State Fish and Wildlife has made some modifications to the salmon season setting meeting process to allow anglers and the public to keep it more focused on their local issues.

"We've been getting lobbied by folks that the process seems inefficient so we've modified how we run the meetings," said Pat Pattillo, the salmon policy coordinator for state Fish and Wildlife. "This allows people to focus on the issues related to their fisheries."

The kickoff on the process begins with state Fish and Wildlife presenting the salmon forecasts 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Room 172, in Olympia.

In past years, the Lynnwood fisheries meeting would be a combination of Puget Sound, Columbia River and coastal fisheries discussions, but will now be split up into three different sessions.

The Monday, March 26 will focus on Columbia River and ocean discussions at the Natural Resources Building in Olympia. Also on March 26 there will be a public hearing on ocean salmon management options at Chateau Westport in Westport.

Then on Wednesday, March 28, state Fish and Wildlife will have a Puget Sound discussion on inside salmon seasons and regulations at Lynnwood Embassy Suites.

Another new additional meeting to allow people who work during the weekdays is a Puget Sound recreation salmon fisheries discussion 10 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, March 24 at the state Fish and Wildlife Mill Creek Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd. in Mill Creek.

2012 North of Falcon Salmon Preseason Planning Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, February 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Forecast Presentations & Preliminary Fisheries discussion at WDFW Offices, Olympia in Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Room 172.

March 2-7, Pacific Fishery Management Council Ocean Salmon Fishery proposals developed at Doubletree Hotel Sacramento, California, 2001 Point West Way 95815.

Monday, March 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., North of Falcon Meeting to Develop Inside Fishery proposals matching ocean proposals at WDFW Offices in Olympia at the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Room 172.

Tuesday, March 13, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Coastal Regional Public Meeting Willapa Bay fishery discussion at the Raymond Elks Lodge - 326 3rd St. in Raymond.

Wednesday, March 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Columbia River Public Meeting commercial & sport fishery discussions in Vancouver, Washington, Vancouver Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way in Vancouver.

Thursday, March 15, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Puget Sound salmon fisheries discussion at City Hall Council Chamber, 321 E. 5th Street in Port Angeles.

Tuesday, March 20, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Coastal Regional Public Meeting Grays Harbor fisheries discussion at Grays Harbor Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street in Montesano.

Wednesday, March 21, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Pre-season Columbia Basin salmon forecasts and fishery outlook, Benton PUD, 2721 West 10th Avenue in Kennewick.

Saturday, March 24, 10 a.m.-Noon, Puget Sound Recreational salmon fisheries discussion at state Fish and Wildlife Mill Creek Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd. in Mill Creek.

Monday, March 26, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., North of Falcon Meeting for Columbia River and Ocean discussions at WDFW Offices in Olympia at the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Room 172.

Monday, March 26, 7 p.m., Public Hearing on Ocean Salmon Management Options, at the Chateau Westport, 710 West Hancock in Westport.

Wednesday, March 28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., North of Falcon Meeting for Puget Sound discussion on inside salmon seasons and regulations at Lynnwood Embassy Suites, 20610 44th Ave. West in Lynnwood.

Friday, March 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Coastal Regional Final public discussion of Willapa Bay & Grays Harbor salmon seasons at WDFW Offices in Olympia at Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Room 172.

Sunday to Friday, April 1-6, all-day, Pacific Fishery Management Council all ocean and inside salmon fisheries finalized at Seattle Sheraton Hotel, 1400 Sixth Ave. in Seattle.

(Photo by Mark Yuasa)

The sturgeon catch and keep fishery in the Columbia River's Bonneville Pool will close starting Feb. 18.

Through Sunday, 831 sturgeon had been kept in the fishery under a catch guideline of 2,000 sturgeon with about 1,100 expected to be caught by Feb. 17.

The 900 fish left in the guideline will be left for three two-day seasons beginning in mid-June.

The sturgeon fishery started off strong when it opened Jan. 1 in Bonneville Pool, but had slowed down dramatically of late due to snow and bad weather.

Catch and release fishing for sturgeon will remain open in Bonneville Pool.

Sturgeon catches in The Dalles Pool and John Day Pool remain slow, and at this point there is no immediate concern to close either fishery. Last year, the John Day sturgeon catch and keep fishery closed on April 10, and The Dalles closed July 30.

Here is the latest fishing report from Dave Graybill, longtime Eastern Washington outdoor radio host and angler:

I have been having a great time at the sports and boat shows the past couple of weeks, but I am really excited about getting down to Rocky Ford Creek to try my luck at fly fishing for the big rainbow there.

