New Regulations Have Arrived

We have just received the new 2012 -2013 Washington State Fishing Regulations.  These regulations go into effect tomorrow May 1, 2012!  Stop by and pick up a copy or two!

Last Razor Clam Dig of Spring Season

Last razor clam dig of the season planned May 5-7 at Twin Harbors
OLYMPIA – Twin Harbors beach will be the site of the last razor clam dig of the season May 5-7, provided that marine toxin tests show the clams there are safe to eat.
All other coastal beaches in Washington will be closed to razor clam digging until a new season is announced in fall, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
“Twin Harbors is the only beach with razor clams still available for harvest after the two openings in April,” Ayres said. “Assuming the marine toxin tests are favorable, this will be the last chance to dig fresh razor clams until fall.”
Twin Harbors beach extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the south jetty at the mouth of Grays Harbor. The proposed opening is scheduled on morning tides; no digging will be allowed after noon.
Morning low tides will be as follows:
May 5, Saturday, 6:32 a.m., -1.5 feet
May 6, Sunday, 7:19 a.m., -2.1 feet
May 7, Monday, 8:07 a.m., -2.3 feet
For best results, Ayres recommends that diggers arrive at the beach an hour or two before low tide.
“With digging restricted to one beach, I’d recommend arriving early and getting your clams before it gets too crowded,” he said. “That may leave time to go fishing for spring chinook salmon on the Chehalis River or catch some shrimp in Puget Sound.”
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day, and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.
Diggers need a valid 2012-13 fishing license to participate in the upcoming opening, since all 2011-12 licenses expired March 31. The exception is young people under age 15, who may fish for free.
Licensing options range from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, which can be purchased on WDFW's website (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov) and from license vendors around the state.

What continues hot is still fishing Roses Lake for Rainbow Trout. Also, continuing hot, is trolling the deep water above the Narrows on Lake Chelan for quality Lakers. Additionally, now that the ice is off of it, Antilon Lake is pumping out nice Brown Trout.

It has been great fishing for rainbows on Roses Lake. To spice up the standard fare of overwintering 9 inch and 12 inch rainbows, WDFW planted some nice jumbo fish…and… the big Channel Cats are getting active. Try still fishing with Pautzke’s Firebait in the American Wildfire on a slip sinker rig with a 30” leader. Hang on, if you get one of those big catfish.
On Chelan, fish the deep water above the Narrows. Worden Lures T4 Purple Glow Flatfish and Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders were the most productive Lures up there. Speed your presentation up to around 1.6 or 1.7mph for best effect. This is an early morning gig.
Antilon Lake is pumping out good numbers of 12 to 15 inch Brown Trout. We trolled wooly buggers and muddlers on a full sink line to catch our fish. Carry out some trash with you if you go. Slobs have made a mess of the access area.
Your fishing tip of the week is to gear up for the kokanee. I’m seeing morning water temps getting close to the magic 50 degree mark on Chelan. That should ignite the bite. Mack’s Lures wedding rings and Pautzke’s Fire Corn should be paired to catch these tasty dwarf landlocked sockeye. Mack’s Lures attractors such as Hot Wings and Flash Lites will provide low drag attractors.
The kid’s tip of the week is to make a game out of it and tell stories. Sandy read a couple of our young grandkids the “Button Soup” fairy tale and had them help her make “Button Soup” complete with the button… They really got into it. They helped add ingredients, set the table and kept asking to check the button. When we fish, I frequently tell them that God went to fishermen first to help his boy. It piques their interest.
Your safety tip of the week is a potpourri. First, remember to check your hubs for grease. Having a wheel fall off can be embarrassing. Not that I’d know from experience… Also, this is the time to remember ice to keep those fish cold. They will remain safe and delicious far longer as the weather warms if you put them on ice. Drag them in the water or throw them in an un-iced box and they will get soft and spoil quicker. Last, but not least, now that we are having loads of sunshine, remember the sunscreen.

Go to our Facebook page: Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service for daily updates, tips and timely specials.

http://www.darrellanddads.com/ or 1-866-360-1523







Pictured: 4/21/12 - Fishing Buddies - Steve Miller, Loon Lake; Rick Barresi, Post Falls, ID; Jeremy Murphy, Colbert and Justin Kimball, Airway Hgts with their catch of Lake Chelan Mackinaw and a Rainbow Trout.

