Summer fishing seasons abound, but make sure to follow the rules

Summer fishing seasons are now in full swing, requiring anglers to make some decisions about how to spend their time on the water in the coming weeks. Salmon, steelhead, trout, crab, sturgeon, bass and walleye - all are now available for harvest under fishing regulations established in state law.

With so many areas open to fishing, anglers need to make sure they know the rules for specific waters before they cast a line or drop a crab pot, said Bruce Bjork, chief of enforcement at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"Our goal isn't to issue citations," Bjork said. "Our job is to make sure everybody follows the rules - both to preserve the resource and in fairness to other fishers. We urge anglers to read the regulations before they leave home and follow them once they get to the fishing grounds."

Regulations for state fisheries are described in WDFW's Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet, available at license vendors around the state. Updates to the pamphlet are posted on the department’s website ( wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs ), the Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500) and the Shellfish Rule Change Hotline (866-880-5431).

Compliance with state fishing rules was generally good during the first week of salmon fishing off the Washington coast, Bjork said. Strong winds plagued anglers off the southern coast, but the outlook is promising for the days ahead, said Erica Crust, a creel checker for WDFW.

"The water is thick with coho right now and they’re certainly fun to catch," Crust said. "People targeting chinook have to work a little harder, but there are some nice ones out there."

Anglers have also been catching salmon in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, areas of Puget Sound and in various inland waters stretching to the upper Columbia River. And, starting July 9, they will get their first chance in 16 years to catch summer chinook salmon in the lower Skagit River, known for producing fish in excess of 50 pounds.

Equally large fish of a different kind will again be available for harvest in the Columbia River estuary, where the white sturgeon fishery has been extended for six days. Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon agreed to reopen that fishery from July 10-12 and July 17-19 after determining that 4,100 more fish may be caught under the annual catch guidelines.

For more information on these and other fishing opportunities available this month, see the regional reports below.

North Puget Sound

Fishing: Salmon and crab fisheries are open in the region’s marine waters but many anglers are looking to the Skagit River, where a highly anticipated summer chinook fishery is set to get under way.

Beginning July 9, anglers will have the opportunity to fish for summer chinook salmon on a portion of the lower Skagit River for the first time in 16 years. "Big rivers can produce some big fish, and the Skagit is no exception," said Brett Barkdull, fish biologist for WDFW. "This is a great opportunity to catch a large chinook salmon on a river where anglers once hauled in fish weighing more than 50 pounds."

The Skagit will be open through Aug. 9 from the mouth of the river to the mouth of Gilligan Creek from noon Thursday through Sunday each week. Anglers will have a daily limit of two chinook, only one of which may be an adult.

Barkdull recommends using heavy rods and line, and suspects most anglers will be using big spinners, Kwikfish-type lures and maybe even sand-shrimp and herring. "The opportunity to catch a prize fish is there, but this certainly isn’t a slam-dunk fishery," he cautioned. "Anglers need to be patient and be prepared to put in a lot of hours."

Wild Puget Sound chinook salmon are listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. But because state and tribal co-managers are expecting an abundance of summer/fall chinook back to the Skagit, fishery managers were able to establish federally approved fisheries in the river this year, said Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for WDFW.

About 24,000 summer/fall chinook salmon are expected back to the Skagit River this year. That run would be almost 30 percent higher than the average return over the last nine years, said Pattillo.

"We have seen consistently strong returns of chinook salmon to the Skagit for nearly a decade, indicating that this stock is responding to conservation efforts," Pattillo said. "This year’s run is expected to be even better and that allowed us to develop a recreational fishery, while still meeting our spawning goals for this stock."

However, with the uncertainty regarding angler participation and catch rates, the department took a conservative approach in structuring the Skagit fishery, said Pattillo. "We will be watching this fishery very closely," he said. "If it appears that we are going to fall below our spawning goals, we will have to meet with the tribes and consider some in-season adjustments, which could include early closures."

Farther upriver, anglers can still cast for hatchery chinook salmon on the Skagit and Cascade rivers. The upper Skagit is open to hatchery chinook retention from the Highway 530 bridge at Rockport to the Cascade River. On the Cascade, anglers can fish from the mouth of the river to the Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge. Both stretches are open through July 15.

