Alan Liere’s weekly fish and game report for Feb. 16

Wed., Feb. 15, 2017

Alan Liere

Tip of the week

Outdoor writer/photographer Jason Brooks says bank anglers can catch steelhead regularly by scouting the water to find places that don’t have shoulder-to-shoulder anglers, then learning to use the right gear at the right time. He suggests looking up the river graph, as this can tell you a lot. For example, if it recently rained and the river is still high, but stable, it will probably be dirty as well. Use dark-colored spoons or spinners and a lot of sticky scent. When the water is low or on the drop it will be a bit clearer, so you want to downsize gear and use a water soluble scent. If it is sunny, the fish will be in riffles and deeper slots. On cloudy or overcast days they will be in the flats or along the edge of seams. Rainy days make the water dirty and on the rise which means fish will be on the move. If so, you don’t have to be. Find a good run and stay all day, as the fish will come to you.

Braggin’ rights

Two friends had an ice fishing adventure last Saturday that is unlikely to be repeated anytime soon – they caught walleye through the ice on Lake Roosevelt. Finding 10 inches of hard ice when they arrived at Porcupine Bay, they ventured carefully out, drilling dozens of holes as they made their way upriver. Eventually, they found fish in 34 feet of water, using small perch jigs tipped with worms to entice the 12- to 15-inch ’eyes to bite. The same two also tried fishing from shore for trout near Ft. Spokane. They said the bite was slow, but there appeared to be less ice around the edges than last week. On Sunday, another friend went to Porcupine Bay to substantiate the ice fishing story. He caught no walleye, but iced five big perch in a long day.

Overheard

The Kettle Fall Marina on Lake Roosevelt will close April 30 when the National Park Service contract with Lake Roosevelt Vacations, Inc. expires. The effort to select a contractor to continue operations was canceled to give park officials more time to evaluate visitor services in the northern portion of Lake Roosevelt.

Heads up

The Inland Empire chapter of Safari Club will host their annual fundraiser March 4 from 3:30-10 p.m. at Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center, 1100 North Sullivan Rd., Spokane Valley. This “Hunters First” banquet and auction raises funds for local conservation, humanitarian and education projects Ticket order forms are available at www.huntersfirst.org, or call Brian Nutley at (509) 844-3005.
Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) closed to salmon fishing on Feb. 11 until further notice. Marine Area 9 will re-open Feb. 16. The daily limit for hatchery chinook salmon will be one chinook, with an overall two-salmon limit. All coho and wild chinook must be released. On the same day, the daily limit for hatchery chinook in Marine Area 6 will be reduced to one chinook, with an overall two-salmon limit. All coho and wild chinook must be released.

Fly fishing

The Spokane River is blown out below Latah Creek, but above there are still a few fishable slots. Overall, the river is running about 4,000 cfs more than a week ago. Silver Bow Fly Shop says streamer fishing is the best option now, especially with the trout spey.

The North Fork Coeur d’Alene has dropped some and the lower section has potential for anglers using streamers or nymphs. Fish deep and slowly. Afternoons will be best.

The annual Fly Fishing Show Saturday and Sunday in the Lynnwood Convention Center (196th Street Southwest, Lynnwood) is the biggest gathering in Washington State of world class fly tiers, casters, guides and destination hosts. It opens both days at 9 a.m.

Salmon and steelhead

After a total blow-out last week, the Clearwater River began to subside and clear up a little by Tuesday. Reel-Time Fishing reports one of their boats got out early in the week, catching 20 steelhead.

The Grande Ronde River has lost its ice. Water visibility is roughly one foot, and a few fish have been caught this week. The annual Boggan’s Oasis Spring Fishing Derby for steelhead will run through March 25. Info: boggans.com.

This is prime time for steelhead in the Tucannon River. A new strain of late run steelhead has replaced the strain that originally entered the river during fall and early winter, and though there are not huge numbers this year, the population is building and there are fish available. Access is limited, but there are landowners who will grant permission to trespass, and access is also possible through the Tucannon Habit Management Unit.

Ice Fishing

You may have to walk a long way to find deeper water at the far end of Fourth of July Lake, but anglers have done better there in water over 12 feet deep than the shallower water. A lot of the trout coming in now are 10-14 inches, but there are still some bruisers cruising around, sometimes right under the ice.

Eloika Lake remains excellent for perch and largemouth bass, and some decent sunfish have been iced recently. Swedish Pimples tipped with maggots or perch eyes were working this week.

Reports indicate the perch fishery out of the State Park on Curlew Lake is still going strong. Anglers fishing in roughly 33 feet of water are icing all the 9- to 11-inch perch they want to clean, as well as good numbers of rainbow trout up to 17 inches. Take a good auger and be prepared to spend some time drilling.

Ice anglers were catching limits of 8- to 10-inch kokanee from Spirit Lake this week through 12 inches of ice off the Nautilus Road ramp. The fish were said to be 20 feet down in 80 feet of water.

Fernan Lake, near Coeur d’Alene, has approximately 18 inches of ice. Ice cleats would be a good idea as the top layer is extremely slick. Anglers are having fair success on trout and perch as well as a few crappie in 20 feet of water. There were no reports of pike this week.

Mirror Lake is yielding a lot of small kokanee and a few rainbow. The ice is over one foot thick and there is a lot of crusted powder snow on top. Be prepared for a workout, as it is knee-high.

Cocolalla Lake has heavy slush on top of 12 inches of good ice. Anglers are catching quite a few brookies in 25 feet of water. Cocolalla also has good numbers of perch, but you’ll usually not find them where you find the trout.

Open water fishing

Lake Chelan mackinaw continue to hit trolled offerings in the trench, and kokanee fishermen are making nice catches around Colyar Ledge. The launch at Mill Bay is still usable.

Lake Roosevelt has been reluctant to shed its ice. At last report, launches are open at Seven Bays, Spring Canyon and Lincoln, but fishing for both trout and kokanee has been only fair. Bank anglers around Gifford and Daisy are finding open water and catching some rainbow. The water level is beginning to drop and is expected to reach 1,270 feet by the end of the month and 1,255 feet by March 15.

The Tri-Cities walleye bite is on, and anglers trolling Smile Blade spinners and nightcrawlers in 30-40 feet of water are catching some big fish.

Hunting

Hunters may now purchase and submit applications for a 2017 Washington spring black bear hunting permit. To be eligible for a permit, hunters must purchase and submit an application to the WDFW by midnight on Feb. 28. Hunting licenses, bear transport tags and bear permit applications may be purchased online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ or by phone at (866) 246-9453.

Idaho Fish and Game’s proposed changes for the 2017 and 2018 big game hunting seasons are available online for public review and comment at: idfg.idaho.gov/form/big-game-2017. Only those seasons and hunts for which changes are proposed are listed. All others will remain the same.