Tom Knapp Is Coming To Black Sheep Sporting Goods

Coming to Black Sheep Sporting Goods June 2009: World Class Exhibition Shooter Tom Knapp

 

Tom Knapp is The Shooting Star, and one of today’s Greatest Exhibition Shooters. A true living legend, Tom has used Benelli shotguns and Federal Premium ammunition to achieve 3 world records for hand-thrown clay targets. In addition to thrilling crowds around the world with seemingly impossible feats with a shotgun, Tom travels the globe as the host of Benelli’s American Bird Hunter TV show.

He has appeared on numerous National and local TV networks over the years and is currently appearing on two major National networks. Tom holds three distinctive World Records in ‘Freestyle Target Shooting’ or ‘Exhibition Shooting’ which made history in the shooting industry!

Tom Knapp will be at Black Sheep Sporting Goods in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in June!  We will be giving away a gun at this event and Tom Knapp will be answering questions at our store.  An exhibition will follow.

Details coming soon. Please check back for the official date and time.

Visit the “Events” page at www.BlackSheepIdaho.com for more information.

Fishing and Hunting Report: December 18, 2009

Fishing & Hunting Report

Alan Liere
The Spokesman-Review

Fly fishing

Whitefish angling has improved, particularly on the lower stretches of the North Fork Coeur d’Alene. Copper Johns are a hard fly to beat.

Steelhead fishing on the Snake has been decent for fly fishermen. The Grande Ronde is losing its ice cover and rising, but it could be fishable by the weekend. The Clearwater should also be back in action.

Salmon and steelhead

Steelhead fishing on the Snake River remains excellent with a fish per angler about every four or five hours. On the Clearwater, a fish caught per every nine angler hours is about average.

Persistent anglers have caught a few steelhead from shore at the Wawawai Landing. Vary the depth of presentation. Sometimes the fish are at 12 feet, sometimes much shallower. The best bite has been just before and after noon. Some anglers indicate the fish seem smaller this year, but others say they are seeing plenty of 8- to 10-pound fish.

Drifting shrimp-bated jigs under slip bobbers continues to be good for steelhead in the Upper Columbia.

Although most Coeur d’Alene chinook are on the small side this year, Jeff Smith of Fins and Feathers said two in the midteens were reported on the same day this week from Carlin Bay.

Trout and kokanee

The big triploids are finally beginning to hit on Rufus Woods. Anglers throwing dark-colored jigs near the second set of net pens downstream from the Seaton Grove launch have been tying into bruisers in excess of 10 pounds.

Sprague Lake is frozen clear across and anglers venturing out from the public access are taking some big trout through the ice. Oddly, most of these are the 17- to 24-inchers, though regional fish biologist Chris Donley said the lake is also loaded with 12- to 14-inch fish. He recommends small ice jigs tipped with a maggot or mealworm, fished with little movement.

The winter fishing lakes north of Spokane, Williams and Hath, are frozen enough to allow ice fishing. Anglers are still taking limits or near-limits from Williams and a couple of fish each from Hatch. Despite numerous announcements regarding rehabilitation and no fish, anglers are still trying to catch trout from Hog Canyon and Fourth of July. I guess this would be the ultimate fishing challenge.

Rock Lake is still kicking out lots of browns and a few rainbow. Trollers are having the most success at midlake, just under the surface. Lake Roosevelt is close to a sure thing for 14- to 18-inch rainbow, some of the best-eating trout you’ll ever have.

Spiny ray

Eloika Lake ice is a solid 7 inches and anglers are taking perch and lots of grass pickerel from both ends of the lake. A good crappie bite has been reported at dusk for fish up to 14 inches.

Silver Lake, near the city of Medical Lake, is providing fast perch fishing right in front of the public boat launch. The fish may be just a little larger than they were last winter.

Waitts Lake is said to be giving up some sizeable perch to anglers who don’t mind exploring a bit. There is always the possibility of finding a big brown or rainbow. Ice is about 7 inches thick.

Potholes Reservoir is about half iced over and the channels in the sand dunes are socked in. Moses Lake also has a lot of ice, but no one is fishing. The ice in the boat basin at Coulee City may still be a little thin for safe fishing. A few perch were caught there during the cold snap.

