the eastside won't be out of danger until the first snow falls. Be cautious with everything and anything that could still start a fire: avoid open campfires, especially outside of designated fire rings in campgrounds; use ashtrays inside vehicles, and don't park motor vehicles on vegetation of any kind.

The high risk of forest fires isn't the only special condition requiring caution in the weeks ahead. Since last week, nine people have become ill with Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) after eating mussels from Carr Inlet – one of several areas in Puget Sound closed to recreational shellfish harvesting due to high concentrations of marine toxins. Judy Dowell, manager of commercial shellfish harvesting for the Washington Department of Health (DOH), said the concentration of the "red tide" toxin in Carr Inlet is the highest recorded in state waters in more than 20 years. Recreational shellfish harvesters should always call the biotoxin hotline at 1-800-562-5632 before going out to dig, or check for closures on the DOH website at www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm on the Internet. Even if WDFW lists a beach as "open" based on the amount of shellfish available for harvest, DOH may close it for health reasons. Also bear in mind that cooking does not get rid of PSP, which can be fatal without medical treatment.

Here's an overview of current recreational opportunities across Washington:

Regional Highlights:

Northern Puget Sound:

• Hunting: The bag limit for the Canada goose early hunting season has been raised from three to five in Goose Management Areas 1 and 3 (see WDFW's newly released "Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons" pamphlet for management area boundaries and other details on hunting regulations). The Skagit and Lake Terrell wildlife areas offer good goose hunting, along with private lands where hunters must secure advance permission.

• Fishing: Coho salmon are showing up strong in much of the region. Marine Area 10 (the Seattle- Bremerton area) has been offering outstanding coho catches, according to WDFW's Tony Floor. The Elliott Bay portion of that area, including the pier fishery, re-opened for coho September 1 and will remain open through September 15; for the remainder of the month fishing will still be allowed from the piers, although boat fishing will close on September 16. Coho fishing continues in Marine Area 8-1, and opens September 16 in Marine Area 8-2. Further south, fishers are finding fair success in the Tacoma/Redondo area, with many anglers choosing to target the mouth of the Puyallup River. Meanwhile, sea-run cutthroat trout are showing up in most of the region's lower rivers, including the Skagit, Stillaguamish and Snohomish, according to Chuck Phillips, WDFW regional fish manager. Summer steelhead are still in the Green, Snoqualmie, Skykomish and Stillaguamish rivers, and with cooler weather looming, this is a great time for lake fishers to make one last trip of the season to their favorite fishing spot. Crab pot fishing remains open throughout the Sound. "Go for it" is the advice WDFW regional shellfish manager Norm Lemberg offers sport crabbers, advising them to take advantage of the remaining few weeks before the weather turns and commercial fishers hit the water. It's a different story for those in pursuit of clams and other intertidal shellfish, however; Lemberg advises them to be extremely cautious as paralytic shellfish poisoning prompts shellfish closures on many beaches around the Sound. Diggers should remember that the so-called "red tide" algae bloom which causes the poisoning is not actually red, or otherwise visually apparent. For the latest information before setting out, check the state Department of Health's Marine Toxin/PSP hotline at 1-800-562-5632 or the DOH website at www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm on the Internet.

• Wildlife watching: Shorebirds are starting to come through the region, creating new wildlife viewing opportunities. Padilla and Skagit bays are good spots to see them, as is the Jenson access at the Skagit Wildlife Area. For urbanites, Mercer Slough in Seattle nearly always offers interesting birds viewing and with fall migrations beginning there should be a good variety of song birds and waterbirds.

Olympic Peninsula/South Sound:

• Hunting: Goose hunting, which opens September 9, could be good in several areas of the region. Besides the opportunities noted in Willapa Bay under the "Southwest Washington" section, about 350 geese are using the lower Chehalis Valley from Porter downstream to Montesano, roosting on gravel bars and flying into the pea fields along the river to feed. Setting up on a sandbar is one option; another is to sign up with one the 15 farms that have a cooperative agreement with WDFW for hunter access. Drive Highway 12 or the South Bank road and look for signs indicating participating properties – some posted "Feel Free to Hunt", others posted "Register to Hunt" and some requiring written permission. Other possibilities: the Chehalis Valley Wildlife Area between Elma and Montesano, and the WDFW lands in the flight path of the Ocean Shores Airport, where about 300 geese are splitting their time between there and the nearby golf course. Archery hunters looking for deer and elk should have good access to all lands along the coast, although they should be extremely careful with any fire starters. The elk season is expected to be one of the best in the last 10 years, especially on the Olympic Peninsula and in the Willapa Hills. Deer hunting areas are best in the eastern part of the region, including the Olympic, Coyle, Mason Lake, Capitol Peak, and Skookumchuck units.

