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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hunting & Fishing

Fenton Roskelley Correspondent

Winter lakes

If you want to catch big trout this weekend, fish Fourth of July Lake. Some rainbows are 22 inches.

And the rainbows in Hog Canyon are big enough to satisfy even the most critical fisherman. Most of those caught by anglers on opening day were 12 to 14 inches.

Anyone who knew anything about fishing caught trout at the two lakes on opening day, especially during the early morning. Fishing slowed a little after about 10 a.m., but anglers still hauled in fish.

Both lakes attracted big crowds. By 9:30 at Hog Canyon, there were 50 vehicles in the public access area and the new parking area from where fishermen walked to the upper end of the lake.

Hog Canyon is a little low, but not too low to launch boats off trailers.

Most boaters trolled lures, but many still-fished from boats and shore. A young couple reported catching 10 fish in 35 minutes. They trolled a small, orange Rooster Tail lure very slowly.

Anglers who fished from the shore near the public access area didn’t do well. Those who walked down to the water’s edge, however, took limits. They fished bait on and just above the bottom.

In past years, there were times when only a four-wheel-drive vehicle could be driven to the public access area. No more. The Bureau of Reclamation has filled in the ruts, particularly on the steep hill just above the launching site, making it possible for even a low-slung passenger car to get to the access area.

Later in the morning at Fourth of July, the huge parking lot was filled. Many fishermen walked to the lake and fished from shore. Just as many launched small boats and float tubes.

Fourth of July, high enough for anglers to launch small boats off trailers, seems to be full of rainbows ranging from 10 to 22 inches. A high percentage are 17 to 18 inches. Numerous anglers apparently did a lot of sorting to try to take home five fish. The limit is five trout, two of which can’t be more than 14 inches long.

Rainbows planted as fry usually don’t show up in anglers’ bags the first part of the season at Fourth of July. However, most fishermen said they caught some 10- to 11-inchers that were released as fry last spring.

It’s apparent the two lakes will provide excellent fishing during the winter months. They’re full of fish.

Fishing was excellent at Williams Lake, 18 miles north of Colville. Madonna Luers of the Spokane regional office of the Fish and Wildlife Department said most anglers took five-fish limits of 10- to 11-1/2 rainbows. Williams was rehabilitated last year.

Steelhead

Steelhead fishing continued excellent along parts of the lower Snake River and tributaries.

As usual, the best fishing was along the Tucannon, where, according to the Fish and Wildlife Department, anglers averaged 4.8 hours per steelhead during the week ended Sunday. The Walla Walla and Touchet also were kind to fishermen with the Walla Walla averaging only 4.5 hours and the Touchet 5.8.

Other checks: McNary Dam area, 9.3 hours; Wallula, 9.3; Lower Monumental, 24.8; Little Goose, 33.4; Lower Granite, 32.4; and the Grande Ronde, 6.4

The Idaho Fish and Game Department reported that anglers averaged 33 hours per fish along the Snake above Clarkston. It was a little better along the Clearwater last weekend, with fishermen averaging 26 hours per fish along the lower river and 22 hours along the North Fork.

More than 85,000 steelhead have been counted at Lower Granite Dam.

Waterfowl

Migration of ducks and geese out of Canada and into the Inland Northwest is just about complete.

Already, thousands of ducks that were unwary when they arrived in Eastern Washington only a couple of weeks ago now circle decoy spreads warily and won’t respond to weird calls from incompetent hunters.

Most of the ducks are in the northern Columbia Basin. They’ll continue resting on Moses Lake, the North Potholes Reserve and on the Eagle Lakes, on lakes in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and many other waters until the still waters are frozen over and their food is covered with snow. Then they’ll move in large numbers to the Columbia River, particularly in the Umatilla area.

Hunting has been excellent on some potholes and lakes but poor at others.

A high percentage of North Idaho waterfowlers are concentrating on Canada geese, said Jeff Smith, owner of the Fins & Feathers shop at Coeur d’Alene.

There are large numbers of geese on big waters, he said. Best hunting is along the Pend Oreille River and the Kootenai River systems, in the Clark Fork area and along the south end of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Plenty of ducks are still in North Idaho.

Upland birds

You can hear a lot of different stories from pheasant hunters. Talk to one who has hunted wild birds in Spokane and Lincoln counties and you’ll believe there aren’t enough birds for even mediocre shooting. Talk to another who has hunted along the Snake River breaks and you’ll believe there are plenty of roosters.

For example, one friend, who has an outstanding black Lab, said he hunted several hours in Lincoln Country a few days ago and saw only three hens. He’s wondering whether it’s worthwhile to hunt pheasants any more this year.

Another hunter and his partner told me they hunted the steep Snake River breaks for 5 hours last weekend and saw scores of pheasants. At least 25 were roosters.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t shoot straight. Four roosters got up under their feet and their pellets didn’t touch a feather. They returned home without a bird.

That’s the way it goes in Eastern Washington. You have to be in the right place to see enough birds for a good hunt. And unless you are willing to hike steadily for several hours behind a good dog, you are unlikely to take home more than one rooster.

Pheasants are up to their old tricks. They run through cover the moment they become aware hunters are pursuing them and they flush out of range. Few roosters that have survived this long take chances.

Best pheasant hunting in North Idaho is in the Lewiston area, Smith said.

Salmon

Some big-fish anglers trolled for chinook salmon at Lake Coeur d’Alene instead of taking part in the challenge derby at Lake Pend Oreille, Smith said.

Fishing for the chinooks was fair last weekend.

Guide Rick Caddy took several groups salmon fishing. Best day for hooking the chinooks was Saturday, when his clients caught six fish. Most weighed 4 to 5 pounds.

Smith recommended anglers troll mini-squids behind glow flashers in 60 to 80 feet of water.

Pike

If you want to catch northern pike, fish smelt or herring below a bobber at one of the lakes along the lower Coeur d’Alene drainage, Smith said. Most of the pike anglers have been catching weigh 3 to 5 pounds. Cave and Thompson are the most productive lakes.

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