Most small Idaho lakes are frozen and there has been a lot of ice fishing. Most have a mixed bag. Hauser, Fernan and Round lakes have a lot of 8- to 10-inch perch. Gamble, near Sagle, has larger perch, but half a dozen is a good bag. The Chain Lakes have just about everything. Pike fishermen are taking fish off their tip-ups

Hunting

Area waterfowl hunters are still looking for that big wad of mallards. Wanapum Pool from Vantage down to the dam is mostly coots and various divers and hardly any geese. Mattawa/Priest Rapids area hunters say they are seeing good numbers of ducks. There appear to be a lot near Vernita Bridge. A friend who hunted winter wheat near McNary Dam said his group of seven shot quick limits of geese, which included 18 snow geese.

Idaho goose hunters are having some good shoots off the ice edges surrounding Lake Coeur d’Alene. The Pend Oreille River is a good place to set some goose decoys along the edge.

A friend who should be old enough to know better still chases chukars on the Snake River breaks a few times each season. On his last foray, he said he jumped three nice coveys. He said quail were scarce in draws where we used to always jump a 200-bird covey.

Local pheasant hunters may take comfort in the knowledge that Montana hotspot Malta is also having a down year. A friend and I hunted hard there two days this week. Although we shot 10 roosters, we had to slog a lot of miles through chest-high tules, braving temperatures in the negative teens. On the third morning, a look at the thermometer and its reading of minus-29 degrees sent us packing for the Spokane banana belt

Tip of the week

While gloves are necessary during this cold weather, remove them before releasing your trout. Gloves scrape off the protective slime, and this is often fatal to the fish. Release them with a wet hand or, better yet, grab only the line and hook.

Braggin’ rights

Mike Fonteyne, a fifth-grader at Greenacres Elementary, used a 40-pound bow to take a wall-hanger 4×4 whitetail at the end of the season. It was his first deer.

Overheard

The technical committee advising Columbia River fishery managers has released its forecast for the 2010 spring chinook run. If the fish show up as projected, the forecast of 470,000 spring chinook would be the largest return to the Columbia since 1938. The forecasted run is up significantly from last year’s final run of 169,300 fish.

Heads up

If your upcoming holiday plans include a road trip to the opposite side of the lower Snake River, remember that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams will be closed to cross-dam public vehicle traffic on federal holidays. Travelers can call 1-888-DAM-INFO (1-888-326-4636) for current dam-crossing information.

•Water discharge from Dworshak Dam will temporarily increase between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to accommodate annual turbine testing. The volume of water discharge will be gradually increased from 1,600 cfs until it reaches approximately 7,100 cfs. Boaters and others using waterways, both in Dworshak Reservoir and below the dam on the Clearwater River, should be alert to changes in water elevation and volume of flow.

•Most big game hunting seasons in Washington and Idaho are over. Hunters can save themselves some hassle and save Fish and Game expenses by filing mandatory harvest reports early.

•Don’t forget to buy a 2010 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit before heading out on New Year’s Day. Remember to hang onto the current fishing regulations. The 2008-2009 fishing rules brochure has been extended through 2010.

Fishing Report-March 19th

Fishing Report

Alan Liere
The Spokesman-Review

March 19th

Steelhead and salmon

The lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam was good for chinook early last week in the Vancouver area. After a subsequent slowdown, it has picked up again this week.

“It’s time to get serious,” said Joe Hymer, WDFW fish biologist. “The catch should start smoothing out pretty soon, and increase day by day.”

Snake River steelhead fishing is in its final weeks, with the hatchery fish retention season closing March 31. In April, a fishery for hatchery spring chinook salmon will open near Little Goose Dam.

The Clearwater steelhead season is like the Energizer Bunny – it just keeps going and going, said guide Toby Wyatt. Wyatt said last weekend was fantastic with his boats taking 54 fish in three days. Since then, there has been quite a bit of rain and the river is out of shape.

Steelhead fishing on the Methow, upper Columbia and Okanogan rivers is good. The Okanogan can be floated, but remember that that two sections of the River closed Sunday, from 100 feet below the Highway 155 Bridge to the mouth of Omak Creek, and the 100 feet below the mouth of Bonaparte Creek.

