It’s going to take a truly dedicated razor-clam enthusiast to brave the temperatures predicted this weekend for the ocean beaches. But for those decked out in full snuggies, there should be plenty of clams available for the latest recreational dig, which opens Friday and runs through Sunday.
Open beaches include Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks, said state Department of Fish and Wildlife shellfish biologist Dan Ayres in Montesano. Kalaloch Beach remains closed because of lingering high levels of the marine toxin domoic acid. The beach has been closed to clam digging since a large algae bloom washed ashore in July, Ayres said, but the good news is that toxin levels are finally falling.
This dig is likely to be a repeat of the last one two months ago – plenty of clams, but smallish in size. Diggers reported pockets of larger clams, with the majority running in the 4-plus-inch range.
The digging tides for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are as follows: Friday, plus 0.1 foot at 4:01 p.m.; Saturday, minus 0.5 at 4:55 p.m., and Sunday, minus 1.0 at 5:47 p.m.
Tentative digs are scheduled for Feb. 5-7 and March 6-8, both on evening tides (the best will be a minus 0.7 on Feb. 7). Both digs are dependent on toxin levels. Ayres said clam populations will be assessed after those two openings, with an eye toward a possible morning dig in the spring.
Steelhead: Another slow to mediocre winter steelhead season limps along on Western Washington rivers, although an angler willing to pound it hard in certain areas can reasonably expect to land a fish.
On the Skagit, for instance, a fair number of hatchery steelhead finally showed in the mainstem, with the Hamilton-to-Rockport stretch offering some action. And early-morning fishermen on the Cascade River are still hitting a few steelies, according to Bob Ferber at Holiday Market Sports in Burlington (360-757-4361). Ferber said most Cascade anglers are using either a float/jig setup, or drifting small Corkies and split shot. Spoons also have been successful on occasion, Ferber said.
Cold, dry weather has dropped the entire Skagit into fishable condition, finally, and has cleared the Skykomish below the slide-damaged Sultan. The Sky has put out fish recently at Elwell Creek and at Hansen’s Bar, among other spots, according to ex-guide and Everett resident Mike Greenleaf, but most have been small, 4- to 6-pound fish.
“In fact,” Greenleaf said, “sliding your cartopper into the Snohomish and enjoying a nice day while plunking in a good slot, would probably be about as productive a scenario as you could find in most of Western Washington right now.”
The Stillaguamish is slow, as are the Satsop, Wynoochee, and many other southwest streams. The Cowlitz has been not quite a disaster this winter, but mediocre at best, Greenleaf said. Most successful fishermen are sitting right at the mouth of Blue Creek, or pounding the two or three holes below it, he said.
“It might be a story of ‘big fish, small run,” he said, “because some of the few steelhead they’re boating have been really nice fish in the high teens.”
The latest state creel checks from the Cowlitz showed 18 anglers at the barrier dam with one fish; nine bank anglers at Blue Creek with five; 25 boat anglers at Blue Creek with seven; and four bank anglers at Mission Bar with none. The average amount of time it took to nail a steelhead from the bank at Blue Creek was slightly over 12 hours of fishing, according to state statistics.
Greenleaf said several experienced Cowlitz guides, including longtimer Clancy Holt, have canceled future trips and left the river.
A significantly better-than-average steelhead clinic is on tap Saturday morning at Three Rivers Marine in Woodinville, starting at 9 a.m. and costing $10. The entry fee includes hot dogs and soda, and access to Dave Vedder on float fishing; Bill Herzog on spoon and spinner fishing; and Salmon-Trout-Steelheader editor Nick Amato on drift fishing techniques.
“Additionally,” according to guide and Lake Stevens resident Tom Nelson, “the Northwest Wild Country Radio crew of Joel Shangle and I will rush to Three Rivers after our usual Saturday 6 to 8 a.m. broadcast on KJR 950 AM, to accept listener abuse in person.”
Nelson said that morning’s broadcast will feature some of the above experts, so you can call in to KJR with questions and comments.
And before moving on, how do you think it would feel to be able to wind up with your best steelhead rod and throw your slinky from the Lewis Street Bridge all the way up to the Ben Howard access?
Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. This year’s Sportcast USA World Long Casting champion, Tommy Farmer, of Wilmington, Del., tossed a 41/2-ounce weight 819 feet to win his title and just miss the American record of 821 feet. Competitors in this particular class use 8-pound test line, a 30-foot shock leader of 60-pound line, special rods and reels, and a windup that would do credit to a good Spey caster.
Gissberg trout: Chad Jackson, fish biologist at the state’s Mill Creek office, warns that north Gissberg Pond not only went to juveniles-only regulations last year, but also to a standard April-to-October trout season. It’s now closed to fishing, although the south pond remains open year-around.
Smelt: Dipping at the Oak Harbor Marina has been spotty this winter, but if you hit it on a good day, it can be limit action.
Blackmouth: Marine Area 10 winter blackmouth fishing has been at least so-so at Kingston and farther south at Jefferson Head. State checks at the Shilshole ramp on Sunday tallied seven blackmouth for 20 fishermen, most from Jeff Head.
Columbia Basin: Fishing guide and Brewster resident Rod Hammons (509-689-2849) said fishing remains fair for both big triploid rainbows in Rufus Woods Lake, between Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams on the Columbia River, and steelhead.
“The good news on the steelhead front,” he said, “is that we’re nowhere close to reaching the mortality percentage on wild fish (that) would close the season (on the Columbia and Methow), so we might be able to fish clear into March.”
Poacher pays: On Oct. 13, state enforcement officers cited a Mount Vernon resident for illegally taking seven wild chinook from the lower Skagit River, along with 18 coho, while using multiple fishing rods in violation of state regulations. Brian Gorman, spokesman for the National Marine Fisheries Service, said the angler may also face federal penalties for Endangered Species Act violations.
Gorman said a similar poaching incident occurred in 2001, when a Mount Vernon man was caught with a 40-pound chinook from the Skagit. The man was fined $5,000 for violating the ESA, and his 16-foot, custom-built fishing boat was seized.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
