Rapidly increasing numbers of at least two game species – wild turkey and white-tailed deer – have resulted in more generous hunting seasons for 2004, according to Dave Ware, the state Fish and Wildlife Department’s wildlife manager in Olympia.
At a recent meeting of the state Fish and Wildlife Commission in Spokane, seasons for both species were adjusted to offer hunters more opportunities.
The fall wild turkey season, which has been permit-only in the past, now includes seven game-management units in Spokane, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties that will be open to all hunters with valid turkey tags. The open hunts will address nuisance problems that have increased with the turkey populations in units 105 (Kelly Hill), 108 (Douglas), 111 (Aladdin), 113 (Selkirk), 117 (49 Degrees North), 121 (Huckleberry), and 124 (Mount Spokane).
Fall turkey permit-only hunts will continue in other game units in the northeast, southeast and southwest, including 50 additional permits in the 101 (Sherman) unit.
Also, don’t forget the special youth spring turkey season, April 10-11, prior to the general spring opener on April 15.
Some 400 white-tailed antlerless deer tags, for use in portions of the 105 (Kelly Hill) unit in “the wedge” of Stevens County, between the Columbia and Kettle rivers, will be available for purchase as second tags by hunters drawn for permits in that special hunt. The new opportunity is designed to lower whitetail populations to aid cougar and mule deer research in the area.
The commission also approved crossbow use by qualified disabled archery hunters, and reclassified rock doves (pigeons) to allow them to be used for bird-dog training.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife also briefed the commission on possible future recreational steelhead fishing on the Entiat and Wenatchee rivers.
Spring chinook: The fishery below Bonneville Dam continues to produce good fishing for both bank and boat anglers, but not enough fish have run the Bonneville ladders yet to make Drano Lake or the Wind River very attractive options. Joe Hymer, state biologist at the Vancouver office, said as of April 5, just 1,500 fish had been counted, compared with the 10-year average for that date of 10,094 fish.
Washington and Oregon salmon managers were to meet today to update the run prediction, Hymer said.
He said there was only light fishing pressure at Drano and the Wind, and that only a few kings were being taken. The new ramp at Drano is open, but launching is reportedly more difficult than in the past. The old ramp is useable, but the area around it has been blocked off.
Creel checks below Bonneville last week showed an average of one king for each 6.7 rods, while bank anglers were checked with one for every 11 rods.
Local trout: Only fair fishing at Pass Lake for fly anglers, despite big chironomid hatches. Good weather over the weekend brought out the crowds.
The coalition made up of the Snohomish Sportsmen’s Club, Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club, Dick Nite Spoons and The Reel News made its third of six plants of big triploid rainbows Tuesday in Blackman’s and Flowing lakes. Some 500 trout were put in each of the lakes, about 250 of which were in the 16- to 18-inch range, and the remainder going 4 to 12 pounds or larger. And thanks to an extra donation from Dick Nite and Jerry’s Surplus, the group was able to plant an additional 50 to 75 fish in each lake, going 5 to 15 pounds.
Arlington resident and avid outdoorsman Sam Ingram said some of the jumbo rainbows are adapting to the lakes, going a little deeper and that bait fishermen are therefore doing better. Shallow trolling, however, remains probably the best way to go, using flies, light spoons or spinners.
Jim Strege at Triangle Beverage in Snohomish (360-568-4276) said he has weighed several trout over 10 pounds, including an 11-pounder and one hog of 13.5 pounds, both from Blackman’s. The big one was caught trolling a Wedding Ring spinner tipped with Power Bait, Strege said.
“Mark Spada (the planting group’s coordinator, from Snohomish) told me all these trout will average out costing them about $1 per fish,” Strege said. “There has been significant interest among anglers to donate to the cause, and anyone interested can stop by the shop or call me here, and I’ll put them in touch with Spada.”
The state continues to plant its hatchery rainbows. Most of Snohomish County’s year-around lakes should have received all or part of their spring allotments of 8- to 10-inch “catchables” by now. The state also is planting triploid rainbows in selected lakes – not as large as the private plants in Blackman’s and Flowing, but nice fish in the 14- to 16-inch range. Local lakes scheduled for the trips include: Snohomish County, Blackman’s, 300 fish already in the water; Cassidy, 600 this month and 400 in May; Flowing, 300 this month; Gissberg Ponds, 300 this month and 300 in May; Martha (Warm Beach), 500 this month; Panther, 225 this month; Roesiger, 600 this month and 400 in May; Silver, 400 this month; and Tye, 225 already in the water.
Skagit County: Campbell, 800 this month; Clear, 1,100 this month; Pass, 200 in May; and Vogler, 100 this month.
Island County: Lone Lake, 500 this month.
If you know any young people interested in going trout fishing, mark May 2 on your calendar. The Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club has worked to turn North Gissberg Pond at Smokey Point into a juveniles-only water. That happens May 1, and the club will sponsor a kids’ fish-in the next day. Club president Jim Brauch said the state has agreed to stock the lake, and that the club will spring for 500 of the larger fish similar to those going into Flowing and Blackman’s. The result should be some great fishing for young anglers.
More details on this one later.
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