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The
Anadromous Sport Fish:
Chinook Salmon
Coho Salmon
Cutthroat Trout (coastal)
Dolly Varden
Eulacon (Shad)
Pink Salmon
Sockeye Salmon
Steelhead
White Sturgeon
The
Freshwater Sport Fish:
Bluegill
Brook Trout
Brown Bullhead
Brown Trout
Burbot
Channel Catfish
Cutthroat Trout
Kokanee
Lake Trout
Largemouth Bass
Mountain Whitefish
Rainbow Trout
Rock Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Saltwater Sport Fish:
Lingcod
Black Rockfish
Copper Rockfish
Kelp Greenling
Pacific Cod
Pile Perch
Quillback Rockfish
Spiny Dogfish
Striped Seaperch
Walleye Pollock
Yelloweye Rockfish
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FRESHWATER
SPORT FISH
Rainbow
Trout
Rainbow trout are Washington's most popular game fish. Native
to the western United States, they are widely distributed
throughout the Evergreen State. Like other trout, they need
clean, cool water to survive. Rainbows can usually be recognized
by the red or pink stripe down both sides from the gill
covers to the tail, but the coloration sometimes varies.
Because of the rainbow's popularity among anglers, natural
populations are supplemented by WDFW stocking programs that
provide over 17 million trout annually to the state's lakes
and streams. The natural diet of rainbows consists primarily
of plankton, insects, other invertebrates, and smaller fish,
but anglers can take them on a wide range of baits and artificial
lures. Favorite baits in Washington lakes include worms,
salmon eggs, marshmallows, cheese, artificial paste baits,
and natural insects. Artificial lures such as wobbling spoons,
spinners, and small diving plugs work well for rainbows.
Fly anglers have good luck on dry and wet flies, nymphs,
and streamer patterns.
Beardslee Trout
A rainbow trout subspecies called the Beardslee Trout deserves
special mention, since it's found only one place in the
world: the Olympic Peninsula's Lake Crescent. This unique
trout grows to impressive proportions, often topping 10
pounds. It is usually caught by anglers deep-trolling large
spoons or plugs.
Cutthroat Trout
Three varieties of cutthroat trout are available to Washington
anglers. The one most common west of the Cascades is the
coastal cutthroat, which includes both resident and anadromous--or
sea-run--strains.
Resident coastal cutthroat are found in many streams and
beaver ponds throughout western Washington. In some of these
small waters they may grow no larger than 8 or 9 inches
long.
Sea-run cutthroat spawn in many coastal, Puget Sound and
lower Columbia River tributary streams. While still thriving
in some coastal river systems, many cutthroat populations
have declined due to stream pollution and loss of small-stream
habitat. Wild-cutthroat-release regulations and bait-fishing
restrictions are now in effect on many Washington streams,
so anglers should read the fishery pamphlet carefully before
pursuing these eager biters.
To catch cutthroats, try a small spoon, spinner or streamer
fly. Whatever you use, try casting it near brush, roots,
stumps and other woody cover.
West-slope cutthroat are more common in eastern Washington
lakes and streams. WDFW also stocks these trout in many
high-country lakes. They can be caught on all standard trout
lures and baits, but since their diet consists mostly of
insects, fly-fishing is especially effective. Some bodies
of water have special barbless hook and bait/lure regulations,
so be sure to check the sportfishing rules pamphlet.
Lahontan cutthroat are relative newcomers to our state,
where they have been stocked in only a few highly alkaline,
east-side lakes. They thrive in Grant County's Lake Lenore
and Okanogan County's Omak Lake, plus a few other lakes.
Artificial flies, spoons, spinners and wobbling plugs all
work well for these big cutthroats that have adapted to
desert lakes.
Brown Trout
Brown trout are European imports, not a native species in
North America. Kettle River and Crab Creek have introduced
populations that are somewhat self-sustaining. Browns also
are stocked by WDFW in a number of lakes on both sides of
the state.
Golden Trout
Golden trout are another introduced species. They are found
only in a few remote, high-country lakes, where the water
is cold and clear. These brilliantly colored trout, native
to the high Sierras, feed on plankton and small insects,
but can be caught on a wide range of artificial flies and
lures.
