Weekly hunting and fishing report

Thu., Sept. 17, 2015

By Alan Liere spokesmanliere@yahoo.com

Tip of the week

While fly fishing with a hopper and dropper, twitch the hopper on the surface rather than just stripping it in. The extra action can drive trout crazy.

Overheard

Although the past 7 years have seen the three largest runs of sockeye salmon into the upper Columbia River, 54 percent to 74 percent of sockeye destined for the Okanogan River Basin this year are missing. That will likely wipe out the Okanogan run that returns in 2019. Okanogan sockeye account for as much as 80 percent of the total upper Columbia River sockeye run.

Heads up

• The Westport Boat Basin free Salmon Derby is on through Oct. 31. This coho fishery generally peaks toward the end of September as the fish cruise around among the many docks until going elsewhere to spawn. All 21 numbered docks can be used and the fish are generally in the top 3 feet of water. The Mepps Flying C spinner in yellow or pink has been productive through the years. Info: westportgrayland-chamber.org.

• Anti-snagging rules are in effect in The Dalles and Bonneville Pools through Oct. 15, and on the White Salmon River and Drano Lake through Dec. 31. The anti-snagging rule is described on page 10 of the 2015-16 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.

• The WDFW has rescinded drought closures and restrictions on many Eastern Washington streams including the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers. For a complete list of affected waters, check the fishing hotline at (360) 902-2500 or the webpage at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules all freshwater.j

Fly fishing

It’s beginning to feel like fall in the Clearwater/Kelly Creek area. Bull trout are inhaling streamers and the hopper/dropper combo is still a favorite with the cutts. Mahogany duns and October Caddis are also drawing attention.

Steelhead numbers in the lower Clearwater River are increasing daily. Flies with lots of purple have been popular from Cherry Lane down. The Grande Ronde is still a few weeks away from decent steelheading, but the smallmouth bite is excellent.

Salmon and steelhead

The second season for coho salmon in Idaho will end Friday at midnight in the mainstream Clearwater, Middle Fork Clearwater and North Fork Clearwater rivers.

Based on fish counts and tag detections at Columbia River dams, the estimated number of adult coho returning to the Clearwater River is far less than the preseason forecast and will likely be less than required for hatchery broodstock and none will be available for harvest. Last year, more than 18,000 coho passed over Lower Granite Dam. As of Monday, only nine have crossed at the dam.

On Sept. 1, the Yakima River opened for salmon fishing from the Highway 240 bridge upstream to the Grant Avenue Bridge below Prosser Dam. As with the Columbia River, fishery managers expect a large return of fall Chinook and coho to the Yakima this year, but the fish generally don’t move into the river until water temperatures drop to a comfortable level, usually in late September or early October.

The Chinook bite at Hanford has been impressive on some days, dependent on the weather and water releases. The fish are bigger this year and beginning to show some red, but the flesh is excellent still. Scent bombs have become increasingly popular with trollers. There is a three adult, three jack limit.

The Vernita Bridge area has been good to Chinook anglers. When the current is slow, anglers have been fishing Super Baits all day.

The pool behind Wells Dam has been drawn way down and the water will remain low for the rest of the month. The boat launch at the City RV Park and Marina is unusable, but the new launch just downstream is in service. The Chinook are not in their normal spots, but there are fish to be had.

Anglers fishing off Neah Bay must now release wild coho salmon. The change in coho retention does not apply to marine areas 1-3

Trout and kokanee

Nighttime Loon Lake kokanee fishing is not nearly as popular now that the weather has cooled, but trollers are still doing well, dragging Wedding Rings about three colors down. This year’s spawners are approaching 12 inches and next year’s fish are about 9 inches.

Licensed anglers can fish without daily catch or size limits on six Eastern Washington lakes scheduled for rehabilitation late next month: Upper and Lower Green lakes and Rat Lake in Okanogan County, No Name Lake in Pend Oreille County and Badger and Williams lakes in Spokane County. The no-limits fishing opportunity will run through Oct. 18 on the three lakes in Okanogan County and through Oct. 25 on the other three lakes.

Kokanee anglers on Lake Roosevelt are still finding fish, but they are not quite as predictable as they were a couple of weeks ago. The fish seem to be hanging at 80 feet or so and the best reports come from the Jones Bay area. Limits of rainbow have been pretty common, and though a lot of these are summer plants which are now about 13 inches, the lake seems to be heating up for the bigger trout.

Deep Lake in Grant County is a multispecies year-round Washington lake north of Soap Lake, with a good population of 12-inch kokanee that are largely overlooked. The fish are beginning to redden up a little, but they should remain good eating into early October.

Spiny ray

Downs Lake and Coffeepot Lake close at the end of the month, but late September is a good time to cash in on big perch, and both lakes also have trout. Unfortunately, low water at Coffeepot has left the public access site there unavailable for backing in a boat.

Silver Lake has been good to largemouth fishermen recently. A lot of the fish are in the 11-inch range, but there are plenty of 2- to 4-pound fish. Tubes have been the most effective.

Lake Spokane has also been good for bass. The smallmouth have been small, but the largemouth are bigger, and an occasional pike sweetens the pot.

Plenty of other lakes throughout the region are open year-round or at least remain open through October. Clear Lake typically produces good catches of crappie, and largemouth bass as fall advances. Other lakes continue to provide good fishing for bass and panfish, including Silver, Liberty and Newman.

Banks Lake is producing walleye at a fast clip with lots of 13- to 14-inch fish. Potholes Reservoir walleye fishing hasn’t slowed down a bit from the torrid summer bite. Take lots of nightcrawlers as the perch are also numerous, stealing bait and providing constant action. Many of these are a foot or better in length.

Lake Coeur d’Alene pike are coming out of a lethargic summer and slamming spinnerbaits in 10 feet of water. Some big bass are hitting the same offering.

Hunting

Saturday and Sunday are the special youth-only waterfowl and upland game bird hunting season for Washington hunters 16 years and younger. A non-hunting adult at least 18 years old must accompany young hunters. A special pheasant hunting opportunity for hunters 65 or older runs Monday through Friday.

The Idaho chukar, gray partridge and quail seasons run Saturday through Jan. 31. Bag limits on chukar and gray partridge are eight each per day and the quail limit is 10 per day. The populations of both species are up. Area 2 in eastern Idaho is closed.

Idaho Panhandle grouse are abundant this year and populations are well up in Washington. Hunters report seeing 20-40 birds a day.

The seven-day Idaho sage-grouse season begins Saturday with a one-bird daily limit and a two-bird possession limit. A season information brochure, including a map of areas open to sage-grouse hunting, is available online at fishandgame.idaho.gov/ public/docs/rules/ uplandSageGrouse.pdf.

All Idaho lands have not reopened after the summer fires and hunters should check before heading to their hunting spots. Fire activity and information about access closures and campfire restrictions are at fishandgame.idaho.gov/ fire.

Contact Alan Liere at spokesmanliere@ yahoo.com