Hunting+Fishing: Salmon and steelhead

Fri., Dec. 22, 2006

Alan Liere Correspondent

Tip of the week

» I cleaned and ate a pheasant this week that had been thrown, whole, into the freezer two years ago and used at various times for photography purposes. It had absolutely no freezer burn and the flavor and texture was every bit as good as that of a fresh bird.

Braggin' rights

» Ted Snodgrass and his 15-year-old son, J.R., of Nine Mile Falls, hit the jackpot in November on their first big-game hunting experience. Both hunters drew Washington moose tags and they each dropped a bull in the Mica Peak area around Thanksgiving. J.R. claims his is the biggest, and since he's younger than 16, he gets to put in for another moose tag while his dad has completed his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Washington.

» Considering that they'd never bagged anything bigger than geese and turkeys, the protein bonanza has been overwhelming. "We filled the freezer, gave away 50 pounds of meat to the friends that helped them and we still had to rent a locker at Crown Foods," Claire Snodgrass, a proud wife/mother, told Outdoors editor Rich Landers.

Overheard

» The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the wolf recovered in the northern Rocky Mountains. Federal officials are working on a proposal to remove wolves from the endangered species list in Idaho and Montana separately from Wyoming

Heads up

» The Idaho Department of Fish and Game wants to hear from hunters about proposed changes to the 2007-2008 moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat seasons and several potential changes to hunting equipment restrictions. A list of trophy season proposals and a hunting equipment survey are available on the Fish and Game Web site: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov, or by calling Fish and Game regional offices.

“Idaho state and federal officials confirmed last week that up to about 2,500 mallard ducks found dead southeast of Burley died of acute aspergillosis, a respiratory tract infection caused by a fungus commonly found in soil, dead leaves, moldy grain, compost piles or in other decaying vegetation. Aspergillosis is not contagious to humans or between ducks, but the disease affects small birds that come to backyard feeders and feed on damp birdseed and in the debris that accumulates on the ground below feeders. To reduce the risk of disease, store seed in a dry place and throw away any seed that has become wet or moldy. Clean and disinfect storage containers as well.

“With the recent warm weather prompting big game to return to higher elevations, the Idaho Department of Fish and closed the access gates on the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area on Dec. 20. The gate closure is designed to enhance wildlife security and to prevent unauthorized motorized use of the area, not to restrict snowmobile use. The gates will be re-opened if the snow depth increases to greater than 16 inches.

From the mouth upstream to the Orofino Bridge, Clearwater River anglers have averaged eight hours per steelhead caught. River conditions are excellent. Above Orofino, there has been slush and fishing is difficult.

The Snake River has been generally slow for steelhead, though andramous fish biologist Larry Barrett said there are still plenty of fish in the river. The water level has been fluctuating wildly, making angling difficult. Try backtrolling with dark-colored plugs on dark days and light-colored plugs on bright days.

At Boggan’s Oasis on the Grande Ronde, Bill Vail said there was moving ice at midweek, but the weather is supposed to moderate and the river should be good to go by the weekend. The Grande Ronde is running at 1800 cfs – a good flow for fishing. Pluggers and jiggers are catching fish, but fly fishermen are having a tough time.

In the Columbia River above John Day Dam and in the John Day Arm, steelhead angling was good this week for boat anglers who averaged 1.14 steelhead caught per boat, and improved for bank anglers who averaged 0.71 steelhead caught per rod.

On Blue Creek, a tributary to the Cowlitz River, 17 bank anglers kept 13 steelhead and released 15. Most of the fish released were darker summer run steelhead. On the Cowlitz River, 99 bank anglers caught 43 steelhead, seven adult and one jack coho and released two steelhead.

The Kalama River has fairly high, green water and some boating activity. There is fair to good steelheading in the canyon. On the North Fork Lewis River, anglers are catching steelhead, coho and a few chinook.

