Hunting+Fishing

Salmon and steelhead

It depends on who you talk with, but more favorable than unfavorable steelhead reports are coming from the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater. Though the average hours per fish on the Clearwater is 14 and on the Snake 22, guide Rick Hedding of Family Christian Anglers said he limited the boat three days in a row fishing shrimp under a bobber within 6 inches of the bottom.

Boat anglers averaged a steelhead per rod on Drano Lake last week. Fall chinook, coho and steelhead are showing on the White Salmon River, chinook on the Klickitat.

Steelhead are ascending The Dalles Dam in larger numbers the past few days with more than 5,700 fish counted daily.

Chinook are still being caught below Wells Dam, said guide Ray Bailey of Davenport. He said clients have put fish in the boat every day.

Small chinook are hitting herring or mini squid at Lake Coeur d’Alene in 50-80 feet of water. The fish seem to be spread out.

Last week boat anglers on the lower Columbia averaged a chinook and coho per every 45 and 9.4 rods, respectively. The August sport catch of 4,990 adult chinook was the second highest on record.

Buoy 10 salmon fishing is still slow, and at Westport it’s not much better. Charter boats are beginning to gear up for tuna. The coho catch has picked up some in Sekiu and Port Angeles, so those fish should make their way into the Sound in the next couple of weeks. LaPush and Neah Bay will close for salmon fishing on Sept. 16. A portion of Marine Area 3 (LaPush) will open Sept. 23 through Oct. 8 for a late-season salmon fishery.

Trout and kokanee

Browns Lake in Pend Oreille County has been hot for fly fishers this week. Barry Pipella of White’s Outdoor said rainbows and cutthroat – some up to 17 inches – were hitting “everything we threw at them.” But don’t wait. Browns Lake Campground and access will be closed starting Monday as workers repair the launch area. The work may not be finished until around Oct. 31, the day the lake’s fishing season closes.

The St. Joe and the Coeur d’Alene rivers still have some decent fly-fishing. Early and late are best. The Clark Fork and the Bitterroot have been fishing well since the closures were lifted. The Blackfoot and tributaries are open. The Missouri River has seen tough fishing lately, but sinking a trico will usually entice a few strikes.

The open section of the Methow River has been good for both rainbow and cutthroat trout up to 18 inches, said Bob Jateff, Okanogan district fish biologist. This is a catch-and-release fishery with selective gear rules, and it closes Sept. 30.

Lake Coeur d’Alene anglers are making good catches near midlake in the vicinity of Powderhorn Bay. A typical 25-fish limit will show a few 9-inch fish, a few big ones to 16 inches, and the rest 12-13 inches.

After tapering off somewhat in mid-August, Loon Lake night fishing for kokanee has been as good as it gets. The bite begins right at dusk, and sometimes anglers are off the water with limits before they need to light their lanterns. The fish are still in 30-33 feet of water. Green Glo Hooks tipped with maggots remain effective.

Deer Lake still fishermen are experiencing a good bite after dark for big rainbows in 35-40 feet of water. Rainbow limits on Diamond Lake came quickly this week for Brian and Janet Hess of Spokane. They still-fished in 40 feet of water just north of the public launch.

Big rainbow are also showing again at Banks Lake. Some have come off the dock at Coulee Playland Resort, but the majority are taken on a fast troll in 30-35 feet.

Spiny ray

Excellent smallmouth fishing is available at Banks, Roosevelt and Coeur d’Alene. Also on Coeur d’ Alene, northern pike can be located in submerged weed beds in 10-15 feet of water. Throw surface lures such as spinnerbaits and topwaters.

Walleye are moving into deeper water. On Banks, good catches are coming from Barker Flats and the backside of Steamboat Rock. Double whammy-style rigs with fire tiger blades have been effective. On Roosevelt, look for walleye in 40-50 feet of water. Good perch fishing is reported in the San Poil Arm.

Walleye action at Moses Lake and Potholes Reservoir is picking up, along with smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Nine Mile Falls RV Park on Long Lake will be headquarters Saturday and Sunday for a bass tournament to benefit multiple sclerosis research. Info: Scott Curl, 448-6191.

Hunting

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will not close any hunts or change season dates in response to fire restrictions, but the department will accommodate hunters unable to participate because of fire. Hunters whose area was inaccessible because of fire closures during the entire season may submit a written request for a refund or rain check to the license section at the end of the season. The request must include details of the situation. The other option for hunters is to voluntarily exchange a controlled hunt tag for a general tag in another area before the season opens.

The early goose season, a two-day hunt, begins Saturday in most of Eastern Washington. The limit is three a day.

The dove and grouse openers in Washington were not spectacular, but good numbers of birds were found in some areas.

(Outdoors editor Rich Landers contributed to this report.)