Hunting + fishing

Fly fishing

The Coeur d’Alene River and the lower stretch of the St. Joe are fishing well, as is the Clark Fork near St. Regis. Right now, it is a nymphing game, said Pat Way at Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d’Alene. He recommends Pat’s Rubber Legs with a San Juan dropper, and simpler patterns like Pheasant Tails and Prince Nymphs. He also said it is possible to take cutthroat on dries later in the afternoon.

Way notes the Snake has been consistent, and though the Grande Ronde is “awesome,” it is difficult to find choice water on weekends. Both swinging and nymphing are effective. The South Fork Clearwater does not have enough water for decent fishing.

Trout

Sprague Lake is shaking off its ice and beginning to produce trout again. Fishing is not fast, but anglers dragging Wedding Rings and worms are taking a few. Friends fishing from shore at the public access reported just a handful of bites and one fish in four hours.

Rock Lake browns are running mostly 1-4 pounds, but it is not unusual to catch rainbow and browns to 6 pounds. Spokane residents Evan Johnson and Josh Weeks fished close in on the south side of the lake Tuesday and despite boat trouble, landed a dozen fish. They said an orange broken-back Rapala was most effective, either trolled or cast. Another party reported good fishing in the coves and off the rock walls with jerk baits and a fast retrieve. Launching is pretty easy now.

Lake Roosevelt is still fishing well for trout. Most reports come from the San Poil arm and near Split Rock. Rainbow and perch-colored plugs, Apexes and Muddler flies are all taking fish.

Anglers putting in at Chief Joseph launch and fishing between pumps one and three report decent triploid fishing on Rufus Woods. Uncle Walt’s Mini Tubes have been bringing favorable results. Fish are in 8-15 feet of water. Closer to the net pens, anglers have also had success with jigs and plugs. Many of the fish are more than 4 pounds.

For the first time in several years, the upcoming March 1 fishing opener in the region will probably have all open-water fishing opportunities. Details next week.

Steelhead and salmon

Clearwater steelhead guide Toby Wyatt of Reel Time Charters in Clarkston said his boat has been taking up to 20 fish per day. A friend who fished with Wyatt last Saturday said his party caught nine, the biggest being 12.5 pounds. They were drifting eggs.

The Salmon River and its tributaries had the best catch ratio of steelhead last week. From Whitebird Creek to the Little Salmon River, anglers averaged a fish caught every five hours. From Vinegar Creek to the South Fork Salmon, it was four fish per angler hour, and on the Little Salmon River, anglers caught a steelhead every six hours.

Steelhead fishing on the Okanogan River has been good both by boat and from shore. There are some excellent fishing spots accessed from Omak to the Monse Bridge. Anglers report the fish are larger than usual and bright for this time of year. The Wenatchee River will close to steelhead fishing on midnight on Feb. 28.

Steelhead fishing is excellent in The Dalles Pool and good in the John Day Pool for boat anglers. Bank anglers are also catching a few fish. Two-thirds of the fish caught are wild and must be released.

Conditions are shaping up for some good steelhead fishing on northern Olympic Peninsula rivers. “High water has brought a lot of wild steelhead into area rivers, and the forecast is calling for a period of dry weather,” said Randy Cooper, a WDFW fish biologist. “Once those rivers drop into shape, the fishery should really pick up.”

Spiny ray

Rufus Woods Reservoir is finally giving up a few walleye. A 12-pounder was caught there recently. Lake Roosevelt walleye reports are mixed, but the water across from Seven Bays and near Fort Spokane are producing some nice catches of walleye and burbot on occasion.

At Big Wally’s on Banks Lake, Trevor Gwynn reports decent perch fishing in the Coulee City Boat Basin. He said there is still a little ice, but anglers are standing on the docks to catch perch – some 10-12 inches and many 7-8 inches.

Walleye fishing is excellent in The Dalles Pool and good in the John Day Pool for boat anglers.

Other species

WDFW has tentatively scheduled a razor clam dig from Feb. 26 through March 1. If toxin tests are okay, five ocean beaches will open for digging on the following schedule. (Time and low tides are shown in parentheses.) Feb. 26, (4:49 p.m., -0.7), Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks; Feb. 27, (5:34 p.m., -0.9), Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch; Feb. 28, (6:16 p.m., -0.8), Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch; March 1, (6:57 p.m., -0.1), Long Beach and Twin Harbors only.

Saturday is the last day sturgeon may be kept from Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam (including tributaries) for the year.

Hunting

Idaho Fish and Game is seeking public comments on big-game seasons for 2010. A series of public meetings has been set around the state. Anyone interested in suggesting how Fish and Game can improve hunting opportunities is encouraged to attend. For a list of meetings contact local Fish and Game offices or visit the Fish and Game Web site: fishandgame.id aho.gov/cms/public/.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has rescinded the later opening and lower bag limit they set during their annual January meeting for chukar and gray partridge. The season will open Sept. 18.

WDFW is accepting applications for spring black bear hunting permits through March 12. To be eligible, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2010 hunting license that includes bear as a species option. A drawing will be held in mid-March for 345 permits in western Washington and 185 permits on the east side of the state.

Licenses applications may be purchased online (fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov), by phone (866-246-9453) or at any license vendor in the state. Applications may be submitted online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov or by calling (877) 945-3492.