The Fishing Corner

By Larry Dublanko

The inland fishing season is in full swing and in addition to lake fishing, anglers have been able to access the rivers, streams and beaver ponds since the first weekend of the month. Anglers do have their eye on salmon fishing in the ocean this year with concern.

The low predictions of salmon returns this year has led to a shortened ocean season and smaller Chinook quotas. These reports translated into the reality of a limited season this summer in the waters inside and outside Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council approved a recreational catch quota of 27,500 Chinook this year. This number is 17,500 less than the quota last year. This council which establishes the fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast also adopted a quota of 42,000 coho for the recreational ocean fishery this year. It is the same quota as last year for coho salmon.

This year Marine Area 2, which is out by Westport, will be open Sunday through Thursday beginning July 1. The ocean salmon fisheries out of Ilwaco, La Push and Neah Bay are scheduled to open daily beginning June 3. All marine areas will close Sept. 3 or sooner if quotas are met. The limit will be two salmon daily and only one of which may be a Chinook in all areas except La Push. In that area, the limit will be two salmon daily. However, in all areas, wild coho will need to be released.

We are in the graduation time frame so in some cases fishing has been put on the back burner. Nevertheless, lake fishing continues to get the attention it deserves. Significant plants have been made during the early part of the season leaving lakes well stocked. Our best opportunities tend to be Failor Lake, Lake Aberdeen and Lake Sylvia. Vance Pond No. 1 (Bowers Lake) and Vance Creek No. 2 (Lake Inez) seem to get fished out more quickly due to their size and fishing pressure.

In Pacific County, year-round fisheries of Snag Lake and Western Lake are good options. Black Lake, however, is by far the most stocked lake in the county. Therefore, it will probably be the one lake that gets the most fishing attention in the region.

Summer steelhead is still the focus of many. These fish are beginning to spread out in the hosting rivers. The Wynooche River and Humptulips River have been the only rivers stocked with steelhead smolt by the Washington Department of Fisheries in our immediate area. Whereas, these fish tend to move slowly upstream, anglers can expect to see their migration come in waves. Early in the season, it is always a good idea to pay attention to the lower sections of the rivers. A new wave of fresh fish can provide fishers with action. As fish move further upstream, the angler will be provided with solitude, but they will have to search for these fish more diligently.

Appreciable fishing is currently available in the waters of Grays Harbor.