Alan Liere’s weekly fish and game report for Dec. 8

Wed., Feb. 8, 2017

Alan Liere

Tip of the week

A good winter tactic now for trout is to drift a worm-baited hook just under the ice. Fish looking for invertebrate hatches will often inhale the worm.

Braggin’ rights

A group of 27 hardy anglers braved terrible driving conditions last Saturday to fish YJ Guide Service’s three-species tournament on Lake Roosevelt. Fishing was not particularly good as only three burbot, one walleye and fewer than 30 trout were weighed in, largely because ice made it impossible to go up the Spokane Arm. Nevertheless, the lake was flat, it didn’t rain or snow and everyone collected at least one nice prize at the weigh-in/chili feed afterward. First place for total weight was Jason Debord, who also caught the only walleye.

Overheard

State fishery managers expect a return of 160,400 upriver adult spring chinook to return to the Columbia River this year, 80 percent of the 10-year average. The fishery is open now below the Interstate 5 Bridge, but it usually doesn’t catch fire until March.

Heads up

The WDFW is seeking public comments on proposed recommendations for the 2017-18 hunting seasons. Written comments will be accepted through Feb. 22. The proposals and comment forms are posted on the department’s website.

—Lake Roosevelt is under new rules for rainbow trout to protect wild native red-band rainbows. It’s still a five-fish daily catch limit (not including kokanee), but anglers must now release any trout with an intact adipose fin from Grand Coulee Dam to the Little Dalles power line crossing. Only clipped fish can be retained, but there is no longer a limit on how many of those fish can exceed 20 inches. The same new rule is in effect on the Spokane Arm and Sanpoil Arm of Lake Roosevelt, but from the Little Dalles power line crossing to the Canadian border, the daily catch limit is now only two trout (clipped or unclipped) with a minimum size of 18 inches.

—This year, bow hunters in Montana will be required to purchase a Montana bow and arrow license prior to applying for any archery-only permit. First time archers needed to have the prerequisite bow hunter education certificate in order to apply for 2017 archery-only drawings. The first drawing deadline is March 15.

Fly Fishing

The Spokane River above Hangman Creek or the upper river near Silver Bow Fly Shop and into Idaho should fish okay. Streamer fishing has been most consistent all winter.

Salmon and steelhead

Steelhead fishing was excellent last week on the Clearwater River, but the same is unlikely on the Clearwater, Snake and Grande Ronde this week as they have blown out. When levels come down again, steelhead action should be excellent.

The next two months are looking a little thin for steelhead fishing in the lower Hanford Reach and the Snake River. Steelhead returns were well below normal in the Columbia River in 2016. Fishing will improve in March as last year’s steelhead move to spawning grounds or hatcheries but the fishing is likely to be slower than last year.

Ice Fishing

Hatch and Williams lakes in northern Stevens County continue to provide catches of rainbows through the ice. Hatch is the better lake again this year, with rainbows running 12-14 inches. Williams got a boost of late fall plants of 11- to 12-inch rainbows.

Eloika, Waitts, Silver and Curlew, are providing perch and/or trout action. Eloika Lake was sizzling for a friend on Tuesday. He reported 16 inches of ice and lots of fat perch.

There have been reports of decent night fishing at Bead and Sullivan lakes for burbot. A few large mackinaw have also been caught.

Chelan County’s Fish Lake has been producing good catches of perch, and both numbers and size have been decent. The majority of these fish are being caught using a Swedish Pimple tipped with a perch eyeball. The perch have been swimming around in big schools, so the bite goes from frantic to nothing and back to frantic again.

Roses Lake in Chelan County currently has a good layer of ice and anglers are having success on 11-to 13-inch rainbow trout. About 18,000 were stocked in Roses Lake in November to provide a winter trout fishery. A drop shot rig and white or pink Gulp bait balls is said to be effective.

In Okanogan County, WDFW district fish biologist Ryan Fortier reports ice fishing has been especially strong at several year-round lakes. Patterson Lake (near Winthrop) has lots of decent sized perch. Anglers at Leader Lake (near Omak) continue to do well with lots of bluegill and perch.

Palmer Lake (near Loomis) has frozen for the first time since the winter of 2013-14, giving anglers the opportunity to catch burbot. Use flashy lures along the bottom in deep holes or along sudden drop offs, or try pounding the bottom with a heavy weight and a gob of nightcrawlers.

Banks Lake is completely frozen this year and has been providing good ice fishing. WDFW fish biologist Aulin Smith reports anglers are mostly catching lake whitefish on shrimp and Swedish Pimple lures. Some burbot are also being taken along with a random rainbow trout. “The bite has been best at night, and mostly around Coulee Playland, Steamboat State Park, and Coulee City Park,” said Smith, who added, “I expect perch and walleye to pick up as we move through February.”

Fishing for river whitefish continues through March on the Methow and Similkameen rivers in Okanogan County with catch rates improving as water temperatures slowly rise.

Fernan Lake near Coeur d’Alene is giving up some nice perch in about 18-20 feet on Swedish Pimples. Kokanee are available on Spirit, Mirror and Lower Twin. The Coeur d’Alene Chain Lakes have been yielding a few smallish pike through the ice.

Open water fishing

You’ll likely not be able to put in at Seaton Grove on Rufus Woods as there is 3 inches of ice extending out from the launch. Bank fishermen looking for some new scenery, however, can fish from Brandts Landing near Chief Joseph Dam. There have been reports of triploids as large as 5 pounds.

Walleye fishing has been good so far this winter on the Columbia, and there is always a chance of catching a really big fish. Some of the largest walleye of the year are boated during the winter months near the Tri-Cities. Jacob Munden of Munden’s Rising Son Adventure reports some good days recently on the John Day Pool. He says forage this time of year is small 3- to 4-inch shad smolts. Info: (509) 492-8852.

Bank fishermen this week were catching rainbow from shore at Lake Roosevelt, but at some locations, like Ft. Spokane, they had to walk a long way to find open water. In places, ice shelves extend well out from shore. The launch is open, but there is ice both up and downstream.

Other species

A razor clam dig which began Tuesday on three ocean beaches continues through Sunday. Mocrocks and Twin Harbors will be open to digging on minus late afternoon and evening tides all six days, but Copalis will close after today. Long Beach remains closed.

Hunting

Idaho Fish and Game plans several open house meetings around the state during February to collect public comments on the 2017 and 2018 proposed seasons and rules for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, gray wolf and mountain lion. Season proposals will also be available for review and comment on the Fish and Game website around Feb. 8. The deadline for submitting comments goes through Feb. 26. The website provides a convenient way for people to review the proposals and provide their comments without having to travel to a meeting.

Idaho hunters have through Feb. 15 to apply for this spring’s controlled black bear hunts. Apply at any Fish and Game license vendor; with a credit card by calling 1-800-554-8685; or online .