The daily limit on the Skagit and Cascade rivers is four hatchery chinook, two of which may be adults (chinook salmon at least 24 inches in length). Statewide rules require anglers to stop fishing for salmon once they have kept two adults.

On the Skykomish, a new rule that went into effect July 5 prohibits the retention of chinook from the Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe upstream to the Wallace River, the only portion of the Skykomish River that was open to salmon fishing.

Low chinook returns to the Wallace River Hatchery prompted WDFW to close the river to chinook retention to help ensure enough salmon make it back to the hatchery to meet spawning goals. The rule change does not affect fishing for hatchery steelhead and other gamefish on the Skykomish River.

Out on Puget Sound, salmon fishing got off to a decent start in Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands), where the fishery opened July 1. Anglers fishing in Marine Area 7 have a daily limit of two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon , but can only keep one chinook.

Elsewhere, fishing has been slow in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and at the Tulalip Bay "bubble" salmon fishery in Marine Area 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner).

Beginning July 16, saltwater anglers will have other options as marine areas 9 (Admiralty Inlet) and 10 open for hatchery chinook salmon retention. Anglers in each marine area will have a daily limit of two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon, but must release wild chinook. Those fishing Marine Area 9 also must release chum salmon.

Meanwhile, the crab fishery is under way in marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay), 8-2, 9, and 10. Fisheries in those areas are open on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule, plus the entire Labor Day weekend. That weekly schedule also will apply to crabbers in the eastern and southern portions of Marine Area 7, where the crab fishery is set to open July 15.

The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. Fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across. See WDFW's sport-crabbing website ( wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/ ) for more information.

Before heading out to the rivers, lakes or Sound, anglers should check the rules and regulations for all fisheries on WDFW's website at wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm .

Wildlife viewing: Now's a good time to head to the Ballard Locks to check out salmon passing the fish ladder viewing windows. Several hundred sockeye pass through the fish ladder daily, and in the next couple of weeks chinook should start showing up in greater numbers. The Ballard Locks are located in northwest Seattle where the Lake Washington Ship Canal enters Shilshole Bay and Puget Sound. For information call the locks' Visitor Center in Seattle at (206) 783-7059.

Traveling I-5? A new full-color map produced by WDFW highlights 30 key wildlife viewing sites along the corridor. The map features several sites in the region, including the Semiahmoo Park and Museum, Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve, Sehome Hill Arboretum, the Skagit Wildlife Area and Seward Park. For these and other sites, the new nature map notes major habitat types, wildlife species, viewing areas and access points.

The new map for the I-5 corridor is available free at WDFW regional offices and at visitor centers and ranger stations along the way. That and two other new nature maps - one noting prime Puget Sound diving sites, the other tracing State Route 97 through the Okanogan Valley - are also available online at wdfw.wa.gov/viewing/guides/ .

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

Fishing: With the summer salmon season in full swing, anglers fishing Washington’s coastal waters are finding an abundance of coho and some chinook as well. Elsewhere in the region, crab fishing is under way in most areas of Puget Sound.

Despite some windy weather and rough water, the first week of salmon fishing was fast and furious off La Push (Marine Area 3) where coho salmon were literally jumping out of the water, said Erica Crust, WDFW ocean port sampler. "The water is thick with coho right now and they’re certainly fun to catch," Crust said. "People targeting chinook have to work a little harder, but there are some nice ones out there."

Wind and high seas kept many anglers close to shore near Westport and Ilwaco, but those who made it out were generally catching fish, Crust said. "With calmer weather expected, anglers should be able to get out for some good fishing."

Approximately 1.2 million hatchery coho are forecast to return to the Columbia River, which would make this year’s run the largest since 2001. Most coastal chinook runs are expected to be similar to last year. The quota for sport anglers is 176,400 hatchery coho and 20,500 chinook compared to 20,000 hatchery coho and 20,000 chinook in 2008.

llwaco (Marine Area 1) is open for salmon fishing seven days a week. Westport (Marine Area 2) is open Sundays through Thursdays through July 23, switching to a daily fishery starting July 24. The north coast (marine areas 3 and 4) is open Tuesdays through Saturdays through July 17 and daily starting July 18.

