|
Fishing is hot on province's high rivers
Constant spring rain hasn't done any favours for farmers, golfers or beach-goers, but it's been great for Manitoba anglers. With waterways around the province at near record levels, Manitoba Conservation is hearing reports that the fish are biting in a big way.
|
...Continued
from top
There is also the chance to catch whitefish on the Clark Fork this time of year.
On Priest Lake, guide Rich Lindsey of Blue Ribbon Charters said the fishing is still good. He is catching lots of 4- to 8-pounders as well as one more than 20 each day.
Lake Chelan has pumped out 2- to 6-pound lakers with some bigger fish on Mack Bar and in the lower basin. Pull plugs within 10 feet of the bottom in depths of 100 to 250 feet.
Rufus Woods is becoming consistent, producing triploid rainbow trout and jumbo kokanee. For kokes, pull a baited fly behind a dodger near the deadline above the dam from 5 to 15 feet down.
Roses Lake in the Chelan is providing a combination of holdover rainbows to 18 inches and 9- to 11-inch plants for bank fishermen. There are also good bank fishing spots near the dam on Rufus Woods.
SPINY RAY
Hog Canyon, Fourth of July and Williams Lake are difficult to call right now. At midweek, there was open water on all, but that could change overnight. The launch at Fourth of July is sheltered and ices over quickly, but you might be able to power through. There is enough open water for bank anglers to cast from shore. Fishing at all three winter lakes remains good.
Walleye are still coming from 60-70 feet of water at Lake Roosevelt, and anglers are finding lots of big perch in 50 feet of water near Hawk Creek and the mouths of the Spokane and San Poil Arms. Banks Lake is kicking out perch to 14 inches near Steamboat Rock. Try a mini-jig with a weight above and sweeten it with a worm or maggot.
There has been a lot of controversy recently regarding walleye fishing near the MarDon Resort trout net pens. Many thousands of fingerling trout are raised and fed in these pens, creating what amounts to a chumming activity that attracts smaller fish that attract walleye. Some anglers are questioning the ethics of fishing at these pens, as many 9- to 15-pound walleyes are being hauled in, particularly at night. There is also some concern about illegal fishing. Another sore point is the early spring angling where water from Moses Lake spills into Potholes. There is a concern that fishing in these small areas where spawning walleye congregate could eventually destroy the fishery.
Columbia Basin fish biologist Jeff Korth, however, said that while snagging and taking more than a limit is not good for any fishery, the Potholes and Moses Lake walleye populations are huge. He said that given the densities of fish, the net pen and spillway angling will not kill enough fish, even big fish, to matter if anglers fish ethically. Korth said that given the numbers of walleye, a more immediate concern is that they will consume too much of the prey population and then crash because of lack of food. Your call, I guess.
OTHER SPECIES
The sport oyster fishing season at Dosewallips State Park is open year-round beginning Jan. 1. This area has previously been open to sport oyster harvest from March 1 through Dec. 31. Recent surveys indicate that the oyster population will sustain a year-round season.
Lower Columbia River sturgeon sport fishing will operate under seasons and rules similar to those in place this year. For sturgeon anglers in the mainstem Columbia (Washington tributaries) from the river mouth upstream to the Wauna power lines, sturgeon retention will be allowed on 42- to 60-inch fish from Jan. 1 to April 30. Upriver, from the Wauna power lines to Bonneville Dam, including Washington tributaries, the sturgeon season runs Jan. 1 to July 31 with retention allowed Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for 42- to 60- inch fish.
GAME BIRDS
Goose hunters have a few extra days of hunting right after Christmas in Goose Management Area 4 (including Lincoln, Spokane and Walla Walla counties). This area normally operates on a Saturday-, Sunday- and Wednesday-only schedule, but offers additional goose hunting this Monday (Dec. 27), Tuesday (Dec. 28), Thursday (Dec. 30) and Dec. 31.
Duck hunters have found some birds in the Lind Coulee area of Moses Lake. A good wind will give you a better chance. Some waterfowlers noted that with cold, clear weather, their best hunting in the Dunes and the Moses Lake-area wasteways has been after 10 .
Unless it snows, this is the toughest time to chase pheasants - and the most rewarding if you do everything right and fool a long- tailed rooster. It is important to approach your cover quietly, with no yelling or whistles. Many hunters go to a heavier, copper-coated shot during the late season, which closes Dec. 31 in Washington and most of Idaho.
Quail, gray partridge and chukar seasons ended Dec. 17 in Washington. In Idaho, things get a little more complicated. The quail season ends Dec. 31 in Area 3 and Jan. 31 in Area 2. Chukar and gray partridge close Jan. 31 in Area 1, Jan. 15 in Area 2 and Dec. 31 in Area 3. Check your game regs, as the area numbers vary according to species.
BIG GAME
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has adopted permanent rules restricting importation of deer and elk into the state that are harvested from states and Canadian provinces where chronic wasting disease has been found in wild populations. These are Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Meat that has been boned in the state or province where it was harvested can be brought into Washington, as well as skulls, antlers, teeth, hides and capes that have had all soft tissue removed.
SIDEBAR:OUTDOOR INSIGHTSTIP OF THE WEEK Boat navigation lights must be used from sunset to sunrise. If you want to start waterfowl hunting at shooting time, you must have operational navigation lights on your boat when it leaves the ramp. The bow of the boat should show a green and red light and the stern should show a white light. If your boat is not wired for lights, local boat shops sell battery- operated navigation ' RIGHTS Ron Rasmussen of Spokane, his brother Rich and his father, Ted, were hunting pheasants south of town when Ron shot what appeared to be a typical cock pheasant. Not until they prepared to clean the bird did they notice it had three legs. The third leg, which was about 6 inches long and on the skinny side, sported three toes and grew out between the other two. The Rasmussens didn't say how far south they were hunting, but I'm wondering if it was near The . Sportsmen's Alliance has been following a rumor that the Humane Society of the United States and the Fund for Animals are preparing to combine forces in a concerted effort to target bow hunters for extinction. "The merger announcement serves as a wake-up call to bow hunting groups to reunite to defeat what promises to be a powerful attack on our heritage from this monstrous anti-hunting group," said Rick Story, . Sportsmen's Alliance senior vice UP Every year hunters are lost in winter boating accidents. Investigations usually determine that if victims had worn life jackets, they would still be with us today. Cold water saps your energy, causing your body to quickly become hypothermic. Brain function slows. Hypothermic people don't make good choices and their muscles cease to function. In Washington and Idaho, there must be a wearable PFD for every person in the boat, but trying to put on a lifejacket while struggling to stay above water is difficult. All children 14 years and younger must wear their PFD. The Idaho spring steelhead season begins Jan. 1. Tags are now available at Fish and Game offices or local license vendors.
You can contact Alan Liere by e-mail at
|