Dolly Varden/Bull Trout
Though generally called trout, these fish are actually char,
more closely related to brook trout and lake trout. Dolly
Varden are native to this state and are fairly common in
many rivers and some lakes west of the Cascades. WDFW, however,
is concerned about the state's Dolly Varden populations,
and they are protected now in many areas by a closed season.
Bull trout were once thought to be the same species as Dolly
Varden, but are now considered by most fish experts to be
a distinct species. Like Dollies, though, Washington's bull
trout populations have declined, and fishing for them is
restricted.
Eastern Brook Trout
The brook trout, another char, is also another of Washington's
introduced species, found mostly in the northeastern and
north-central parts of the state, and along the slopes of
the Cascades. Brookies are easily identified by worm-shaped
markings called vermiculations along their back and upper
sides.
Brook trout grow rapidly when conditions are right, reaching
6 or 7 inches in a year and sometimes growing to 5 pounds.
They are also subject to stunting from overpopulation in
some lakes. Insect larvae and nymphs make up a large part
of their diet, so they are a logical favorite of fly fishers.
Lake Trout
The lake trout is yet another char, and another non-native
species that has done well in a few Washington lakes, such
as Loon, Deer, Cle Elum, Chelan, Bead and Bonaparte. A population
of lake trout in St. Helens Lake, just above Spirit Lake,
apparently survived the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
Known by the name "Mackinaw" throughout much of
the West, "lakers" are the largest purely freshwater
salmonid, sometimes topping 60 pounds.
Lake trout are cold-water fish. They can be caught on large
plugs or spoons trolled near the surface early in the spring,
but as the water warms you'll have to use a downrigger or
try vertical jigging with a large leadhead or metal jig.
Kokanee
Kokanee are sometimes incorrectly called "silvers"
or "silver trout," but in fact are not trout at
all. They are sockeye salmon that do not go out to sea,
but live out their lives in freshwater lakes. Like all Pacific
salmon, however, they die at sexual maturity regardless
of their size. And like all sockeyes, kokanee are one of
the best-eating fish that swims.
Although they feed on plankton, kokanee can be caught on
such small baits as maggots, kernels of white corn or small
pieces of worm, either still-fished on a painted hook or
trolled behind a beaded spinner or small flasher.
Whitefish
Mountain whitefish are native to Washington, and are closely
related to our trout and salmon. They are common in both
eastside and westside streams. Averaging 10 to 13 inches,
mountain whitefish are most easily caught on maggots, small
grubs, stonefly nymphs or sparsely tied artificial flies
and small lures fished along the bottom of deep pools in
winter.
Lake whitefish, on the other hand, are an introduced species.
They are generally larger with a bigger mouth than mountain
whitefish. Originally introduced in a few Western Washington
lakes, they are now distributed throughout the Columbia
Basin irrigation system, including Roosevelt, Banks, and
Soda lakes and Potholes Reservoir.
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass are one of America's most popular game fish,
and that popularity certainly extends to the state of Washington,
where they were introduced in the late 1800s. This warmwater
fish does not achieve huge size in the Northwest, where
the growing season is relatively short. Still, Washington
anglers do catch their share of bragging-size largemouths.
Washington boasts many productive largemouth bass waters,
including Cowlitz County's Silver Lake, Grant County's Potholes
Reservoir, Banks and Moses lakes, and Spokane County's Eloika
Lake, just to name a few.
Largemouths are particularly fond of lily pads, weed beds,
submerged stumps, logs, and other fairly thick cover, and
these are good places for anglers to look for them. They
are caught on a wide range of lures, including diving plugs,
spinnerbaits, plastic baits and surface lures.
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass, another introduced species, usually run
smaller than largemouths. That's not necessarily true in
Washington, though, which produces some of the West's biggest
smallmouths.
Smallmouths are especially fond of rocky and gravel areas,
where they feed on crayfish, insects and smaller fish. Try
fishing with plastic grubs on leadhead jigs, diving plugs,
or spinners with fur or feather tails.
The Snake River, King County's Lake Sammamish, Potholes
Reservoir, much of the Columbia River, Banks Lake and the
Okanogan River all are good smallmouth waters.
