Fishing | Luring wild steelhead becomes a bit tougher

The expected low wild winter steelhead returns have prompted state Fish and Wildlife to adjust the regulations in the Cascade, Sauk and Skagit rivers and Fisher Slough.

Anglers in those areas must now follow selective gear rules. They include the use of unscented artificial flies or lures with single-point barbless hooks and knotless nets. Anglers in the Skagit River only will still be able to use motorized vessels while fishing. Daily limit is two hatchery steelhead.

"We're expecting a down year for wild steelhead to the Skagit River basin," Bob Leland, a state Fish and Wildlife steelhead program manager said in a news release. "These emergency changes will allow anglers to continue to harvest hatchery fish, while reducing impacts to this spring's wild steelhead return."

Only about 5,100 wild steelhead are expected to return to the Skagit River basin this year, about 900 fish below the spawning escapement goal. The low steelhead returns are likely due to poor ocean survival, impacts of flooding in 2005 and several other factors, Leland said.

"By moving to selective gear requirements, and closing portions of the Skagit and Sauk rivers early, more wild steelhead should have an opportunity to reach the spawning grounds this spring," Leland said.

For more details on the regulation changes and early closure dates go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm

Fishing reports

• Salmon in open marine areas: "It was sensational fishing [at the Discovery Bay Salmon Derby last Saturday to Monday]," said Tony Floor, director of fishing affairs for Northwest Marine Trade Association. "Midchannel Bank was the place to be, and Lagoon Point and Bush Point also kicked out fish," Floor said.

Derby results: 1, John Goldingay, 19.4 pound chinook, $3,250; 2, James Hicks, 18.6, $1,750; 3, Jay Campbell, 14.9, $750. A total of 113 salmon were submitted by 110 derby anglers, and the total fish catch was well above 200 chinook with more than 804 derby tickets sold.

The San Juan Islands continue to provide decent fishing at places like Obstruction Pass, Spring Pass, Cowlitz Bay on the west side of Waldron Island, Rocky Bay, Lopez Flats, Parker Reef and Peavine Pass.

In northern Puget Sound chinook fishing took a turn for the better although Possession Bar remains slow.

"We had a fairly decent blackmouth fishery on Sunday and Monday at Double Bluff [off Whidbey Island] and Point No Point, and the guys mooching did good on the outgoing tide," said Gary Krein, owner of All-Star Charters in Everett. "I was up in Area 8-1 on Friday and we marked lots of bait at Greenbank, but we didn't run into any biters although others did manage to get some."

Fishing reopened in south-central Puget Sound, and there was a few chinook caught off Point Dalco and Quartermaster Harbor, but slow on the Tacoma side. Slow in Hood Canal.

In the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Sekiu, "Fishing was good on Saturday and fair on Monday and Tuesday just a little west of the Caves at Eagle Bay, but we had strong northeast winds on Sunday that kept the anglers off the water," said Donnalynn Olson at Olson's Resort in Sekiu.

• Steelhead in Western Washington rivers: "Fishing was pretty good last week, but tailed off since then because of the low and clear water conditions," said Bob Gooding, owner of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. "They're still doing OK in the Calawah, Hoh, Sol Duc and Bogachiel."

Locally, there hasn't been a big push of wild steelhead, and many rivers close starting Feb. 29, including the Snohomish, Skykomish, Snoqualmie and Stillaguamish.

In southwest Washington, anglers have been getting some fish in the Wynoochee, Cowlitz and Satsop.

• Smelt, sturgeon and spring chinook in the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers: "Anglers are getting a few sturgeon in the Lower Columbia mainstem, and more so in the warmer [waters of the] Willamette," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "We didn't hear of any spring chinook caught this week, but did hear a reliable report of one caught near Vancouver last weekend, and another observed caught in the Lewis."

"Test dipping [yesterday] at Longview [Gearhart Park] and at Kelso produced no fish, but birds and seals were working the east bank just below the Kelso Bridge and riffle just upstream from the park," Hymer said. "Samplers got a few smelt per dip [best dip produced about one pound] at Lexington."

Hymer said those who put in their time on the Cowlitz above Kelso did OK for smelt last Saturday, and some caught their 10-pound daily limit.

The Cowlitz is open for smelt 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays only.

• Trout in statewide lakes: "Trout fishing has been pretty good on Lake Sammamish, Lake Washington and Lake Stevens," said Brian Nelson at Three Rivers Marine and Tackle in Woodinville.

Rufus Woods Reservoir is fair to good trolling for trout. Slowed down for trout fly-fishing at Lone Lake on Whidbey Island. Silver Lake near Castle Rock was planted this past week with 2,790 trout; Kress Lake near Kalama got 1,514; and Little Ash Lake near Stevenson got 801.

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