The Grande Ronde River should be running at about 3,600 cfs through the weekend – a bit high, but fishable.

There are many steelhead in the river, and though the bite has slowed from last week, anglers drifting jigs or Corkies and yarn are averaging a fish every four hours.

The East Point area of Lake Coeur d’Alene was good to some chinook anglers this week. Trolling helmeted herring, one boat enticed six fish, the largest being 11 pounds.

Trout and kokanee

Fishing with two friends, first-time ice fisherman Mitch Kirkpatrick caught and released seven nice Amber Lakes rainbow this week. A 1/16-ounce white crappie tube or white grub did the damage. It is reported fishing slows way down after 10 a.m. There were still 7 inches of ice early in the week, but a plank was needed to get onto solid ice from shore.

Liberty Lake anglers can fish from boat or shore. Rapalas are accounting for a lot of big brown trout.

Sprague Lake is opening up and anglers fishing from shore have been catching rainbow, all 2-3 pounds. There was still ice in the middle of the lake at midweek, but the entire lake may be fishable by boat by this weekend.

Downs Lake, in southwest Spokane County, also has open water with lots of carryover rainbow in the 15- to 16-inch range. Downs will be receiving 2,500 catchable tiger trout in the next week or so.

Rock Lake has been best early. Some warmer weather would improve the fishing significantly. Big winds last week chased many anglers from the lake, but those who were able to get out said they were catching four browns for every rainbow.

A few ice fishermen at Deer are catching rainbow and small macks near the resort on the north side of the lake.

Other anglers are going out onto the ice anywhere they can find parking where the road dips in close to the lake. The ice is solid.

Lake Roosevelt is still high at 1,283 feet, a condition blamed by many anglers for the poor trout fishing.

There have been a few reports of kokanee being taken in Spring Canyon. Guide Ray Bailey said he is getting into both kokanee and rainbow in Hansen Harbor while trolling a Wedding Ring baited with corn and maggots. Bailey, who fishes with a planer board, said the fish are in the top 10 feet.

Rufus Woods trout fishing has picked up but has a long way to go to match the phenomenal fishing of last year. Anglers who are used to drifting with a current must use their electric motors.

The ice is gone from all Columbia Basin fisheries that opened March 1 or are open year-round. Quincy Lake, which just became fishable, is full of fat rainbow. Burke Lake was slated for another stocking of 4,500 half-pounders this week. The Seep Lakes south of Potholes Reservoir are ice-free. Some of these are year-round waters, but some like Herman, Lyle and Teal open April 1. Be sure to check the rules pamphlet for which ones are open.

Some of Idaho’s small lakes have kept a safe ice cap, but others are getting punky. At Spirit Lake, kokanee jiggers were still catching limits through the ice at midweek, but that doesn’t say the ice will be safe by the weekend.

An angler fell through the ice at Priest Lake last weekend, but fortunately he was fairly close to shore. Mackinaw fishing has been good for small fish.

Fly fishing

Year-round Beda Lake, just south of the Winchester Wasteway, is said to be fantastic, with anglers catching and releasing an average of more than 10 rainbow per trip.

Lenice and Nunnally lakes, on WDFW’s Lower Crab Creek Wildlife just east of Beverly, are giving up five to eight fish per trip.

Lake Lenore, near the town of Soap Lake, opened to catch-and-release fishing March 1 but is still cold and slow. There is open water at the top and bottom ends of the lake.

Spiny ray

The walleye fishing on Lake Roosevelt is not red-hot, but knowledgeable anglers are finding enough fish to keep them interested. The trick is to stick the jig in their mouths, as the bite is light.

Banks Lake is ice-free at the north end, and it is possible to launch a boat at Coulee Playland Resort. Jiggers are getting some walleye. On the other end of the lake, the Coulee City boat basin is still frozen – a good place for perch and whitefish.

A friend who fished Coffeepot early in the week said the ice was good. He found perch to 10 inches in scattered locations near the narrows. Ice is pulling away from shore in places.