Walleye
If any game fish species has taken the state--and the country--by
storm, it has to be the walleye. Introduced to our state
in the 1960s, one of the country's best trophy walleye fisheries
has developed in the Columbia River system. Although sometimes
erroneously called "walleyed pike," they are actually
big cousins to the yellow perch.
Productive fishing methods for walleyes include trolling
with spinner-and-nightcrawler rigs or plugs that imitate
small baitfish. Casting small jigs with plastic grub bodies
can also be effective. They like to feed over submerged
weed beds and around rocky structure.
Many sections of the main Columbia, Banks Lake, Moses Lake
and Potholes Reservoir are favorites of Washington walleye
anglers.
Crappie
Crappies are one of the prettiest and tastiest of all warmwater
fish. Although WDFW lists state records for both white and
black crappie, black crappie are far more common. Both are
introduced species.
The best places to look for crappies are around submerged
trees, stumps and brush, since they seem to love woody cover.
If woody cover is not available, fish around lily pads or
other aquatic vegetation. Crappies are often found in schools
in the spring, but usually scatter and move to deeper water
in summer.
Small leadhead jigs or artificial flies work well for these
popular panfish, since small fish are a large part of the
mature crappie's diet.
Yellow Perch
Yellow perch, introduced in the 1890s, are abundant throughout
Washington, and they have saved many an otherwise unsuccessful
fishing trip. They are very good table fare either filleted
or cleaned and skinned.
Many of Washington's year-round lakes and reservoirs are
teeming with perch, providing good fishing 12 months a year.
All you really need to catch them is a can of worms or grubs,
although they will hit small jigs and other artificial lures
well.
Other Panfish
One of Washington's most popular introduced sunfish is the
bluegill, a hard-fighting, good-eating game fish. Potholes
Reservoir, Sprague and Moses lakes and Southwest Washington's
Silver Lake are among the state's top bluegill waters.
Pumpkinseed sunfish are a little small to eat, but fun to
catch, especially for kids. This illegally stocked fish
is too abundant in many lakes. They will take almost anything
small enough to fit in their tiny mouths.
Rock bass, also a non-native sunfish, are identified by
their mottled dark bronze body and red eyes. They are most
common in several Thurston and southern Pierce County lakes,
and averages seven to ten inches. A similar species, the
warmouth, is found in a few western Washington lakes. Both
rock bass and warmouth are fun to catch and good to eat,
although not as prized as crappie or bluegill.
Catfish
The introduced channel catfish is a hard-fighting and good-eating
game fish that requires clean water to survive. Washington's
best channel cat fishing is in the Yakima and Snake rivers,
and the top baits are worms, chicken or beef livers. Unlike
other catfish, this fish will readily take artificial lures.
A far more common catfish species is the brown bullhead.
Although they are considered pests in some lakes, they provide
a lot of fun and good eating.
Other non-native catfish that anglers may encounter include
blue and flathead catfish, and an occasional yellow or black
bullhead. All are good eating and will take worms and other
baits. Best fishing for all of them is usually at night.
Tiger Muskies
Our state's newest freshwater sport fish is the tiger musky,
a northern pike-muskellunge cross first introduced in Mayfield
Lake to help curb a serious squawfish problem and provide
a trophy fishery. The success of the Mayfield program led
to the planting of tiger muskies in Spokane County's Newman
Lake and Clark County's Merwin Reservoir.
Tiger muskies are big, hungry predators that may grow to
30 pounds or more. The best way to catch them is with large
plugs or bucktail spinners fished during the warm summer
months.
Burbot
Perhaps Washington's most peculiar freshwater fish is the
burbot, commonly called freshwater ling. Found in several
central and eastern Washington lakes, they're usually caught
through the ice on large baits such as a gob of nightcrawlers
or a strip of sucker meat.
Sturgeon
Sturgeon are the largest freshwater species Washington anglers
are likely to encounter. This prehistoric fish is available
in the Columbia and other large Northwest streams year-around.
Both green and white sturgeon are caught by Washington anglers,
but whites are the most common and certainly the largest,
sometimes measuring over eight feet and weighing several
hundred pounds.