Also Pictured: 4/21/12 - Rick again with that 3.5 lb. Lake Chelan Rainbow!

Finally Pictured: 4/16/12 - Mike Carey of WashingtonLakes.com with his 5+ Roses Lake Channel Catfish.

Columbia to Close Sunday 22 April

The Lower Columbia River Spring Chinook season will close this Sunday the 22nd.  The States will wait until a run size update is available before considering additional angling opprutunity in the area downstream of Bonneville Dam.  A run size update will not be avaiable until early to mid May.

A Joint State hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Monday April 30 to review the ongoing sport fishery upstream of Bonneville Dam.

Razor Clam Dig OK'd for April 21, 22 & 23

Razor clam dig approved April 21-23 as season winds down
OLYMPIA – State fishery managers approved a series of morning razor clam digs April 21-23 at several ocean beaches after the latest round of marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat.
With the state’s razor clam season nearing an end, Long Beach and Twin Harbors will be open for digging all three days, while Copalis and Mocrocks will be open on Monday, April 23 only.
No digging will be allowed on any beaches after noon.
“We have just enough clams available for harvest at Copalis and Mocrocks to offer one more weekday dig,” said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “We’ll see where we are with the other beaches after this opening.”
Copalis Beach lies south of the Copalis River and includes Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis. Mocrocks Beach is north of the Copalis River and includes Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Seabrook, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
Proposed beach openings for upcoming digs, along with morning low tides, are:
April 21, Saturday (7:28 a.m., -0.3 feet): Long Beach, Twin Harbors only
April 22, Sunday (8:01 a.m., -0.4 feet): Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
April 23, Monday (8:35 a.m., -0.4 feet): Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day, and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.
Diggers need a valid 2012-13 fishing license to participate in the upcoming opening, since all 2011-12 licenses expired March 31. The exception is young people under age 15, who may fish for free.
Licensing options range from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, which can be purchased on WDFW's website (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov) and from license vendors around the state.

Lake Chelan Area Fisheries - Anton Jones - Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service

What’s hot is still fishing Roses Lake for over wintering Rainbow Trout. Also, continuing hot, is trolling the upper trench of Lake Chelan for nice numbers of Mackinaw. Additionally, the deep water above the Narrows has had a resurgence.

It has been good fishing for rainbows on Roses Lake. Try trolling cone head muddler minnows with an action disk up front or Mack’s Lures Smile Blade Fly for some catch and release action. Look for areas that are holding numbers of fish to drop an anchor and still fish. Pautzke’s Firebait in the American Wildfire on a slip sinker rig with a 30” leader worked best.

On Chelan, fish the upper end of the trench by working water from 200 to 240 feet deep. Troll at speeds of 1.3 to 1.6 mph as close to the bottom as you can. Worden Lures F7 Flatfish in Luminous Chartreuse and Silver Horde’s Kingfisher Lite Spoons in Chartreuse double Splatterback glow worked best. Out in the deep water above the Narrows, Worden Lures T4 Purple Glow Flatfish and Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders were the most productive Lures.

Your fishing tip of the week is slow down when you start making mistakes. Here on Lake Chelan, fishing a lure out of tune or a bit of a head wind turning the nose of your boat can create some crazy line angles that result in line twist or monster tangles. Instead of hurrying up and redeploying your gear after a “cut and paste” operation, slow down and examine the minute details. Things like a clogged bead, a swivel that isn’t swiveling or a turned screw eye can make your life miserable. Fix that, and your problem goes away. Hurry up, and suffer a recurrence.

The kid’s tip of the week is to make a game out of fishing to sharpen their interest. Electronic media has created a competition for outdoor activities like fishing that is hard to overcome. One thing you can do is create tangible rewards for fishing success. Remember to bring up all the other things around you, but a small tangible reward can really sharpen the interest of mercenary grade schoolers. When the Northern Pikeminnow are swarming in the shallows, I pay $.25 a fish for my bait. It keeps them invested in their success. Let the kid that catches the biggest or most fish choose the location for the going home meal. Be creative, you get the idea.

Your safety tip of the week is to check and replace worn out lifejackets and safety gear as you get back out on the water this spring.

Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service
1-866-360-1523 or http://www.darrellanddads.com/
Check out the Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service Page on Facebook for daily updates and timely tips.

Pictured: 4/14/12 - David Carpenter with Ron & Chad Anderson all of Sedro Woolley, WA with their days catch of Lake Chelan Mackinaw.