Spokane tournament angler Bob Ploof said that because or the lack of current in Roosevelt, walleye aren’t yet pushing into the Spokane arm. Prespawn males, which are usually evident by now, haven’t shown. Nevertheless, there have been a few positive reports regarding larger fish from the main lake in 30-45 feet of water, and in the arm from the cemetery down. The Hawk Creek area could be good as a lot of fish are stacked up there about 10 feet off the bottom. Slow trolling a crank bait could be the ticket.

The northwest end of Eloika Lake has been red-hot the past two weeks, but few anglers are taking to the ice. Eloika perch average about 8 inches and are stuffed with eggs or milt. There is a thin crust on top of surface water that will really get your attention when it cracks. Beneath the crust, the ice was a solid 14 inches at midweek and just beginning to weaken near the shorelines. The bite goes absolutely dead after 9 a.m.

Walleye are being caught in all three Columbia River pools. Some bass are being caught in John Day Pool

Tip of the week

To catch Lake Roosevelt kokanee this time of year on such a high pool,  follow the wind. With the cool water, kokanee food (plankton) will move with the wind and will usually be in the warmer water near the cliffs on the downwind side.

Braggin’ rights

Although they had to jump a couple of feet from shore to get on solid ice,  Mike Campion, Adam Schuck and Adam’s two young sons, Alex and Tyler, walked in to fish Hog Canyon early this week. Dunking Berkley Power Eggs, they caught four quick limits of 12-inch trout at midlake where ice was a foot thick. Subsequent reports later in the week had anglers casting from shore into open water and doing equally well. Hog Canyon and Fourth of July close March 31.

Overheard

Catchable-size rainbow trout were released recently on Sprague Lake and  catchable-size browns at Liberty Lake. Rufus Woods Reservoir is receiving a weekly infusion of much larger trout from the net pens – triploids running 3-5 pounds.

Heads up

The Spokane chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is hosting  Hunting Heritage Banquet on March 28 at Mukogawa Fort Wright Commons. The doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6:30. There will be a live auction, silent auction, games and raffles. The cost is $55 for singles and $75 for couples. Children are also invited. Info: Dave Benscoter, 238-5150

•Current fishing and hunting licenses expire at midnight March 31. Licenses may be purchased online (fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/), by toll-free phone (1-866-246-9453) or from one of 600 authorized license sales locations around the state.

Fishing Report March 13, 2009

March 13, 2009 in Outdoors

Fishing

Alan Liere
The Spokesman-Review

Fly fishing

The Coeur d’Alene River is kicking out a few cutthroat and some whitefish, particularly from Cataldo to just past Kingston. As with the Clark Fork, which has also given up a few trout, nymphs are best.

Rocky Ford is hot some days and stingy others, but action comes most consistently on scuds. Rob Harbin of Moses Lake recently had an eight-fish day on 5- and 6-pounders. He said he was broken off several times by larger fish.

Steelhead and salmon

Steelhead catch rates were good last week on the Clearwater River, with the lower river below the Orofino Bridge having the best hours-per-fish ratio. Similar success was found on the North and South Fork Clearwater.

The Grande Ronde was running at 2,520 cfs at midweek. Bill Vail at Boggan’s Oasis said steelhead fishing should remain excellent through Saturday. Rain is predicted for today, which could make the river unfishable beginning Sunday. Vail said Grande Ronde fish are in excellent shape still.

Ice is beginning to clear out at the mouth of the Okanogan and steelhead will soon be racing for the upper reaches. This is a good time to be on the river. The Methow is low and clear, but anglers are taking a few fish.

Boat anglers on The Dalles and John Day pools are catching some steelhead. Bank anglers in the John Day Pool are also taking a few.

Effective Monday through April 30, fishing for salmon, steelhead and shad is open seven days per week on the mainstream Columbia River from the Tower Island power line in Bonneville Pool upstream to McNary Dam. The Washington bank between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island power lines will also be open.

Lake Coeur d’Alene chinook are cruising shallow water this time of year. At Fins and Feathers, Jeff Smith said this is the one time of year you can catch these landlocked salmon without a downrigger. Most bites recently have been on herring in 14-21 feet of water in Rockford, East Point and Powderhorn bays.

