The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) decided to extend the statewide sport fishing ban through at least May 4. The current closure announced on March 25 in response to Governor Jay Inslee’s order to ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ was likely to be extended but many anglers and outdoor enthusiasts were hoping it would […]
There’s no doubt the new Magnum Octopus swimbait from Optimum Baits will terrorize ling cod and bottomfish on the west coast. Halibut will probably even hit this killer swimbait. I can’t count the times that we’ve found whole octopus or tentacles in the stomachs of ling cod when they are filleted at the end of […]
We are living in a tumultuous moment related to COVID-19 with a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order in place. This has led to an unprecedented temporary closure of all statewide fishing opportunities and created challenges in the ongoing salmon fishing season setting process. In the chronicles of Washington sport fishing history nothing of this magnitude […]
Tip’s for Turkey’s! by Jason Brooks Turkey seasons are about to embark in the Pacific Northwest with a few western states already underway. Preparing now for the early part of the season will help lead to success. Here are few things to consider before you head out to the turkey woods this spring. Pattern your […]
We are living life in a moment where change seems to happen by the minute and this newly implemented ruling will turn the statewide sport fishing world upside down for the time being. It was just a few weeks ago when many anglers were making spring fishing plans for a last chance winter chinook or […]
After Governor Inslee’s announcement this afternoon about a “Stay at Home” order that will take effect in 48 hours the phone has been ringing off the hook and emails are flooding in with questions on what this all means to our Washington sport fisheries. “We are working with the Governor’s office on at least 20 […]
One way to break away from the March Madness that has many on edge is wetting a line for spring trout fishing opportunities. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will begin planting millions of trout now through late spring although there will be some changes for those looking to get a jump start. […]
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife unveiled their 2020 salmon forecasts at a public meeting in Olympia this past Friday, and there could be some potential roadblocks in carving out fishing seasons. “For Puget Sound chinook forecasts we are a little lower but general numbers of hatchery returns are about where they have been,” […]
While the Columbia River coho struggle it appears the preliminary chinook returns will be much improved over the 2019 forecast and actual return. In all, 431,000 fall chinook are expected to return to the Big-C compared to a forecast in 2019 of 340,400 and an actual return of 375,700. The lower river hatchery is about […]
The Cowlitz River smelt dip-net fishery Part II will return on Wednesday (Feb. 26)! “We’re still seeing a pretty strong run of smelt,” said Laura Heironimus, the lead Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Columbia River smelt manager. “The commercial catch on Monday averaged about 250 pounds per delivery so that’s considered good. There […]