Also Pictured: 4/9/12 - Alexander (9) and Jane (6) Raffetto of Bellevue with their mornings catch of Roses Rainbows. Their dad John took them out with us.

Smallmouth Bass - Lake Goodwin

For those of you that are bass oriented, Lake Goodwin has started to put out smoe nice smallmout recently. With the warming weather and with the slight warming trend of the water it has started the smallmouth fishing. Though it has not been hot by any means a few of the customers have been finding a few willing fish that have been willing to accept their offernings. Those that have been successful have been fishing slowly with lead head and grub combinations. 1/4 - 3/8 lead heads fished with Yamamoto, Kalin or Berkley Power Grubs in darker, neutral colors have been the key.

Cowlitz River Steelheading

We had had very good steelhead reports coming from the Cowlitz River this past week. The "Blue Creek" section of the river has been turning out some outstanding reports for both the boat and beach anglers. If you happen to fish on a day when the power company is fluctuating the water level the fishing may fall off, making you work very hard for your fish. If the water has been stable for awhile then the fishing is good. The boat anglers have been fishing in a variety of ways, but free drifting E-Z eggs or Fish Pills with a little bit of yarn have been very productive. Some anglers have been fishing divers with coon stripe shrimp. The bank anglers have been fishing corkies and yarn combinations as well as floats and jigs. There has been a few Chinook caught in the catches recently and the numbers seem to be increasing this past week. Many boaters are electing to fish Chinook for the first couple of hours in the morning and then turn their attention to the steelhead latter in the day, as they are more willing to bite latter in the day, unlike the salmon.

Proposed Razor Clam Digs - April 21,22, & 23

Another April razor clam dig proposed
OLYMPIA – State fishery managers are planning another morning razor-clam dig this month on Washington’s ocean beaches, as long as marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.
As usual, the final word on beach openings will be announced once toxin test results are available, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
Proposed beach openings for upcoming digs, along with morning low tides, are:
April 21, Saturday (7:28 a.m., -0.3 feet): Long Beach, Twin Harbors only
April 22, Sunday (8:01 a.m., -0.4 feet): Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
April 23, Monday (8:35 a.m., -0.4 feet): Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks
“We didn’t have enough harvest share left at Copalis and Mocrocks to be able to offer another weekend day of digging, but were able to offer one more Monday at those two beaches,” Ayres said.
Copalis Beach lies south of the Copalis River and includes Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis. Mocrocks Beach is north of the Copalis River and includes Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Seabrook, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
The dig is timed to coincide with morning low tides. No digging will be allowed after noon.
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day, and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.
Diggers need a valid 2012-13 fishing license to participate in the upcoming opening, since all 2011-12 licenses expired March 31. The exception is young people under age 15, who may fish for free.
Licensing options range from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, which can be purchased on WDFW's website (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov) and from license vendors around the state.

Lower Columbia River Chinook Fishery Extended Through April 22

Anglers get 8 more days to catch chinook on lower Columbia River
OLYMPIA – The sport fishery for spring chinook salmon on the lower Columbia River has been extended through April 22 to allow anglers to catch more hatchery-reared fish available for harvest.
Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon today approved an eight-day extension, based on catch reports that show current harvest levels remain well below expectations. The fishery was initially scheduled to close at the end of the day Friday, April 13.
During the extended fishing period, the sport fishery will be closed Tuesday, April 17, to accommodate a possible commercial fishery.
Cindy Le Fleur, Columbia River policy manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said poor river conditions continue to delay the run, resulting in low catch rates for anglers.
“We have scheduled another meeting April 19 to further discuss the season,” Le Fleur said. “But we really need to start seeing higher numbers of fish make their way upriver before we can consider any additional fishing opportunities in late April.”
The extension approved today does not affect spring chinook fisheries underway above Bonneville Dam.
Anglers fishing downriver from the dam may retain one marked, adult hatchery chinook per day. All wild chinook salmon must be released immediately.
Through April 13, the catch of hatchery spring chinook by anglers fishing below the dam is projected to reach 2,837 fish – well below the 14,500 spring chinook available for harvest before the run forecast is updated in May. Only about 1,908 of the catch through April 13 are expected to count toward the 12,700-fish harvest guideline for upriver fish.
The pre-season forecast anticipated a return of 314,200 upriver spring chinook – potentially the fourth-largest run on record.
Along with the eight additional fishing days in April, lower-river anglers could get another chance to catch spring chinook in May, once fishery managers update the run forecast.
To guard against overestimating this year’s run, Le Fleur said the states are managing spring chinook fisheries with a 30 percent buffer until the May update.
News of any additional fishing days will be announced on WDFW’s website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/), the Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500), the Region 5 hotline (360-696-6211*1010) and through local news media.

