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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Weekly hunting and fishing report

Fly Fishing

Boggan’s Oasis on the Grande Ronde reports the action has been monopolized by fly fishermen recently and the gear guys are just starting to show. On Monday, a pair of fly fishermen reported an 18-fish day. And while all days are not that good, the fishing is definitely improving.

The Methow River is open for steelheading. The lower river was affected by the fires and is off color, but further up, it is fishable. Nymphing a peacock body stone with a bead or egg below has been the most effective lately.

The North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River is seeing good hatches of October caddis and Mahogany duns. The trout are moving into slower pools and very soft currents. The Prichard area and lower river should provide good fishing.

Trout, kokanee

Two friends fished Amber Lake last weekend, trolling small, barbless gold and perch-colored Hot Shots for 18 rainbows to 3 pounds. The same duo went out again two days later and tried a perch scale Flatfish, which was also effective and the fish were even larger. The biggest was a 22-inch rainbow, but there were several over 20. Amber is catch and release only now, but the restrictive gear rules do allow the use of offerings other than flies as long as they are barbless.

Sprague Lake anglers say there is a heavy algae bloom on both ends of the lake but the middle has been clear and the fishing for big rainbow has been excellent.

Up north, Waitts Lake continues to pump out limits of rainbow and German browns. Trollers are dragging almost anything in the top 20 feet of water.

Salmon, steelhead

Coho counts this year at Lower Granite Dam fish ladders on the lower Snake River (16,435 adult fish and 435 jacks through Tuesday) are nearly eight times the 10-year average, thanks to a 20-year Nez Perce effort to restore the run. The coho season will run to November 16, 2014 on the Mainstem and Middle Fork Clearwater River from the mouth upstream to Clear Creek and on the North Fork Clearwater River downstream from Dworshak Dam, but anglers on the Clearwater say the fish do not bite readily and are already very dark. The limit is two coho per day with a possession limit of six.

If fishing for coho or steelhead, remember that fall chinook salmon with unclipped adipose fins must still be released unharmed and the Clearwater River upstream of Memorial Bridge is closed to fall chinook fishing.

Fishing for chinook at Bridgeport has been very good recently for anglers trolling Super Baits. A lot of jacks are showing, and even anglers fishing for steelhead have been surprised to catch some big chinook on a bobber and shrimp steelhead setup.

Chinook fishing is still going on at Wells Dam as well as the Hanford Reach, but reports are the fish are “smokers” – very dark and somewhat soft. Recently, anglers drifting eggs have done best.

Steelhead fishing is ramping up on the Snake and Clearwater. At Northwest Fishing, Bart Jarrett says there are three times as many fish in the Clearwater now as this time last year and catching and keeping will be more of a possibility. The fish are running approximately 60-40 wild to hatchery and there will be no maximum length rule. Jarrett is currently running specials and taking reservations for November. Info: 208-790-2277.

Also on the Clearwater, guide Toby Wyatt of Reel Time Fishing says he also expects a much better steelhead season. One of the exciting things about the run this year is the vast majority of them are the larger two-ocean fish. His boats are not taking many coho, he says, because they are not targeting them, but they’re getting plenty of steelhead. He added that anglers who want to try the coho fishery would do better casting spoons and spinners from shore. Info: 208-790-2128.

Anglers fishing from shore near Lower Granite Dam and upriver to Wawawai say the bite this week was “non-existent.”

Spiny ray

Coeur d’Alene pike fishing is getting even better and the fish are running larger, with many landed over 30 inches. Spinnerbaits and long crankbaits are luring the big fish from the edges of weed beds in 6 to 12 feet of water.

Potholes Reservoir anglers are experiencing “the best overall fishing in the last 37 years,” according to Rob Harbin at MarDon Resort. Walleye are the number one attraction at this time with blade baits the most popular, but fishermen are also bringing in lots of big perch, bass, crappie and bluegill. Recently, an angler fishing just off the face of the dunes landed a 15-pound ‘eye and his wife took a 6-pounder. The upper Medicare Beach area has been good as well as the Lind Coulee. Harbin, who says he doesn’t keep perch while the walleye bite so good, threw back numerous fish weighing more than a pound.

Hunting

The rains last week improved deer hunting significantly and hunter success in Idaho and Washington was running above average. Washington whitetail are open in many units only through Friday. Late buck whitetail begins November 8.

Eastern Washington elk hunters will be going afield in many units Saturday for the modern firearm opener. In western Washington, the season begins November 1.

Duck hunters in Grant County say there seems to be an early migration of teal going on. Elsewhere, waterfowl hunters are finding decent shooting at times in the vicinity of Rock Lake.

Pheasant hunters are working hard for a few birds in heavy cover. This is a mixed blessing, however as more young birds will survive the early season onslaught.

Other species

A week-long razor clam dig began Oct. 22 on evening tides at various beaches, but no digging will be allowed before noon. All digs except the first one will be on minus tides. The final word on a tentative dig to begin November 4 will be announced after marine toxin tests have been completed

Contact Alan Liere at spokesmanliere@yahoo.com