Outdoor Notebook | Part of the Yakima River will open for fishing May 16

For the second time in five years, a portion of the Yakima River will be open for spring chinook fishing.

Before a brief fishery in 2000, the Yakima had been closed for 40 years. Other years it was open were 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2008.

State Fish and Wildlife and Yakama Nation fishery managers are predicting a return of 10,000 to 15,900 adult spring chinook this year.

"At this point we may not get that 15,900 fish with what the run looks like so far at Bonneville Dam, but there will still be plenty of fish to produce a pretty good fishery," said Jim Cummins, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "More than 56 percent of the run are hatchery fish."

"The fish heading above Bonneville are really just starting to move through now, which puts it several weeks behind a normal timed return, and this is why we didn't open it like we usually do on May 1," Cummins said. "So far there are hardly any fish in the Yakima."

Normally the peak is mid-May to the end of May, but Cummins says there should be a lot of fish around the first couple weeks of June, and then it should start tailing off by the end of June.

Fishing for hatchery chinook, trout and other game fish will be open May 16 to June 30 from I-82 Bridge at Union Gap up to the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge about 500 feet below Roza Dam.

The wild card this year is flow conditions because of the huge snowpack in the mountains.

"Last year the biggest problem we had was quite bit of warm weather, snowmelt and high water flows that really made the fishing conditions tough," Cummins said. "There were several weeks where it was almost impossible to fish. With a lot of snow sitting up there I'm kind of concerned we may have a repeat of last year, plus the fish are late again."

Cummins did point out that several weeks last year produced good fishing with ideal water flows and good fishing conditions.

Daily limit is two hatchery-marked chinook with a 12-inch minimum size limit. Anglers should check the regulation pamphlet or Web site for other specific rules, gear restrictions and closures.

Only one, single-point, barbless hook with a hook gap from point to shank of ¾ inch or less is permitted. Use of bait is allowed. The new "Selective Gear Rules" requirement (prohibiting use of bait) is temporarily suspended during the salmon fishery for all species. Night closure in effect for all species.

For the duration of this salmon fishery, the upper "closed water" boundary line is moved upstream to the railroad bridge downstream of Roza Dam to provide additional opportunity to harvest hatchery chinook. Retention of trout between 12 to 20 inches, and a daily limit two) and other game fish is prohibited until the new, statewide river season opener on Saturday, June 6.

Fishing for steelhead remains closed. All steelhead (rainbow trout greater than 20" in total length) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water before release.

All fishing is closed 400 feet upstream from the upstream side of the Yakima Ave./Terrace Heights Road Bridge in Yakima, including the area adjacent and downstream of the Roza Wasteway No. 2 fish barrier rack next to Morton & Sons, Inc.

Another dam set to meet its fate soon

The 22-foot high Hemlock Dam on Trout Creek, a tributary of the Wind River, is expected to be removed soon and could be a boost for future steelhead runs.

"Trout Creek is a significant contributor to the Wind River steelhead run," said Nancy Ryke, a Mt. Adams District Ranger.

The dam, built in the 1930s to provide irrigation and power for the huge Wind River Nursery north of Carson and a ranger station, would restore Trout Creek to free flowing status.

A fish ladder was built at the dam for fish passage upstream, and steelhead smolts have been able to migrate out of the creek.

"Yes, the creek continues to host a steelhead run, but there is a big difference in what the removal would likely do," said Dan Rawding, a state Fish and Wildlife natural resource scientist who has been monitoring fish passage there since the mid-1990s.

The benefits of the dam removal are still up for debate.

"It is sort of like asking me what my stocks are going to be doing in the coming weeks," Rawding said.

The Forest Service initiated an analysis, and if the dam was removed more than 1,000 fish would come back.

"I did an analysis that indicated it would be more like 50 fish," Rawding said. "So there is a big difference in what it would likely do. In the meantime we're scheduled to collect information to see what the exact changes would be for taking out a dam like this."

The $2 million construction project was awarded to the James Dean Construction company of Glenwood. Construction will begin later this spring.

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mount Adams Ranger District, will host an open house 1 p.m. May 16 at the Wind River Work Center eight miles north of Carson to provide information regarding Trout Creek restoration and removal of the dam.

The Forest completed an environmental-impact statement in 2005 which addressed concerns associated with the dam such as water quality, fish passage and habitat.

The analysis evaluated a range of possible actions to improve conditions for steelhead, and examined how those actions might affect recreational uses and other fish and wildlife species that live in the vicinity.

Notes

• The Puget Sound Anglers of Lake Washington meeting is 7 p.m. May 14 at the Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. on Mercer Island. Learn about trout fishing techniques in Lakes Washington and Sammamish. The PSA Lake Washington Trout Derby is June 13. Details: 425-823-0704.

