Excellent clam-digging winter continues this weekend

Fishing opportunities continue to grow around the state for steelhead, salmon, smelt and trout and if you dig it, we'll also throw some razor clams into the mix.

Thousands of razor-clam diggers are expected to head to the coast for what has been an excellent winter season.

Digging will be open Friday to Monday at Long Beach and Twin Harbors; Friday to Sunday at Copalis and Mocrocks; and Saturday and Sunday at Kalaloch.

The dig Jan. 28-31 drew 21,000 digger trips with 275,600 razor clams, an average of 13 clams per person (the first 15 dug regardless of size or condition is a daily limit).

Low tides: Friday, minus-0.7 feet at 4:49 p.m.; Saturday, -0.9 at 5:34 p.m.; Sunday, -0.8 at 6:16 p.m.; and Monday, -0.1 at 6:57 p.m.

The Monday trout-fishing opener on some Eastern Washington lakes should be good thanks in part to the mild winter weather.

Fishing at Martha and Caliche lakes should be good for stocked trout, according to Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood. Chamberlain said he had spoken with a Fish and Wildlife biologist who reported catching 12 trout in 15 minutes at Caliche Lake.

Other places worth a try are the Columbia Basin lakes in the Quincy Wildlife Area, and Lenice, Nunnally, Merry and Lenore lakes.

The seven small impoundments off the Tucannon River on the Wooten Wildlife Area in Columbia County also received a good plant of trout. They are Watson, Rainbow, Deer, Blue, Big Four and Spring.

The northern Olympic coast continues to be the big draw for winter steelhead, and the Methow and Grand Ronde rivers east of the Cascades are giving up some fairly good action.

"Fishing has been decent in the Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah and Hoh," said Bob Gooding, owner of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. "The water is still pretty clear even with the rain we got (on Tuesday), but they are very fishable."

If smelt are more your taste then head to the Oak Harbor Marina for what has been a very good jig fishery. Another fun event is the La Conner Rotary Smelt Derby on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Details: www.laconnerchamber.com.

More spring chinook are starting to appear in the Lower Columbia River around Longview, and some have been reported caught in the Cowlitz River.

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