I’ve caught my share of squaw fish while fishing for smallies on the Snake River. The seals are ripping the salmon behind the dams- same as the cormorants in the scabland lakes around Spokane. Nasty things that greatly in need of reduction.
The falls is carved out from ancient basalt flows and ice age floods. Fascinating history. The Palouse flows through some of the richest top soil in the country- rolling wheat fields far as the eye can see. That little river hasn’t run clear since plows touched dirt over a hundred years ago.
The Palouse River? Some fellow successfully went over the falls in a kayak few years ago. Crazy stunt. I’ve paddled up to the falls years ago and you’re right- it’s loaded with rattle snakes!
The river is heavily silted from the wheat fields run off that’s too thick to drink and too thin to plow. Never heard of anyone willing to fish in that muddy river.
ive date: Jan. 1 through April 15, 2021.
Species affected: Steelhead.
Location: Interstate-182 Bridge (Richland) upstream to the Old Hanford townsite powerline crossing.
Reason for action: This year's return of Ringold Springs Hatchery steelhead is expected to be the lowest return on record over the past 20 years. Returning steelhead will be needed for broodstock to meet the production goal of 180,000 juvenile steelhead scheduled for release in 2022. Under this rule change, steelhead retention will close on January 1 and remain closed through the end of the scheduled fishery, April 15, 2021.
We are talking the Columbia River.
From what I understand, it’s no flotation devices allowed on waters of the Columbia River or it’s tributaries which covers a big chunk of the state, supposedly due to the low migration count. Drift boats are often lined up in parking lots before daybreak like lemmings fixing to pound the same honey holes day after day. Something’s gotta be done. Moving the pressure to the banks will create different problems- trespassing and littering come to mind.
I couldn’t agree more, Mark. Sick & tired of cop bashing! Game wardens deserve our respect.
I suspect the price of tires will increase substantially if laws are passed to solve the problem. But whatever it takes it needs fixed!
Instead of fishing a large lake which can be intimidating to anyone until you learn the hot spots, check out the feeder streams that run into the lake. These creeks have fish and they are much easier and more vulnerable to catch. Guaranteed!
Sometimes we don’t realize how lucky we are in this country. Yup, big fat yellow carp are butt ugly and I can’t imagine getting hungry enough to eat one. But in Europe, especially Britain they are concerned highly desirable game fish and it’s strictly catch & release over there. They even give the darn things pet names and the same ones are caught over and over. Some fun, eh?
I do admire the Brit’s still fishing skills- carp are not easy to catch and they have developed amazing
fishing techniques.
Rock Lake in the scablands. Gad, that brings back the memories 30 years ago. Watch out for rocks just under the surface while approaching that horrible makeshift boat launch that suddenly drops off. Lots of native and local lore about the lake including the freight RR shipment of submerged model T Fords dumped at the North end. :)
Anyone been fishing for smallmouth on Alder Lake lately? It’s the Nisqually impound water. I’ve heard the damned water’s been lowered permanently and most smallmouth habitat is gone.
Headed out to Black Lake near Olympia this morning. The public boat ramp was slammed. 30 or more rigs with trailers in the parking lot. Folks mostly fishing.
People pretty good about distancing themselves at the launch. Hopefully things will settle down in a few days. Lots of people with cabin fever now.
Aah the memories of my first inflatable raft when we had more kids than money. This old fellow was willing to sell me his for $20.
Kept it stored in the barn- like new he said. I remember he pulled it down from the rafters and it looked great- no patches.
I took my two boys out on the lake and we were having a fine time until the youngest asked why was the water around the boat foamy? Like a big Alka seltzer pill foamy. Row boys! I shouted as we headed for shore. That raft didn’t have one hole in it. It had 10,000 holes none of which you’d notice.
Yup, bought me one of those Color C-lectors many years ago. A great little gadget for fiddling with when you’re not interested in fishing. Still got it buried in a cardboard box under old spools of line, lures that never worked and broken rod tips that I’m gonna fix someday.
I bought one of those color selectors years ago. Battery powered probe you drop in the water after you compute the water clarity, temperature, depth, and species. It’s buried in the garage somewhere if anyone’s interested in buying.