• The Bellevue Orvis Store is hosting a two-day Largemouth Bass School May 21 and 24 hosted by fly-angler Mike Ainsworth. Cost is $185. Details: 425-452-9138 or www.orvis.com.

• The grand opening of the Performance Bicycle Store, 3225 Alderwood mall Blvd. in Lynnwood is hosting a Tube Donation Drive and a bike giveaway in honor of National Bike Month 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 16, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 17. Donors who drop off their bike inner tubes will get a $5 money card. The store will offer free kids bike safety check. Details: www.performancebike.com.

• The Washington Trails Association is hosting a Hiking with Children Workshops 4 p.m. May 16 at the Ballard Public Library; and 6:30 p.m. May 20 at the Queen Anne Public Library. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is looking for volunteers to help with the Environmental Explorations event May 20 at the Johnson Property in Belfair. The all-day education program hosts about 170 students from Hawkins Middle School. Details: 360-275-3575.

• Come join Ambrose Bittner, lead organizer and owner of Red Lantern Journeys for an adventure of stories and photographs of Katmandu, Nepal, and the Mitrata Orphanage, 7 p.m. May 20 at the Alderwood REI store.

Also come learn about the Red Lantern Journeys benefit called The Climb for Himalaya Children at Mount Rainier, July 17-19, for the Mitrata Orphanage in Katmandu, Nepal. All proceeds for the climb go directly to the orphanage. The climber who raises the most money will be awarded a free trekking trip to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Details: www.mitrata.org.

• The Icicle Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited Damily Fishing Derby is 6 a.m. May 30 at Fish Lake's Cove Resort. Weigh-in is 3 p.m. Details: www.icicletrout.org.

• The Eastside Audubon Society is hosting a Birds of Summer Class 6:30 p.m. June 9 and 11 at the Eastside Audubon office, 308 4th Ave South in Kirkland. Class teaches basics of bird identification, birding etiquette and ethics, equipment selection, field guides and local birding areas. An all-day follow-up field trip is planned in mid-June to Eastern Washington. Cost is $80 members, and $85 nonmembers. Details: 425-576-8805.

• Michael Martin at the Sportsman's Warehouse in Federal Way is conducting an Introduction to Fly-Fishing the Lakes and An Introduction to Fly-Fishing the Rivers. Cost is $100 for the lakes class, and $55 for the steam class. For specific dates of the classes please contact the store. Details: 253-835-4100.

• The Icicle Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited meeting is 6:30 p.m. May 13 at Kristalls Restaurant in Leavenworth. Mike Beagle who works with sportsmen on public lands issues in Oregon and Washington is the guest speaker. Details: www.icicletrout.org.

• Don Langlois with Ridge Explorations is hosting a Washington State Boater Education Class, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 16 at the Lake Wilderness Lodge in Maple Valley; and 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 13 at the Enumclaw Expo Fieldhouse. Cost is $49. Details: 360-663-2343 or www.RidgeExplorations.com.

• The new nonprofit Cascade Musky Association is looking for new members. Cost is $25 or $35 for a couple/family membership. Details: www.cascademuskyassociation.com or www.wafish.com.

• The Washington Fly Fishing Club meeting is 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the Seattle Tennis Club. Please RSVP to attend meetings. Details: www.WFFC.com.

• The C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation is hosts various Fishing Kids events throughout the state. During each event, about 500 kids will get a chance to fish, and go home with a T-shirt, rod and reel, and maybe a fish or two. Cost is $5.

Each child should arrive 30 minutes before their assigned time. Kids will listen to a short talk on water safety, and volunteers will show them how to bait the hook and use the rod and reel before they start fishing.

Next is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 16 at Seward Park on Lake Washington in South Seattle. Preregistration is required. Details: 425-251-3202 or 206-684-4075 or www.castforkids.org.

• The campgrounds at Fort Flagler State Park will remain closed until May 13 while scheduled capital improvement projects are completed. All other facilities will remain open during construction, including the retreat center, watercraft launch sites, moorage, trails and the day-use areas. Camping is available at nearby Fort Worden, Old Fort Townsend and Sequim Bay state parks. Details: www.parks.wa.gov.

• The Mount St. Helens Institute offers a free Sunday Hiking Program series of 14 hikes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest now through Oct. 25. The hikes range from east to difficult, and are 4 to 10 miles round-trip. Space is limited and reservations are required. While the hikes are free a $5 donation is suggested. Details: www.mshinstitute.org.

• The Western Bass Club meets every third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kennydale Hall in Renton. Details: www.westernbassclub.comor www.nickbarrfishing.com.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th S.W. in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

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