Sturgeon feed on the bottom, cruising along and picking
up tasty morsels with the sucker-like mouth on the bottom
of their head. Anglers usually fish for them with smelt,
shrimp and other baits anchored on bottom. Hooked sturgeon,
especially some of the larger ones, may jump completely
out of the water, providing a spectacular show for anglers
or anyone who happens by at the right time.
The popularity of sturgeon fishing has drawn large numbers
of anglers to the Columbia and Chehalis rivers in recent
years, and more restrictive regulations have gone into effect
to help protect this valuable resource from over-fishing.
SALTWATER SPORT FISH
Halibut
The heavyweight champ of Northwest saltwater fish is the
Pacific halibut, which may grow to 400 pounds or more. Halibut
populations boomed in the early 1980s, and the fish's popularity
also soared, to the point that halibut fishing has become
extremely popular in Washington and throughout the Northwest.
Halibut like to feed on and around underwater mountains
and plateaus. The state's most well-known halibut grounds
are at Swiftsure Reef, located on the Canadian border near
the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, about 20 miles
north of Neah Bay. Other productive halibut-fishing areas
are located off the northern Washington coast, around Neah
Bay and Sekiu, Port Angeles and on several underwater humps
near the east end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Best fishing
in these areas is during the spring.
Halibut will take herring, squid and other baits, but deep-water
anglers often prefer to bounce leadhead jigs with large,
plastic grub bodies, pipe jigs, or baitfish-imitating metal
jigs along the bottom for their "barn doors."
Other
Flatfish
Starry flounders are found in many of Washington's marine
areas, and are most commonly caught from shallow-water estuaries
such as Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay and some of Puget Sound's
larger river mouths. They occasionally stray into fresh
water, and have been caught up the Columbia River as far
as just below Bonneville Dam. They're good-eating and not
too choosey about the baits or lures they'll take.
Washington also has a wide range of other flatfish, including
arrowtooth flounder, sand sole, English sole, petrale sole
and Pacific sanddab.
Skates and Sharks
The big skate might be considered a sort of halibut look-alike,
although it's much more closely related to sharks than to
halibut. Sometimes growing to well over 100 pounds, their
"wings" are highly prized table fare.
Blue sharks grow to fairly large size in Washington and
are pursued by some anglers, mostly along the coast. They're
fair fighters and provide fair eating.
Dogfish sharks are commonly caught by Washington anglers
when salmon fishing with bait near the bottom. Their fight
is not spectacular, and although they are apparently popular
as a food species in Europe, they are not often eaten here.
Lingcod
Lingcod are as prized by Washington saltwater anglers as
they are feared by smaller fish. Everything from herring,
anchovies and crabs to other lingcod are considered fair
game when a big ling gets hungry. Playing on its hearty
appetite, anglers often use live bait to catch a big ling,
but leadhead jigs, metal jigs and other artificials also
will fool them.
The best lingcod habitat is a hard, rocky bottom with lots
of steep drops and jagged pinnacles. These areas are easy
to find with a chart and depth sounder, but difficult to
fish effectively without losing tackle.
Lingcod are slow-growing fish, and the largest ones--sometimes
over 60 pounds--are all females. To protect lingcod populations
in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, seasons and
regulations are quite conservative.
Rockfish
Yelloweye rockfish are one of the biggest and most colorful
of Washington's many rockfish species. Yelloweyes often
weigh over 10 pounds, and sometimes top the 20-pound mark.
They can live to be several decades old.
Yelloweyes are a deep-water denizen, usually caught near
bottom in at least 150 feet of water, and sometimes at depths
of several hundred feet. As their name implies, rockfish
like hard, rocky bottoms, and those are the best places
to fish for yelloweyes. They'll take herring and all jig-type
artificials quite readily.
Canary rockfish are another brightly colored inhabitant
of Washington's deep-water marine areas. Although not as
large as yelloweyes, they are caught in many of the same
places and by the same fishing methods.
Another, less glamorous but equally good-eating deep-water
rockfish is the quillback, whose large dorsal spines give
it its name. Quillbacks are fond of rocky ocean bottoms,
usually at depths of 150 feet or more. They average two
to four pounds each and can be taken on light tackle and
a wide range of baits or lures.