Winter Fishing, Idaho

The Lake Coeur d’Alene kokanee season resumes Jan. 1 with the new aggregate limit of six kokanee or chinook. The limit on the southern third of the lake, controlled by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, is unchanged at this time from the previous regulations. The Tribe is considering state regulations.

Hard water anglers in Idaho are in fishing limbo. While some lakes have ice, some do not, and many have covers not deemed safe enough for walking. Close to Lewiston, Mann Lake is the most diverse, but not yet iced over. Winchester Lake (all species, lots of bass); Spring Valley Reservoir (bluegill and trout); Elk River Reservoir (brook trout 12-14 inches); and Moose Creek (bluegill and trout) are frozen and fishable. Deer Creek, which was poisoned in the fall and restocked a month ago, has lots of 10-inch trout. It is a half-mile hike in. Take your ice auger.

With two smallmouth bass more than 9 pounds coming from Dworshak Reservoir in Idaho this fall, it is attracting attention as a year-round fishery. Boat ramps at Canyon Creek and Grandad are unusable during the winter, but boaters can still launch at Bruce’s Eddy, Dent and Dworshak State Park.

The Clearwater River has a robust whitefish population, with fish running to 20 inches. The Lower Selway and Lower Lochsa are also good for whitefish.

In the Idaho Panhandle, Cocallala Lake still has open water and Hauser and Hayden do not yet have safe ice. Fernan had a lot of ice around the edges. The winter stream season on the St. Joe and the Coeur d’Alene can be good, and whitefish are available.

Idaho fish biologist Chip Corsi reminded anglers that the trout bounty on Lake Pend Oreille has been raised from $10 to $15 from now through March.

Winter Fishing, Washington

Hog Canyon and Fourth of July have safe ice for fishing. As predicted, most of the Fourth of July rainbow are more than 14 inches. Fishing has been sporadic. Hog Canyon also has safe ice. Successful anglers seem to favor small jigs in shades of green tipped with worm, maggots or corn. There are also some large rainbow in Hog Canyon.

Rainbow are biting in the top 8 feet of water at Lake Roosevelt, said John Kallas of Valley White Elephant. The best luck this week has been between Hunters and Keller. Bank fishing is getting better every week in bays throughout the system.

The Rock Lake boat launch area was packed with vehicles last weekend. Rainbow and browns are coming on the troll for anglers dragging small plugs and spinners.

Winter fishing can be the hottest fishing of the year for Lake Chelan mackinaw. Fish depths of 130-180 feet before 10 a.m., then fade into the “trench” (depths of 200-250 feet) later in the day. Keep your lure working within 10 feet of the bottom at about 1.5 to 1.7 mph.

Curlew Lake in Ferry County is loaded with 14- to 16-inch rainbow as well as some bigger fish. The ice cap is not thick enough to be safe. Waitts Lake in Stevens County is also not ready for hard water angling.

Anglers on the south end of Banks Lake are taking perch through 3 inches of ice near the Coulee City Boat Basin. On the north end, the launch at Coulee Playland is open.

A few walleye and quite a few triploid rainbow are coming from Rufus Woods. The walleye catch is mostly incidental. Bank anglers near the net pens are doing well for the football-shaped trout.

Hunting

The influx of mallards into the Moses Lake area last week was short-lived. Moses Lake has an ice cap, and the Potholes sand dune area is freezing up again. There are still birds in the area, but the dummies are already in the freezer. There is ice on the launches at Potholes, so carry some sand or chains or you’ll be spending Christmas there.

Long Lake waterfowlers are finding fair numbers of geese. Launching is a problem at Long, however, as the only open launch is a long run to good hunting.

Chukar hunters are finding shootable numbers of birds above Lewiston. The Idaho chukar and quail seasons runs through Jan. 31. In Washington, the season for quail, chukar and pheasant runs through Jan. 15. Grouse are open through Dec. 31.

Hunting+Fishing: Salmon and steelhead

Winter Fishing, Idaho

Winter Fishing, Washington

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