Trout and kokanee

There is open water at Liberty Lake, and anglers from shore and boat are catching a lot of brown trout. Deer Lake is still ice-covered and relatively inaccessible to the general public. A few trout have been taken recently. Downs Lake is scheduled for a plant of catchables soon. A few carryover fish of 14 inches have been taken, but the perch bite has not materialized. Skim ice covered the lake Thursday, but a boat could easily break through.

Rock Lake continues to give up big catches of trout, mostly browns. The fish seem to be spread out from end to end and side to side. While most Rock Lake browns weigh a couple of pounds, an 11-pounder was caught there late last week. Rapala plugs are the ticket.

Amber Lake is still a good bet for catch-and-release ice fishing for trout. No bait is allowed, but small spoons and crappie-type jigs will entice hits from 16- to 20-inch fish.

Rufus Woods Reservoir fishing has improved somewhat but hasn’t approached the phenomenal action experienced at this time last year. Some blame the flat water, others the cold temperatures. Whatever the reason, the fish haven’t left. There have been reports of anglers making good catches of 4- to 10-pound triploids by dunking cluster eggs just off the net pens in 50 feet of water.

All of the Quincy Lakes were ice free at midweek, but fishing hasn’t been particularly good.

If you plan on fishing the small lakes in northern Idaho this weekend, Smith of Fins and Feathers suggested “bring a tall, young guy with you” to run the ice auger. He said the ice on most lakes has firmed up and is 18-20 inches thick. At Spirit Lake, ice fishermen are catching 15-fish limits of small kokanee.

Spiny ray

The walleye bite on Lake Roosevelt has been decent, particularly in Porcupine Bay. No big fish have been reported, but there are enough 18- to 20-inchers to make for an enjoyable day on the water. Friends who fished the narrows near China Bend last weekend said the water is so high there is nearly no current. They didn’t get a bite all day.

Reports are that some really big crappie are coming through the ice at Coffeepot Lake. Try the same curly-tailed or tube jigs you’d use in the spring under a bobber.

The ice on the Coulee City Marina on Banks Lake has firmed up again and anglers are catching a few perch. The big ones haven’t really shown. There is a lot of ice-fishing action on Banks in the channel between Goose Island and the jetty, with some anglers staying out all night. Rosie Ristine at Big Wallys said they are catching a mixed bag consisting primarily of whitefish.

Potholes and Moses Lake have lost most of their ice, but the walleye bite hasn’t begun. A few small walleyes have been landed at Lind Coulee.

Other species

A three-day dig for razor clams has been tentatively scheduled on morning tides March 27-29 at Twin Harbors and Mocrocks, provided that marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat. A two-day dig will run at Long Beach and Copalis March 28-29.

Although some recent nasty weather is keeping anglers off the ocean jetties, fishing for seas perch should be hitting its stride at Ilwaco.

Tip of the week

A small Kast Master spoon and a Mack’s Glo Hook can be combined to make an  excellent ice- fishing rig. Tie the hookless Kast Master to the line, add 6 inches of mono, tie the Glo Hook to this, and sweeten with a perch eye or maggot. The Kast Master provides both the weight and the flash.

Braggin’ rights

Just when I thought ice fishing was over for the year, friends Mike Sweeney  and Jerry Hawkins of Spokane took 112 fat perch in four hours at Eloika Lake this week. They were fishing the northwest end of the lake and said the ice was 18 inches thick.

Overheard

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission recently approved purchase of  423 acres of critical mule deer range south of Twisp, adjacent to the Golden Doe unit of WDFW’s Methow Wildlife Area. The acquisition will protect wildlife habitat and improve recreational opportunity and access to the area.

Heads up

The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council’s 49th annual Bighorn Outdoor  Adventure Show runs Thursday through March 22, at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center. The event features vendors, guides and nonprofit exhibitors, as well as activities for children, including a fishing pond, shooting gallery and archery range.

•Ice anglers at Winchester Lake near Lewiston are warned that the water level could drop by as much as 2 feet because of maintenance work on the dam spillway. This could leave an air gap between the water surface and the ice, making the ice unstable.