Although commonly lumped together under the label of "bottomfish,"
many rockfish species may be found well off the bottom,
sometimes even right on the surface. Black rockfish are
a good example. Black rockfish are one of Washington's most
common and most popular rockfish, providing fast action
for coastal charter anglers as well as small-boat fishermen
in places like Neah Bay and Sekiu.
Averaging a couple of pounds each, black rockfish are excellent
light-tackle fighters. They can be found at virtually any
depth, but many anglers search for schools that are feeding
in shallow-water kelp beds or near the surface in open water.
When near the surface, they'll take anything from herring
and small jigs to streamer flies and surface plugs.
Blue rockfish closely resemble blacks, and the two are often
caught together. Blues tend to run a little smaller, and
they have smaller mouths. Like both blue and black rockfish,
yellowtail rockfish are often caught near the surface, where
they're within easy range of light-tackle anglers and even
fly fishermen.
Copper rockfish are common in Washington waters, especially
near shore and around shallow-water rock piles and other
hard structure. Most are small, but they're cooperative
and fun to catch on light tackle.
Many other rockfish species are available to Evergreen State
saltwater anglers. Tiger rockfish are perhaps the most brightly
colored example. The boccaccio is one of the bigger rockfish,
commonly topping 20 pounds, and is usually caught from fairly
deep water. China rockfish can be identified by their yellow-on-black
coloration.
Cabezon
Cabezon are Washington's largest member of the sculpin family,
sometimes growing to over 20 pounds. They can be tough fighters,
especially when hooked in fairly shallow water or on light
tackle. Cabezon feed primarily on marine crustaceans, using
their powerful jaws to capture and crush their prey. Small
fish, however, are also included in their diet, so herring
and baitfish-imitating metal jigs bounced along the bottom
will take them too.
Although the large head, fins and heavy bones are not edible,
cabezons provide a pair of thick, tasty, white-meat fillets
for seafood gourmets. Cabezon eggs are reported to be poisonous,
so be very careful when cleaning them.
Because of concerns about the long-term health of the species,
cabezon seasons are very restrictive east of Sekiu River.
Other Sculpins
Other sculpins are of moderate interest to Washington saltwater
anglers, including the red Irish lord, the staghorn sculpin
and the buffalo sculpin.
Other Bottomfish
Kelp greenling are smaller relatives of lingcod, common
throughout Washington's marine waters. Kelp beds and shallow,
rocky areas are the best places to look for them, and they
are easily caught on small baits and jigs. Greenling are
among the fish commonly used for live lingcod bait, but
they're very good table fare in their own right, providing
firm, white-meated fillets.
The Pacific cod is a true codfish, which explains its most
common nickname, "true cod." Cod fillets are excellent
on the dinner table, making true cod popular among anglers
even though they are not tough fighters. Baits such as whole
or plug-cut herring will take cod, as will pipe jigs and
other artificials. Whatever you use, fish it close to the
bottom.
Pollock are another good-eating bottomfish that are closely
related to Pacific cod, although somewhat smaller. They're
often found over the same sand and gravel bottoms where
cod are found, and they can be caught with the same baits
and lures.
Saltwater Perch
Sea perch and surf perch are widely available in Washington's
marine waters. The three most popular are pile perch, striped
seaperch and red-tailed surf perch.
Casting into the breakers along virtually any coastal beach
with clam necks, shrimp, sand worms or other bait will take
the red-tailed surf perch, an amazingly strong fighter.
Redtails are also a very good-eating fish, which, like other
sea perch species, bear live young rather than laying eggs
like most fish.
Striped sea perch and pile perch are more common in Puget
Sound, where they're often caught around docks, floats and
piers on an incoming tide. Small pieces of bait often work
best for these species.
Albacore
The albacore tuna is a blue-water inhabitant whose annual
summertime migrations often bring it to within reach of
Washington's coastal anglers. There it is pursued by charter
boats operating out of Westport and Ilwaco. The fishing
strategy usually involves trolling surface lures until a
school is located, then drifting live anchovies. Albacore
are incredibly strong, fast swimmers, and also excellent
table fare.
ANADROMOUS FISH
Some fish spend part of their lives in fresh water and part
in salt water. Fish that hatch in fresh water, spend part
of their lives in salt water, then return to fresh water
to spawn are known as "anadromous" species, and
Washington has a variety of them.