The daily limit in all marine areas is two salmon, but only one may be a chinook. All wild coho must be released. Westport anglers may add one pink salmon to their limit, while those fishing the north coast may add two.

On the Strait of Juan de Fuca, creel checks conducted at Sekiu (Marine Area 5) during the holiday weekend revealed a mix of salmon. At Van Riper’s Resort, 86 anglers caught 33 chinook, 34 coho and 11 pink salmon. Those fishing near Olson’s Resort averaged slightly more than one salmon per rod.

Marine areas 5 and 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and 12 (Hood Canal south of Ayock Point) are open daily for hatchery chinook and coho. All wild chinook, wild coho and chum caught west of Ediz Hook must be released; all hatchery and wild chinook, wild coho and chum caught east of Ediz Hook must be released. Anglers also may keep two pink salmon as part of their daily limit. Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal south of Ayock Point) has a four-fish daily limit. Because rules vary in each area, anglers are advised to check the Fishing in Washington pamphlet at wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm before heading out.

Participation was high during the holiday weekend in Marine Area 11 (Tacoma)/Vashon Island), but results were disappointing. Creel checks at the Point Defiance ramp and boathouse showed 374 anglers catching 19 chinook and two coho.

The salmon fishery there runs seven days a week, with a two-fish daily limit. The minimum size for chinook is 22 inches with no minimum limit for other species. All wild chinook must be released. Anglers may add two pink salmon to their daily limit. Commencement Bay, now closed, will open to salmon fishing Aug. 1.

Six areas of Puget Sound opened for crab fishing July 1, including marine areas 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 8-1 (Deception Pass to East Point), 8-2 (East Point to Possession Point), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and 11 (Tacoma/Vashon). Those areas are open Wednesdays through Saturdays only, plus Labor Day weekend, closing the evening of Sept. 7.

Crabbing is also under way in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south Puget Sound), where the fishery is open seven days a week through Jan. 2, 2010.

Hood Canal (Marine Area 12) will open for crab fishing July 29, Wednesdays through Saturdays only, plus the entire Labor Day weekend. The fishery will remain open through Jan. 2, 2010.

Crab fishers may retain male Dungeness crabs only with shells measuring at least 6¼ inches. The daily limit is five crabs. All undersized crabs, female Dungeness crabs and softshell crabs of either sex must be returned to the water. Additional information is available on the WDFW website at wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/ or wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm .

Meanwhile, persistent dry weather on the Olympic Peninsula has caused rivers in the Quillayute system to run low and clear, making it tough for anglers to get a bite, said David Low, WDFW fish biologist. "We should be seeing springers and summer steelhead , but not much is happening," Low said. "All the rivers - the Sol Duc, Calawah and Bogachiel - need a good shot of rain to bring in the fish." Water levels are higher on the Hoh River due to glacier melt, but fishing has been sluggish there as well, Low said.

Anglers fishing the Quinault River should note that the daily limit for salmon is six jacks only, with no retention of adult salmon allowed until Sept. 1. The 2009-10 Fishing in Washington pamphlet incorrectly stated that adult salmon could be retained starting July 1.

Due to ongoing dry conditions in many parts of the state, outdoor recreationists are reminded to take extra precaution to prevent fires. Fireworks are not allowed on any of WDFW’s 900,000 acres in 32 wildlife area complexes and over 150 water access sites across the state and many do not allow camp fires or any other kinds of open fires. Where campfires are allowed, they are usually restricted to metal fire rings and must be kept to less than three feet in height and diameter. Specific rules by property can be found at wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas . To report a wildfire or unattended or escaped campfire, call the state’s wildfire fighters, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), at 1-800-562-6010 or call 911. To obtain information on fire danger levels or burn bans by county, see www2.wadnr.gov/burn-risk/index.html .

Wildlife viewing: Birders exploring the beaches of Ocean Shores have been treated to sightings of a female king eider - one of the world’s most spectacular sea ducks. A rare visitor to Washington, the king eider’s usual range is the coastal waters of the Arctic. This single duck, now in breeding plumage, has been seen with surf and white-winged scoters off the south end of the Oyehut Game Range near the old pilings west of the base of Damon Point.

