The second half of the unusual (and some say controversial) limited coho “season” runs Thursday through Sunday on the Snohomish River, hopefully to more participation than was evident during the first half last week. Mike Chamberlain at Ted’s Sport Center in Lynnwood said the Sept. 29-Oct. 2 opening was poorly attended, but that the sparse crowd could be explained by the late notification from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“The word has spread this week and, with decent weather, there should be more folks on the river,” Chamberlain said. “The rain we had this week should also bring in some fresh fish.”
Chamberlain said Thursday and Friday provided good fishing, including some limits, to experienced coho fishermen and mostly from the confluence down to about Big Rock. Action was more hit and miss farther down river, in tidal water, and slower on Saturday and Sunday, both for boaters and the scattering of bank anglers along Lowell River Road.
Boaters were drifting or anchoring above showing fish, and casting Dick Nite spoons (50-50 or frog patterns), eggs or spinners. Some were trolling plugs, Chamberlain said, with half-ounce Brad’s Wigglers and Yakima Bait’s 3.5 Mag Lips popular items. Bankies tossed spoons or spinners.
The coho were a little larger this year, Chamberlain said, going 6 to 8 pounds, with a few in the 10- to 12-pound range. The daily limit is two coho; everything else must be released.
The Skagit also opened to coho Sept. 28, and Kevin John at Holiday Sports in Burlington said action was a lot better than most years, with a fair number of 12-pound-plus fish taken.
“It was a pretty good opener,” John said. “There were a lot of fish around Thursday and Friday, then it slowed Saturday and Sunday. Taking the nets out and getting some rain should pick things up for this weekend.”
Boaters were drifting and casting plugs or spinners. Popular plugs included Brad’s Wigglers in BW29 and BW94 color patterns. Bank anglers were casting spoons and spinners.
The stretch from Burlington to Sedro-Woolley has generally provided the best fishing, but John said there are coho scattered through the system. The Skagit is open from its mouth to Marblemount, with a four-coho limit, only two of which can be wild fish; release all chum and chinook; bait and scent prohibited; and anti-snagging and night closure rules in effect.
Crab
Most areas of Puget Sound will reopen for recreational crabbing this month, as fishery managers have decided assessments of the summer crab harvest indicated more crab are available. Hood Canal opens Friday, along with that small portion of Marine Area 9 from the Hood Canal bridge north to a line between Foulweather Bluff and Olele Point (basically the north end of Hood Canal).
Eight more areas open Oct. 15, including marine areas 4 (Neah Bay east of the Tatoosh-Bonilla line); 5 (Sekiu); 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca); 7 (San Juan Islands); 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay); 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner); the remainder of 9 (Admiralty Inlet; and 10 (Seattle). In all these areas, recreational crabbing will be allowed seven days a week through Dec. 31.
State shellfish managers are still evaluating marine areas 11 (Tacoma) and 13 (south Puget Sound). All dungeness crab caught in the late-season fishery must be recorded on winter catch cards, free to those with crab endorsements and valid through Dec. 31.
Derby filling fast
As of Oct. 4, only 40 slots remained for the 2017 Roche Harbor Salmon Classic, and derby coordinator Debbie Sandwith at Roche Harbor Market warned that the event sold out by Thanksgiving last year. “I don’t see 2017 lasting that long,” she said, “so don’t hesitate to get your boat/team registered. You can add anglers later.”
Print an entry form at http://www.rocheharbor.com/ or call 1-800-451-8910.
Yakima kings
State fish biologist Paul Hoffarth in Pasco said last week was a very good week for anglers on the Yakima River. Some 257 anglers were contacted, with 61 adult fall chinook and two jacks, taking an average of 11 hours per fish. “That’s a big improvement over the prior week, at 31 hours per fish.” Hoffarth said.
Fishing should be good through the end of the fall season on Oct. 22.
Cowlitz potpourri
Not many rivers in the state will put out the mix of gamefish species harvested (or released) on the Cowlitz last week: Some 299 bank anglers with 24 sea-run cutthroat, 17 steelhead, 51 adult chinook, 13 adult coho, and 10 jack coho. About 230 boat fishermen with 18 steelhead, 50 adult coho, 10 jack coho, and 39 adult chinook.
State creel checkers said cutthroat and hatchery steelhead are mainly being caught near the trout hatchery, and chinook near the barrier dam (most were wild and released). Coho are scattered throughout the river, particularly near the mouth.
At Drano Lake, on the Columbia above Bonneville Dam, 59 boat anglers last week had 19 adult chinook, 17 steelhead, six adult coho, and 12 steelhead released.
The buoy 10 fishery is about finished for the year, with little effort recorded last week and a few coho caught.
Hanford reach
Still good fishing available for fall chinook on the Hanford Reach portion of the Columbia River, above the Tri-Cities. Boat fishermen continue to average a chinook per boat (14 angler hours per fish). Best fishing was in the Ringold area, at 1.6 fish per boat; Vernita was a little lower at 1.4 chinook per boat; and bank fishing at Ringold was slow last week at 60 hours per chinook.
The numbers of fall chinook moving upstream through the McNary fish ladders is declining, with the latest run size update for Hanford Reach wild fall chinook at 107,376 adults — well below the preseason forecast but still a strong run.
Cabela’s sold
According to the Berkley Fishing Wire, Bass Pro Shops will acquire Cabela’s Inc. for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $5.5 billion. The wire says all Cabela’s CLUB points and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards points will be unaffected by the transactions and customers can continue to use their credit cards as usual.
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