Steelhead
Sea-going rainbow trout, known as steelhead, are one of
our better-known anadromous fish. Steelhead start their
lives in freshwater rivers and creeks, migrate to sea, then
spend one to six years in the Pacific before returning to
their home streams to repeat the cycle.
Most steelhead naturally spawn from mid-winter to late-spring,
but two different runs--summer and winter--return to freshwater
at different times. Adult winter-run steelhead return to
over 100 Washington streams from November through April.
Some of these streams have wild steelhead runs that provide
good fishing and a self-sustaining population. But a loss
of clean spawning gravel and suitable rearing habitat, coupled
with other problems, has greatly depleted the wild steelhead
runs in many river systems.
In terms of sport catch, the state's top winter steelhead
waters include the Cowlitz, Skykomish, Bogachiel/Quillayute,
Snoqualmie and East Fork Lewis rivers.
Summer-run steelhead return to freshwater from April to
October, and anglers catch these summer fish in good numbers
from about three dozen Washington rivers and creeks. Summer
steelie streams that treat anglers best include the Columbia
below Bonneville, portions of the Snake River, the Cowlitz,
Little White Salmon and Kalama rivers.
Most adult steelhead return from the Pacific after two or
three growing seasons, ranging from about 5 to 14 pounds.
The true trophies are fish that stay at sea four to six
years, the 20-, 25-, even 30-pounders that an angler may
get a shot at only once in a lifetime. WDFW plants hatchery
winter steelhead in some 75 streams to enhance angling opportunity,
and about 45 streams receive plants of summer-run steelhead.
Many fishing methods take steelhead, but drift-fishing is
the most popular. It involves casting upstream and letting
the lure sink to the bottom, where it drifts downstream
with the current. Standard baits and lures for steelhead
drift-fishing include clusters of fresh salmon or steelhead
roe, live ghost shrimp, brightly colored steelhead "bobbers"
and tufts of fluorescent nylon yarn. Casting wobbling spoons,
spinner and artificial flies also produces steelhead strikes,
as does drifting a leadhead jig suspended beneath a bobber.
Anglers should be aware of special regulations in effect
that require wild steelhead to be released on many streams.
Chinook Salmon
Like steelhead, Pacific salmon spend part of their life
in fresh water and part in saltwater. Unlike steelhead,
adult salmon always die after completing their spawning
runs.
First and foremost among salmon-fishing trophies is, of
course, the chinook. Chinook are the largest of the Pacific
salmon, occasionally growing to over 100 pounds, which is
part of the reason for their nickname, king salmon. They
are also commonly referred to as "blackmouth,"
because of that black gum line that anglers use to help
identify them.
Although the biggest saltwater kings are caught in summer
and early fall when mature salmon move toward freshwater
spawning grounds, Washington offers saltwater chinook fishing
all year long. Productive saltwater fishing techniques for
chinook include trolling or mooching (drifting) with herring,
jigging with any of several baitfish-imitating metal jigs,
or trolling with plugs, spoons, plastic squid or other artificials.
Fishing near bottom is often the key to success.
Besides the well-known saltwater chinook fisheries that
exist on the coast, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San
Juan Islands and Puget Sound, chinook also provide some
great freshwater angling action. Spring-chinook fisheries
in the Cowlitz, Lewis and other Washington rivers are very
popular with anglers. Freshwater chinook-fishing techniques
are similar to those used for steelhead, except most anglers
prefer heavier tackle for these bruisers.
Although uncommon, "resident" chinook may be found
in some lake systems that support runs of the anadromous
form. Examples are lakes Sammamish and Washington, where
resident chinook 12-15 inches long make up a small percentage
of the catch. Inland fish managers are also experimenting
with chinook as predators on stunted perch or other over-abundant
species in some lakes. Chinook are also sometimes planted
in landlocked lakes to provide a freshwater fishery.
Coho Salmon
Coho salmon are smaller than chinook, but their relative
abundance and unpredictable fighting style make them a favorite
among Washington anglers. A typical adult coho weighs four
to 10 pounds, but specimens of over 20 pounds have been
caught from Evergreen State waters.