• Fishing: Coho salmon fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca is hot and getting hotter. Fish checkers reported that the 675 anglers they interviewed during the last week of August caught 627 coho, averaging about five pounds each. That's particularly impressive since anglers can keep only marked hatchery coho. And the news is expected to get even better: "The strength of the Strait will occur in mid- to-late September," says WDFW's Tony Floor. "We are heading into a crescendo." He noted that Port Angeles is still slow as is Willapa Bay to the south, but Grays Harbor has been showing real promise since the September 1 opener. "Grays Harbor has one of the strongest runs of wild chinook west of the Cascades – I don't think we've seen anything like this there in the last decade" says Tony. Fishing in the harbor is scheduled to remain open seven days a week through October with a limit of six salmon per day, no more than two adults, only one of which can be a wild coho. The lower Chehalis River, which also opened September, 1 is also expected to be hot, and sea-run cutthroat are beginning to enter coastal rivers and creeks throughout the area. They can be a lot of fun to catch on light gear. In most coastal areas there is a two-fish bag with a 14-inch size limit, although regulations vary and anglers should be sure to check the rules for each stream.

• Wildlife watching: Try Johns River, which offers an ADA-accessible blind for observation and hunting, for waterfowl and fall migrant shorebirds. Another great area for fall migrants is the Oyehut Wildlife area and adjacent Damon Point areas of Ocean Shores. Waterfowl and shorebirds use these unique shoreline habitats extensively.

Southwest Washington:

• Hunting: Goose hunters preparing for the September 9 season opener may want to scout Willapa Bay, Grays Bay, Baker Bay and other waters downstream from Cathlamet on the Columbia River. More than 1,000 geese have been counted there in recent weeks. "At this time of year, the geese are in the water not in the fields," advises WDFW biologist Patrick Miller. Some archery deer hunters, meanwhile, have been forced to scout new areas since many popular private lands– including those owned by Weyerhaeuser, Longview Fiber, Hampton Forest and the Campbell Group– are currently closed due to fire danger. Deer populations generally are in good shape throughout the region, but those property owners are looking for several inches of rain before opening their lands to hunters.

• Fishing: If you want to catch a chinook salmon and you don't mind a little company, the lower Columbia River is the place to be. The best fishing during the last week of August was on the mainstem Columbia between the Cowlitz and the Lewis Rivers, where anglers scored an average of one adult chinook per boat – with some of those fish running 30 pounds or larger. But the word is out. An aerial survey conducted August 26 counted a record 1,129 boats on the river between Cathlamet and the Bonneville Dam, contributing to a record 45,000 angler trips in August. Coho fishing remains fair to good in the Buoy 10 fishery at the mouth of the Columbia. Chinook fishing reopened there Sept. 1, but catches have dropped off substantially since then. In the coming weeks, anglers also should find increasing numbers of hatchery coho in Columbia tributaries, particularly on the lower Cowlitz, Toutle, and Lewis rivers. In addition, more than 200,000 summer-run steelhead were counted at Bonneville Dam through August, and fishing should be good on the Wind and White Salmon rivers and Drano Lake until the Columbia cools.

• Wildlife watching: For people who like to watch fish without actually catching them, the fall chinook run is nearing its peak at Bonneville Dam with thousands of fish passing the dam daily. Try the Washington side fish ladder for an underwater view.

Eastern Washington:

• Hunting: With cooler weather many mourning doves have left the north end of the region, but hunters should be able to get some birds in the Snake River valley through the season's end September 15. Although dry conditions appear to be keeping hunting pressure down, those forest grouse hunters who have been out since the opener on the first have been doing well. A few black bear hunters have done well, too, including one 300-pounder. Early archery deer and elk hunting is slow, although one six-point elk was taken in the Spangle area. The early goose season should be productive along the Snake River and up north on the Pend Oreille.

• Fishing: Many hatchery-trout-stocked lakes close at the end of this month, so now is the time to cast some final lines for late season catches. Year-round Sprague Lake has been popular with bass fishermen lately; remember that only bass less than 12 inches or greater than 17 inches can be kept, and no more than one over 17 inches.

