Hunting and Fishing

Fri., Sept. 24, 2004

Alan Liere, Correspondent The Spokesman-Review

outdoor insights

Tip of the week

» I thought my auditory discrimination was as bad as it could get, but I left my hearing protectors at home on a September dove hunt, and my right ear is still ringing. Make sure young hunters have good ear protection and insist they wear it. They may not notice the results of high decibel abuse now, but it will get them eventually.

Overheard

» Grouse hunters in Idaho's Clearwater Valley are reporting "scads of grouse" — blues, ruffs, and even spruce.

Braggin' rights

» The team of Royce Drye, Spokane, and Ted Beach, Hayden, Idaho, pocketed $15,575 during last weekend's Two Rivers Walleye Championship on Lake Roosevelt. Winning weight was 39.62 pounds, which included the second-day big fish of 7.9 pounds. Big fish of the tournament was a 13.12-pound lunker taken by the team of Mark Overstreet and Rusty Knight, both of Kennewick.

Heads up

» My good friend, Mark Midtlyng of Boise, his brother, David of Medford, and Brian Vrablick of Spokane, had a tragic opening-day Idaho chukar hunt on Brownlee Reservoir when their dogs were exposed to blue-green algae on the lake. David Midtlyng and Vrablick both lost their dogs, and Mark's pup was just hanging on at this writing. Blue-green algae forms when warm surface temperatures and calm winds limit vertical mixing of the lake water. The blooms may appear thick like pea soup, or look like green paint or grass clippings on the water. Although most blooms are harmless, blue-green algae can sometimes produce neurotoxins that can be dangerous if ingested in large enough quantities to affect the liver. As Mark told me in a sad e-mail, "It hits fast and is brutal."

» •Applications are on sale now for a second opportunity to win lifetime fishing and hunting privileges from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Two names will be drawn Sept. 30 from among those who have purchased drawing applications since Jan. 1. Additional drawings are scheduled for Dec. 30 and March 31. Applications, which may be purchased in unlimited numbers, cost $6.50 each for state residents and $12.50 for non-residents. They are valid for all drawings held within one year of purchase. Applications can be purchased by phone (1-866-246-9453), or on WDFW's licensing Web site, http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/.

» •Pheasant hunts for Idaho youths 15 and younger are set for Oct. 2-3. The young hunter must be accompanied at all times by a licensed adult 18 or older.

» •Volunteers are needed this fall at Banks Lake to help Lou Nevsimal, Conservation Project Manager for the Washington Bass Federation. For five years, Nevsimal has been building, transporting, and submerging fish habitat in Banks that will benefit all species, and so far has put in more than 800, practically by himself. He says that with four volunteers for two half-days, he could build 115 additional structures. He also says, "The only way you'll know where they are is to help put them in." If you or your club can help, call Nevsimal at (509) 647-5527 and leave a message.

» •The Washington fall turkey season opens Saturdayand runs through-Oct.1 in GMUs 105-124. Anyone with a valid tag who did not harvest two gobblers in eastern Washington in the spring season can take one turkey of either sex.

Salmon and steelhead

The steelhead season may not be as hot as the past three years but Idaho fisheries biologists say numbers are still on target to meet the 10-year average. Biologists monitoring the Columbia River estimate 260,000 steelhead are headed up river, 30 percent short of original predictions. Idaho Fish and Game biologists estimate between 91,000 and 101,000 steelhead will cross Lower Granite Dam this season. While this is significantly lower than the last three years, the numbers are close to the 10-year average for the years from 1991 through 2000.

The Clearwater catch-and-keep season is open for steelhead from the mouth upstream to the Highway 12 Bridge, and a few B-run fish are starting to show. Metallic colors like purple or greens have been effective. The river has been high with a flow greater than 9000 cfs.

Sportfishing for fall chinook salmon will close after Sept. 30 on the lower Columbia River.

Trout and kokanee

Trout anglers near Split Rock on Lake Roosevelt report good catches of rainbow from 13 inches up.

