The Weekender Report — The latest in fish and wildlife recreational opportunities across Washington State

June 24 - July 7, 2009
Contact: (Fish) 360-902-2700
(Wildlife) 360-902-2515

Light up the Fourth with salmon,
crab, but watch those incendiaries  

Salmon fishing kicks into high gear in early summer, when the Washington coast, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and several areas of Puget Sound open for business. Most areas of Puget Sound are also open to recreational crabbing by July 1, setting the stage for a great Independence Day weekend. 

But whether you’re driving to the coast or hiking a mountain trail, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is urging caution with anything that can start a wildfire.  Fireworks are specifically prohibited on lands owned and managed by the department, and campfires - where allowed - are restricted in size, said Jennifer Quan, WDFW lands manager.

"Conditions are extremely dry in many parts of the state, and a lot of people will be heading outdoors this summer," Quan said.  "We’re asking that everyone be very careful with anything that could cause a wildfire."

Specific rules in effect on WDFW lands are posted on the department’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/public_conduct.html . Information about fire danger around the state is at http://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/firedanger/BurnRisk.aspx .

Meanwhile, another kind of fire has been burning under anglers waiting for the start of this year’s salmon-fishing season off the Washington coast.  And with good reason:  More than a million coho salmon are expected to pass through the fishery to the Columbia River, making this year’s coho return the highest since 2001.

"We’re already seeing lots of coho all along the coast, and coho salmon really drive the ocean fishery," said Doug Milward, WDFW ocean salmon manager.  "Anglers can rightly expect some good fishing this year." 

On the north coast (Marine Areas 3 and 4), salmon fishing will open June 27 on a Tuesday-through-Saturday basis, then switch to a daily schedule starting July 18.  Fishing off Ilwaco (Marine Area 1) and Westport (Marine Area 2) will be open June 28, but on different schedules.  Waters off Ilwaco will be open seven days a week, but fishing off Westport will be limited to Sundays through Thursdays only through July 23, when the area will open seven days per week.

Rather catch some shellfish?  Six areas of Puget Sound will open for crab fishing July 1, including marine areas 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 8-1 (Deception Pass to East Point), 8-2 (East Point to Possession Point), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and 11 (Tacoma/Vashon). Those areas will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays only, plus Labor Day weekend, closing the evening of Sept. 7.

Crabbing is already under way in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south Puget Sound), where the fishery is open seven days a week.

Fishing regulations for these and other fisheries are described in WDFW's Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm ).  For additional information on these and other options for outdoor recreation around the state, see the regional reports below:

North Puget Sound  

Fishing: Fishing has been slow for anglers on the saltwater, but catch numbers could rise as more marine areas open for salmon in July. On the rivers, anglers continue to cast for spring chinook, and some have recently hooked a few nice-size fish.

Meanwhile, the crab fishery opens July 1 in marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), and 10 (Seattle/Bremerton). Fisheries in those areas will be open on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule, plus the entire Labor Day weekend.

The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. Fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across. See WDFW's sport-crabbing website ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/ ) for more information.

In Marine Area 8-2, the Tulalip Bay "bubble" salmon fishery is currently under way. The fishery got off to a slow start and the bite has yet to pick up, said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. "It’s been quiet out there," he said. "But fishing tends to improve as we head into July."

The bubble is currently open each week from Friday through noon Monday. Anglers fishing the bubble have a two-salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink salmon. Chinook must measure 22 inches in length to retain.
 
The catch-and-release salmon fishery in the northern portion of Marine Area 10 continues through June 30. However, beginning July 1, anglers fishing in the marine area will have a daily limit of two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon, with no minimum size limit. Anglers must release chinook salmon.
 
"Marine Area 10 has been great for resident coho the last several years," Thiesfeld said. "Hopefully, anglers will find more of the same this year."
 
Another option is Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands), which also opens July 1 for salmon. Anglers will have a daily limit of two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon, but can only keep one chinook.

In the freshwater, portions of the Skykomish, Skagit and Cascade rivers are open for hatchery chinook salmon fishing.  On the Skykomish River, which is open from the Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe to the Wallace River through July 31, there have been recent reports of anglers hooking some nice-size hatchery chinook. Anglers fishing there have a daily limit of two hatchery chinook salmon.

The Skagit is open to hatchery chinook retention from the Highway 530 bridge at Rockport to the Cascade River. On the Cascade, anglers can fish from the mouth of the river to the Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge. Both stretches are open through July 15.

