Hunting+Fishing

Several area lakes opening Saturday may not be fishable in traditional ways because of ice cover. These include Amber, Medical, Downs, North Silver and Liberty in Spokane County; Coffeepot in Lincoln County; and Deer in Stevens County.

Liberty Lake is particularly intriguing as it has some decent perch and crappie as well as walleye and trout.

Ice fishermen venturing out should keep in mind that Amber, Medical and Coffeepot are selective-gear waters, but just as important, that ice conditions can change rapidly this time of year. Some of these lakes, such as Deer, have springs that prevent the ice from getting too solid. Use caution.

The seven impoundments off the Tucannon River in Columbia County – Beaver, Big Four, Blue, Deer, Rainbow, Spring and Watson – also open to fishing Saturday for hatchery-stocked rainbows. At midweek, all but Big Four were stocked and ice-free. Fishhook Pond in Walla Walla County and Pampa Pond in Whitman County also open Saturday for stocked rainbow fishing, but they could also still be icy.

Many Columbia Basin trout lakes open to fishing Saturday, too, but persistent wintry conditions will delay angling action in the lakes south of Potholes. Best bets for some early fishing will be in the Quincy Wildlife Area where Burke is open on the east and west sides; Dusty, which is beginning to thaw; and Martha, which is open on the north end. Other lakes, such as Quincy, are still ice-covered, but there is probably not enough for safe ice fishing. WDFW biologist Jeff Korth of Moses Lake predicted Burke and Quincy lakes will eventually be among the best bets.

Also fishable are Upper, Lower and West Caliche lakes. Dusty Lake, a selective-gear lake, is just beginning to thaw and may have open water by today. The fishing there should be good.

Lenice and Nunnally lakes, on WDFW’s Crab Creek Wildlife Area just east of Beverly in southwest Grant County, open under selective-gear rules Saturday, but won’t receive triploid rainbow plants until April. Much smaller Merry Lake in the same area also opens Saturday. Lenice is ice-free and Nunnally could be ice-free by Saturday.

Lake Lenore north of the town of Soap Lake in Grant County opens for catch-and- release trout fishing Saturday. By the nature of its location in a north-south canyon, Lenore will almost surely still be iced up for the opener this year.

Enough tales of 40-minute limits abound for Rufus Woods to still be considered the hottest trout spot in Washington. Friends Rob Harbin and Gary Russell of Moses Lake recently trolled purple WalleyPops and bottom bouncers for quick limits in 17-25 feet of water across from the unimproved launch.

Lake Roosevelt trollers aren’t having the phenomenal fishing usually found this time of year. The best luck has come by casting Power Bait in the bays.

The primitive launch is the biggest obstacle to a good fishing trip on Rock Lake, which is still cranking out rainbows and browns. Spin-fishermen are doing better than the trollers on 16- to 20-inch fish. Stay close to shore and cast toward the lake for a mixed bag.

Steelhead, salmon

The Clearwater River has been best from the mouth to Orofino. Bait fishermen are catching approximately one fish per 10 hours on the North Fork. The water is clear.

The Grande Ronde was running at 2,400 cfs at midweek with 2 feet of visibility. Water temperature was 38 degrees. There weren’t many anglers on the river.

Bait fishermen are still picking up a few steelhead at the mouth of the Tucannon on the Snake near Lyons Ferry.

The Okanogan River still has a lot of ice and the best steelhead holes are inaccessible. This should be a really good fishery in a couple of weeks.

This year’s Columbia River fishing seasons are designed to give anglers an opportunity to take advantage of strong returns of chinook bound for upriver hatcheries, while protecting weak Willamette River stocks. Columbia River anglers will be able to fish for spring chinook salmon from the west power lines on Hayden Island to Bonneville Dam six days per week (Tuesdays excluded) from March 16 through April 30; from Tower Island power lines above Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam seven days per week from March 16 through May 10; and from the west power lines on Hayden Island downstream to Buoy 10 seven days per week from March 23 to April 4.

Spiny ray

Walleye fishing has been good on Lake Roosevelt at the mouth of the Spokane and near Kettle Falls. Larger fish are coming from depths of 20-30 feet and “eating-size” fish much deeper. Rufus Woods walleyes are off and on, but for the most part have provided a more reliable bite than those in Roosevelt.

On the Columbia, Boulder Alley and the submerged island near Irrigon have given up some large walleye of late.

The Snake River in the vicinity of Little Goose Dam has become increasingly popular with walleye anglers. It’s a tough fishery to learn, but once it’s dialed in, results can be spectacular.

Eloika Lake still has a foot of good ice. Anglers who fish early and late are doing well on 7- to 9-inch perch. Newman Lake has solid ice, but for the most part, Eloika perch are more cooperative. No good news yet from the Coulee City boat basin. The numbers are there, but the perch are small. Outside the basin, ice anglers are taking numerous whitefish.

Both Potholes Reservoir and Moses Lake have an ice cover, but not enough for safe ice fishing.

Ice fishing around Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint is becoming a day-to-day adventure as the ice deteriorates. Fernan, Hauser, Cocallala and Round have been good for some nice perch. The best ice is farther north in the little lakes near Bonners Ferry.