Despite heavy boat traffic along the Tacoma waterfront during Fourth of July activities, birders observed several marbled murrelets, pigeon guillemots, glaucous-winged gulls, doubled-crested cormorants and Caspian terns near Commencement Bay’s Brown’s Point.

Farther south, outdoor enthusiasts enjoying the recent sunny weather reported seeing 38 bird species at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge near Olympia, including cliff, barn and tree swallows, common yellow throat, yellow warbler, Swainson’s thrush, savannah sparrow and a Cassin’s vireo. Also seen were several wood ducks and northern shovelers with ducklings, and a pair of MacGillvray’s warblers.

Southwest Washington

Fishing: The promise of strong coho returns has been drawing some area anglers seaward, although heavy winds made for rough conditions during the first week of salmon fishing off the coast. A summary of the first week of ocean fishing and the outlook for the weeks ahead can be found in the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula report above.

But for anglers who plan to fish in the Columbia River Basin, there are plenty of other good options available. Sturgeon fishing, for example. Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon have agreed to extend the retention fishery for white sturgeon below the Wauna power lines for six additional days, running Friday through Sunday July 10-12 and July 17-19.

Those additional fishing days are designed to give anglers an opportunity to catch 4,100 sturgeon still available for harvest by the recreational fishery when the regularly scheduled season ended July 5, said Brad James, a WDFW fish biologist. "Sturgeon fishing was a little below average for the season," he said, noting that this year’s catch guideline for that area was 15,529 fish. "That left room for some extra fishing days."

As during the regular season, the daily catch limit is one white sturgeon, with a fork-length measurement of 41 to 54 inches. All green sturgeon must be released.

Those extra fishing days in the Columbia River estuary should be very productive. According to creel surveys conducted in the four days before the fishery closed July 5, two out of three charter boat anglers fishing that area took home a legal-sized sturgeon, as did one in every 3.5 private boat anglers. Forty percent of the sturgeon caught were legal-size fish.

Under previous rules, anglers also may catch and keep legal-size sturgeon from the Wauna power lines upriver to Marker 85 below Bonneville Dam on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through July 31. Catch rates there have been significantly slower than in the estuary, James said. Anglers may retain white sturgeon with a fork length of 38 inches to 54 inches in those waters.

Meanwhile, the summer steelhead fishery continues to heat up on both the mainstem Columbia River and its tributaries. On July 6, more than 1,600 steelhead moved past Bonneville Dam, part of this year’s expected return of about 350,000 upriver fish. So far, the best place to catch these 4-to-6-pound rockets has been around the sandbars in the lower river near Longview and Cathlamet, said Joe Hymer, another WDFW fish biologist.

"As water temperatures continue to rise, these fish tend to duck into cooler waters on their way upriver," Hymer said. "Look for them at the mouths of the Cowlitz, Lewis, White Salmon and Wind rivers and at Drano Lake."

On the Cowlitz River, anglers have been catching hatchery steelhead near Blue Creek as well as spring chinook at the barrier dam. Other good bets for early run steelhead include the North Fork Lewis, Kalama, Washougal, Klickitat, Toutle and Elochoman rivers, Hymer said.

As always, only hatchery steelhead with a clipped adipose fin and healed scar at the location of the clipped fin may be retained anywhere in the Columbia River Basin. Other rules in effect for this and other fisheries are described in the Fishing in Washington pamphlet, available at license dealers and posted online at wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm .

Along with hatchery steelhead, anglers fishing the mainstem Columbia River also have been catching some sockeye salmon and chinook jacks , Hymer said. The fishery for adult summer chinook salmon is now closed on the lower river, but remains open through July from Bonneville Dam upriver to the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco.

Hymer noted that the run-size forecast for summer chinook was recently reduced to about 58,000 fish, compared to an earlier prediction of 70,700. At the same time, the sockeye forecast was increased from 183,200 to 190,000 fish.

At the John Day Pool, bank anglers have been averaging seven shad per rod, and boat anglers five. Boat anglers fishing there also averaged a walleye per rod, slightly better than those at The Dalles Pool where boaters are also catching about three bass each.

Trout anglers should know that Takhlakh Lake was recently stocked with 200 excess broodstock rainbows, averaging 3 pounds apiece. Also, both Skate Creek and the Tilton River are scheduled to be stocked with 3,000 catchable-size rainbows during the second week of July and Mayfield Lake will get another 5,000 fish the following week.

