Area lakes stocked with rainbow trout

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Six area lakes, including Battle Ground Lake, will be closed to fishing from Nov. 24-27 as part of the WDFW’s massive rainbow trout stocking effort. Each of the lakes will receive 2,000 hatchery rainbow trout that average 15-16 inches and one and one quarter pounds each. The WDFW likes to call these trout “catchable-size.”

“Fishing is a fall and winter tradition for many Washington anglers,” said Chris Donley, WDFW inland fish program manager, in a press release. “These fisheries offer a great excuse to skip the malls and enjoy a fun day out on the water with family and friends.”

Fort Borst Park Pond and South Lewis County Park Pond will be stocked in Lewis County, while Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond are on the docket in Clark County. Kress Lake in Cowlitz County and Rowland Lake in Klickitat County are also set for the stocking treatment.

All the lakes are set to be stocked with fish from the Goldendale and Mossyrock fish hatcheries. In total, 340,000 of the “catchable-size” trout will be stocked in 47 different lakes in advance of the so called “Black Friday” opener.

The lack of recent rains have run many rivers as low on water and fish, and as the seasonal chariot rounds the corner into true winter there are regulation changes in store for many area rivers.

On Dec. 1, the mainstem Grays River will open to hatchery steelhead and hatchery coho retention above the Highway 4 bridge up to the South Fork, and on the west Fork from the mouth up to the hatchery road bridge.

The Grays is already open to hatchery salmon and hatchery steelhead retention below the Highway 4 Bridge, and up on the West Fork from 300 yards below the salmon hatchery road bridge up to the intake/footbridge.

Offsetting that opening, the last day for steelhead and salmon fishing on the Toutle, Green, and North Fork Toutle rivers will be Nov. 30. The South Fork Toutle River will also close to hatchery steelhead fishing and switch over to selective gear regulations on Dec. 1.

The coho extravaganza on the Cowlitz seems to be slowing a bit as boat anglers on the river averaged a little more than two-thirds of a fish per rod last week. That slowed pace may be a result of the dry weather of the last week and a half. Most of the fish seem to be in the upper river right now, but a few rain storms may move some fresh fish through the lower river.

Dec. 1 will mark the end of night closures and the anti-snagging rule on the Cowlitz from Mill Creek up to the Barrier Dam.

Returning fish numbers at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator support the theory that fewer fish are in the river. Last week, employees recovered 37 summer-run steelhead, 62 adult fall Chinook (two jacks), 9,096 adult coho, 189 coho jacks, and 52 sea-run cutthroat trout. The molasses slow start to the winter-steelhead run continued last week with two early adventurers making the chart.

Tacoma Power employees also released 2,191 adult coho and 42 jacks into Lake Scanewa, 515 adult coho and five jacks into the Cispus River, and 1,373 adult coho, 29 jacks and 20 adult fall-Chinook from the Franklin Bridge in Packwood. The Tilton River also received 30 fall Chinook adults, two jacks, 1,547 adult coho, 45 jacks, seven cutthroat trout and one winter-run steelhead.

River conditions below the confluence of the Toutle have been reported as “turbid,” but flows at Mayfield Dam on Monday were 13,500 cubic feet per second with 13 feet of visibility.

Fishing effort on the Kalama has slowed below Modrow Bridge. WDFW numbers show that through Nov. 11, a total of six wild late-winter steelhead and one hatchery steelhead had returned to the Kalama Falls Hatchery.

Both bank and boat anglers on the Lewis River have been hooking “some” coho, while boat anglers on the North Fork have been getting into fall Chinook. Dec. 1 will bring the lifting of the night closure and the anti-snagging regulation on the North Fork Lewis from Johnson Creek to Colvin Creek.

Conversely, the Wind River will close its catch and release fishery above Shipherd Falls after Nov. 30.

On the Klickitat bank anglers on the lower river are reportedly still finding a few fish but the catch rate has dropped off somewhat. The river will close to fishing for “trout including hatchery steelhead and salmon” beginning Dec. 1. However, the salmon fishery below the Fisher Hill Bridge will remain open through Jan. 1.

Boat anglers bobbing in the Bonneville Pool around the mouth of the Klickitat have been hooking coho.

Hunting

Bow and arrow lovers will get their turn in the western woods again starting Nov. 26 when the late season black-tailed deer archery hunt opens. That season will run through Dec. 31, while the white-tail hunt on the east side runs from Nov. 25 through Dec. 15. The mule deer hunt will start Nov. 21 and end Dec. 8. A special antlerless deer hunt will be open in Deer Area 1021 from Dec. 9-31.

Archers looking for a last chance elk in western Washington will be in the field from Nov. 26 through Dec. 15, while eastern Washington is open to elk targeting archers from Nov. 25 through Dec. 8.

Meanwhile, antiquated gun enthusiasts will get their shot in western Washington beginning Nov. 26 when elk season opens. That muzzleloader season will continue through Dec. 15. Elk season in eastern Washington opened early on Oct. 25 and will run through Dec. 14.

Musket toting black-tailed deer hunters will have at it from Nov. 27- Dec. 15 in most areas, while GMU 673 will be open to any deer from Dec. 7-15. White-tailed and mule deer musket seasons will be open from Nov. 20-Dec. 8.

Additional hunts are available to disabled and Master hunters. Openings and closures vary greatly from unit to unit so be sure to check with the WDFW before trekking into the backcountry.



Clamming

The WDFW has also proposed an early December clam dig which would begin Dec. 3. That dig has yet to be approved by the WDFW and is pending prerequisite marine toxin testing.

That dig is tentatively scheduled on the following dates, beaches and low tides:

• Wed., Dec. 3; 4:14 p.m., -0.1 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors

• Thu., Dec. 4; 5:02 p.m., -0.6 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors

• Fri., Dec. 5; 5:45 p.m., -0.9 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Sat., Dec. 6; 6:26 p.m., -1.0 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Copalis

• Sun., Dec. 7; 7:05 p.m., -0.9 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Mon., Dec. 8; 7:44 p.m., -0.6 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors

• Tue., Dec. 9; 8:21 pm, -0.2 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors

Wildlifers

The WDFW is looking to create an advisory board to help with the implementation of the state’s latest Hydraulic Code.

As many as twelve Washingtonian’s will be selected to serve two-year terms on the board, which will begin meeting in Jan. 2015. The members will be charged with “providing guidance to WDFW on issues related to implementation of state rules that regulate construction projects and other work in or near state waters.”

Recent updates to the code were the first changes made in twenty years.

“Now that the state rules have been updated, our focus has turned to putting them into practice,” said Randi Thurston, WDFW habitat protection division manager, in a press release. “As we move forward, we need a sounding board that reflects a variety of interests.”

Preferred candidates would be able and will to represent fishing, environmental, individual, and business concerns.

According to the WDFW, any nomination, including self-recommendations will be considered.

Submissions must contain the following information:

• The nominee’s name, address, email address and telephone number.

• Relevant experience, organizational affiliations, and reasons why he or she would be an effective advisory group member.

• Nominee’s effectiveness in communication.

• Name and contact information for any individual or organization submitting a nomination.

Nominations must be received by 5 p.m., Dec. 12. Nominations may be submitted to Randi Thurston, WDFW habitat protection division manager, by mail: 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA, 98501-1091; or by email randi.thurston@dfw.wa.gov.