Hunting and Fishing

Salmon and steelhead

Idaho anadromous fish biologist Larry Barrett said close to 20,000 hatchery-B steelhead have passed Lower Granite Dam. This bodes well for the Clearwater fishery, but success last weekend was only one fish for 13 hours of fishing. One angler, however, reported hitting steelhead at night between the Memorial and Railroad bridges using small Vortex lures with pulsating LEDs.

On the Snake, fishermen are averaging one fish every 5 1/2 hours. The waters around Heller Bar have been productive, but there has been a parking congestion problem at Heller, particularly on weekends.

Steelhead are spread out throughout the entire Snake system, with fish all the way to Hells Canyon Dam and up the tributaries. At Darver Tackle in Starbuck, Wash., Verna Foley reports some of the bigger Snake steelhead are coming off the wall at Little Goose. She described the action as “sporadic,” a situation that is familiar to any steelhead angler. The store at Darver has monthly prizes for the largest fish. Winners for October were Russell Hanson of Dayton, Wash., Joe Garza of Walla Walla and Larry Krumpelman of Idaho, all with fish of more than 17 pounds. Foley said the Walla Walla fishery is hot, but that the Tucannon has not yet arrived. The water is low and spawning salmon are still in the river. When they’re gone, the Tucannon would be a good place to drift roe or pink flies.

Guide Rick Hedding of Family Christian Anglers said Grande Ronde fish are running bigger this year, possibly because of an Oregon project that is taking more brood stock from fall-run fish. At Boggan’s Oasis, Bill Vail said the water temperature has dropped and fly fishermen aren’t having much luck on the Grande Ronde, although plug fishing has been “fantastic.” Backtrollers are taking numerous 6- to 10-pound fish a day, running almost 50-50 hatchery and wild. Vail said there are so many fish, color doesn’t seem to matter, but HotShots and variations are most popular.

Trout and silvers

Rocky Ford is kicking out some big trout, but as usual this time of year, the water is clear and the fish spooky. There has been a lot of pressure. Small Blue Winged Olives or big scuds have been effective, said Jan Sadlo at the Blue Dun Fly Shop in Spokane. He notes that one of the best fly-fishing waters is the Big Spokane above the Meenach Bridge. He predicts midge fishing will explode if there isn’t a heavy rain.

The North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene is giving up big fish, but you have to work for them. Nymphing is the way to go. The Clark Fork will probably stay decent for another week or two, with a narrow window of opportunity in the afternoons.

Rufus Woods Lake has not been fished hard lately for trout, but now is the time the big ones start cruising shallower water. Rainbows are also shallower at Roosevelt. A lot of 17- to 18-inchers are being caught on the troll near Seven Bays at 20-25 feet using Apex lures or Ripp’n Minnows. Closer to Keller, the fish are averaging quite a bit larger, said Ray Bailey at R-C Guide Service. Shore fishermen on Roosevelt are beginning to make some nice catches with Power Bait or marshmallows and worms.

There are still silvers up to 1.5 pounds to be caught at Banks. These are running at the same depth as Banks trout, 50 to 60 feet down.

Spiny ray

Walleye fishing hasn’t been good on Banks. At Roosevelt, walleyes are in 50 to 60 feet of water, which lowers survival following release. Rufus Woods, from the net pens upriver, was the hottest walleye spot last week.

“This is one of the very best times for bass,” said Dave Altier of Coulee Playland Resort on Banks Lake. He said the fall is often overlooked for both smallmouth and largemouth. Coulee Playland is hosting the Frost Bite Tourney this weekend, a two-man bass tournament with a $100 entry fee. Register between 5 and 6 a.m. Saturday. Altier predicts it will take 24 pounds to win. Info: 888-633-2671.

Other species

A razor clam dig tentatively scheduled Thursday through Nov. 13 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks will proceed as planned if a second marine toxin test confirms that the clams are safe to eat. All four beaches passed the first round of tests for domoic acid “with flying colors,” said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

Waterfowl

In the Moses Lake area, hunters and guides are seeing a fair number of northern ducks and lots of geese. At Quackers Guide Service, Gary Russell said there are as many birds in the Basin as there were on Thanksgiving last year, and he is seeing some of the prettiest wigeon ever. He predicts waterfowl hunting will get better as long as there is not a hard freeze. Info: 750-7807.

Stratford Lake geese have bounced around and the population fluctuates by thousands on a daily basis. There has been excellent field hunting for lesser Canadas, said Tony Bernson of Moses Lake.

Upland birds

Upland bird hunters south of Spokane are not seeing many coveys of gray partridge. I hunted recently in good Hun habitat near Winona, but saw only two. Pheasant numbers were average, and my party of three took seven roosters from thick cover. Other pheasant hunters with decent dogs are still finding enough birds to keep them interested.

Snake River chukars are still spread out at the higher elevations. A good snow on top would make them covey up and move down. While Idaho chukar numbers are high, success in Washington’s Wawawai and Steptoe Canyons remains low.

Big game

Eastern Washington’s late whitetail buck season runs Monday through Nov. 19, and the late muzzleloading season starts Nov. 20. For late-season archers, eastern Washington whitetail reopens Wednesday in Unit 101, and Nov. 20 in some other units for both whitetail and mule deer. In Idaho, the late whitetail season begins Wednesday in units 8, 8A, 10, 10A, 12, 15 and 16.