Steelhead and salmon

Steelhead fishing is slowing down on the Clearwater, with the catch rate per hour reaching high double digits. There have been sporadic periods of frantic action, however. Three anglers drifting eggs with Reel Time Charters out of the Cherry Lane put-in last weekend hooked 15 fish in a few hours.

This is the time of year the Tucannon and Touchet rivers can turn quickly, but a few steelhead are still coming from the those waters when they aren’t running muddy. Angling is slow on the Snake near Starbuck, but anglers fishing off the lower sidewalk at Little Goose still get one now and then.

The Grande Ronde River was coming down at midweek and clearing up. Visibility was 1.5 feet. If the predicted snow falls at 3,000 feet, the river should be fishable by the weekend.

Trollers pulling herring or plugs are catching quite a few Coeur d’Alene chinook, mostly from 3-6 pounds. The majority of fish are from 33 feet to the surface.

Bank anglers are catching a few steelhead from beaches on the lower Columbia. The first spring chinook was caught last Saturday.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game fishery managers expect about 15 percent fewer chinook salmon this year, but they say some limited salmon seasons may be possible in Idaho. The preseason expectation is for 27,700 to cross Lower Granite Dam in southeastern Washington – nearly 11,000 wild fish and 17,000 hatchery fish.

Trout

Hog Canyon anglers have had inconsistent fishing this week, with limits one day and nothing the next. Fourth of July has a similar pattern. A group of Lewis and Clark students fished Hog Canyon Wednesday and, under the able tutelage of volunteer John Williamson, caught some nice trout. Williamson said the upper end of the lake looks like a miniature Spokane Falls with the water rushing in.

Roosevelt water temperature is 34 degrees, and the backs of some bays are still frozen. Some fish are cruising the shorelines, but trout anglers are having their best luck for 18- to 20-inch fish plunking bait into 20 feet of water in the coves near Keller. As the weather warms, Roosevelt trout will come up in the water column and trollers should do well at the mouth of the San Poil.

Rufus Woods triploids are still cooperating for bank anglers and trollers. Several fish of more than 9 pounds were taken this week between the first and second net pens.

Fishing for mackinaw in the Lower Basin of Lake Chelan has varied from good to great. Most of the 2- to 6-pound fish are in the bottom 10 feet at depths of 200-250 feet.

Ice fishing for trout 10-12 inches has been good as Roses Lake in the Okonogan. Try Power Bait suspended just off the bottom. The ice was 8 inches thick last weekend.

At the Silver Bow Fly Shop, Andy Breneman fished the Bitterroot between Missoula and Hamilton this week and said fishing was outstanding. He also fished the Clark Fork and did well on both trout and whitefish. He said stonefly nymphs, midges and San Juan worms were the ticket. The Clark Fork was running at 3,240 cfs on Thursday and dropping, so fishing should be good this weekend. Most of the shelf ice is gone. The Montana snowpack is looking good for the upcoming season.

Pend Oreille mackinaw anglers who stick with it are catching nearly a dozen fish a day. Most macks are small, but two of more than 20 pounds and several between 12 and 15 were reported recently. Rainbow fishing is slow.

Spiny ray

Eloika Lake perch have been on a rampage this past week, but the hottest bite is early. Some anglers have been hauling 30-50 perch off the ice in short order. A few crappie are also being taken. Down the lake at Jerry’s Landing, the ice is better than that at the public access.

Walleye fishing is picking up all over, although it is not at its peak. The mouth of the Spokane was good this week, as was the area directly across from 7-Bays. On the Columbia near Tri-Cities, guide Kurt Sonderman said walleye success is fantastic. Everything seems to be working.

The excitement over Mike Hepper’s Washington record walleye has not subsided. The state’s previous record was an 18.9-pound walleye caught downriver in the John Day Pool in 2002. Washington’s record walleye ranks sixth in the nation.

Moses Lake and the Potholes Reservoir are still frozen, but the ice could be iffy by this weekend. Banks Lake is frozen at Coulee City but may not be safe. Closer to the north end there is open water, and the launch at Coulee Playland Resort is usable. It won’t be long before walleye anglers can prospect the water straight across from the resort.

Rufus Woods walleye are still deeper than normal for this time of year and require a small, slow presentation with the water this cold. Anglers drifting just a jig head and small piece of nightcrawler off the bottom have found fish near the island.

Pike fishing hasn’t been good at the winter pike lakes near Coeur d’Alene. Some have expressed concern that too many large, breeder females have been kept over the years and the fishery is declining.

Other species

Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Kalaloch will all open for clam digging today and Saturday from noon to midnight. Twin Harbors will also be open during the same hours Sunday.

Sturgeon fishing is slow in the lower Columbia as water temperatures are still cold.

It is reported that Bead Lake burbot have lockjaw. A few fish have been taken this winter, but overall success is down.

Hunting

Successful applicants for Idaho spring turkey and bear hunts will be notified by postcard by March 10. You can also check your status through the Idaho Fish and Game Web site: fishandgame.idaho.gov.