Walleye fishing hot on Potholes Reservoir
Dennis L. Clay
We have been monitoring the boats coming in from fishing on Potholes Reservoir. Our vantage point is the Potholes State Park boat launch.
Two anglers from the other side of the mountains have been fishing for several days and have been catching bass on lures and flies. The top weight was 6-pounds, with a 4-pounder caught on a fly. Lures, flies and locations remain a secret.
Two other anglers have been catching walleye, up to 16 inches, but most 12 and 14 inches. On Tuesday, six walleye were caught by two more Westside anglers using bottom bouncers and nightcrawlers, location a secret.
Also heard from a friend who fished Moses Lake for walleye and caught 10, the most ever for them on one outing, largest 18 inches.
Spring turkey season
The spring turkey season will end a week from tomorrow, May 31. Remember, the turkey tags unnotched this spring will be useable this fall.
From Steve Burress of Pacific Salmon Charters in Ilwaco:
Fishing has been very good for rockfish, Ling Cod and Halibut this past week, with limits being the norm. A couple lings went over 40 pounds.
The ocean Chinook opener is May 31. Information from commercial trollers in the area last week was very good. We expect a great season this year based on the numbers of fish predicted to return to the Columbia River. Limit for the Chinook fishery, May 31 through June 13 will be two clipped fish. These fish are prime and will make excellent table fare and are great for smoking as well. Beginning June 14, the limit will be one Chinook and one hatchery Coho or two Coho.
Anglers have been fishing the North Jetty recently for ling cod and sea bass. Be careful of slick rocks and rogue waves.
Contact Steve at 1-800-831-2695.
Public can propose changes to Columbia River Basin fisheries
Have an idea about how to improve state sport fishing rules? Here is your chance.
People with ideas about how to improve state sport fishing rules in the Columbia River Basin can submit their proposals to Fish and Wildlife through May 30.
State fish managers will consider proposed rules submitted by the public for any fish species except salmon, so long as they apply specifically to the mainstem Columbia River, its tributaries, or lakes within the basin.
The Columbia River Basin includes around two-thirds of the state and all of Washington east of the Cascade Mountains.
The public can propose a fishing rule change online at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/
The new process was recently approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a citizen panel that sets policy for WDFW and also has the final word on which fishing rules are adopted into the state's administrative code.
Proposed sport fishing rule changes will be available for public review and comment in August.
The commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed rule changes in November and take final action on the 2014-15 sportfishing rule changes at a public meeting in December.
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