Alan Liere’s fish and game report for April 13

Wed., April 12, 2017

By Alan Liere spokesmanliere@yahoo.com

Tip of the week

Salmon anglers should check reports of stream flows and the fish-passage levels at Bonneville Dam for signs of improving fishing conditions, as it is possible they will be given another extension to the season as a result of high, turbid water. Stream flow information at Columbia and Snake River dams is at fpc.org/currentdaily/flowspil.txt.

Braggin’ rights

Al Rettmann, and his son Jon, launched at Porcupine Bay three days before the big slide that closed the road, and went upriver. Drop-shotting 4-inch Gulp Minnows in shallow water, Jon caught the biggest Lake Roosevelt walleye of his life – a 7-pounder, then added five between 3 and 4 pounds and five smaller ones. His father, who taught Jon everything he knows, was skunked.

Overheard

Idaho hunters, anglers and trappers will see new license prices starting on May 1 with the addition of a $5 Access/Depredation fee for resident adults and $10 for nonresident adults when they buy their first annual license. The new fee will pay for land access for sportsmen and women, and depredation prevention and payments to farmers and ranchers if big game damages their operations. Anyone who already bought, or who buys an annual 2017 hunting, fishing or trapping license before May 1 is exempt from the new fee for this year.

Heads up

Registration is still open for the May 6 Clear Lake Kids Fishing Event at the Fairchild Recreation Area on Clear Lake. Registration forms can be found on the WDFW website or at the WDFW Region 1 Office at 2315 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. Each child will receive a t-shirt, rod/reel combo, and the chance to catch a three-fish limit! Info or questions: (509) 892-1001.

Lake Roosevelt was at 1,237 feet on Wednesday and is expected to continue dropping through April. At the current level, launches are still useable at Keller, Spring Canyon, Seven Bays, Hunters and Kettle Falls.

Hunters hoping to enter Idaho’s first Super Hunt drawing have through May 31 to apply. With every entry in Fish and Game’s Super Hunt drawings, hunters get a chance at winning the hunt of a lifetime, and their entry fee helps support hunter and angler access to and across private lands. Hunters may enter the drawings at license vendors, Fish and Game offices, online here, or by calling 1-800-554-8685.

Fly fishing

The Washington State Council International Federation of Fly Fishers 11th annual Fly Fishing Fair will run May 5-6 at the Kittitas Valley Event Center in Ellensburg. Numerous free seminars will include presentations ranging from Secrets of the Clark Fork to Wade Fishing Washington’s Spokane River. There will be a Fly Casting Challenge Course for anglers of all ages, as well as inexpensive private lessons by several certified casters, and fly tying workshops. Time for both days is 9 a.m-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for both days, but is free for IFFF members, kids, and students with valid ID.

Silver Bow Fly Shop says the St. Joe River has been good this week, though the water is still pretty high. Dry flies are working all day as trout are eating skwalas and March Browns. Streamer fishing has also picked up. A boat makes fishing easier, but foot anglers will still find good success, as most all the action is right along the banks.

There has also been some good fly fishing on the North Fork Coeur d’Alene River. Streamer fishing has been best, but there is some dry fly action with skwalas and March Browns.

The Clark Fork River is high, but the fishing has been pretty good and the water is clearing up. When the sun hits the south banks in the early afternoon, the skwala hatch goes off.

There have been good reports of trout eating chironomids on Coffeepot Lake. Other lakes like Medical and Amber are not as reliable, but improving. Balanced leeches and chironomids are working.

Salmon and steelhead

Columbia River salmon anglers will see salmon fisheries similar to last year’s. The Buoy 10 fishery opens August 1, while the chinook fishery on the mainstem from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to the Hwy. 395 Bridge will be open June 16-July 31 for hatchery summer chinook and sockeye.

Anglers fishing Washington’s ocean waters will be able to retain chinook, as well as coho salmon in all four marine areas, as compared to 2016 when coho retention was limited only to Marine Area 1. Salmon fisheries get underway daily in areas 1 (Ilwaco), 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay) on June 24 and on July 1 in Marine Area 2 (Westport).

Trout and kokanee

Deer Lake continues to give up some nice-sized mackinaw to anglers trolling in shallow water. The right trolling speed is generally around 2.0 mph.

Sprague Lake is very high and neither of the resorts are open. There has been a huge puddle at the public access that has discouraged boaters from launching.

Rufus Woods Reservoir has been good by net pens for mostly 2-3 pound triploids. Power Bait or marshmallows will do the job, but remember – the limit is two, and there is no catch and release allowed if using bait.

The Hayden lake kokanee bite has been best recently in the afternoon in the middle of the lake. Most of the fish are 11-14 inches.

Spiny ray

The docks have been set at Liberty Lake, the water is approaching 50 degrees, and bass fishing is picking up. Liberty Lake has both smallmouth and largemouth as well as crappie and perch.

Newman Lake largemouth and crappie are also beginning to bite, and a friend has already taken two tiger muskies over 40 inches long.

Silver Lake has seen some good largemouth, and also bluegill, crappie and a gazillion small perch in addition to tiger muskie. Silver Lake crappie aren’t as large as those on Newman, but the tiger muskies are.

Downs Lake crappie, perch and bass are biting, and anglers are also catching some of the 5,000 rainbow trout released this spring. Eloika largemouth and crappie are also beginning to bite. The 9-inch crappie are scarce at Eloika, but at Downs, many are 10 inches and more.

Long Lake (Lake Spokane), has largemouth bass and a lot of smallmouth, perch, and crappie. The crappie are sometimes as large as 14 inches. Throw white curly-tailed jigs against the shoreline across the lake from the highway. There are also some growing opportunities for walleye in Long Lake.

Box Canyon Reservoir on the Pend Oreille River in Pend Oreille County has smallmouth and largemouth bass, plus some walleye.

Smallmouth bass are starting to kick off on the Snake River and the water is full of them. You’ll find them in almost any current break.

Hutchison and Shiner lakes on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge in Adams County have lots of nice sized largemouth bass. Internal combustion motors are prohibited. These lakes opened April 1, and while fishing is decent now, a warm week will really turn it on.

Other species

State shellfish managers have approved a five-day razor clam dig that runs through this Sunday on morning tides at four ocean beaches, including Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks. Pending favorable test results, another dig is proposed for April 24-May 1 on morning low tides. For details, go to wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/ razorclams/current.html

Hunting

The application period for Idaho moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunts is open through April 30. Hunters can apply at any Fish and Game office, license vendor, or use a credit card by telephone or over the Internet. Telephone applications may be made at 1-800-554-8685. Internet users may apply through Fish and Game’s website at idfg.idaho.gov/licenses.

Idaho and Washington general turkey seasons begin Saturday. In Idaho, Jeff Knetter, upland and migratory bird coordinator, says “In Southwest and Eastern Idaho we anticipate populations to be down … (but) turkey populations remain good in the Clearwater and Panhandle regions.”

Washington hunters should also find good turkey populations in Spokane and Stevens counties.

Contact Alan Liere at spokesmanliere @ yahoo.com