The daily limit on the Skagit and Cascade rivers is four hatchery chinook, two of which may be adults (chinook salmon at least 24 inches in length). Statewide rules require anglers to stop fishing for salmon once they have kept two adults.

Anglers are reminded that gamefish regulations have changed on the Cascade River from the mouth to the Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge. From June 1 to July 15, anglers can retain up to two trout, including hatchery steelhead and bull trout. For details, anglers should check the rules and regulations pamphlet on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm .

Meanwhile, Skagit anglers are gearing up for an upcoming summer chinook salmon fishery. Beginning July 9, anglers will have the opportunity to hook a summer chinook on a portion of the lower Skagit for the first time in 16 years. The Skagit will be open from the mouth of the river to the mouth of Gilligan Creek from noon Thursday through Sunday each week. Anglers will have a daily limit of two chinook, only one of which may be an adult.

Before heading out to the rivers, lakes or Sound, anglers should check the rules and regulations for all fisheries on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm .

Wildlife viewing: Whales continue to be the main attraction in the region. Gray whales have been spotted milling about the waters west of Whidbey Island and humpback whales have been seen off the shores of Bainbridge Island and as far north as the San Juan Islands, where minke and orca whales also were spotted feeding. In addition, more than 100 harbor porpoises were sighted off Patos Island, north of San Juan Island. The porpoises were "grouping up and doing many full jumps and breaches," one person reported on the Orca Network ( http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html ).

Farther south, a birder in the Kent area came upon a rare sight - a Least flycatcher . The flycatcher, which was spotted near the Green River, is an uncommon visitor to western Washington. Although, east of the Cascades, Least flycatchers - the smallest flycatchers found in Washington - are often seen in Okanogan County.

Elsewhere, birders visiting Marymoor Park in Redmond spotted numerous species, including a sharp-shinned hawk , a Cooper’s Hawk , a Caspian tern , a purple martin , an evening grosbeak and several Lazuli buntings .

In the interest of wildfire prevention, WDFW officials remind Fourth of July holiday celebrants that fireworks are not allowed on any of WDFW’s 900,000-some acres of water access sites and wildlife areas across the state. Campfires are restricted in many areas, too. For details by area, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/ .

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

Fishing: The much-anticipated coastal salmon fishery will open in late June with record returns of coho expected. Meanwhile, most areas of central Puget Sound will open for crab fishing July 1, and sport fishers will get one more day - June 28 - to catch halibut on the south coast.

Anglers looking forward to the ocean salmon fishery have reason to be optimistic, especially if they’re targeting coho salmon , said Wendy Beeghley, WDFW fish biologist. "People are already encountering coho in other fisheries, so catch rates should be good right from the start," Beeghley said.

A projected 1.2 million hatchery coho are forecast to return to the Columbia River, which could make this year's ocean season the best since 2001. Most coastal chinook runs are expected to be similar to last year, with little change in the quota, Beeghley said. This year, anglers will be allowed to catch 176,400 hatchery coho and 20,500 chinook compared to 20,000 hatchery coho and 20,000 chinook last year.

The north coast (marine areas 3 and 4) will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays only beginning June 27, and daily starting July 18. Ilwaco (Marine Area 1) will be open daily for salmon fishing starting June 28. The salmon season in Westport (Marine Area 2) also starts June 28, but will be open Sundays through Thursdays only through July 23, and daily thereafter.

The daily limit in all marine areas is two salmon, but only one may be a chinook. All wild coho must be released. Westport anglers may add one pink salmon to their limit, while those fishing the north coast may add two.  

Salmon fisheries off Sekiu/Pillar Point and the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca and Hood Canal (marine areas 5 and 6) open July 1 on a daily basis for hatchery chinook and coho. All wild chinook, coho and chum must be released. Anglers may keep two pink salmon as part of their daily limit. Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal south of Ayock Point) also opens July 1 with a four-fish daily limit. Because rules vary in each area, anglers are advised to check the Fishing in Washington pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm before heading out.

Halibut fishing is now closed in most areas, but anglers have a unique chance to catch both halibut and salmon in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) July 2 and 3 (the last day for halibut fishing), said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. "The two-day overlap in fishing seasons is a sweet deal for anglers who can potentially come home with a fish in each hand," Thiesfeld said. The same is true for the coast where opening day of salmon season in Marine Area 2 (Westport) coincides with a one-day re-opening of the halibut fishery June 28.