Rocky Ford flows ice-free throughout the winter months and offers fly anglers the chance to catch some of the biggest rainbow found in any stream in the western region.

I talked to Darc Knobel at the Desert Fly Angler in Ephrata the other day, and he really got my attention. He said that fishing at Rocky Ford has been very good after the earlier storms this season.

The stream is loaded with rainbow of 15 to 18 inches, but he said he often takes four or five fish over 20 inches in a days fishing on the Ford. What he suggests anglers try if they plan a trip is casting floating line and drifting a Scud pattern below an indicator.

This probably catches more fish than any other method on Rocky Ford. Trout on Rocky Ford feed heavily on these scuds. You may have to experiment with the size of scud you offer them, and olive is mot often the best color.

You will need to use fluorocarbon leader, but don't to too light. The big fish at the Ford will snap light leaders on the hook set or in the weeds.

For details or to get Graybill's weekly report visit Dave Graybill's website.

Here are the 2011-12 upstream transportation totals of fall chinook, coho and steelhead for the Cowlitz River:

FALL ADULT CHINOOK

For the season: 16,816 fall chinook have returned; 2,233 hatchery and 4,273 wild have been transported to the Tilton River; 4,684 hatchery have been transported to Lake Scanewa; 1,770 hatchery and one wild have been transported to Cowlitz at Packwood; and 1,215 hatchery and six wild have been transported to Cispus River.

ADULT COHO

For the season: 48,318 coho have returned; 6,191 hatchery and 2,025 wild have been transported to the Tilton River; 6,845 hatchery and 7,079 wild have been transported to Lake Scanewa; 4,927 hatchery and 155 wild have been transported to Cowlitz at Packwood; and 1,944 hatchery and 489 wild have been transported to Cispus River.

For the week of Feb. 6: Three coho have returned; none have been transported to the Tilton River; one hatchery coho was transported to Lake Scanewa; none have been transported to Cowlitz at Packwood; and none have been transported to Cispus River.

ADULT WINTER STEELHEAD

For the season: 2,327 winter steelhead have returned; 55 wild have been transported to the Tilton River; 79 wild have been transported to Lake Scanewa; none have been transported to Cowlitz at Packwood; and 12 wild have been transported to Cispus River.

For the week of Feb. 6: 121 winter steelhead have returned; five wild have been transported to the Tilton River; 79 wild have been transported to Lake Scanewa; none have been transported to Cowlitz at Packwood; and 12 wild have been transported to Cispus River.

Here is a news release from state Fish and Wildlife that says the hunters can still make comments through Feb. 21 on new hunting rules proposed for the 2012-14 seasons.

State Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is accepting written comments on more than a dozen proposals, ranging from allowing waterfowl hunters to use electronic decoys to adding a day to western Washington elk seasons.

Those proposals, posted at the state Fish and Wildlife website , have been developed after a series of public meetings and online discussions that began last summer, said Dave Ware, WDFW game manager.

"Many of these proposals are based on suggestions received from hunters and other members of the public since last spring," Ware said. "This is a chance to comment on the department's final recommendations."

Written comments may be e-mailed to wildthing@dfw.wa.gov or mailed to: WDFW Rules Coordinator, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501.

Ware noted that the number of hunting season proposals was significantly lower this year, largely due to a moratorium on new rules set by the Governor's Office. Only rules necessary for resource conservation, required by state or federal law, or requested by those affected were considered by WDFW.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for WDFW, is scheduled to hold a final round of public comments during a meeting set March 9-10 in Moses Lake.

The commission is scheduled to vote on the new hunting rules during a meeting April 13-14 in Olympia.

The Columbia River fishing reports by Oregon Fish and Wildlife:

Weekend Fishing Opportunities:

Sturgeon angling is good for boat anglers in the Bonneville Pool (which closes for retention fishing on Feb. 18) when the weather cooperates. Anglers in the John Day Pool are also catching a few legals.

Steelhead fishing is excellent for boat anglers in The Dalles Pool. Steelhead should also be available for anglers plunking on the lower Columbia River sandbars.

SALMON, STEELHEAD AND SHAD

The following modifications are now in effect for the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam:

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, BUOY 10 LINE UPSTREAM TO THE I-5 BRIDGE:

This section of the Columbia River is currently open seven days per week to the retention of adipose fin-clipped spring Chinook, adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and adipose fin-clipped coho during January 1 through Wednesday February 29, 2012 with a daily bag limit of two adult salmon or steelhead in combination plus five jacks.

