The handful of trout lakes in the north Columbia Basin which open on March 1 generally draw a pretty good crowd, but anglers there are often hit with wind and cold temperatures, making for a less than pleasant day of fishing. Sunday was a different beast, according to state Fish and Wildlife Department biologist Chad Jackson in Ephrata.
“Anglers found fantastic fishing conditions,” he said. “Although a little chilly in the morning (mid- to high 20s), daytime temperatures eventually reached 50 degrees, with bright, sunny skies and virtually no wind for most of the day.”
Angler participation, Jackson said, was good — probably the highest in several years. Fishing success, however, was a little spotty and seemingly depended on whether or not the fisherman happened to hit “the bite.”
Upper Caliche Lake had the highest catch rate on the opener, averaging 3.9 trout per angler. Size of the rainbow was a little less than expected, at about 10 inches. Jackson said that the trout remaining in the lake will grow to about 12 inches in a couple of months, making Upper Caliche a good bet for a spring fishery.
Martha, Quincy and Burke lakes, on the Quincy Wildlife Area, fished a little slower on the opener, putting out two trout per angler. But word of mouth on those lakes was that fishermen who got there early, between 5:00 and 8:00 a.m., hit the bite, limited, and left, missing the creel check crew. Trout size was excellent in all three lakes, ranging in average size from 12 to 131/2 inches. Carryover rates in both Quincy and Burke were high, with 15- to 18-inch trout caught routinely through the day.
The “quality” lakes Lenice and Nunnally, on lower Crab Creek and under selective fishing rules, produced very well on the opener. Jackson said the number of trout hooked and released on Lake Lenice ranged from 20 to 50 fish, and the size was also excellent, ranging from 12 to 18-plus inches. The bulk of the trout measured 15 to 16 inches, Jackson said, and were very robust.
Some 40 boats were counted on Lenice, and 20 on Nunnally, with most fishermen using chironomids or leech patterns.
The mild winter has also prompted better than usual trout action on the seep lakes below Potholes Reservoir, most of which are open year-around and at this point free of ice. All the lakes in that area are open to fishing except those on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, which come on line April 1, and Warden/South Warden, which open the last Saturday in April.
MarDon Resort owner Mike Meseberg, on Potholes Reservoir, said the best technique for bank fishermen in the seep lakes is to use Power Bait, Pautzke’s salmon eggs, or just a big nightcrawler. They can be used alone, or in various combinations, Meseberg said.
Blythe Lake has good access, has had very little fishing pressure, and is producing rainbow to 20 inches. Both upper and lower Goose lakes offer boat fishing for trout, bass, crappie and walleye, while the lower lake has good bank fishing by the boat launch and a healthy population of channel catfish.
Local blackmouth
Winter blackmouth have been a little scarce in marine areas 8-1 and -2, but that’s not to say fishermen working the Hot Plugs derby this Saturday have little chance of scoring. All Star Charters owner Gary Krein in Everett said a few chinook in the 8- to 9-pound range have been caught recently off south Hat Island, and that both Onomac Point on the Camano side and Ole’s hole, directly across Saratoga Passage on the Whidbey side, are known derby producers.
Kevin John at Holiday Sports in Burlington said Maple Grove and Rocky Point are both worth a shot and that, while it’s been slow recently, Elger Bay will put out fish.
John recommends a blue or green plug-cut herring, or squid in apple core, double glow green, chartreuse, or white, fished right on the bottom.
Lower Skagit action
John said the Skagit opened Sunday from its mouth up to the Memorial Highway bridge in downtown Mount Vernon, and that the lower river is a favorite this time of year for dollies and cutthroat. Try the Conway area, John said, drifting and casting a Mepps or Vibrax spinner, or Rooster Tail, to shoreline structure, back eddies and the like.
John said he prefers half-ounce spoons such as the Steelie, and that fly fishing is also productive at times.
More smelt?
If you didn’t get your fill of smelt dipping during the two-day season on the Cowlitz recently, you get another chance — assuming you want to drive that far.
Oregon’s Sandy River will open March 7 and 15 under the same regulations that were in effect on the Washington side. No license is required, the limit is 10 pounds, about a quarter of a 5-gallon bucket, and dipping will be allowed from 6 a.m. to noon both days.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Joe Hymer in Vancouver said reports indicate smelt are in the river.
“The Sandy tends to have better visibility than the Cowlitz,” he said, “and that means the smelt will probably be a little spookier.”
The Sandy is a tributary of the Columbia at Troutdale, Oregon, across the river from Camas, Washington. Hymer said much of the smelt dipping on the river takes place around the Interstate 84 bridge, just upriver from Portland.
Multiple season permits
Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter the drawing for a 2015 multiple-season permit, which can greatly increase the chance of success in the field. In mid-April, WDFW will draw names for 8,500 multiple-season deer permits and 1,000 multiple-season elk permits.
Winners of the drawing will be eligible to purchase a special tag allowing them to participate in archery, muzzleloader and modern firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk in 2015. Winners who purchase the multiple-season elk tag by Aug. 31 can participate in general elk hunting seasons in both eastern and western Washington.
Winners also may choose any weapon type when applying for a special permit to hunt deer or elk.
“This is a great opportunity for hunters to extend their hunting season this fall,” said Mick Cope, game manager for WDFW. “Rather than having to choose just one hunting method over another, the multiple season permit allows more flexibility.”
Cope noted the tags can be used only during general seasons and in game management units that are open during a specific weapon type general season. For example, winners may not hunt during the muzzleloader general season in an area that is not open for the muzzleloader general season.
Hunters may apply only once for each species and are limited to taking one deer or elk.
Hunters may purchase a multiple-season permit application at an authorized license dealer, or by calling 866-246-9453. Permit application is $7.10 for residents and $110.50 for nonresidents.
Hunting licenses and multiple-season tags can be purchased from local license dealers, on the internet (http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov) or by calling the number above. Including transaction fees, multiple-season deer tags cost $139.10, in addition to the cost of an annual hunting license, while elk tags go for $182.
For more information, visit WDFW’s website, http://wdfw.wa.gov, or call the licensing department at 360-902-2464.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
