Author: Jason Brooks

Posted: 5/5/2021

When it comes to summertime it is hard to beat being out on the water and catching some salmon. From Puget Sound to the Brewster Pool of the Columbia River and all waters in-between there are enough places to fish that you could spend each sun-filled day chasing salmon. But before you hit the water it is best to get everything in working condition and prepare for the fishery you are planning on do...

Author: Paul Lewis

Posted: 5/5/2021

Happy springtime to the anglers in our great state! With warmer temperatures Western Washington is alive with fishing opportunities. One of these great opportunities is the urban paradise of Lake Washington’s fantastic coastal cutthroat trout fishery. During this time of year, the lake is teaming with food sources for the trout making this one of the best times to chase these fish. On the other ha...

Author: Jason Brooks

Posted: 5/5/2021

Halibut is at the top of most anglers and culinary list of fish to catch and eat. The white flesh flakes easily and is mild so it takes to the palate of everyone, from those that don’t like “fishy fish” to those that do like fish, everyone likes halibut. Fish and Chips often means fried fish but there are several batters and preparations that can vary the way the fish taste, looks and how it cooks...

Author: Rick Lawrence

Posted: 5/5/2021

If there is one thing I love about fishing it's hooking into a really big fish. I’m not talking about a 4 of 5 pound Smallie or even a 7 or 8 pound Largemouth. I’m talking about hooking into a 25 to 30 pound Pike! There are not many other fish in the N.W. that have the power and brute force a big Pike does. Many people think that Pike are non-stop eating machines and are easy to catch. Nothing co...

Author: John Kruse

Posted: 5/4/2021

The lowland lake opener is generally the most popular day of the year for fishing. Thousands of anglers young, old and in between venturing to stocked lakes around the state hoping to catch a quick limit of stocked rainbow trout. While interest in fishing is at an all-time high, cool weather and rain put a damper on the number of people who decided to fish on Opening Day last Saturday. Wash...

Author: Mike Carey

Posted: 4/27/2021

April 24, 2021 Lowland Lakes Opening Day Creel Report — Mike Schmuck, District 5 Fish Biologist, WDFW Anglers were happy to be able to get out for a day of fishing after losing out on the 2020 opener. Catch rates varied widely among the lakes we were able to creel; however, most anglers were happy about their overall fishing experience and very excited to see our staff out in the field intera...

Author: John Kruse

Posted: 4/22/2021

The biggest bass tournament to hit the Pacific Northwest in a long time took place April 10th at Potholes Reservoir in the Columbia Basin. The competition in question was the Berkley Big Bass Tournament and Ground Zero was MarDon Resort, a place that has hosted more than it’s share of fishing tournaments over the last 50 years. The event, cancelled twice in 2020 due to Covid pandemic restriction...

Author: Michael Carey

Posted: 4/12/2021

Kokanee angling has been in a renaissance for several years now. Once a fishery relegated to a cadre of select anglers in the know, kokanee fishing has exploded on the scene the past few years. A growing following of enthusiasts have discovered that kokanee are a worthy adversary. They are delicious and provide the angler with a plethora of techniques to learn and fine tune their skills on. The ge...

Author: Rick Lawrence

Posted: 4/11/2021

Rule # 1 The key for spring bass fishing, (whether it be Largemouth or Smallmouth you’re after), is the water temperature. If the temps are below 40 you might as well stay home, because it’s going to be a very long row to hoe. Once the water hits 45 deg. you can start catching a few fish, at 50 deg. you can start having some pretty good days, and when the water temps hit 55 is on like donkey-kong....

Author: Hannah Pennebaker

Posted: 4/11/2021

Opening day of fishing is nearly upon us at last. Many of us grew up fishing for stocked rainbow trout, so there is always a certain nostalgia associated with that day. Rainbows are one of my favorite fish to catch, since they are delicious on the smoker and put up a surprisingly good fight on ultralight tackle. Opening day is fun for the entire family! There are two main ways to catch recentl...

Author: John Kruse

Posted: 4/11/2021

Spring turkey hunting, a reopened state park observatory and hot fishing for non-salmon species in the Columbia River dominate the news this week. PUBLIC LAND TURKEY HUNTING OPTIONS - The general opener for the spring turkey season is April 15th. Traditionally, the best region to hunt is in Northeast Washington but Southeast Washington around the Blue Mountains and Klickitat County in South...

Author: Jason Brooks

Posted: 4/11/2021

May is the perfect month to put some great eating fish in the freezer and fairly easily if you have the right gear and are willing to explore Puget Sound for the toothy lingcod. This fishery offers a fun opportunity to catch some great eating fish that is not very technical but can be frustrating while jigging along the rocks and jetty’s. A sonar unit definitely helps locate structure where lingco...