• Wildlife watching: Shorebirds are migrating into the area from the north. Reardan Ponds are always a good bet for seeing rare and common species, everything from killdeer to knots. Many of the migratory song birds are beginning to come through, too; the entire month of will be good for seeing warblers, chickadees and others species. Good places to look are islands of habitat in the "wheat desert", local cemeteries in farming country, and streamside woodlands. Now is the time to hike into elk country (Blue Mountains or Selkirks) to hear "the roaring of the bulls," as they say in Europe. Bull elk should be into pre-rut activities, which includes bugling, creating wallows and gathering harems of cows. The peak of the rut is about the third week of September, but a lot of bulging and displaying occurs before then.

North Central Washington:

• Hunting: The Pasayten Wilderness Area high buck hunt on horseback is an adventure not to be missed, says WDFW regional wildlife manager Mark Quinn. The largest wilderness area in Washington, the Pasayten is a unique part of the North Cascades with miles of alpine meadows. Hunter density is low, in part because horseback is the best way to cover the 10 miles and 4,000 feet elevation gain to reach the area. Cold nights and cool days mean no bugs and invigorating air. Other wilderness areas open for deer hunting during the September 15-25 season are more easily hiked and non-hunting backpackers will see the occasional "hunter orange." Dove hunting has been excellent throughout the region with greatest success by hunters who have discovered the magic combination – water and wheat stubble – and have secured access. Forest grouse hunters have been taking limits.

• Fishing: The upper Columbia River chinook salmon fishery below Wells Dam was recently extended to include the area upstream of the Highway 174 bridge (Brewster) to the Highway 17 bridge (Bridgeport) because of the abundance of fish. Wells Hatchery recently released some large (1.5- to 2-pound) rainbow trout into Conconully Lake and reservoir and Pearrygin Lake; remember that Pearrygin closes at the end of September. Cougar and Campbell lakes are producing limits of trout and happy anglers. Potholes Reservoir has been producing dock and shoreline catches of perch, crappie, bluegill, rainbow trout and largemouth bass to 4-1/2 pounds. The mouth of Lind Coulee near the east end of O'Sullivan Dam has been good for rainbows up to 3-1/2 pounds. The Columbia Basin Walleye Club's annual Rod Meseberg Fall Walleye Classic Tournament is scheduled for September 16-17.

• Wildlife watching: Up to 16 different species of raptors or birds of prey can be seen now at Chelan Ridge, above Lake Chelan north of Manson. Because warm air lifts and creates easy soaring thermals there, the ridge is a natural migration corridor for eagles, hawks, and falcons migrating to winter habitat during September and October. The most commonly sighted raptors are the Northern harrier, Cooper's hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, red-tailed hawk, prairie falcon, American kestrel, and golden eagle. For more information on Chelan Ridge, check out www.fs.fed.us/r6/oka/birds/migration.html on the Internet.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Fall chinook salmon fishing in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River north of the Tri-Cities is heating up fast with two fish for every three boats checked last week. Jim Cummins, WDFW district fish biologist, predicts the catch will peak mid through late September. The "upriver brights" are in prime condition at this time, although the season runs through the end of the year. Early morning fishing is best, mostly by boat (launched at White Bluff or Ringold), trolling plugs in the early morning from Ringold to Priest Rapids Dam, with the Vernita area usually the most popular. Boats can be launched from under the Vernita highway bridge but the terrain is rough enough that a four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. Cummins also advises anglers to park their vehicles well above the high water mark, as the Columbia in the Hanford Reach area can fluctuate five to six feet a day. For the same reason, anglers should avoid leaving their boats tied up to the river bank for long periods–– those who do so may return to find their craft high and dry.

  Flows in the Yakima River above Roza Dam (selective fishery, catch and release area) have decreased significantly and should stabilize soon. The annual water level "flip-flop" is in progress: decreased water releases from upper Yakima reservoirs (Kachess, Keechelus, CleElum) result in much lower flows in the Yakima, but greatly increased flow in the lower Naches (from Rimrock Reservoir to the Tieton River). This means great fishing in the Yakima where anglers can wade to catch 8- to 20-inch rainbows on caddis and large stonefly imitations. The flows in the Naches River and the Yakima from the confluence with the Naches down to Union Gap, (part of the area open September 16), will be a little high, but still fishable.

  This is also a great time to fish alpine lakes since cutthroat, rainbow and eastern brook trout generally go on a feeding spree prior to winter. Enjoy the spectacular fall colors in the high country, but be prepared for rapid weather changes. An unscheduled and limited Yakima/Naches salmon season may open September 16; watch for fishing rule change news.