Chinook salmon, generally speaking, are for the very serious fisherman. Coho are for the semi-serious fisherman. Pink salmon, on the other hand, are happy-go-lucky little guys, willing to dance with almost anyone.
I’m a big fan of pinks, because every other year they encourage hundreds and hundreds of casual anglers to spend some quality time on the salt, or on a river bank, with friends and family.
And in my opinion, that’s what it’s all about. If you own a Grady White and fiercely fish the derbies, bless your heart and more power to you. If you live to see a 15-pound silver explode out of your prop wash and hang five feet in the air for what seems like an eternity, I applaud your tenacity. But I, personally, will take a sunny day in August, flat water, family in the boat and 6.8 million humpies just under the surface and on the bite.
I found one of those memorable days Monday, right out in front of Seattle’s Shilshole Marina, with son Murray and youngest grandson Tanner, 8 years old. We trolled white dodger and pink mini-squid and limited four people in an hour and a half. The kid, of course, was allowed to whack all the fish.
We bled ‘em, got ‘em on ice right away, and decided that some would hit the table fresh, while some would be routed to the smoker. The fresh dinner that evening followed a long-time Kruse family favorite recipe, concocted by Judyrae a number of years ago, as follows:
Start with a half-cup of brown sugar and add enough zesty Italian dressing to produce a marinade about the consistency of syrup when mixed thoroughly. If it’s too thin, add more sugar; if too thick, more dressing.
Fashion a “boat” out of heavy-duty aluminum foil, large enough to accommodate two filets (one fish), skin side down. Score the fish and cover with marinade, basting occasionally, for about three hours. Put the boat/fish on the grill at a medium-high heat and poach for 30 or 40 minutes under heavy smoke and basting occasionally. Serves three or four.
Lake Wenatchee closed
The Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery was closed Sunday by state salmon managers, not because there weren’t fish left to be harvested, but because of an incidental catch of a protected species. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Travis Maitland, in Leavenworth, said ESA-listed spring chinook are holding in the cooler waters of the lake, rather than going on up low, warm tributaries to spawn, and are being hooked incidentally (and released) by sockeye anglers. Even though released, a certain percentage of the springers involved die, and the number of chinook being “taken” in the fishery was nearing the ESA limit, Maitland said.
More closures
The Yakima basin is a favorite area for those trout anglers who prefer to fish moving water, because of several productive streams tributary to the river. Most of those streams were closed, or partially closed, to all fishing by the WDFW late last week (or previously) to minimize stress and mortality of gamefish suffering under drought conditions.
Closed from 2 p.m. until midnight are the Yakima proper, from Union Gap to the south Cle Elum bridge; Swauk Creek and all tributaries below Williams Creek; the Naches River from Tieton River to Bumping River/Little Naches; and Rattlesnake Creek. Closed completely are Williams Creek and all tribs; Swauk Creek and all tribs above Williams Creek; the American River; Ahtanum Creek; Little Naches River; and the Teanaway River and all forks.
Steelhead management
Hey steelhead fishermen — want to help choose which Puget Sound rivers will no longer be stocked with hatchery fish? The WDFW has extended until Aug. 31 the public comment period for selecting Puget Sound rivers where hatchery steelhead will not be released by the department. To comment, go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/steelhead/gene_bank/, or call the Mill Creek office at 425-775-1311 to request paper forms. Rivers under consideration are also listed on that webpage.
Wild steelhead management zones, or “gene banks,” are one of a number of management strategies identified in the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan to conserve and rebuild Washington’s wild steelhead. The department will designate at least one wild steelhead management zone in each of three Puget Sound regions, the candidates for hatchery closure in north Sound being the Skagit, Sauk, Samish, South Fork Nooksack, Pilchuck, North Fork Skykomish, and Tolt.
The WDFW’s district manager, Annette Hoffman, said at least one will be named, but there could be more than one.
And what would be the status of sportfishing on a designated “gene bank” river? Hoffmann said there would be one of two scenarios in effect: There would be catch and keep steelhead fishing on the designated river if there was deemed to be a harvestable surplus of wild fish; or catch and release fishing if the state was able to receive a permit from the feds (who are driving the whole thing under the ESA listing of Puget Sound steelhead as threatened).
Neither of these seems likely to happen any time soon.
The Skagit is perhaps the highest-profile sport steelhead fishery on the list, and Hoffmann said the comments of most Skagit fishermen are hostile to a gene bank designation, while “conservation groups” are generally in favor.
“Puget Sound steelhead were listed as threatened in 2007, and under that listing some take was allowed,” Hoffmann said. “But if that’s changed to endangered, there will be no take allowed at all. Period.”
Waterfowl calling
Reb Broker, president of the Northwest Chapter, Washington Waterfowl Association, is organizing a weekly duck and goose calling practice session in the parking lot of the Skagit Wildlife Area headquarters parking lot Wednesday evenings, open to the public. Hear some calling, ask questions, practice, tell lies about duck hunting. A round robin format should allow practice on different call types.
The address is 21961 Wylie Road, Mount Vernon 98273 (actually in Conway). For more information, email Broker at lostfish01@gmail.com.
Buoy 10
“Overall, anglers at Buoy 10 had a great weekend,” said WDFW lower Columbia creel sampling coordinator Tanna Takata. “Anglers averaged 0.87 fish per rod, or 1.22 fall chinook and 1.67 coho per boat.”
Hanford reach
August 16 kicked off the fall chinook fishery in the Hanford Reach above the Tri-Cities, and WDFW is expecting upwards of 200,000 fish this year. Anglers may keep up to three adult salmon, hatchery or wild and may use two rods with the proper license endorsement.
Cowlitz
Boat fishermen are doing well for steelhead near the mouth of the Cowlitz, and some fall chinook are also being caught. Some 361 summer steelhead were tagged and recycled to the I-5 boat launch last week.
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