Thiesfeld also advises salmon anglers in south Puget Sound to take advantage of the nice weather and long days. "Even though it’s not the peak of the run, there’s some nice fish around," Thiesfeld said. "People should get out and enjoy these bonus days on the water." The hatchery chinook fishery runs seven days a week, with a two-fish daily limit. The minimum size for chinook is 22 inches with no minimum limit for other species. All wild chinook must be released. The pink salmon bonus in Marine Area 11 takes effect July 1, when anglers may add two pink salmon to their daily limit.  Commencement Bay is closed to salmon fishing until Aug. 1.

Salmon fishing also opens July 1 on several Olympic Peninsula rivers, including the Bogachiel, Calawah, Quinault and Nisqually.

Six areas of Puget Sound will open for crab fishing July 1, including marine areas 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 8-1 (Deception Pass to East Point), 8-2 (East Point to Possession Point), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and 11 (Tacoma/Vashon). Those areas will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays only, plus Labor Day weekend, closing the evening of Sept. 7.

Crabbing is already underway in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south Puget Sound), where the fishery is open seven days a week through Jan. 2, 2010.

Rich Childers, WDFW shellfish policy lead, reminds anglers that crabbing in Hood Canal (Marine Area 12) begins July 29 this year to help prevent the harvesting of mating female crabs. "Crab abundance in Hood Canal has dropped considerably since 2001 and we need as many crabs as possible for reproduction," Childers said. "Although it is already unlawful to harvest female crabs, WDFW and tribal co-managers are taking extra precautions to help stabilize and protect the crab population."

Additional information is available on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/ or http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm .

Wildlife viewing: Alert birders hiking near many of the region’s rivers may hear, and hopefully see, one of western Washington’s special birds. Characterized by a distinct trill, the American dipper is a small, aquatic songbird found year-round in mountainous areas and forested lowlands. Once known as the water ouzel , the dipper is unusual among most birds because it lives on insects and aquatic creatures found in rivers and streams. Observes can find dippers walking along the bottom of a river or using its wings to "fly" upstream under water. Their calls and songs are loud in order to be audible above the sound of rushing water. While the dipper is commonly found on the many rivers and streams in the region, recent sightings were reported at the old Elkhorn Campground located on the Dosewallips River on the Olympic Peninsula near Brinnon, and the Mashel River near Eatonville in Pierce County. 

From the Olympics to Mount Rainier, day outings in early summer can be very productive for birders and other outdoor enthusiast. Lakes and wetlands are hosting a number of species, including wood duck, California quail, western wood pee-wee, savannah sparrow, yellow and orange-crowned warbler, willow flycatcher, red-winged blackbird, red-breasted sapsucker, osprey , and a variety of swallows. ,. Along with the popular and gregarious gray jays , visitors to Mount Rainier are reporting sightings of Clark’s nutcracker, hermit warbler, sooty grouse , plus several mammals, including black-tailed deer, pika, yellow-pine chipmunk, hoary marmot, black bear and red fox .

A number of bird species can be found by taking a quick trip off Hwy 7 (Pacific Avenue) in Pierce County, heading west on 176th St. S. A short walk in a local riparian area offers sightings of nesting neotropical birds such as western tanager, black-headed grosbeak, willow flycatcher, common yellow throat , and yellow and Wilson’s warbler . Also in the area are rufous hummingbirds and nesting wood and ring-necked ducks . 

Meanwhile, due to ongoing dry conditions in many parts of the state, WDFW enforcement officers and land managers are reminding outdoor recreationists to take precautions. Fireworks are not allowed on any of WDFW’s 900,000 acres in 32 wildlife area complexes and over 150 water access sites across the state and many do not allow camp fires or any other kinds of open fires. Where campfires are allowed, they are usually restricted to metal fire rings and must be kept to less than three feet in height and diameter. Specific rules by property can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/index.html .

To report a wildfire or unattended or escaped campfire, call the state’s wildfire fighters, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), at 1-800-562-6010 or call 911. To obtain information on fire danger levels or burn bans by county, see http://www2.wadnr.gov/burn-risk/index.html . 

