By Mark Yuasa State, tribal and federal fishery managers developed three ocean sport salmon alternatives during the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meetings that ended today (Thursday, March 11), and will likely lead to decent summer fishing although getting to the finish line could involve some “give and take” due to some poor coastal coho…
Best Bear Defense By Jason Brooks As spring starts to thaw the frozen ground and bears begin to wake up it is a good reminder that they will be hungry and sows will have cubs. Though most bear encounters are non-confrontational there are attacks each year and you need to be ready to defend yourself….
Sport smelt dip-netters will get a chance to try their luck in a section of the Cowlitz River on Tuesday (March 2) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from the Highway 432 Bridge to the Al Helenberg Memorial boat launch located approximately 1,300 feet upstream from the Highway 411/A Street Bridge in Castle Rock. “The…
By Mark Yuasa It’s time to buckle up for a possible big salmon season in some areas! State fishery managers are unveiling the 2021 forecasts at a public meeting today (Feb. 26), and while there are big hurdles to overcome in establishing Puget Sound chinook seasons, it appears a boatload of pinks will arrive in…
By Mark Yuasa Spring is less than a month away and anglers received official word during a joint state, federal and tribal fishery managers meeting today on Columbia River spring chinook fisheries that are set to begin this coming Monday (March 1). The forecast calls for 143,200 spring chinook – compared to 135,800 forecast in…
By Mark Yuasa There’s nothing better than the smell of spring in the air especially after our recent “snowmageddon” and while it’s vital to keep close tabs on the upcoming salmon season process, it’s also a time to cure cabin fever by making plans to pursue halibut, lingcod and other bottomfish species in the months…
By Mark Yuasa Word has been swirling like a hard rip current through the PNW salmon fishing chat lines that a very strong coho return was expected to arrive off the coast in 2021, and the Columbia River recreational advisor group received confirmation on Wednesday that brighter days could be on the summer horizon. The…
By Mark Yuasa It’s hard to believe the calendar has already rolled into the second month of 2021! But, before saying goodbye to 2020, it’s a tradition of mine to look back at how salmon fisheries fared before dusting off the crystal ball to see what’s in store for the upcoming season. While it was…
By Mark Yuasa If you follow the Pacific Northwest fishing scene like I do, then you know that this time of the year – while lean on actual on-water fishing – represents a lot of newsworthy information on many fronts. Earlier today (Jan. 22), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) released their winter…
Tips for Lake Chelan Winter Kokanee by Jason Brooks Kokanee fishing has gained popularity in recent years for various reasons. Motivation includes salmon anglers wanting to use their knowledge on inland lakes where robust fisheries still occur to fill the void left by reduced runs of the larger saltwater cousins to the small landlocked sockeye….