Lake Stevens Kokanee Derby Tickets

For those of you that have been awaiting the Lake Stevens Kokanee Derby tickets - they have arrived! Tickets are 20.00ea for those 15 years or older. Those under 15 are FREE!

This is a "Great" little derby that has proven the past couple of years to be quite popular.

Stop by for more details!

Remember May 19th!

New 3.5 Mag Lip from Yakima Bait Company

We have recieved our shipment of the "New" Yakima Bait Mag Lip Salmon / Steelhead Plugs. The few anglers that have managed to fish the few samples that have been out there this winter all ranted and raved about how effective thay have been.

Here's what Buzz Ramsey has to say about the "New" 3.5 Mag Lip

For years anglers have asked for a diving FlatFish that still has the unique, world famous FlatFish action. Well, here it is. Worden's Mag Lip combines the original, slow-troll FlatFish action with a number of totally unique design features. A new lip design allows the Mag Lip to dive up to 20 feet without the addition of weights or divers while still allowing it to swim at the slowest of trolling or retrieval speeds. Yet in current, the Mag Lip holds its line. Available in a painted lip, the Mag Lip comes in 29 Ultraviolet colors and is built tough to handle big salmon, steelhead, walleye, bass, pike and other gamefish. 3.5" length - size 4 heavy duty treble hook on belly and size 3 on tail - diving depth 20 ft.* *Diving depth depends on current speed, line diameter and amount of let-out.