Southwest Washington

Fishing:   The fishery for adult summer chinook salmon got off to a good start June 22 on the lower Columbia River, where boat anglers fishing around Kalama are averaging one fish for every two boats.  Bank anglers were also doing well below Bonneville Dam, according to opening-day creel surveys.

The chance to catch summer chinook - known as "June hogs" due to their size, is expected to draw a strong turnout in the days ahead, said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist.

"We just got a report of an angler catching a 45-pounder," Hymer said.  "These are big, chrome-bright fish, so it's hardly surprising that this is such a popular fishery."

Anglers fishing below Bonneville Dam may retain any adult summer chinook - not just those with a clipped adipose fin - as part of their daily catch limit through July 5.  Above Bonneville Dam, summer chinook may be retained upriver to the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco  from July 1-31.  In both areas, the salmonid daily limit is six fish, no more than two of which may be adult salmon or hatchery steelhead , or one of each.  Sockeye salmon also count as part of the adult limit.     

Fishery managers anticipate a run of 70,700 summer chinook to the Columbia River this year, up from 55,500 a year ago.  While those fish are the big draw, anglers continue to reel in sockeye salmon and hatchery steelhead moving up the river.  "One of the great things about this fishery is that if you don’t catch a summer chinook, you can always target sockeye salmon or hatchery steelhead," Hymer said.

In the week prior to the summer chinook opening, 1,200 anglers fishing below Bonneville Dam reported catching 85 steelhead,  41 sockeye  and 27 chinook jacks, while releasing 40 adults..  Hymer said some of the best catch rates for hatchery steelhead and sockeye were posted around the sandbars between Cathlamet and Longview.

Hymer noted that catching a spring hog requires a somewhat different approach than the one used for the other species.  "While sockeye and steelhead generally stay close to the bank, summer chinook run in fairly deep water - at least 20 feet," he said.  "Plunking works best for sockeye and steelhead, but you need to let out some line to find summer chinook," he said.

The summer steelhead run is still building and sockeye returns are peaking, but shad may be on the downhill side, Hymer said.  Anglers looking for shad would do well to head upriver, where catch rates for boat anglers in the John Day Pool averaged nearly eight fish per rod during the week ending June 21.  By comparison, catch rates ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 fish per rod that week among anglers fishing from Bonneville Dam downriver to Camas/Washougal.

Meanwhile, the white sturgeon fishery below the Wauna power lines is scheduled to close June 28 at the end of the day and reopen July 2-5.  Staff will continue to monitor the fishery and will provide another catch update this week.

Catches improved during the week ending June 21, when charter boat anglers averaged one legal-size sturgeon for every two rods and private boaters averaged one for every 3.5 rods.  Bank anglers were also catching some legals.

Fishing on Columbia River tributaries has been mixed.  Cowlitz River bank anglers fishing at the barrier dam are still catching some spring chinook , while boat anglers near Blue Creek are mostly catching hatchery steelhead.  Some hatchery steelhead are also being caught on other tributaries to the Columbia River including the Kalama, Lewis, Washougal  and Klickitat rivers.

Trout anglers should know that WDFW planted Goose Lake with 4,500 good-sized brown trout and 869 even-larger cutthroat in mid-June.  The browns averaged two-thirds of a pound apiece and the cutthroat averaged 1.5 pounds.  Skate Creek and the Tilton River are also in line for trout plants in the coming days as is Mayfield Lake. Anglers fishing Riffe Lake have been catching a mixture of landlocked coho and landlocked steelhead.
 
Wildlife viewing:   Birders, hikers and nature photographers should know that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently opened a 2.25-mile walking trail at the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, east of Washougal.  Starting at a parking lot off Highway 14, the trail skirts wetlands, crosses Gibbons Creek and Redtail Lake, and passes through a cottonwood forest en route to the Columbia River.  Hikers should have plenty of opportunities to see wildlife - particularly neotropical birds and waterfowl - along the way.
 
According to veteran birder Wilson Cady, more than 200 of the 300-plus species of birds found in Clark County have been sighted in the 1,049-acre refuge.  Great blue heron, bald eagles, greater white-fronted geese, goldfinches, Eurasian wigeon and goldeneye (both common and Barrow’s ) are just a few of many species of birds known to visit the refuge during the year.  For more information on the refuge, see the USFWS website at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=13556 .