Wildlife viewing: Right on schedule, shorebirds are beginning to reappear in the Vancouver Lowlands on their southbound migration. One birder, reporting on the Tweeters website ( www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/ ), sighted 48 least sandpipers , six greater yellowlegs and two dunlin July 2 at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Thousands more of those and other shorebirds are sure to follow in the weeks ahead.

Meanwhile, nesting season for songbirds and neotropical birds is still in full swing. Another contributor to Tweeters reports seeing up to 10 fledgling hummingbirds at her feeders north of Goldendale at the same time. A third contributor noted that yellow-headed blackbirds are still present at several nesting sights at the Ridgefield refuge, while yet another reported sighting an evening grosbeak , a Pacific-slope flycatcher and varied thrush on a drive up the south slope of Mount St. Helens.

Heading north up I-5? A new full-color map produced by WDFW highlights 30 key wildlife viewing sites, starting with the Vancouver Lake Unit in the Shillapoo Wildlife Area. Other recommended viewing sites on the road north include the LaCenter Bottoms, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center and Lewis and Clark State Park. For these and other sites, the new nature map notes major habitat types, wildlife species, viewing areas and access points.

The new map for the I-5 corridor is available free at WDFW regional offices and at visitor centers and ranger stations along the way. That and two other new nature maps - one noting prime Puget Sound diving sites, the other tracing State Route 97 through the Okanogan Valley - are also available online at wdfw.wa.gov/viewing/guides/ .

Eastern Washington

Fishing: Fishing for most species is best in the early morning or late evening hours, said Chris Donley, WDFW central district fish biologist. "You may need to change up how you fish for some species," he said. "Crappie, perch and bass are no longer near the shoreline, so you need to fish deeper."

Long Lake, the reservoir off the Spokane River in northwest Spokane County has been good for crappie, perch and both smallmouth and largemouth bass . Chapman Lake in southwest Spokane County is also producing both largemouth and smallmouth bass, plus some kokanee . Downs Lake, also in the southwest part of the county, has a few perch and some really nice largemouth bass. The usual rainbow and cutthroat trout lakes in the area - Amber, Badger, and Williams - continue to provide good catches.

Rock Lake, further south in Whitman County, also continues to be good for trout fishing.

Lincoln County’s Coffeepot Lake has good perch fishing now and the Twin Lakes has a little bit of everything available - rainbow trout, bass, crappie, perch, and bullhead catfish . Pend Oreille County’s Diamond Lake is good for perch. Stevens County’s Loon Lake is "fair at best" for kokanee, Donley said.

WDFW Spokane Trout Hatchery Manager Guy Campbell said fishing for walleye and big rainbows has been great in Lake Roosevelt. "There also have been some big carryover rainbows caught in Curlew Lake up in Ferry County," he said.

WDFW Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Manager Juli Anderson reports fly-fishers have recently caught trout measuring up to 17 inches long in Z Lake. "The lake also has catfish and is a good fishing area, if you're willing to walk the mile-plus to get there."

Eloika Lake anglers will need to use the private resort access from July 13 through the end of the month while a new boat ramp and dock are installed.

Public meetings to discuss proposed rehabilitations of various fisheries, including Fishtrap and West Medical lakes, winter-only Hog Canyon and Fourth of July lakes, and Cee-Cee-Ah Creek in Pend Oreille County, will be held July 14 in Usk at the Kalispel Tribe of Indians Camas Center, 1821 N. LeClerc Rd.; and July 15 in Spokane Valley at the WDFW Eastern Region Office, 2315 N. Discovery Place. Both meetings start at 6:30 p.m.

Wildlife viewing: WDFW Enforcement Officer Dan Anderson spotted a river otter recently at Trout Lake in Ferry County. Anderson was on the trail on the north side of the lake early in the evening. "The only fisher on the lake was a very active otter," he said. "Within just a few minutes the otter caught and consumed five trout."

Anderson said access to the trail is across the log bridge by the boat launch. "Go immediately left and prepare to get a bit wet," he said. "Follow it up for about a quarter mile to the rock outcroppings overlooking the center of the lake. It’s a great vantage spot to watch the whole lake." A rather large beaver can also be viewed in the center to east side of the lake. "Bring your binoculars," he said.

