Alan Liere’s fishing-hunting report for April 16

April 15, 2020 Updated Wed., April 15, 2020 at 6:09 p.m.

By Alan Liere spokesmanliere@yahoo.com

Tip of the week

Too many self-taught shooters learn to aim BB guns and .22s before they shoot at flying targets, and they carry over the aiming habit when they learn to shoot shotguns. Think about how quickly and easily you can point your finger at any object. As soon as you start trying to line up the barrel, bead and target, you interfere with that natural ability. Aiming a shotgun leads to slowed and stopped swings. It’s also extremely difficult to lead targets if you’re aiming at them down the gun barrel. If the gun has to be ahead of the bird, there is no way you can look down the barrel and at the bird at the same time. Freeing your eyes from the gun requires practice, but once you can focus your eyes on the bird or clay target and let the barrel find the correct lead in your secondary vision, leading targets becomes much easier.

Braggin’ rights

My tackle boxes have never been so organized. With more time on my hands than I wanted, I am spending money I usually spend on gas and bait to procure an assortment of leader boards for storing kokanee and walleye leaders and lures, and also Velcro-closing bags to hold bottom bouncers and wires. I have also tied up enough spinners and glow hooks with leaders to last several seasons, and I am proud of the fact I finally parted ways with the six jars of dried Power Bait.

Heads up

Information about this year’s sport salmon fisheries and the North of Falcon process can be found on WDFW’s website at wdfw.wa.gov/nof. For information on tribal salmon fisheries, contact the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (nwifc.org).

At MarDon Resort on Potholes Reservoir, Pete Fisher said: “The fishing should be absolutely amazing on the Potholes Reservoir and in the Seep Lakes once the fishing season reopens. The fish will have had zero fishing pressure for over a month. A future benefit to the closure is that the fish will be able to spawn without angling pressure. We expect an extremely healthy spawn for all species, and this will be reflected in some incredible fishing in the years to come.”

Overheard

The residents of Northern Pend Oreille County may have lost their public access to Ledbetter Lake. The property owners (Lees Land & Cattle of Spokane) say the road has been permanently closed to the public “due to theft, vandalism and garbage left on the property.” The lake was listed on the WDFW 2020 statewide stocking plan and was set to receive 5,000 triploid rainbow trout fry/fingerling in May/June.

Hungry bears are a sign of spring in the Clearwater Region. Idaho is home to an abundant black bear population and a smaller number of grizzly bears. Although Idaho’s known grizzly bear populations are in the northern Panhandle and the Greater Yellowstone Area in eastern Idaho, it’s possible that grizzly bears may turn up in the Clearwater Region where people aren’t expecting them. In the past few years, young grizzly bears have roamed hundreds of miles from their home ranges to find new territories, including some sightings in the Clearwater. “Hunters in north-central Idaho need to be extra vigilant while afield, both while traveling to their hunting spots, and in identifying their targets,” said Jon Rachael, state wildlife manager for Fish and Game.

Fishing

Coeur d’Alene pike fishermen are finding some big northerns in the shallow bays by dangling bait under a bobber. Chinook anglers on Coeur d’Alene are landing an occasional “keeper” and releasing quite a few undersized fish.

Anglers who like to catch and eat channel cats are biding their time hoping for the Washington fishing season to resume shortly. There are a lot of fish available in the Palouse River near Lyons Ferry, but prime time is upon us.

Silver Bow Fly Shop has opened up a “porch pickup” service for anyone needing anything right away – bugs, rods, tying materials. “Think of it as personalized shopping for you,” Sean Visintainer said. “Give me a call or peruse the website. There are many more items in-stock than what you see online – thousands of tying materials, thousands of flies.” Call to schedule a pickup and he will arrange an agreeable time for items to be placed outside the shop on the “porch” for you. Info: 924-9998.

Continued low returns of some key chinook salmon stocks are expected to limit numerous Washington salmon fisheries in the upcoming season.

This summer, chinook fisheries are expected to be largely similar to last year, with most Puget Sound marine areas opening for chinook retention beginning in July or August. Summer chinook fisheries are expected to begin July 1 in marine areas 5, 6, 7, and 11.

The summer salmon fishery on the Columbia River will again be closed to summer chinook retention (including jacks), though stronger forecasts allow for sockeye retention in 2020, a change from last year. Initial ocean fisheries reflect a reduced coho quota due to significantly lower projected returns in 2020.

All four of Washington’s marine areas are scheduled to open June 20 for a chinook-only fishery, then transition to a chinook and coho fishery beginning June 29. Daily limits and days of the week open to salmon fishing vary between areas.

A growing walleye population in Lake Pend Oreille poses a threat the lake’s ecosystem and multimillion dollar recreational fishery. Biologists are concerned that if left unchecked, walleye numbers will continue to increase to the point of collapsing the keystone kokanee population, also hurting growth rates of trophy fish like rainbow trout, bull trout and smallmouth bass.

Full story, photo and graphs: idfg.idaho.gov/press/netting-non-native- walleye-aims-protect-existing-lake- pend-oreille-fisheries

Hunting

The Idaho Fish and Game commission will meet via conference call at 8 a.m. Friday. The commission will consider setting migratory game bird seasons for 2020-21.

In accordance with the governor’s orders regarding COVID-19, the public will not be allowed to attend the meeting in person but may listen in. A link to the agenda is at idfg.idaho.gov/press/ fg-commission-meet-conference- call-april-16-9-am-mdt.

The controlled hunt applications period for Idaho deer, elk, pronghorn and fall bear opens May 1 with a new rule for elk hunters and runs through June 5.

New for 2020, there is a five-day waiting period to buy capped elk zone tags for any resident who applies for a controlled elk hunt, regardless of whether the person draws the controlled hunt tag.

Contact Alan Liere at spokesmanliere@yahoo.com

Alan Liere’s fishing-hunting report for April 16

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