Sports

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, May 1, 2008 Cold affects trout opener By Wayne Kruse, Herald Writer You know it was a cold trout opener Saturday when the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife creel checker at a popular lake in Pend Oreille County tallied a nice five-fish limit of cutthroat, going 11 to 14 inches, for the only fisherman on the lake. And that lone angler was fishing through the ice. It wasn't quite that bad over the rest of the state, but there is little doubt that cold water temperatures made for difficult fishing in many areas, and a lower catch rate than was recorded the past two or three openers. A long, cold winter and persistent ice cover also prevented maximum foraging by trout in Eastern Washington lakes, hindering growth and resulting in noticeably smaller fish for the opener. The good news in this story of smaller trout and lower success rates is that the weather on the opener was great, pretty much around the state. And, WDFW biologists all point out, the trout that weren't caught on opening weekend will provide better fishing than normal down the line. Some opening day results: As usual, Skagit County waters were the big producers for anglers from this area, even though trout weren't exactly jumping in the boat. The "north" lakes managed out of the WDFW's Region 4 Mill Creek office produced a harvest per angler (trout kept) of 3.5 fish, and a catch per angler (trout released) of 4.2 fish. The top dogs for trout kept per angler were McMurray and Heart lakes, at 4.4 fish; Sixteen, 4.3; and Cascade (Orcas Island) and Howard, 4.0 trout per rod (of high quality). Lake Erie wasn't far behind at 3.9. In good years, the opener would have produced close to five-fish limits for all hands on several of the north lakes. Biologist Chad Jackson at Mill Creek described the opener overall in Region 4 (Pierce County north to Canada) as "incredibly slow," and said the average for all the "south" lakes was 1.9 fish per person kept, and 3.4 released. After Lake Howard, checks in Snohomish County showed Lake Ki with 3.6 per person; Lake Armstrong, 2.5; Storm Lake, 2.4; Lake Riley, 2.3; Martha Lake (Alderwood Manor), 1.5; Lake Serene, 1.1; Lake Bosworth, 0.9; and Lake Stickney, 0.3 fish. On Whidbey Island, Goss Lake anglers averaged 5 fish kept per person, while those on Deer Lake averaged 2.1 fish kept (plus about 3 per person released). Checks in Grant County, east of the Cascades, showed fewer Western Washington anglers (about 51 percent, down 8 to 10 percent from the usual number), probably due to gas prices. The county's dynamic duo of Park and Blue lakes in the Sun Lakes State Park group benefitted from rehabilitation in 2006 and biologist Jeff Korth said fishing was improved over the past couple of years. The per-rod average on Blue Lake was 4.0 fish, including 5 percent carryovers going 15 inches; on Park Lake, 3.7, including 5 percent carryovers averaging 15 inches. On popular Warden Lake, anglers caught 4.0 fish per rod, averaging close to 13 inches, and including 13 percent carryovers going better than 15 inches. In Chelan County, the top opening-day lake, Wapato, produced dismal results and biologist Art Viola attributed it to cold water temperatures. The per-rod average was only 1.1 fish, but most were either triploids or carryovers going 15 inches and better. Results from the Okanogan, some of the state's best trout waters, were widely mixed. Spectacle Lake, which opened April 1, was tops at 4.0 trout per person, averaging 11 to 12 inches. Leader Lake averaged 3.6 fish, 10 to 11 inches and carryovers to 14 inches; Conconully Reservoir, 2.6, going 10 to 12 inches but with good numbers of triploids and carryovers to 16 inches; Patterson Lake, 2.2 fish per person; Conconully Lake, 2.7, and Alta Lake, 2.3 fish. Two big names -- Jameson Lake in Douglas County, and Pearrygin Lake outside Winthrop in Okanogan County -- were disappointing at 1.1 and 1.2 trout per rod, respectively. Biologist Bob Jateff warned, however, that those numbers shouldn't be construed as indicative of how the season will go on the two top lakes. He said many waters in his region were covered with ice until only recently, and that when clarity improves and water temps rise, fishing should be excellent, including action on Jameson and pearrygin. Monroe Derby: The Monroe kids'fish-in at Lake Tye was again an outstanding success, according to Arlington resident and avid angler Sam Ingram, who helped at the event. A 6-plus-pound triploid rainbow won the youngsters' portion of the day, and the adults' derby was won by a 9-pounder, which -- coincidentally -- was also the special, tagged, $500 trout. It was taken by a shore fisherman