Salmon and steelhead

Clearwater steelhead fishing is reported to be excellent near Orofino, Idaho. Bank anglers throwing jigs under bobbers are having multiple-fish days.

According to district fish biologist Chris Donley of Spokane, all Snake River tributaries have fish. If you are angling within 20 miles of a hatchery, you can be confident there are fish in the river. Steelhead are reinvigorated when the water warms and rises, which should happen again this week. As long as there is not enough flow to blow out the river, fishing can be excellent. That is not so say, however, that steelhead will not act like steelhead – on one day and off the next for no apparent reason.

The Grande Ronde was excellent early in the week but had colored up a little by Wednesday and was running at 3,000 cfs. At Boggan’s Oasis, Bill Vail said he doesn’t think fishing will be adversely affected, but to call before making the drive. The number is (509) 256-3372. A lot of Oregon fish are in the Grande Ronde. Washington fish should soon begin stacking up between Schumacher Grade and Boggan’s. Guide Rick Hedding said fly fishing has been excellent.

On the West Side, the Kalama River is seeing too much of a good thing. Reports are that it is high and muddy.

The Dalles Pool boat anglers averaged more than a steelhead per rod last week. No catch was observed from the bank.

Lake Coeur d’Alene chinook have moved up in the water column, and a variety of hoochies, herring, diving plugs and spoons are bringing strikes.

Trout

Roosevelt rainbows can still be found in the upper 15 feet of water. Anglers trolling flies or Rip ‘n Minnows are catching fish, but bank-angling success goes up as the water goes down. As always, Power Bait, marshmallows, worms or a combination entices bites, which seem to come in bunches. Make sure your offering is floating about 2 feet above your slip bobber. Good trolling success was reported this week south of Whitestone, and good bank fishing near Fort Spokane. A few big silvers are showing closer to the dam from depths of 30 feet on down. Troll 3-5 mph.

Reports from Dave Altier at Coulee Playland Resort on Banks Lake indicate Banks rainbow fishing is still good with lots of 2- to 3-pound fish. He did say, however, that a lot of them have turned dark.

Rufus Woods triploids are still biting, and many anglers are taking two-fish limits of 5- to 10-pounders. If you fish from shore near the net pens, don’t forget to buy a tribal license.

I fished Hog Canyon Lake on Tuesday with friend Mike Sweeney, and we both took limits of 10- to 15-inch rainbow from the shore in about three hours. To fish Hog Canyon this way, you need to get away from the outlet end as the water is shallow. Walk along the left-hand bank until you are at least 200 yards from the parking area. The easiest route is low. Fly fishers, incidentally, were doing much better than bait fishermen, with bloodworm patterns drawing one strike after another. Don’t forget you can have only two trout more than 14 inches from Hog Canyon or Fourth of July. Hog Canyon is as high as you’ll see it, and it is reasonably easy to launch a small boat.

Fourth of July Lake has a small drainage basin, so water levels remain low. Angling has slowed down, and unless you’re fly fishing, you probably shouldn’t linger on the access end. The south end has given up fair catches at times. Boat launching is difficult.

Rock Lake still gives up catches of rainbow and browns. The launch has improved with the rising water, and shore fishing near the launch has been good.

Most of the smaller North Idaho Lakes still have a little ice. Fernan is an exception, and anglers fishing bait from shore are taking small rainbow there.

Spiny ray

Walleye anglers on the Columbia reported water temperatures warming about three weeks earlier than last year. Fish are starting to show in 30-35 feet of water. On Roosevelt, too, walleye anglers are catching fish on jigs and blade-baits off the flats at the same depths.

Moses Lake and Potholes Reservoir walleye aren’t providing much action. A few small perch are showing off the I-90 Bridge and the Alder Street Fill.

Several big walleye have been reported caught where the Walla Walla River runs into the Columbia.

Northern pike are hitting dead herring or smelt under a bobber in the Coeur d’Alene Lake bays. Info: Fins and Feathers (208) 667-9304

Other species

Boat anglers on Bonneville Pool averaged a legal sturgeon kept per every 10 rods. Fishing was slow for legal-sized fish from the bank. Boat anglers on The Dalles Pool are catching a few legals.

Heads up

Idaho sportsmen have until Feb. 15 to apply for this spring’s controlled turkey and bear hunts. Cost of the application is $6.25, and sportsmen wishing to apply must have a 2006 hunting license. Sportsmen can apply at any license vendor in the state. For more information, call 324-4359.