Effective Thursday March 1 through Friday April 6, 2012 (or until the catch guideline of 12,700 upriver spring Chinook has been reached) this section of the Columbia River will be open to the retention of adipose fin-clipped spring Chinook, adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and shad with a daily bag limit of two adult salmon, only one of which may be a Chinook (≥24"), and five adipose fin-clipped jacks; however, the season will be closed on Tuesdays, March 20, 27, and April 3 to allow for possible commercial fishing days. The retention of chum and sockeye salmon is prohibited. All other permanent rules apply.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, I-5 BRIDGE UPSTREAM TO BONNEVILLE DAM:

This section of the Columbia River is open to the retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead with a daily bag limit of two fish during January 1 - February 29, 2012. The retention of spring Chinook is prohibited as per permanent regulations.

Effective Thursday March 1, the mainstem Columbia River from the I-5 Bridge upstream to Beacon Rock plus the Oregon and Washington banks from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam will be open to the retention of adipose fin-clipped spring Chinook, adipose fin-clipped steelhead and shad through Friday April 6 (or until the catch guideline of 12,700 upriver spring Chinook has been reached); however, the season will be closed on Tuesdays, March 20, 27 and April 3 to allow for possible commercial fishing days. The daily bag limit will be two adipose fin-clipped adult salmonids, of which only one may be a Chinook (≥24"), plus five adipose fin-clipped Chinook jacks. The retention of chum and sockeye salmon is prohibited.

All other permanent rules remain in effect.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, BONNEVILLE DAM UPSTREAM TO THE OREGON/WASHINGTON BORDER:

This section of the Columbia River is open January 1 - March 15, 2012 to the retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead with a daily bag limit of two fish. The retention of spring Chinook is prohibited as per permanent regulations.

Effective Friday March 16 through Wednesday May 2, 2012 (or until the catch guideline of 1,700 fish has been reached), this area will be open to the retention of adipose fin-clipped spring chinook and adipose fin-clipped steelhead with a daily bag limit of two adipose fin-clipped adult chinook (≥24") or steelhead in combination, plus five adipose fin-clipped chinook jacks. Angling for salmon and steelhead from a floating device between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island Powerlines (located approximately 6 miles downstream from The Dalles Dam) is prohibited.

Boat and bank anglers are catching steelhead in The Dalles Pool. Effort for steelhead and early spring Chinook was light this past weekend on the lower Columbia, with 34 boats and 37 Oregon bank anglers observed on Saturday's flight (2/4).

Portland to Longview Bank:

No report.

Portland to Longview boats:

Weekend checking showed no catch for 19 boats (37 anglers).

Bonneville Pool:

No report.

The Dalles Pool:

Weekly checking showed eight adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus 12 unclipped steelhead released for six boats (11 anglers); and four adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept plus two unclipped steelhead released for 23 bank anglers.

John Day Pool:

Weekly checking showed no catch for six bank anglers.

STURGEON

The following modifications are now in effect for the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam:

BUOY 10 UPSTREAM TO WAUNA POWERLINES:

This section of the Columbia River is currently open to the retention of sturgeon seven days per week with a daily bag limit of one sturgeon between 38 and 54 inches fork length and an annual limit of five fish. The retention of green sturgeon is prohibited.

The following modifications were adopted at the January 26 Compact/Joint State Hearing for the 2012 mainstem Columbia River sturgeon fishery from Wauna Powerlines (River Mile 40) downstream to the mouth at Buoy 10, including Youngs Bay and all adjacent Washington tributaries.

The modifications include:

Allow the retention of white sturgeon seven days per week effective Sunday January 1 through Monday April 30, 2012 with a daily bag limit of one fish between 38 - 54 inches fork length.

Prohibit the retention of sturgeon seven days per week during Tuesday May 1 through Friday May 11, 2012.

Allow the retention of sturgeon seven days per week effective Saturday May 12 through Sunday July 8, 2012 (or until the harvest guideline of 4,160 legal white sturgeon has been reached) with a daily bag limit of one fish between 41 - 54 inches fork length in effect.

Prohibit the retention of sturgeon seven days per week during Monday July 9through Monday December 31, 2012.

Retention of green sturgeon is prohibited as per permanent regulations.

Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during retention closures.

WAUNA POWERLINES UPSTREAM TO BONNEVILLE DAM:

Effective January 1 through Tuesday July 31, 2012, this section of the Columbia River is open to the retention of sturgeon on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with a daily bag limit of one fish between 38 - 54 inches fork length and an annual limit of five fish.