Fresh from the ocean, it's easy to understand why the coho's
most common nickname is "silver" salmon. WDFW
hatcheries produce millions of coho each year to supplement
wild coho runs, which have succumbed to a wide range of
habitat loss on many of the state's river systems.
The same baits, lures and techniques that take chinook will
also take coho from Washington's marine waters, but remember
that these fish are usually found near the surface, in about
the top 30 feet of water. Like chinook, coho are also a
favorite of freshwater anglers when the adult salmon return
to their home streams to spawn. Flashy spinners, wobbling
spoons, diving plugs and a well-fished cluster of fresh
roe will take them when they hit fresh water.
Several of our lakes, including Riffe Lake and Merwin Reservoir
in Western Washington, are stocked with landlocked coho
salmon. Like kokanee, these fish are sometimes incorrectly
called "silver trout." They grow to 20 inches
or so and provide excellent sport and table fare.
Pink Salmon
Pink salmon are a common catch for Washington anglers on
odd-numbered years. With a two-year life cycle, shorter
than the other salmon, they don't get as big, averaging
3 or 4 pounds at maturity and seldom topping the 10-pound
mark.
Pink salmon are commonly called "humpies," because
of the large hump on the back of mature males. Both males
and females can be identified by the large, oblong or oval
spots on both the upper and lower portion of their tail
and by their very small scales. Trolling with herring or
any of the standard salmon offerings will take pinks from
salt water, but hot colors tend to work best. The same general
rule seems to apply when fishing for pinks in fresh water.
Chum Salmon
The chum salmon's nickname "dog salmon" is not
deserved, especially when you consider its fighting ability.
It's a tough customer for both salt and freshwater anglers.
Chum are the second-largest of the Pacific salmon, and Washington
anglers catch many of them in the high-teens and low-20-pound
range. They are the last of the salmon to return each fall,
usually arriving at their stream of origin from November
to January.
Sockeye Salmon
Sockeye are considered by many to be the best-eating of
all salmon, but anglers catch relatively few of them on
hook-and-line. The state's most notable sport fishery on
sockeyes occurs in Lake Wenatchee and some years in Lake
Washington. A fishery on Fraser River stocks is growing
in the San Juan Islands.
Shad
American shad are a large member of the herring family.
Their life cycle is like Pacific salmon in that they hatch
in freshwater, migrate to sea, then return to freshwater
to spawn when they reach adulthood. Shad are not a Washington
native, having been imported to this part of the country
from the East Coast in the late 19th century.
Washington's most important shad run and shad fishery occurs
in the Columbia River, but smaller runs enter a few other
streams. In recent years, the Columbia has seen record runs,
with annual returns numbering in the millions. The height
of the run is from mid-May to mid-June.
Adult shad range in size from males averaging about 1½
or 2 pounds to females that weigh 4 pounds or more. All
are tough fighters and make a strong showing for anglers
using light tackle. There is no daily catch limit on shad,
and although they are "bony," the flesh had good
flavor, especially when smoked. The roe is considered a
delicacy by many shad anglers.
Brightly colored mini-jigs, spinners, even a couple of red
beads above a bare hook will take shad. There are several
good places to fish for them between Bonneville Dam and
the town of Camas on the lower Columbia.
Smelts
Smelts comprise a family of schooling fishes with marine,
anadromous and freshwater members.
Eulachon, an anadromous smelt, are one of the most popular
species, and they're most often taken in long-handled dip
nets. Southwest Washington's Cowlitz River is usually the
site of most eulachon-dipping action. Some years, though,
other lower Columbia tributaries receive smelt runs, and
some years they bypass the lower Columbia tributaries and
show up in other western Washington rivers.
Surf and longfin smelt are the most popular marine species,
and are one of the most common fish of the near-shore community
inside Puget Sound, along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and
the Washington coast. Fisheries occur on both spawning and
non-spawning congregations of adults and juveniles. Spawning
fish are best harvested from shore on early morning or late
evening high slack tides using a dipbag or smelt rake. Non-spawning
fish are most commonly taken with jig gear in deeper water
from piers or boats. A popular surf smelt fishery occurs
at LaConner, where they have a smelt-jigging festival every
year the first week of February.
Other smelts found in Washington include whitebait, night,
and capelin. There is a landlocked population of longfin
smelt in Lake Washington.
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