In brief: Vehicle passes required at fishing access sites

Vehicles parking at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing access sites must display a Vehicle Access Pass or a Discover Pass. Both passes are transferable to two vehicles starting this season.

The Vehicle Access Pass comes free with the purchase of a season fishing license.

The Discover Pass is purchased separately, $10 per day or $30 per season, plus sales fees. The Discover Pass satisfies requirements for vehicle access to Washington State Parks and Department of Natural Resources lands.

Info: discoverpass.wa.gov.

Roosevelt trout comeback expected

The trout and kokanee fisheries in Lake Roosevelt didn’t go away, but they took a big hit by unusually deep drawdowns and high Columbia River flows in 2011. The runoff flushed much of the fish bounty over Grand Coulee Dam.

Fisheries managers are still crossing their fingers as they note the deep lingering snowpack in the region’s mountains this month.

But Tim Peone, manager of the Spokane Tribal Hatchery, is optimistic.

“I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as last year,” he said. “Once we get the net pen fish out this summer, they grow incredibly fast in Roosevelt. I’m expecting a great fishery this fall and winter.”

FFF Fly Fishing Fair at Spokane in July

Spokane has been selected as the site for the 2012 International Fly Fishing Fair, with a wide range of educational programs for anglers, novice to expert, including youths and women.

More than 800 out-of-town anglers are expected to funnel into Spokane for the July 12-14 event based at the Spokane Convention Center and Gonzaga University, sponsored by the Federation of Fly Fishers.

Fly tying and fly casting events and instruction will be offered, as well as programs and workshops.

Early registration is encouraged for some activities.

Info: (406) 222-9369;

www.fedflyfishers.org.

Trout-salmon derbies

•Red Covey Memorial Spring Salmon Derby on Lake Coeur d’Alene, April 14-15.

Info: (208) 667-9304.

•K&K Spring Derby on Lake Pend Oreille, April 28- May 6.

Info: (509) 928-1000;

www.lpoic.org.

• Sprague Lake Trout Derby, June 9. Info: (509) 257-2332.

Tiger musky tourney

• Tiger Musky 2-fer Tournament, May 19 at Silver Lake and May 20 at Newman Lake, sponsored by the Cascade Musky Association. Entry: $20 per angler covers both days of fishing.

Info: Mark Wells (253) 841-0171, e-mail deadeyemark@comcast.net; www.cascademuskyassociation.com/>

Walleye tourneys

The 2012 Washington State Walleye Circuit includes:

May 5-6: Rod Meseberg Spring Walleye Classic at Potholes Reservoir.

May 19-20: Big Wally’s/Valley Marine Spring Walleye Classic at Banks Lake.

June 2-3: Moses Lake Walleye Classic.

June 23-24: Washington Governor’s Cup at Lake Roosevelt, based in Kettle Falls.

July 28-29: Washington State Walleye Championship at Lake Roosevelt, based in Kettle Falls.

Info: www.spokanewalleyeclub.com.>

Idaho, Washington set spring chinook dates

Idaho’s spring salmon fishing season will open April 22 in the Clearwater River, Snake River, Little Salmon and lower Salmon River in what could be the third-largest run since the fishery opened 12 years

In Washington, four sections of the Snake River will open progressively to fishing for spring chinook salmon, starting on April 20 with the stretch below Ice Harbor Dam.

Three other sections of the river, near Little Goose Dam, Lower Granite Dam and Clarkston, will open April 25.

Pikeminnows net anglers cash

The 2012 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Season, which pays anglers a bounty of up to $8 a fish, will run May 1-Sept. 30 on the Columbia River from the mouth to the Tri-Cities and up the Snake to Lewiston.

Two anglers each earned more than $60,000 last season.

Details: (800) 858-9015;

www.pikeminnow.org.

Can you eat the fish?

Advisories for how much fish should be consumed from area waters that may be affected by mercury, PCBs or other contaminants are available in:

Idaho: www.healthy.idaho.gov; (866) 240-3553.

Washington: www.doh.wa.gov/fish; (877) 485-7316.

Advisories are especially important for children and pregnant women.

State rules differ on lifting fish for photo

Wild steelhead caught in Eastern Washington must be unhooked and released without being removed from the water, according to state fishing regulations.

Capturing a photo memory of the catch must be quick and low to the water, a parameter most anglers follow to help assure survival of the fish after it’s released.

Idaho isn’t so restrictive about handling wild steelhead. While the fish can be removed briefly from the water, the agency lists guidelines for photographing wild fish in the regulations pamphlet.

Weekly fishing report

Read the latest regional fishing updates every Friday in The Spokesman-Review Sports section or online at Spokesman.com/outdoors.