Hunting+Fishing

Fri., March 30, 2007

Alan Liere Correspondent

Tip of the week

This is a good time to throw a No. 7 Firetiger Shad-Rap at Sprague Lake walleye. Cast it toward shore into a foot or less of water and reel back quickly, crashing the plug into the bottom.

Braggin' Rights

Fishing on the Snake River last week, Brian Quinnet and friends Julie Scott and George Farwell caught numerous smallmouth more than 4 pounds in 1 1/2 days of fishing. All came on crankbaits in 5-8 feet of water. The biggest was 5 1/2 pounds. Quinnet said they also took several smallies around 3 pounds. All fish were released.

Overheard

Anglers fishing the Clark Fork River below the railroad bridge at Clark Fork are catching many pike.

Heads up

WDFW does not reissue misplaced catch record cards but wants the data. If you've lost yours, use the reminder you'll get from WDFW to return the information. Follow instructions on fishing regs page 20 and use the codes on page 21 to re-create a record of catch. Include information about where and when you fished. If you didn't catch anything or you didn't fish, WDFW wants to know. Returning such information is required.

“The General Store in Spokane will hold its annual free turkey seminar at 6 p.m. Thursday.

“Anglers can and should weigh in with opinions regarding the proposed Sprague Lake rehabilitation. Comment via e-mail to WDFW director Dr. Jeffery Koenings at Director@dfw.wa.gov or mail to Dr. Jeffery Koenings, WDFW, 600 Capital Way, Olympia, Wash., 98501-1091.

“The retention fishery for sturgeon between The Dalles Dam and John Day Dam on the Columbia River closed Thursday.

“Dine for deer with the Spokane Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation, at 5 p.m. Saturday, Fort George Wright (Mukagowa). Info: 869-3167.

Trout

Sunday is the opening of more Columbia Basin rainbow trout lakes, and WDFW District fish biologist Jeff Korth said Dry Falls Lake should be good. The trout population there is about half rainbow and one-quarter each brown and tiger trout. Korth said the fall plants, which are about 9 inches, could be a nuisance, but a good number of carryovers 16-20 inches will be caught.

Upper Hampton, a walk-in lake on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, was the most pleasant surprise last year with yearling trout running to 15 inches. This year, those fish are 17-18 inches, and although the fall-planted fingerlings won’t be as large, they should be numerous. Korth said Lower Hampton might be a disappointment this year as fingerling survival was not good and sunfish are numerous.

The Pillar-Widgeon chain of lakes on the refuge should also be productive for 10- to 14-inch trout. These 10 small, walk-in lakes are spread over a square mile of beautiful canyon land. The best of the lot will probably be Gadwall. These are walk-in lakes, but none is too far to carry a float tube, and the ticks don’t seem to be out yet.

Another Sunday opener will be on Spectacle Lake in the Okanogan. District fish biologist Bob Jateff said anglers should be pleased with the 10- to 12-inch rainbow.

There are many rumors circulating about the Lake Roosevelt trout fishery, as this has not been a banner year. According to WDFW District 1 biologist Chris Donley, however, Lake Roosevelt is not on a progressive downward spiral. The past few years have seen drawdowns that flushed fish from the reservoir, and disease that limited the number of plantable fish and the survival of those planted. Donley said 500,000 trout will be released from net pens in May and another 750,000 in May 2008. This should result in excellent fishing by December 2008, barring situations over which WDFW has no control.

Idaho Fish and Game has funding approval to continue its Angler Incentive Program on Lake Pend Oreille for April through March 2008 at $15 per fish for lake trout and rainbow more than 12 inches. Starting Sunday through Aug. 31, rainbow trout more than 12 inches caught from the Pack River, Lightning Creek and Grouse Creek will also be eligible for the $15 fish incentive. Mackinaw and rainbow fishing is good on Pend Oreille. Larger fish are being caught on the surface.

Coffeepot Lake was disappointing to anglers last week. The fish taken were generally large, but the bite was slow.

The Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe rivers have run high but may be fishable Saturday, the last day of the winter stream season.

Trolling deep for Lake Chelan lakers with Joe Heinlen of Darrel and Dad’s Guide Service, Lore Brackensick of Richland recently caught a 25.5-pound laker. Then she caught a “small” one weighing 20.1 pounds. No word on how her husband Dave did.

Spiny ray

Shiner-Hutchison Lake on the Columbia Wildlife Refuge opens Sunday, but unlike most of the other lakes in the system, this one is for bass and bluegill. There is a primitive launch at Hutchison. Gas motors are not allowed.

Walleye anglers on the Columbia River near Brewster were doing well last weekend on 2- to 4-pound fish. Jigs have done best. Fishing is tough on Lake Roosevelt. I tried the Spokane Arm Wednesday, one more time before it closes for two months Sunday night. Two friends and I hooked three, and no one I checked with had done much better. On Banks Lake, the bite on Barker Flats has been more consistent and jiggers are picking up a few smallmouth. Anglers have caught perch to 13 inches near Grass Island, which is to the right of the jetty at Coulee City.

Reports from Rufus Woods are mixed, but walleye fishing there may be a little better than at Roosevelt. Most fish come from 20 feet of water or less. Trout fishing seems to have also slowed on Rufus.

Northern pike fishing is hot on Coeur d’Alene Lake. Anglers using smelt, herring and skinned perch on bobbers are finding fish off the bottom at Cougar Bay, Wolf Lodge Bay and Blue Creek, and Squaw and Mica bays in the northern end of the lake. Try Windy, Harrison and Rocky Point Bay in the south end.

The chain lakes are also looking good for northern pike, as are Hayden Twin Lakes, Spirit and Fernan.

Steelhead and salmon

Idaho steelhead rivers are a bit muddy, but the Little Salmon is fishing well, as is the South Fork of the Clearwater. Try drifting corkies and yarn with a bit of bait. Plenty of fish are still firm and should eat OK. Anglers in section 17 of the Salmon from the Lemhi River to the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River had catch rates in the single digits this week.

The Grande Ronde River was running at 4,850 cfs Thursday with visibility of 2 feet. Steelhead fishing has been good.

It’s a little early yet to get excited about salmon fishing. A few fish are coming from the lower Columbia – about one every 13 rods. Wind River and Drano Lake are seeing minimal effort.

Other species

The halibut season begins April 9 in marine waters throughout Puget Sound. The fishery will be open Thursday through Monday, with a daily limit of one halibut. Good fishing is expected. For additional information, call the Fishing Hotline at (360) 902-2500.

Hunting

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has a new Internet bear identification training and test that simulates a real bear hunt. It is intended to help prevent mistaken killings of federally protected grizzly bears. To take the online training and test, go to the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov. Under Online Services, click on Bear Identification Test. The test also is available by mail from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Bear Test, 1420 East Sixth Ave., P.O. Box 200701, Helena, 59620-0701.

Turkey hunters may apply for an early fall permit in addition to hunting a general fall season in northeastern Washington (Sept. 22-Oct. 5). The applications will be available May 15, with a June 28 submittal deadline.

A late fall drawing will be held for 800 special permits to hunt turkeys Nov. 20-Dec. 15 in northeastern Washington. Applications for the late hunt will be sold in August, with winners drawn in early September. Hunters can participate in both fall hunts regardless of their spring harvest. Hunters are allowed one turkey of either sex during fall seasons.