Diamond Lake rainbow are biting well. The 10-inch fish are susceptible to Triple Teasers or Needlefish trolled in 30 feet of water. Twelve-inch cutthroats are still hitting at Marshall Lake, and a lot of big trout are showing for still-fishermen at Waitts.

Trout anglers have one more week to fish Spokane County’s Liberty, West Medical, Badger, and Williams lakes, Lincoln County’s Fishtrap Lake, and Pend Oreille County’s Fan Lake – all which close Sept. 30.

The next three weeks should provide some of the best fishing in the Yakima River. Reservoir water releases in the upper Yakima have been reduced significantly, providing excellent opportunities for anglers who prefer to wade. Anglers who want to avoid crowds might try Rattlesnake Creek and the Naches River, where rainbow and cutthroat generally range from 8-12 inches with a few larger fish. Rattlesnake Creek is catch-and-release, as is the Naches River from the confluence with the Tieton River upstream to Rattlesnake Creek. Both waters have selective-gear rules.

Most of the adult kokanee have left Dworshak Reservoir to spawn. Trout fishing usually gets very good this time of year, especially casting spinners and spoons at the creek mouths. Bass anglers are still doing well on small- to medium-sized fish; with a few fish heavier than 3 pounds.

Loon Lake kokes are getting darker, but they are still biting, and the flesh is good.

Spiny ray

Lake Roosevelt smallmouth are “biting like crazy” according to recent reports. Time of day doesn’t seem to matter as long as you’re fishing off a rocky point that drops quickly into deeper water. Plugs, spinners, and plastics have all been effective, particularly between Keller and the dam, and from Two Rivers to Hunters. There is a narrow window of opportunity for really great smallmouth fishing, and now is the time throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Small rubber jigs and dark spinners like Roostertails are taking a lot of fish.

A buddy, Tom Allen, and I camped and hunted Hells Canyon chukars last weekend. As hunting trips go, it was a good fishing trip. We logged a lot of vertical miles and brought home only two birds, but I caught three smallmouth between 16 and 18 inches, and enough smaller ones for a wonderful fish fry on the beach. For three glorious minutes, I was also tied to a large steelhead that had taken the yellow curly-tail crappie jig on my ultra light rod.

The third annual Hayden Lake Northern Pike Tournament will be held Oct. 2-3. This two-man event offers trophies, cash, and prizes to the winners. Registration fee is $40 per team. Info: Bob Voltz (208) 623-2892 or Brock Morrow (208) 777 7021.

Other species

Hells Canyon sturgeon are on the bite again, reports Tim Johnson of FishHawk Guides in Clarkston. An upriver expedition this weekend netted six sturgeon, one nearly 6 feet long, and the other a whopping 8 feet 4 inches. Info: (888) 548-8896.

Hunting

Washington’s chukar, gray partridge, and quail season begins Oct. 2. Quail are everywhere. Gray partridge (Hungarians), according to Todd Barstad, biologist with the Upland Restoration Program, are “about the same or slightly better than last year,” and chukar are probably down a little in Washington, even though the Idaho counts are way above average.

Many hunters who participated in the Idaho chukar opener last weekend shot fewer birds than expected. The cool, wet weather has already scattered chukars, as there is no longer any reason for them to stay near large bodies of water. Quail were in traditional spots along creeks and blackberry patches.

Grouse hunters near Twin Lakes, Idaho have reported seeing plenty of ruffs, particularly when the sun comes out after a rain. In Washington’s Stevens and Pend Oreille counties, reports aren’t so glossy, but there are still birds available along creeks and in alder tangles for hunters willing to beat the brush.

With archery deer season already in progress and muzzleloading set to begin Oct 2 for both deer and elk, WDFW is reminding all big-game hunters to call in their harvest reports as soon as possible. This includes turkey hunters. When “Mandatory Reporting” first began in 2001, the level of response was at 70 percent, but it has been decreasing ever since. A 90 percent compliance is needed to accurately set game seasons and limits. Failure to report is a misdemeanor, but so far, this has not been enforced. WDFW is considering not allowing non-compliant hunters to purchase a license for the following year. Seems like it would be better to just make a phone call! The number is on your license.