The following modifications were adopted at the January 26 Compact/Joint State Hearing for the 2012 mainstem Columbia River sturgeon fishery from the Wauna Powerlines (River Mile 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam, all adjacent Washington tributaries, excluding the lower Willamette River upstream to Willamette Falls, Multnomah Channel, and Gilbert River.

The modifications include:

Allow the retention of white sturgeon three days per week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and prohibit the retention of sturgeon four days per week on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday beginning January 1 through Tuesday July 31, 2012.Prohibit the retention of sturgeon seven days per week during Wednesday August 1 through Friday October 19, 2012.

Allow the retention of sturgeon three days per week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and prohibit the retention of sturgeon four days per week on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday beginning Saturday October 20 through December 31, 2012 or until the catch guideline of 2,080 legal white sturgeon has been met.

Effective Wednesday, February 1 through Monday, April 30 angling is prohibited for all species in the area from a line between the upstream end of Sand Island and a marker on the Oregon shoreline, downstream to a line between the lower end of Sand Island and a marker on the Oregon shoreline.

Retention of green sturgeon is prohibited as per permanent regulations.

Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during sturgeon retention closures, except all sturgeon angling is prohibited between Marker 82 and Bonneville Dam during May 1-August 31, 2012.

The lower Willamette remains closed for sturgeon retention except for February 17 - 18 and February 24 - 25.

BONNEVILLE DAM UPSTREAM TO THE OREGON/WASHINGTON BORDER:

Regulations for the 2012 sturgeon sport fishery from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Oregon/Washington border are currently as follows:

Sturgeon creel sampling summaries and catch estimates for Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day pools can be found at the following link:

WDFW Mid-Columbia River mainstem sport sampling summary

BONNEVILLE DAM UPSTREAM TO THE DALLES DAM:

Effective January 1, 2012 this section of the Columbia River is open to the retention of sturgeon seven days per week until the catch guideline is reached. The daily bag limit is one sturgeon between 38-54 inches fork length and an annual limit of five fish. The use of more than one single point barbless hook is prohibited.

THE DALLES DAM UPSTREAM TO MCNARY DAM:

Effective January 1, 2012 this section of the Columbia River is open to the retention of sturgeon seven days per week until the catch guidelines are reached. The daily bag limit is one sturgeon between 43-54 inches fork length and an annual limit of five fish. The use of more than one single point barbless hook is prohibited.

MCNARY DAM UPSTREAM TO THE OREGON/WASHINGTON BORDER:

Effective Wednesday February 1 through Tuesday July 31, 2012 this section of the Columbia River is open to the retention of sturgeon seven days per week with a daily bag limit of one sturgeon between 43-54 inches fork length and an annual limit of five fish. The use of more than one single point barbless hook is prohibited.

Sturgeon angler effort is light on the lower Columbia, and catch rates remain poor overall. Sturgeon fishing is excellent in the Bonneville Pool when the weather cooperates. Anglers are also catching a few keepers in the John Day Pool.

Gorge Bank:

Weekly checking showed no catch for 13 anglers.

Gorge Boats:

No report.

Troutdale Bank:

No report.

Troutdale Boats:

No report.

Portland to Longview Bank:

Weekly checking showed two sublegal sturgeon released for four bank anglers.

Portland to Longview Boats:

Weekend checking showed one legal white sturgeon kept, plus 33 sublegal sturgeon released for 34 boats (81 anglers).

Bonneville Pool:

Weekly checking showed four sublegal sturgeon released for 56 bank anglers; and seven legal white sturgeon kept, plus 171 sublegal sturgeon released for 39 boats (97 anglers).

The Dalles Pool:

Weekly checking showed three sublegal sturgeon released for 41 bank anglers; and four sublegal sturgeon released for seven boats (19 anglers).

John Day Pool:

Weekly checking showed no catch for 17 bank anglers; and three legal sturgeon kept plus three sublegal and one oversize sturgeon released for 17 boats (35 anglers).

WALLEYE

Bonneville Pool:

Weekly checking showed nine walleye kept for two boats (two anglers).

The Dalles Pool:

Weekly checking showed four walleye kept and one walleye released for five boats (15 anglers).

John Day Pool:

Weekly checking showed nine walleye kept for eight boats (16 anglers).

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced it will end a hatchery steelhead program at Snider Creek next year to establish a wild steelhead management zone in the Sol Duc River.