Farther west, the American white pelicans that attracted the attention of birders at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in early June are back - or at least they were as of June 16.  After falling from two-dozen birds to just two birds the week before, the flock redoubled with 35 members, according to reports on the Tweeters website ( http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/ ).  With a wingspan of up to seven feet, snowy white feathers and bulging throat pouches, white pelicans are both rare and hard to miss. In Washington, the birds are listed as an endangered species, although a small number of non-breeding birds remain in the eastern part of the state throughout the year.

In the interest of wildfire prevention, WDFW officials remind Fourth of July holiday celebrants that fireworks are not allowed on any of WDFW’s 900,000-some acres of water access sites and wildlife areas across the state. Campfires are restricted in many areas, too. For details by area, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/ .

Eastern Washington

Fishing:   Now is the time to fish the Spokane River arm of Lake Roosevelt for some of the tastiest freshwater fish - walleye . The daily catch limit is eight and there’s no minimum size, although only one over 22 inches may be retained. The Seven Bays area and many other spots on the big reservoir are also good for kokanee and rainbow trout fishing now.  There is a two-fish daily catch limit for kokanee. The limit on trout is five, but only two over 20 inches may be retained.

Anglers can combine fishing with holiday weekend camping at the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area’s campgrounds at Evans, Fort Spokane, Gifford, Hunters, Keller Ferry, Kettle Falls and Spring Canyon; most are on a first-come, first-served basis, but groups need to reserve camp sites - for details see http://www.nps.gov/laro/ .

Sprague Lake, on the Lincoln-Adams county line off I-90, continues to be the rainbow trout factory.  Spokane County’s Williams and Badger Lake, also continue to provide good catches of rainbow and cutthroat trout . Although there are no specific creel checks, rivers and streams throughout the region should be providing trout action, too.
 
Liberty and Newman lakes in eastern Spokane County and Eloika Lake in north Spokane County all have a mixed bag for anglers - trout, bass, crappie, perch - and all species are biting now. Coffeepot Lake in Lincoln County is also good for perch and bass, but remember that a no-bait rule is in effect. Also in Lincoln County, Twin and Deer Springs lakes are producing largemouth bass

Downs Lake, in the southwest corner of Spokane County, and Eloika Lake in north Spokane County, are good for yellow perch, crappie , and largemouth bass .

The Snake River in the southeast part of the region continues to be productive for smallmouth bass and channel catfish . 

The fourth annual Fish and Wildlife Night at Spokane Indians Baseball is set for July 6, when any fishing or hunting license holder can receive a discount on tickets. The stadium vendor area will include fish and wildlife displays that night, with fish casting and elk bugling contests scheduled between innings. Call or stop by the ticket office (509-343-6886, Avista Stadium near the Spokane County Expo Center) for details and to reserve seats.

Wildlife viewing:   Colorful songbirds are visible and audible throughout the region as the nesting season is in full swing. Birders in Spokane County report Lazuli buntings, black-headed grosbeaks, western bluebirds, Wilson’s warblers, spotted towhees , and northern rough-winged, tree , and violet-green swallows.

WDFW forester Doug Kuehn recently photographed a cedar waxing, gray catbird, yellow warbler , and American robin near WDFW’s Sherman Creek Wildlife Area headquarters in Ferry County.

Cedar waxwing

Gray catbird

Debby Flynn of WDFW’s Asotin Wildlife Area staff suggests birdwatchers check out the Rockpile and George Creek drainages for these and other species.  "But watch out for rattlesnakes ," she said, noting that she recently watched red-tailed hawks in aerial fights over snakes they picked up for meals. Flynn also reports lots of wild turkeys in the woods and kingfishers near the water.

WDFW wildlife biologist Kurt Merg says mule deer and white-tailed deer fawns are becoming more visible, just when more people are recreating outdoors.  "People are likely to see them and even encounter them close up," he said. "But unaccompanied fawns and other baby wildlife have most likely not been abandoned by their mothers and should be left alone."

Merg also reported seeing a few pheasant chicks , but it’s too early to predict how healthy the hatch has been because the young birds are so well camouflaged.  Weather conditions at the peak of pheasant hatching earlier in June were more favorable than last year at this time, he noted. 

Birdwatchers and others spending time outdoors in Spokane County may spot Canada geese with new ornamentation. WDFW staff and volunteers recently captured and neck-collared and leg-banded geese on Spokane County’s Qualchan and Hangman Valley golf courses as part of a study to determine if such urban geese are resident or migratory. (For more details, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=jun1109c .)  If you see a goose wearing a white neck collar with a number and letter code, you can report it, with the location and date, to the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Lab at 1-800-327-BAND or at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/call800.htm .