•The 19th annual Smoker Craft Spring Walleye Classic will be held March 28-29 out of Umatilla, Ore. Because of a huge computer glitch, most of the mailing addresses were lost and most anglers didn’t receive flyers. For an online entry form, go to www.highdesertmarine.com/eventslist.htm

•Two sections on the Okanogan River – from 100 feet below the Highway 155 Bridge to the mouth of Omak Creek, and from the mouth of Bonaparte Creek to 100 feet below the mouth of Bonaparte Creek – will close to steelhead fishing Sunday until further notice.

Hunter’s Blog

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Fisherman’s Blog

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Fishing Report: March 2009

Alan Liere
The Spokesman-Review

 

Fly fishing

The Yakima River below the Teanaway confluence has good fishing. Temperatures have been warmer than last week and there is more bug activity with a few fish even rising to dries. Nymphing remains most consistent using skwalas and pink San Juan worms.

The Clark Fork is booting out a few trout and some whitefish, but the cold nights are keeping midge action minimal. Nymphing is best.

The Missouri River from Holter Dam to Cascade is holding at about 4,900 cfs and is offering some decent early-season action for browns and rainbows. Slow-stripped buggers or deep nymphs provide most of the action.

Steelhead and salmon

The Grande Ronde was fishing well last week, but is running out of shape. It may be fishable again by the late weekend.

The Clearwater above Orofino saw good steelheading last week with an average of one fish per seven hours of effort, but it is also running high. The South Fork Clearwater gave up a fish every four hours last week.

Good returns to the upper Columbia, the Methow and Okanogan rivers this year, coupled with fairly low fishing pressure over the winter has left a lot of steelhead available. Both fly and lure or jig fishermen on the Methow are reporting fair fishing for steelhead 6-8 pounds.

The Okanogan and Similkameen rivers are just starting to thaw out and should provide fair steelhead fishing during the month of March. There are several public access points to these rivers within the towns of Omak, Okanogan and Tonasket. They’re both under the same no-bait selective-gear rules as the Methow.

The lower Wind River and Drano Lake will open March 16. The daily limit will be two hatchery chinook or hatchery steelhead, or one of each.

A few spring chinook are being caught on the lower Columbia. A couple of fish were reported caught just above the I-5 bridge on Sunday’s opener. No spring chinook had been counted at Bonneville Dam through Monday. Bonneville and The Dalles pools open for hatchery spring chinook March 16.

Trout

Hard-water anglers enjoyed a glorious opening day at Amber last Sunday, fishing through 9 inches of ice that was beginning to get punky on top. Spokane Amber Lake enthusiast John Petrofski said he and a buddy caught and released 15 nice cutthroat on white crappie tube jigs, and a nearby fly angler was also catching fish through the ice on a bloodworm. The bite was from 8-10 a.m. Ice at Amber is pulling away from the shore.

Hog Canyon has been a disappointment this winter, as it has been inaccessible except by anglers willing to hike in for a go at the 10-inch rainbow. There is still a snow berm in front of the gate. It could probably be surmounted, but there’s no report on the road on down to the lake.

Deer Lake, which opened Sunday, had good ice, but a large snow berm still made parking at the public access impossible. A few fishermen were observed on the ice, but none reported catching anything.

Liberty Lake, which also opened Sunday, had open water around the shoreline at the public launch. Nevertheless, a few anglers were on the ice, which looked mushy. The ice at Medical Lake looks a little iffy. No one was fishing.

Coffeepot Lake had plenty of ice on Sunday’s opener and a few anglers were trying their luck near the inlet creek, which had a minimal flow. The ice at Coffeepot should hold up for a while.

There is some open water at Sprague and Cow lakes. Ice fishing there, which has been less than spectacular for several weeks, is coming to an end.

Rufus Woods has started to perk up and should continue to improve as long as the water clarity stays reasonable as it warms. The Colville Tribe has released 2,000 triploid trout weighing 3-4 pounds each into the reservoir. Monthly plants are scheduled for the next two years. If you catch a fin-tagged fish, call in the numbers along with the date and location of the catch.

