Uncategorized – Page 7 – The Outdoor Line

Three ocean summer sport salmon fishing options set today reflect much improved catch quotas over 2020 with final approval happening by mid-April

March 11, 2021

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

March 8, 2021

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-netting opens Tuesday on the Cowlitz River and there’s already a good amount of fish present in Gerhart Gardens Park area

February 26, 2021

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 […]

WDFW managers predict a whopping 2.9-million-plus Puget Sound pink salmon return that’ll have anglers blushing this summer, while other salmon forecasts are a mix of good, bad and downright ugly

February 26, 2021

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 […]

UPDATED: Columbia River spring chinook fishing dates set by state fishery managers today, and includes a 35-day lower mainstem season beginning this Monday

February 23, 2021

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 […]

Approved spring halibut fishing dates are the cure for winter blues, plus optimistic changes ahead for coastal bottomfishing season

February 15, 2021

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 […]

Oregon Production Index “OPI” coho forecast of more than 1.73 million is largest prediction in more than five years, and could generate more liberal summer fishing seasons

February 11, 2021

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 […]

Salmon sport-fishing outlook for 2021 could resemble 2020 with improvements as well as ongoing struggles, plus get ready to gear up for summer pink salmon

February 1, 2021

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 […]

Columbia River smelt have already arrived and fingers are crossed the run-size will be large enough to host a dip-net fishery in the Cowlitz River

January 22, 2021

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 […]

Lake Chelan Winter Kokanee

January 22, 2021

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. […]