Geese round-up

Seen a collared goose?

In the interest of wild fire prevention, WDFW officials remind Fourth-of-July holiday celebrants that fireworks are not allowed on any of WDFW’s 900,000-some acres of water access sites and wildlife areas across the state. Campfires are restricted in many areas, too. For details by area, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/ .

Northcentral Washington

Fishing:   Bob Jateff, WDFW Okanogan district fish biologist, said that as the weather warms in July, rivers and streams in Okanogan County will provide good trout fishing.

"The Methow River and selected tributaries opened for catch-and-release, selective- gear-only trout fishing in June and should provide good opportunities through September." Jateff said.  "Anglers should check the regulation pamphlet closely because the Methow, Twisp, and Chewuch rivers are only open for fishing in certain areas. Some smaller Methow Basin tributaries open for standard gear angling are Boulder and Eight Mile creeks where liberal brook trout limits exist."

Jateff said fishing in Okanogan County lakes tends to slow down as water temperatures increase, but anglers willing to fish slow and deep can continue to have success catching trout.  Spectacle, Alta, Pearrygin, Wannacut, and Conconully lakes, plus Conconully Reservoir, all should provide rainbow trout ranging in size from 11 to 13 inches, however there are some 15-inch fish as well.

"Jameson Lake in Douglas County has been fishing pretty well and the fish are larger than last year at this time," Jateff said. "Reports of rainbow 10-12 inches with larger fish in the 15-inch range are coming in.  Just remember that Jameson closes to fishing on July 5 and reopens on Oct 1."

Spiny-ray anglers can fish Leader Lake for crappie and bluegill , and Patterson Lake for yellow perch , Jateff noted.  "These two lakes will provide good fishing throughout the summer for all three species," he said. "And even though they might be smaller in size than trout, they are very good eating."

In Grant County, Moses Lake recently received 500 nearly half-pound rainbow trout from WDFW’s Columbia Basin Fish Hatchery. Just to the south in Potholes Reservoir, walleye fishing is reportedly good in the Crab Creek area of the sand dunes, the Goose Island area, and the Lind Coulee arm of the reservoir.

In the interest of wild fire prevention, WDFW officials remind Fourth of July holiday celebrants that fireworks are not allowed on any of WDFW’s 900,000-some acres of water access sites and wildlife areas across the state. Campfires are restricted in many areas, too. For details by area, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/.

Doe and twin fawns. Photo by Scott Fitkin

Wildlife viewing:   Cal Treser, WDFW Okanogan district wildlife enforcement officer, said mule deer fawns are showing up throughout the Methow, and reminds recreationists to enjoy them from a distance. Does often leave their young unattended for hours at a time to forage and avoid drawing predators with their own scent, he said. That strategy is sometimes misread by people as abandonment and fawns are picked up when they don’t need rescuing. Leaving wildlife in the wild is not only better for the animals, but it’s also the law, Treser said.

Treser also noted that now is prime time for bird and butterfly watching in the Methow Valley.  "Butterflies are out in full force at just about any elevation in the Methow," he said.  "The Black Pine lake area is great for enjoying wildflowers in bloom and many different species of butterflies feeding on them.  Our Methow Wildlife Area is an excellent destination for birding right now."

Seen a collared goose?

Wenatchee, Chelan and Soap Lake area birdwatchers may spot Canada geese with new ornamentation. WDFW staff and volunteers recently captured and neck-collared and leg-banded geese at several parks and other suburban locations as part of an eastern Washington study to determine if urban geese are resident or migratory. For more details on this study, visit WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=jun1109c.  If you see a goose wearing a white neck collar with a number and letter code, you can report it, with the location and date, to the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Lab at 1-800-327-BAND or at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/call800.htm.
 
In the interest of wild fire prevention, WDFW officials remind Fourth-of-July holiday celebrants that fireworks are not allowed on any of WDFW’s 900,000-some acres of water access sites and wildlife areas across the state. Campfires are restricted in many areas, too. For details by area, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/ .

