HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown Anglers wanting consistent action are finding it in the lower Columbia River. In the Buoy 10 area, Washington anglers have been averaging almost two coho per rod (the daily limit is three fish). Through Sept. 1, an estimated 82,000 angler trips produced 26,800 chinook kept, 11,500 released and 32,000 coho mortalities. All chinook must be released through Sept. 30. Below Bonneville Dam, effort and chinook catches have been increasing, said Joe Hymer, supervisory fish biologist for Pacific States Marine Fishery. Just over 1,000 boats were counted Aug. 28 and Aug. 31. During August, 59,000 trips produced an estimated 4,700 fall chinook kept. Anglers below Warrior Rock line to the Rocky Point line were given an extra day (Sept. 7) to retain and chinook, adipose fin clipped or not. The chinook mark selective fishery will be Sept. 8-14. In both cases, no more than one fish may be an adult chinook. All chinook must be released Sept. 15-30.
Other fishing news
" Cowlitz River anglers have been catching some fall chinook and summer steelhead between the hatcheries and throughout the lower river. Karen Glaser of Barrier Dam Campground reported anglers are using the same old things; jig and bobbers, corkies and yarn, shrimp and eggs. The tails of Loonie Coonie has been fantastic bait this year, producing better than expected results. Tacoma Power recovered 762 summer steelhead, 195 spring chinook adults, 27 jacks, 65 mini-jacks, 78 fall chinook adults, seven jacks, one coho jack and 14 sea-run cutthroat trout during the week Aug. 25 -31. Also, 200 summer steelhead were recycled down stream to the Interstate-5 boat launch, completing a program in cooperation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) that provided 1,600 summer steelhead which were recycled downstream during July and August. " Pop gear has been producing nice strings of trout for Mayfield Lake anglers. Wedding rings, spinners and night crawlers also are producing results. Anglers fishing for silvers in Riffe Lake are using Deli shrimp, small Loonie Coonies with fair catches being reported. Bass are being caught at both ends of Riffe and Swofford Pond has been producing trout, catfish and bass. " WDFW has announced retention of chum will be allowed in Willapa Bay. The daily limit is six fish of which no more than three may be adult salmon. Wild chinook must be released. " Most areas of Puget Sound closed to recreational crab fishing Sept. 1, and crabbers are reminded summer catch reports are due by midnight Oct. 1. Recreational crab fishing remains open in marine areas 7-North and 7-South near the San Juan Islands. Sport fishers who crab in those two areas after Sept. 1 must report their catch on winter catch record cards. Catch cards play a major role in determining how much crab is still available for harvest in the winter months. "It's important we receive reports from everyone licensed to fish for crab in Puget Sound, whether or not they caught crab this year,GÇ¥ said Rich Childers of WDFW. Crabbers who fail to file a report face a fine when they purchase a 2016 Puget Sound endorsement. WDFW will announce winter crab seasons for Puget Sound in early October, after completing its assessment of the summer fishery. Pheasant release
An estimated 40,000 pheasant will be released across southwestern Washington areas this season. This is an increase of 2,000 birds over 2013. Approximately 1,900 pheasants (4.9 percent of the total production) will be released at the Skookumchuck Wildlife Area this season, with 50 to 75 birds released each day on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 17 through Thanksgiving Day. The department will also release 3,900 (9.8 percent of the total production) at the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, with 60 to 70 birds released on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays. Some areas of Scatter Creek are off-limits to hunters due to endangered species recovery work. Approximately 5,200 pheasants will be released on Joint Base Lewis-McChord land (JBLM). Military training dictates which fields will be open in any given week for both release and hunting access. Hunters must register to hunt at JBLM through NW Adventure Center (253-967- 8282 or 253-967-7744). Bob Brown is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be contacted at robertb1285@fairpoint.net
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