On Sunday’s opener in the Columbia Basin, Martha and Upper Caliche lakes on WDFW’s Quincy Wildlife Area near the town of George produced an average of nearly five trout per angler within an hour. The trout mostly ran 13-15 inches, with a few 18- to 20-inch carryovers from Martha. Upper Caliche is ice-free and Martha Lake is mostly ice-free. Bait anglers did better than those tossing hardware.

Lenice and Nunnally lakes on WDFW’s Crab Creek Wildlife Area are both ice-free. No checks were made at Nunnally on opening day, but anglers at Lenice averaged 3.6 trout per angler, mostly 17- to 21-inch rainbow, brown and tiger trout. Both Lenice and Nunnally are under selective- gear rules with a daily catch limit of one fish.

Dusty Lake, on the Quincy Wildlife Area, was about two-thirds ice-free at midweek and anglers on the opener averaged two 14- to 20-inch rainbow trout each. Dusty is under selective-gear rules with a daily catch limit of one fish.

Lake Lenore was 90 percent ice-covered on the opener so no checks were made. A catch-and- release fishery for the first two months of the season and under selective-gear rules, Lenore offers 2- to 7-pound Lahontan cutthroat.

Burke Lake on the Quincy Wildlife Area was mostly ice-covered on the opener so anglers who attempted it averaged less than one 12- to 14-inch rainbow each. When it opens up more, carryover rainbows of 17-20 inches will likely make up about 40 percent of the catch. Quincy Lake, also on the Quincy Wildlife Area, was unfishable on the opener with complete ice cover. The lake received 4,000 catchable- size rainbows last fall.

Ice fishing in the Okanogan is still ongoing with catches of perch reported in Patterson Lake, and rainbow trout in Rat, Big Green, Sidley and Davis lakes. Heavier- than-normal ice cover should extend the ice-fishing season this year, but anglers should exercise extreme caution.

Spiny ray

Downs Lake is noted for its large perch and crappie, but you’d probably best wait another week, say anglers who tried there on Sunday’s opener. Although there is some open water, there are about 3 inches of punky ice covering most of the lake.

Northwest Walleye Club members reported lousy fishing at Rufus Woods last weekend during their annual Freezeout fish-in. The consensus is that you have a better chance during the week when there is more current. The Kettle Falls area of Lake Roosevelt has been fair for decent-sized fish. Anglers at Porcupine Bay said they boated a lot of “dinks” in 50-60 feet of water. On the Columbia, anglers jigging and blading near Irrigon are finding a few eating-size walleye as well as the occasional big fish. Water temperature is stuck at 39 degrees. Eloika Lake ice is still OK, and the bite picked up some this week. Anglers near the public access reported a mixed bag of perch, crappie and pickerel this week.

Other species

The ocean lingcod season opens March 14 along the coast at Ilwaco (Marine Area 1), Westport/Ocean Shores (Marine Area 2) and La Push (Marine Area 3). Despite cold water conditions, sturgeon fishing has been picking up on the lower Cowlitz and Willamette rivers as well as the Bonneville and The Dalles Pools.

Tip of the week

Steelhead begin to turn dark this time of year. Generally, the hens look  better than the bucks, but the flesh of male fish holds up better.

Overheard

More than 5.1 million pink salmon are expected back in Puget Sound streams  this summer, nearly 2 million more fish than forecast in 2007. Another strong fall chum salmon return also is forecast for Hood Canal and other areas of Puget Sound.

Heads up

Spokane Fly Fishers’ 26th annual fly-fishing school will begin March 19 and  run on Thursdays through April 30. The classes cover all phases of fly fishing for beginners and intermediates. Info: Dan Ferguson. 325-8885.

•WDFW’s Thrall access site on the Yakima River will be closed while Ringer Loop Road undergoes repairs. Ringer Loop Road, which was damaged by recent floods, is the only route to the state boat launch on the river. The Thrall access site is expected to re-open around Tuesday.

•The Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s 19th annual trip auction ends at 9 p.m. Monday To enter a bid, or for trip descriptions and step-by-step instructions, go to www.ifwfauction.cmarket.com.

 

You can contact Alan Liere by e-mail at spokesmanliere@yahoo.com

 

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