HOOK AND FUR: Changes in fishing rules coming

By Bob Brown

September is traditionally the transition month from summer to fall fishing, and with that change there are numerous new fishing rules that go into effect.  
Some of those new rules are:
• Only one hatchery steelhead may be retained in the Cowlitz River from boundary markers at the mouth upstream to the Lexington Drive Bridge/Sparks Road Bridge Sept. 1 through Oct. 31.
• Beginning Sept. 1, anti-snagging goes into effect on the Green and portions of the North Fork Lewis rivers.
• Only fish hooked in the mouth may be retained and recreational fishing is closed Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays on the Puyallup River Sept. 1 though Oct. 31.
The rule changes can be found on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlifed (WDFW) website and in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet.
Meanwhile, river fishing continues to be hit-and miss both locally and on the Columbia River.
On the lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam, the WDFW reported, effort and fall chinook catches remain light except some fish are being caught around the mouths of the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers. No current creel data is presently available. Beginning September 1 through September 31 only one hatchery steelhead may be retained from Buoy 10 up to Bonneville Dam.
Locally, the Nisqually River has been producing fair catches of chinook for rec fishermen below the Mounts Road Bridge. Eggs under a float, jigs and bobbers and some spinners are baits being used. Tribal nets will be in the river Sunday noon until Tuesday noon.
Fishing continues to be less than fair on the Cowlitz for boat anglers and poor for bank anglers, who are the first to admit fishing hasn’t been good. However, almost all unanimously believe some fishing is better than no fishing. Flows were 3,240 cubic feet per second on Aug. 21 with a water visibility of 13 feet.


Other fishing news

• Salmon fishing has turned the page from fair to good in Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound), according to Art Tachell of Point Defiance Boathouse and Marina. Anglers have been catching limits of chinook, some coho, and the odd pink near the Girl Scouts Camp and in front of the marina during early-morning tide changes. The fish have been hitting Flashers and Hoochies.
• Further south in the Sound, Mike Zettel of Zettel’s Marina reported salmon fishing has been hit-and-miss and dependent upon where the angler is fishing. Johnson Point, Lyle Point, waters near Tolmie State Park, and the fish trap have been areas where most of the action is being had. Some jigs and green and white spoons have been the preferred baits.
• Trout have been hitting garlic scented baits and pink and yellow power eggs attached to long leaders. Wedding Rings with a small piece of worm trolled in the top five feet of water have been producing a few limits. Fishing from the Mineral Lake Resort boat dock has been best during morning hours.

Bob Brown lives in Roy and is a freelance outdoors writers. Hecan be contacted at robertb1285@centurylink.net.