Hunting+Fishing

Steelhead and salmon

A good number of 3-5-pound chinook are coming from the north end of Coeur d’Alene Lake near Arrow Point and at midlake in front of Carlin Bay. Jeff Smith at Fins and Feathers in Coeur d’Alene said Min-squids and flashers at 80-90 feet are the most effective.

Brewster-area chinook are nearing the end of their run, though there are still fish to be found – some relatively bright. The season ends Monday.

Clearwater River fly anglers are catching a few fish, according to Evelyn Kaide at The Guide Shop in Orofino. The catch-and-keep season on the Clearwater opens Oct. 15. Kaide said that with the first good rain, the Clearwater will be unbelievable. The same is true for the Grande Ronde, where fly fisherman are starting to pick up a few fish.

The bobber and shrimp action remains hot near Memorial Bridge. Trollers are also picking up fish on plugs. A few B-run steelhead are showing now, said guide Rick Hedding. His daughter caught a 14-pound hatchery fish recently.

Yakima River chinook fishing continues to improve, but anglers are still putting in an average of 25 hours per fish caught.

Chinook salmon have been crossing McNary Dam for the past few weeks. Fishing is steadily improving and will peak next week.

Retention of chinook salmon is again allowed on the Columbia River from the Hood River Bridge upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco through Dec. 31. The Upriver Bright fall chinook run size has been upgraded from 105,000 to 115,000 fish. The area from Bonneville Dam to Hood River Bridge remains closed for chinook retention to protect Spring Creek hatchery chinook.

The 12th Annual Salmon Derby will be held Oct. 6-7, beginning at 5 a.m. on the Columbia and Yakima rivers. The Derby is sponsored by Knights of Columbus/Tri-Cities Prep. Though the run this year is smaller than last, there are certain to be some 30-pounders boated. There is a separate prize pool and a discounted entry fee for kids 12 and younger. Info: Don McBride at (509) 554-9202 or listen to a recorded message at (509) 947-1489.

Trout and kokanee

The Rufus Woods triploid trout bite is good, and it will improve as temperatures drop. Most fish are 2-6 pounds, caught by the net pens or trolling the banks near Chief Joseph Dam. Bob Fately of Brewster said anglers are also having success drifting the shoreline and casting Rooster Tails or black streamer flies.

Lake Roosevelt trout anglers are generally not reporting a lot of action, but one group of three landed 30 fish from 16-22 inches in two days last week trolling Muddler Minnows seven colors down near Whitestone.

Pend Oreille rainbow 6-15 pounds have been aggressively taking the same Mini Squids that are attracting small chinook on Coeur d’Alene. The fish are still deep. The Cape Horn and Garfield Bay areas have been good.

Antilon and Roses lakes in the Chelan area are providing great trout action, said Anton Jones of Darrel and Dad’s Guide Service. He notes that Antilon brown trout are easily taken on Roostertails at midlake.

Spiny ray

The best pike fishing around right now is at Hayden Lake. Spinnerbaits and spoons are doing the damage. Lake Coeur d’Alene is still inconsistent.

Walleye fishing is less than spectacular on Lake Roosevelt. A few small fish are coming from The Arm and near Kettle Falls. Many of the fish are 50 feet deep and more.

Walleye appear to be in their fall transition patterns and are scattered. Potholes walleye of late have been small. Moses Lake is very slow. The best walleye fishing in the area is at Rufus Woods. Banks Lake has slowed down, but should break wide open in a week or two, according to Lou Nevsimal at Coulee Playland Resort.

You’d better hurry if you want one last try at those elusive Sprague Lake walleye, big cats and fat perch. The lake will be closed Monday for rehabilitation that will start the following week. Want to catch a really big fish? Try Sprague’s carp, which are coming in up to 20 pounds. Or just wait to enjoy it from your arm chair in the feature coming Sunday in the Outdoors & Travel section.

Smallmouth bass are becoming very active again. Lake Pend Oreille anglers throwing Zooms and Sinkos are making good catches. Closer to home, streamers are effective between the State Line and Sullivan on the Big Spokane River.

Hunting

Turkey hunters taking advantage of the general fall, either-sex season in both Washington and Idaho are having no difficulty filling their tags. There appears to be an excellent crop of young birds, which, barring a catastrophic winter, bodes well for the spring hunts.

Idaho chukar gunners are finding scattered concentrations of birds on the breaks of the Snake in Hells Canyon, but overall populations appear to be down from last season, which was not a banner year. The season closes Jan. 31.

Blue grouse appear to have done better than ruffed grouse this year. Hunters in northeastern Washington counties report seeing more snowshoe hares than birds.

The 107-day Idaho waterfowl seasons for duck, geese, coots and snipe are nearly the same as last year. Season dates in Area 1, northern and eastern Idaho are Oct. 6-Jan. 18. In Area 2, southwestern Idaho and the Magic Valley it’s Oct. 13-Jan. 25. But first, a two-day youth hunt is set for Saturday and Sunday for hunters ages 15 and under.

Fires, drought and a dearth of berries are pushing black bears from their usual habitat and causing numerous bear-human encounters. Grouse hunters in Washington and Idaho report seeing bears and bear signs in areas where they hadn’t been encountered before. Be alert when walking in the woods.