Fishing | Columbia spring chinook verdict due

Sport anglers should know what's on the table for Columbia River spring chinook catches by Friday.

That is when the state Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet again, after coming to a deadlock 4-4 vote last Saturday on a proposal that would have given sport anglers 65 percent of the catch in the Lower Columbia River while non-tribal commercial netters would receive 35 percent.

Commissioner Chuck Perry was absent from the meeting, but all nine commission members are expected to participate in a conference call at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Last year, sport anglers got 57 percent of the fish and non-tribal netters got 43 percent. Sport anglers and netters aren't allowed to kill more than 2 percent of the entire wild chinook return in the Columbia River.

"This is a tough issue," commission chairman Jerry Gutzwiler said in a news release. "On one hand, we're seeing more and more anglers fishing for spring chinook every year. At the same time, those fish fetch top dollar for the commercial fishery. It's a real balancing act."

Commissioner Conrad Mahnken made the new proposal, which was much different from the state Fish and Wildlife plan. The commission has indicated conservation is the top priority.

The forecast calls for a huge return of 269,300 upriver Columbia spring chinook, compared with last year's forecast of 78,500 (86,230 actually returned).

Washington and Oregon officials will finalize the spring chinook seasons at a joint meeting on Feb. 15.

Fishing reports

• Razor clams on coastal beaches: High surf and windy weather could hinder digging at Twin Harbors, which is open today to Saturday, and at Long Beach when it opens tomorrow to Saturday from noon to midnight only.

• Salmon in open marine areas: "Fishing has been excellent since it opened [last Friday] for hatchery blackmouth at places like Lopez Pass and Thatcher Pass," said Larry Carpenter, owner of Master Marine in Mount Vernon. "Fishing was also off the charts at Point Thompson/Boulder Reef area off Orcas Island, and Sucia Pass is another traditional place to try in February. The mark rate [hatchery fish with a missing adipose fin] is right around 50 to 60 percent."

Fishing remains decent at Lip Lip Point off Marrowstone Island and Midchannel Bank off Port Townsend, and the southern part of Area 9 started to pick up.

"Some fish finally showed up on Possession Bar's east side over the weekend, and we did good for fish up to 10 pounds, but the southerly winds have been a problem on the exposed bar," said Gary Krein, owner of All Star Charters in Everett.

Elsewhere hatchery chinook fishing is fair in Saratoga Passage at Greenbank, Elger Bay, Hat Island and the racetrack between Camano Head and Gedney Island.

South central Sound (Area11), Strait of Juan de Fuca east of Sekiu (5 and 6) and Hood Canal (12) opens Feb. 16.

• Steelhead in Western Washington rivers: "I know some guys on the Snohomish system who are catching three to five steelhead per day," said Scott Weedman, of Three Rivers Marine and Tackle in Woodinville.

On the northern coast, a fisheries check on the Upper Hoh listed 33 anglers with 22 wild steelhead (all released) and nine hatchery fish, although catch rates were still low below Oxbow Campground, where 67 anglers caught four wild (all released) and one hatchery fish.

The Bogachiel had 22 anglers with five wild (four released) and three hatchery fish; seven anglers on the Calawah caught 12 wild fish and kept six. The Sol Duc slowed down a bit, but still gave up about one fish per angler.

Other rivers worth trying are the Satsop, Green, Skykomish, Wynoochee, Skykomish, Cascade and Skagit.

• Perch, trout and other game fish in statewide lakes: "Fly anglers at Lone Lake are doing OK for trout using blood worms, leeches and chironimid fly patterns," said Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood.

Fish Lake north of Leavenworth is producing good ice fishing for perch and a few trout, and ice fishing in Okanogan County has improved.

"For rainbow trout the best lakes to try are Rat, Big and Little Green, and Davis, while Patterson is good for yellow perch," said Bob Jateff, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "Powerbait for trout and a small jig tipped with a worm for perch are successful methods for ice fishing."

The Northwest Ice Fishing Festival is Feb. 16 at Sidley Lake near Molson. It is sponsored by the Oroville Chamber of Commerce and Molson Grange. Register from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Molson Grange Hall or at the office on the lake. Cost is $20, and $10 for kids under age 14. Details: 509-485-4002.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com