After next spring, no hatchery steelhead will be released into the Sol Duc River, which will be the first wild steelhead management zone formally established in the state under the department's Statewide Steelhead Management Plan, Ron Warren, the state Fish and Wildlife regional fish program manager said in a news release. Snider Creek is a tributary to the Sol Duc River in Clallam County.

Wild management zones, also known as wild stock gene banks, are designed to preserve key populations of wild fish by minimizing interactions with hatchery-produced fish, said Warren. Research has shown that hatchery fish are often less genetically diverse and can impact wild stocks through interbreeding or competition for food or habitat.

State Fish and Wildlife s also looking to identify other streams that could be candidates for wild management zones, said Warren. That effort includes working with an advisory group to identify specific streams in the Puget Sound region.

"Establishing wild management zones is part of a broad effort aimed at modifying our hatchery programs to be compatible with conservation and recovery of naturally spawning salmon and steelhead populations," Warren said. "Shifting hatchery steelhead production away from the Sol Duc River - where we have one of the largest wild steelhead populations in the state - is an important step in that effort."

Changes designed to support naturally spawning salmon and steelhead populations are driven by plans and policies adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, such as the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan and the Hatchery and Fishery Reform policy, Warren said.

Click here to view the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan .

Click here to view the hatchery and fishery reform policy .

While the hatchery program will no longer take place at Snider Creek, WDFW is working with stakeholders to re-establish a similar effort in the Bogachiel or Calawah rivers, where the department already releases hatchery steelhead, said Warren.

The program will end next spring, when 25,000 winter steelhead smolts are released into the Sol Duc River, Warren said. Last year, WDFW also discontinued its summer steelhead program on the Sol Duc River, after releasing 20,000 smolts.

Before making that decision, WDFW conducted three public meetings and reviewed about 400 public comments on the future of the Snider Creek program.

While fewer and fewer hatchery steelhead will be returning to the Sol Duc River in the coming years, anglers will continue to have opportunities to fish for salmon and other game fish, as well as retain one wild steelhead per license year on the river, said Warren.

The Snider Creek program was created in 1986 as a joint project with the Olympic Peninsula Guides' Association to increase fishing opportunities for steelhead on the Sol Duc River. The program is unlike most other hatchery efforts in that it produces offspring from wild steelhead rather than hatchery fish.

Here is the latest fishing report from Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service:

What's hot is ice fishing Roses Lake for rainbow trout and yellow perch. Fishing on Rufus Woods will now be focused more and more on still fishing locations as the surface water temperature drops below the 40 degree mark. Lake Chelan should produce good numbers of Lakers in the lower basin and big fish up above the Narrows.

Roses Lake is pumping out planter rainbows and perch for ice fishermen. Finding concentrations of trout and dangling Fire Bait in front of them is a prime strategy. Fish for perch with a jig baited with a worm. Once you catch that first perch, a perch eye on the jig is ideal. These super cold nights and lovely days have made ice fishing a pleasure.

It's hard to determine how long the ice will last, but for now we have a solid 6 inches on Roses. As always be cautious when venturing on ice and have spikes available to haul yourself out if you do find a way to take a cold water bath.

Fishing with jigs near the lower pens on Rufus saved the day the last time out. Having a variety of options in your "tool box" is definitely the way to go on Rufus.

On Lake Chelan, fishing the deep water on either side of the Narrows near the Yacht Club should continue to get you that shot at a "bigun." Numbers of Lakers can be caught in the trench.

Also, Mack Bar is beginning to load back up. Worden Lures flatfish in T4, U20 and F7 are our favorites. Luminous Chartreuse and Purple Glow are our favorite colors. Mack's Lures Cha Cha Squidders in Green Glow will work, baited with a strip of Northern Pikeminnow.

Your fishing tip of the week is to spruce up that old bait. If you can't obtain fresh bait, Pautzke's all natural cures will give those frozen baits some flavor that will help trigger the fish to bite. Sometimes, it's the small details that lead to success.

Your kid's tip of the week is take advantage of warmer late winter daytime temperatures and safe ice to make a combination ice fishing and picnic outing to Roses Lake. Daytime temps getting into the 40's with little or no wind begins to feel balmy this time of the year. Bring favorite snacks and hot drinks. Taking home a few fish for supper is a bonus!

Your safety tip of the week is a repeat. Remember that four inches of clear ice is the minimum for safe ice fishing. Be very observant before venturing out on the ice. Carry spikes on a tether to haul yourself out if worse comes to worse.

For more information go to Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service website or 866-360-1523.

(Photo courtesy of Darrell & Dad's Guider Service in Manson)