casting a lure, Ingram said. The second-place 'bow weighed 8 pounds and was caught on a black leech fly. Ingram said there are still plenty of nice trout, including some multi-pounders, available in Lake Tye, and that it's a great family-type place to go fishing. It's just off Fryelands Boulevard, on the west edge of Monroe. Marysville kids: The Marysville kids' fishing event is Saturday, 8 to 11 a.m. at Jennings Pond in Jennings Park, open to those 12 years and under, accompanied by an adult. It's sponsored by Marysville Kiwanis, Marysville Parks and Recreation, and the Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club. No pets, please; one trout per participant; bring canned goods for the food drive; and join in the pancake breakfast beside the pond, at $3 per person. Anglers are asked to bring their own gear if they have it, but tackle will be available on loan. Prizes will be by random drawing. Call Marysville Parks at 360-651-5085. Halibut: Bob Ferber at Holiday Sports in Burlington said halibut are still being caught, but that Admiralty Bay has slowed. Partridge Bank and Hein Bank have been best, he said, with good tides over the weekend producing fish to 45 and 52 pounds. "One party checked in with three fish from Partridge," Ferber said, "taken on a big, green hoochie with bait. They said the hoochie/bait combo seemed to out-produce bait alone." New facility: The new Bayside Marine and Tackle store, just south of the Port of Everett launch on 14th Street, is generating a lot of interest among area boaters and fishermen, and if you haven't seen it yet, there's a perfect excuse coming up. On May 15th, owners Jeff LaLone and Dan Hatch will present their first Summer Salmon Seminar and Crab Clinic, starting at 5 p.m., with refreshments, tackle giveaways, door prizes and more. The seminar is free, but registration is required and space is limited, so call soon, 425-252-3088. TJ Nelson will talk about downriggers and downrigger fishing; outdoor talk show host Joel Shangle will discuss summer fishing opportunities on Puget Sound; Bill Herzog will give the inside scoop on herring rigging; and All Star Charters owner/skipper Gary Krein will present the basics of fishing local marine areas. All good, useable, stuff. Be there or be . . . well, you know. Springers: Drano Lake and the mouth of the Wind River haven't come on yet for spring chinook above Bonneville Dam on the Columbia, even though it's the right time of year and the run is supposed to be a good one. The fishery has been late all the way up the river, however, and maybe the two popular fishing areas will light up soon. Razor clams: Diggers have the green light for the last razor clam event of the spring season starting May 3, with some excellent tides on tap. Long Beach and Twin Harbors will open for morning digs May 3-7, while Copalis and Mocrocks are scheduled to open May 4-5 only. WDFW clam manager Dan Ayres said he reminds diggers to observe closures on portions of Long Beach and Twin Harbors to protect nesting western snowy plovers, an endangered species. Signs clearly mark the areas and instruct people to stay on the hard-packed sand, Ayres said. Tides are as follows: May 3, minus 0.3 feet at 5:27 a.m.; May 4, minus 1.2 feet at 6:16 a.m.; May 5, minus 1.9 feet at 7:04 a.m.; May 6, minus 2.3 feet at 7:51 a.m.; and May 7, minus 2.4 feet at 8:39 a.m. Shrimp: The spot shrimp season opens in Puget Sound and Hood Canal on Saturday, with regulation details available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shellfish/shrimpreg/shrimpindex.shtml. Bob Ferber at Holiday Sports (above; 360-757-4361) said there's good shrimping available at a number of spots in the San Juan Islands, and that the season usually lasts there for more than the two or three days common in some other marine areas. Iceberg Point on the south end of Lopez Island is the well-known hot spot, Ferber said, in 270 feet of water or so. Biz Point, north of Deception Pass is another top spot, and shrimpers also do well around Sucia, Waldron and San Juan islands, and on parts of Presidents Channel. Strong currents in the islands require at least 20 pounds of weight on a pot, Ferber said, two or more buoys, and at least double the amount of line you expect to be down. Bait with commercial pellets, jack mackerel, Friskies cat food, or a combination, all marinated in the relatively new Pro Cure Crab and Shrimp Scent. Gary Krein of All Star Charters (425-252-4188) said the area off Mukilteo is popular with recreational shrimpers, in 180 to 300 feet of water; the southeast corner of Hat Island; off the "Bait Box" on the southeast corner of Whidbey Island; or in Brown's Bay.

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