When the rivers are out and the blackmouth action leaves something to be desired, there’s a third, local, opportunity for anglers.
And it just got a whole lot sweeter.
The annual plant of triploid rainbow trout in Lake Stevens hit the water two weeks ago — with fish ranging in size from 9 inches to 6 pounds — courtesy once again of the Cooperative Trout Enhancement Program, initiated and supported by Jim and Laurie Goerg of Lake Stevens, owners of The Reel News.
The program is also supported by other sportfishing-oriented firms and organizations, and by anglers donating a few dollars to the cause.
Triploid rainbows are sterile, putting energy into growth rather than reproduction, and those fish that go uncaught have the potential to grow into trophy proportions. Similar fish released from net-pen operations on the upper Columbia River are now well into the 20-plus-pound range and have produced the past three state record rainbows.
This latest plant at Lake Stevens consisted of about 2,000 fish, and reports from successful fishermen last week indicated a high proportion of rainbows in the 15- and 16-inch range.
Everett angler Ryan Kamerer was an example. He fished from the pier at Wyatt Park (west side of the lake) one morning last week and reported catching several trout over 15 inches, one in the 2-plus-pound range, and losing another, larger, fish. He was using chartreuse Power Eggs on 2 to 3 feet of leader, with enough split shot weight to put the bait out there a substantial distance. When the wind bothers, Kamerer said, the small-diameter Spider Wire-type line offers less resistance.
Greg Rockenbach at Greg’s Custom Rods in Lake Stevens said at least for now the fish are staying fairly shallow, being taken the past few days not much deeper than 5 or 6 feet by trollers pulling light lures.
“Trolling flies is popular,” Rockenbach said, “on intermediate line, using stuff like a bead-head stonefly imitation that can’t be going very deep. The size-5 Rapalas are also catching fish, no weight, in perch or rainbow color patterns.”
Most dock fishermen, he said, are using either Power Bait or a mini-marshmallow/nightcrawler combination, at Wyatt Park; directly across the lake at Sunset Park; or at “the gazebo,” behind Lake Stevens City Hall.
“The pier at that latter spot is over shallow water,” Rockenbach said, “but because of the outlet there and the resulting water movement, it can be good at times.”
When the triploid rainbow program started, there was some grumbling from long-time Lake Stevens kokanee fishermen, worrying that the trout would take over habitat and food needed by the much-sought landlocked sockeye. Although that issue hasn’t been completely resolved, and could eventually prove problematic, Rockenbach said there is little evidence so far that the kokes have suffered any damage.
It’s not too late to kick in a few tax-deductible dollars to the program, if you’re so inclined. Send a check made out to CTEP to Jim Goerg, 621 SR 9 N.E., #A-16, Lake Stevens, Wash., 98258.
Stealhead: The Whidbey Island beaches are kicking out a few winter fish on a fairly regular basis, and may well be one of the few steelheading opportunities available as this series of weather fronts moves through the area. There are fresh winter fish in the streams, if and when the water drops and clears. Bob Ferber at Holiday Market Sports in Burlington said the Cascade has been very good at times over the past week or so, for small hatchery brats in the 5- to 7-pound range, most taken on a float and marabou jig.
The occasional winter steelhead is also being boated on the upper Skagit, along with pretty good numbers of Dolly Varden to 6 or 7 pounds and larger. Standard steelhead gear will take the dollies, as will fly tackle and either flesh or egg patterns.
The North Fork of the Stillaguamish, when fishable, has produced for drift boaters working the stretch from the Cicero Bridge down to Arlington, Ferber said.
Guide and Arlington resident Sam Ingram said the Skykomish is also holding chrome winter-runs, when the rains hold off. He said the Sultan has been pumping in mud, however, as water managers drop the level of Spada Lake — a process Ingram said took about a month to complete last year.
“That makes the stretch of the river from Reiter Ponds to Sultan the best bet, at least for the immediate future,” he said.
The Cowlitz is probably the best steelhead prospect right now, as the big river enters the peak of its winter fishery. It has been running high and fairly dirty, but longtime Cowlitz aficionados know you can still do very well fishing the sweet section around and below the new trout hatchery outfall. Lake Stevens resident and fishing fanatic TJ Nelson said the sight of the incredible evidence left on and around I-5 by the recent flooding of the Chehalis River is worth the drive to the Cowlitz, by itself.
Hunting: If you’re a waterfowler and you’re not out amongst ‘em these days, you’re missing some of the best shooting of the season. Wind, water and colder temperatures have all combined to provide top hunting, both for snow geese and ever increasing numbers of ducks. Anthon Steen at Holiday Market Sports said the key to snow goose success is to do some careful scouting and then set up right in the birds’ path. There’s a lot of duck chow left in the Skagit delta, he said, and field hunting is picking up as the birds move inland.
The state, by the way, will be improving the horrendous intersection of Highway 20, Interstate 5, the railroad and several goat trails on the west edge of Burlington, where Holiday Market and its adjacent Holiday Market Sports is located. Ferber assures faithful sportsmen that while the convenience store will of necessity be moved, the tackle shop will remain open.
Derby sold out: The Feb. 7-10, 2008, version of the Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational has reached its 100-boat entry limit and is now taking names for the waiting list. Derby coordinator Debbie Sandwith said there are 3-5 cancellations each year, so if you’re interested, contact her at Roche Harbor Market (360-378-5562) or via e-mail at market@rocheharbor.com.
Cowlitz smelt: As during the past two years, most indicators point to another poor smelt run on Pacific Northwest rivers, according to Brad James, biologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. So again, the Cowlitz will be the only Columbia River tributary open to smelt dipping in Washington, and again, only on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The season opens Jan. 5 and is scheduled to run through March 29, although it could be closed or expanded, depending on in-season estimates of run strength.
Rufus Woods access: The Columbia River pool above Chief Joseph Dam at Bridgeport has become a high-profile, high-quality recreational fishery over the past seven or eight years, but since it forms the southern boundary of the Colville Reservation, licensing requirements have been complicated and access has pretty much been limited to a boat launch at both ends of its 51-mile length. All of that may change, with an agreement signed recently between the state and Colville Confederated Tribes, which, if everything goes as planned, will provide for simplified licensing requirements and for up to three new access sites on the reservation side of the river.
Under the agreement, non-Indians could fish with either a state license or a Colville tribal permit if fishing from a boat or from any of the three proposed access areas. As funding becomes available, the access sites will first be developed as rough access, but over the next five years equipped with docks, boat ramps, restrooms and camping facilities. The first rough access could be available sometime in 2008, state North Central Regional Director Dennis Beich said.
Rufus Woods provides excellent fishing for walleye and big kokanee, but it has been the tribally stocked triploid rainbow trout that have really pushed the reservoir up the piscatorial ladder. The past three state record rainbows have come out of Woods, and many fishermen from here make the trek over the pass for a long weekend or a week fishing for 20-pound trout.
Guide Anton Jones in Chelan (ANTONJ@aol.com) said right now is the peak of the winter season for Rufus Woods triploid rainbows. Use a boat and troll woolly bugger-type flies near the surface, or run up and drift back, casting spoons or spinners around points and structure. Or just soak Power Bait down near the dam (drive up the south side of the river from Bridgeport to any of the Corps of Engineers access sites), 5 or 6 feet under a slip bobber.
If fishing artificials, you can catch and release until you choose to keep a couple of fish. If using bait, the rules require you to keep the first two fish you catch. Most of the trips are running 2 to 5 pounds, Jones said, with a fair number into the teens.
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