Alan Liere’s fishing-hunting report for Oct. 20

Oct. 19, 2022 Updated Wed., Oct. 19, 2022 at 7:54 p.m.

By Alan Liere For The Spokesman-Review

Tip of the week

Many bird hunters are convinced that a light gun and lightning-fast gun mount and swing are the only way to shoot quick-flushing birds. They aren’t. The faster you move the gun, the more likely you are to mis-mount. Slowing your move by only a quarter of a second or so lets you center every pattern on the aiming point. The same is true of swing speed. Moving the gun too fast causes mysterious misses, while moving it in time with the target makes the shot feel easy and in sync.

Braggin’ rights

On Oct. 4, Hailey Thomas of Rigby, Idaho landed a new catch-and-release state record from Henrys Lake, hooking a huge rainbow/cutthroat hybrid on this prolific east Idaho lake. At 36 inches long, with a 21-inch girth, the fish probably weighed 17-20 pounds. After a quick photo and some measurements, it was released.

Heads up

Allan Walker, fisherman extraordinaire and a longtime member of the Spokane Walleye Club will give a presentation Oct. 26 at the Wildlife Council building at 6116 N. Market Street, Spokane, on "How to extend your Walleye fishing season through the winter.” The meeting starts at 7:00 pm. Everyone is invited.

Elk hunters should be aware that Treponema-associated hoof disease (TAHD) has been detected in multiple units in the Clearwater region. While elk infected with TAHD are safe to consume, biologists ask sportsmen to report elk that appear to have trouble walking or have abnormal hooves.

In last week’s column, I gave the incorrect dates for the bandtail pigeon season. It ended Sept. 25, not Oct. 25 as reported.

Overheard

In recent years, Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho has been producing more rainbow trout over 20 pounds than anywhere else on Earth.

A newly released State of the Birds report for the United States reveals that more than half of U.S. bird species are declining. U.S. grassland birds are among the fastest declining with a 34% loss since 1970, but water birds and ducks in the U.S. have increased by 18% and 34% respectively during the same period.

Elk populations tend to swing less drastically and sporadically than deer, and last year marked the eighth year in a row where elk harvest in Idaho eclipsed 20,000. This has happened only one other time dating back to the 1930s.

Fly fishing

Fishing reports remain good on area rivers. Mahoganies, October caddis, BWOs, fall caddis and terrestrials are still producing. Morning hours will be nymphing or streamer fishing. Slower, deeper pools become more important as the rivers cools off.

Trout and kokanee

Idaho Fish and Game is inviting anglers to participate in an Angler Science Program in which they work together to gather information that will help IDFG manage the trophy rainbow trout fishery on Lake Pend Oreille, mainly by completing logbooks and reporting tagged fish. Anglers who opt to participate will record information while fishing for rainbow trout on Lake Pend Oreille during two time periods that coincide with local fishing derbies. These are Nov. 2-6, during the Lake Pend Oreille Anglers’ Club’s Fall Derby, and Nov. 19-27, during the club’s Thanksgiving Derby. There will be a free raffle associated with each time period for participants who submit their logbooks by Dec. 10. Logbooks will be included with the purchase of all derby tickets. For those not participating in a derby, free logbooks can be picked up at the Panhandle Regional office at 2885 W. Kathleen Ave. in Coeur d’Alene. Contact the Panhandle Regional office at (208) 769-1414 for questions to learn more about the Angler Science Program on Lake Pend Oreille.

Rainbow fishing on Lake Roosevelt is improving as the water cools. Trollers are finding fish in the top 20 feet of water, and bank anglers are floating Power Bait off the bottom with a slip sinker in the bays. Most of the fish are around 15 inches long.

Many local lakes will see end-of-the-month closures, but there are still a lot of fishing options. Some of these are Amber (catch and release only), Diamond, Sacheen, Waitts, Silver, Eloika, Newman, Bonnie and Bead.

Salmon and steelhead

Steelheading on area rivers has perked up this past week with more consistent catch rates. Fish size has been good in the Grande Ronde system. On the Clearwater, B-run fish are pouring in. Anglers during the harvest season, which ended Friday, took home some brutes. The Clearwater is in its catch and release season. River traffic has diminished, but the fish are still coming. The harvest season reopens Nov. 10.

Spiny ray

At MarDon Resort on Potholes Reservoir, Pete Fisher said it’s a great time to fish the reservoir for a variety of species. He said the fish are feeding up – getting ready for winter. For walleye, fish 6 to 20 feet of water on the face of the dunes, but expect to catch perch and bluegill, too. Although the water is up, the walleyes are still on the same structure as they were last month. Everyone seems to be catching walleye, mostly in the 14- to 16-inch range. Fisher also said this is the time to get out the blade baits and start jigging.

Other species

Channel Cat fishing has been pretty good on Potholes Reservoir with the best fishing at night in 5-15 feet of water. Fish the face of the dunes where the main flows come in from the sand dunes, around Frenchman’s Wasteway and in Lind Coulee.

Hunting

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife collected just over 50 samples from deer at eight check stations in Region 1 following Saturday’s general deer opener. At least three of these were destined for the taxidermist and were not biopsied. From all the check stations, over 200 hunters were checked. Volume varied based on location of the check station. The Republic, Deer Park, Walla Walla and Clarkston areas probably had the most hunters visit the check station, and a handful of individuals stopped with their roadkill-salvaged deer and elk for sampling. Also checked were a harvested bighorn sheep and a moose.

Idaho hunters should expect good elk hunting this fall. Numbers remain strong in the Panhandle with Units 1, 4, 5 and 6 being among the 10 top elk units in the state by harvest. Calf survival has remained good (above 80%) the past two winters and hunters should see plenty of spike elk and other elk available for harvest. In the Clearwater region, elk densities continue to remain relatively low in the Lolo, Selway and Hells Canyon zones. Populations appear to be relatively stable in the Palouse zone, and harvest numbers have remained consistent in recent years. Elk City surveys showed an increase in elk herds.

Waterfowl season are in progress in all of Idaho, as Area 1 opened Wednesday. For some parts of the state, including most of the Southwest Region, seasons for white-fronted geese and light geese (including Blue, Ross’ and Snow Geese) start later than duck and Canada goose seasons, allowing for late-season hunting opportunities. In Washington, duck hunters were generally foiled by windless, blue bird weather, but some good goose hunting was reported from guides in the Columbia Basin. The season closes for two days after Saturday, then reopens from Wednesday until Jan. 29.

Waterfowl hunters – particularly dog owners and falconers – should be aware of the potential risks associated with another suspected surge of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in waterfowl populations. Hunters should remain vigilant when handling birds and use proper personal protective equipment when cleaning them. This strain of influenza can also be contracted by turkey, quail, pheasants and grouse.

The Washington State general pheasant season begins Saturday. Hunters hope birds that were unidentifiable as cock or hen a month ago will have more color. There seems to be a better population of pheasants in the Palouse than last year. Many hens lost their broods during the wet spring, but when these birds renested, there was excellent cover and lots of insects.

Contact Alan Liere at spokesmanliere@yahoo.com