Southcentral Washington

Fishing:   The middle reach of the Yakima River closes to hatchery spring chinook salmon fishing on June 30.  The fishery, which opened in mid-May, is under a daily limit of two hatchery chinook, minimum size 12 inches. Hatchery salmon are identified by a missing adipose fin and a healed scar in the location of the missing fin. Wild salmon (adipose fin intact) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release. (Rules for this fishery are available at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=755 ).   WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins reports poor fishing success during the last creel check (week ending June 21), when 108 salmon anglers caught and kept just two hatchery adult and seven hatchery jack chinook, and released three wild salmon.
 
"River flows are much better early in the season," Cummins said. "Fishing effort  is heavy downstream of the Railroad Trestle at Roza Dam. Many fish have passed upstream of the fishery, but there should be fish available until the end of the season."

Rivers and streams continue dropping into condition and Cummins says they should provide increasingly productive opportunity for cutthroat and rainbow trout . "Good bets might be the Naches, Yakima, Little Naches and Teanway rivers, and Taneum, Naneum and  Rattlesnake Creeks," he said.

Selective gear rules, closed reaches, and catch-and-release areas are in place at a number of rivers, so anglers should check the current Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.  With the exception of the middle reach of the Yakima,  all rivers and streams are closed to salmon fishing and bull trout may not be harvested. 

WDFW fish biologist Eric Anderson reports Mackinaw or lake trout are being caught at Cle Elum Reservoir.  "This is also the time of year when kokanee really start biting at Rimrock, Bumping, Keechelus, and Kachess reservoirs," he said.

Anderson also noted snow is finally off the access areas for Dog and Leech lakes off Highway 12 in the White Pass area and at Lost Lake in the Snoqualmie Pass area.  One-and-a-half pound triploid rainbow trout were recently stocked in all three lakes - 1,014 at Lost, 725 at Leech, and 427 at Dog Lake.  Anderson reminds anglers that Leech is fly-fishing-only and all three lakes have a trout daily limit of five with no more than one over 14 inches. 

"More hiking trails are opening up in the mountains so anglers can start planning high lake fishing trips," Anderson said, "but check trail conditions first.  Not all trails are snow-free or accessible at the very remote, high elevation lakes. Check with the Forest Service District Ranger Station for the area you plan to visit." 

Anglers can also find information about catchable-size trout plants in high lakes and all fishing waters in the region at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/weekly/ .  For high lake fish plants in the Yakima Basin see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/regions/reg3/r3_highlakes.htm .    

Wildlife viewing: Bird-watching is excellent now on WDFW’s Wenas Wildlife Area, southwest of Ellensburg in both Yakima and Kittitas counties, including parts of the upper Wenas Valley which is considered an Audubon Important Bird Area. The riparian areas in particular provide glimpses of eastern kingbird, tree, violet-green and other species of swallows , gray catbird, yellow warbler, black-headed grosbeak, Lazuli bunting, Bullock’s oriole , and many others. The forestland at higher elevations host red-naped sapsucker, downy and white-headed woodpeckers, western wood pewee, mountain chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, house wren, veery, warbling vireo, Nashville, yellow and MacGillivray’s warblers, red crossbill , and western and mountain bluebirds . In the shrub-steppe habitat look for horned lark, sage thrasher, Brewer’s and vesper sparrow , and loggerhead shrike .

WDFW Wenas Wildlife Area assistant manager Jody Taylor reminds all visitors that no fireworks, campfires or fires of any kind are allowed, not just on the Wenas but also on all WDFW southcentral region lands to prevent wildfires.  "The rains we have been getting recently are only a false sense of low to moderate fire risks," Taylor said. "Grass and cheat dry out in an hour after a rain, and the rain has made the fuel load greater."

Seen a collared goose?

Tri-Cities and Yakima area birdwatchers, and anyone outdoors these days for that matter, may spot Canada geese with new ornamentation. WDFW staff and volunteers recently captured and neck-collared and leg-banded geese at several parks and other suburban locations as part of an eastern Washington study to determine if such urban geese are resident or migratory. (For more details on this study, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=jun1109c .)  If you see a goose wearing a white neck collar with a number and letter code, you can report it, with the location and date, to the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Lab at 1-800-327-BAND or at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/call800.htm .

In the interest of wild fire prevention, WDFW officials remind Fourth-of-July holiday celebrants that fireworks are not allowed on any of WDFW’s 900,000-some acres of water access sites and wildlife areas across the state. Campfires are restricted in many areas, too. For details by area, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/ .