Northcentral Washington

Fishing: The chinook and sockeye salmon fishing season started July 1 on the mainstem Columbia, Similkameen, and Okanogan rivers. Bob Jateff, WDFW Okanogan district fish biologist, reminds anglers of the anti-snagging rule in place on the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers during the salmon season.

Sockeye salmon retention began July 1 on the upper Columbia River above Priest Rapids Dam because returns are predicted to be in excess of needs for wild fish escapement to the spawning grounds.

Public meetings to discuss proposed rehabilitations of various fisheries, including Dune, Harris, Sedge and Tern lakes and 16 Ponds in the Desert Wildlife Area, Canal, Heart, June, Windmill, North Windmill, Pit and North Teal lakes, Beda and Brookies lakes, and Buck Lake in Okanogan County, will be held in Ephrata, July 14, 6 p.m., at the WDFW Northcentral Region Office, 1550 Alder St. N.W.; and in Twisp, July 16, 7 p.m., at the Aspen Professional Building, 20268 Hwy. 20.

Wildlife viewing: Scott Fitkin, WDFW Okanogan district wildlife biologist, said the high country is opening up early this year because of less than normal snow pack. "In addition to flower blooms, high elevation sites should offer good viewing for a variety of smaller critters such as hoary marmots, pikas and ground squirrels ," said Fitkin. "Breeding bird activity in the same areas also should be in full swing now."

Fitkin said serviceberries are ripe at lower elevations, where black bear viewing should be good, particularly early and late in the day when temperatures are cooler. "Lower elevation Forest Service roads that access open hillsides where the bushes grow, generally the southerly slopes, are good places to look," he said.

Traveling State Highway 97 through Okanogan County? A new full-color map produced by WDFW highlights 36 key wildlife viewing sites, starting at the north end with Palmer Lake and its bighorn sheep, through the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area with white-tailed deer , Chief Joseph Dam’s North Shore Trail with yellow-bellied marmots , Beebe Springs Natural Area with river otters , Chelan Wildlife Area with mule deer , Entiat National Fish Hatchery with chinook and coho salmon , Wenatchee Confluence State Park with coyotes , and many other spots and species. The map notes major habitat types, wildlife species, viewing areas and access points. It’s available online at wdfw.wa.gov/viewing/guides/ .



Southcentral Washington

Fishing: WDFW Fish Biologist Jim Cummins said the Yakima River spring chinook salmon season is extended through July 15. Fishing has been slow and the effort has been relatively light. "Although there are still fish to be caught, mostly hatchery jacks, most of the fish have moved upriver of Roza Dam where the river is closed to salmon fishing," he said. Regulations for the fishery are available at bit.ly/ITE4w .

"Some rivers and streams are finally dropping into shape, but most are running a little higher than normal for this time of year," Cummins said. "Good bets might be the upper reaches of Naneum, Taneum, Teanaway, Little Naches and tributaries, and upper Rattlesnake Creek. Those streams and some other rivers and streams have special regulations that anglers need to know before going."

Cummins also said mosquitoes are reported to be extremely abundant in the high country, including places like Leech, Dog and Clear Lakes. "Many high mountain lakes are accessible, but anglers can expect snow patches on some of the trails," he said. "Fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and eastern brook trout can be rewarding at many of these lakes."

Eric Anderson, WDFW district fish biologist, said just about all of WDFW’s catchable trout plants have been made now until October. Anglers can check what fish have been planted where at wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plant...gions/reg3 .

Sockeye salmon retention opened July 1 in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River so anglers can retain sockeye caught during the summer chinook fishery. Sockeye salmon returns to the upper Columbia River are predicted to be in excess of needs for wild fish escapement to the spawning grounds.

Wildlife viewing: Warmer weather makes this an especially good time to keep bird baths replenished. It not only provides birds needed water, but it also provides close-up views for birdwatchers who remain indoors. Backyard bird watchers continue to report lots of rufous and calliope hummingbirds feeding at both sugar-water feeders and natural nectar-producing flowers. Birders who recently went to the mountains to escape lowland heat report a variety of birds, from brown creepers to yellow-rumped warblers .