Washington Salmon Seasons for 2012

Washington’s 2012 salmon fisheries approved
SEATTLE – State and tribal co-managers today agreed on a package of salmon fisheries that meets conservation goals for wild salmon populations, while providing fishing opportunities on healthy stocks.
Washington’s 2012 salmon fishing seasons, developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty tribal co-managers, were finalized today during the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (PFMC) meeting in Seattle. The fishing package defines regulations for salmon fisheries in Puget Sound, Washington’s ocean and coastal areas and the Columbia River.
In developing salmon seasons and catch quotas, WDFW fishery managers worked closely with advisors and members of the public to design state-managed fisheries that meet conservation goals for wild salmon and result in the fair sharing of harvest opportunity, said Phil Anderson, WDFW Director.
“State and tribal co-managers worked hard to identify fisheries that were meaningful for both tribal and state fishers,” said Anderson, who represents WDFW on the management council. “By using a variety of management tools, we were able to design those fisheries so that they are consistent with efforts to protect and rebuild weak wild salmon stocks.”
Key to those efforts is repairing and protecting quality spawning and rearing habitat for salmon, said Lorraine Loomis, fisheries manager for the Swinomish Tribe.
“While effective harvest and hatchery management can help provide limited fishing opportunities, wild salmon continue to decline because their habitat is being lost and damaged faster than it can be restored. This puts our treaty rights at risk,” Loomis said. “Habitat is the key to salmon recovery.”
As in past years, recreational salmon fisheries in 2012 will vary by area:
Puget Sound: Most chinook and coho fisheries will be similar to last year’s seasons. That includes a closure of the sport fishery for chinook in inner Elliott Bay and the Green River to protect naturally spawning chinook, which are expected to return in low numbers this year.
Additional restrictions approved this year include shortening the summer salmon fishery on the Skokomish River and requiring anglers to release wild chinook during the fall salmon fishery in Hood Canal to help meet conservation goals for mid-Hood Canal wild chinook.
On the bright side, a new sockeye fishery will open this summer in the Skagit River. The river, from Highway 536 to the mouth of Gilligan Creek, will be open for sockeye fishing from June 16 to July 15 with a daily limit of three sockeye.
Meanwhile, the Baker Lake sockeye fishery will open a couple weeks earlier this year. The lake will be open July 1 through Sept. 4 with a daily limit of three sockeye salmon. Anglers fishing Baker Lake will be allowed to use two poles, with the purchase of a two-pole endorsement.
The Tulalip Bay “bubble” salmon fishery also will open early this year. The fishery will get under way May 4, a month earlier than last year, and salmon anglers fishing the bubble also will be allowed to use two poles.
Washington’s ocean waters: The PFMC today approved a recreational chinook catch quota of 51,500 fish, nearly 18,000 more than last year’s quota. The PFMC, which establishes fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast, also adopted a quota of 69,720 coho for this year’s recreational ocean fishery, slightly higher than last year’s quota.
This year’s ocean fishery will begin with a mark-selective fishery for hatchery chinook opening June 9 in marine areas 1 and 2 and June 16 in marine areas 3 and 4. The fishery will run through June 22 in Marine Area 1, June 23 in Marine Area 2 and June 30 in marine areas 3 and 4, or until a coastwide quota of 8,000 hatchery chinook are retained. In all marine areas, the fishery will be open seven days a week with a daily limit of two salmon. All coho must be released.
Recreational ocean salmon fisheries for chinook and hatchery coho will continue June 23 in Marine Area 1, June 24 in Marine Area 2, and July 1 in marine areas 3 and 4. Anglers fishing marine areas 1 and 2 will be allowed to retain one chinook as part of a two-salmon daily limit. Anglers fishing marine areas 3 and 4 will have a daily limit of two salmon. Fishing will be open seven days a week, except in Marine Area 2 where fishing will be open Sunday through Thursday.
Coastal bays and rivers: Strong wild coho returns expected this year should provide good fishing in many of Washington’s coastal streams, including the Queets, Quillayute, and Hoh rivers, as well as in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay area rivers.
Anglers fishing Grays Harbor will also be allowed to retain chinook salmon for the first time since 2007. The fishery will run from Sept. 16 through Oct. 7 with a bag limit of three salmon, only one of which can be a chinook.
In Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2-1), salmon anglers will be allowed to use two fishing poles, with the purchase of a two-pole endorsement, from Aug. 1 through Jan. 31.
Columbia River: The Buoy 10 fishery will be open for chinook and hatchery coho Aug. 1 through Sept. 3 (Labor Day) and Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. From Aug. 1 through Sept. 3, anglers will have a daily limit of two salmon, only one of which may be a chinook. From Sept. 4 through Sept. 30, anglers will have a daily limit of two hatchery coho, but must release chinook. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, anglers can keep six fish, only two of which can be adults.
North Jetty salmonid anglers may use barbed hooks seven days a week when Marine Area 1 or Buoy 10 salmon seasons are open.
The mainstem Columbia River from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam will be open for chinook and hatchery coho Aug. 1 through Dec. 31. Anglers will be allowed to retain one adult chinook as part of their two-adult daily limit through Sept. 9. From Sept. 10 through Sept. 30, chinook retention will only be allowed upstream of the Lewis River, but up to two adult chinook may be retained. Beginning Oct. 1, up to two adult chinook may be retained throughout the lower river, from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam.
Specific fishing seasons and regulations for marine areas in Washington and a portion of the Columbia River will be available in the next couple of weeks on WDFW’s North of Falcon website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/.

Columbia River Gill Net Results & Sport Fishery Extended

According to the States, the gillnetters landed about 2509 fish for 151 deliveries in their mainstem fishery that occurred on Tuesday. The numbers are very preliminary but for the year they are at roughly 27% of their catch balancing. There will be a compact call on Monday to discuss a commercial fishery on Tuesday.

The sport fishery (see attached) has been extended through Friday, April 13th. There will be a call on Thursday the 12th to discuss extending for another period.

Stanwood Eagles 25th Annual Blackmouth Fishing Derby

Don't forget to mark your calender for the 25th Annual Stanwood Eagles Blackmouth Fishing Derby to take place Saturday and Sunday, April 21st & 22nd. Tickets are $50.00 / person. Fishing will take place in Marine Areas 8-1 & 8-2.

Prizes:
1st - 45% of total entry fee
2nd - 20% of total entry fee
3rd - 15% of total entry fee
4th - 10% of total entry fee
5th - 5% of total entry fee

Plus Lots of Donated Prizes

5% will be donated to Eagles Charities

$100.00 prize to be drawn at 4:30 Saturday for all entered in Derby (Must Be Present To Win)

Weigh In will be between 3:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. on Saturday and 2:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. on Sunday at the Stanwood Eagles, 6419 Pioneer Hwy, Stanwood.

Tickets can be purchased at:
Hook Line & Sinker
Holiday Sports
John's Sporting Goods
Camano Marine
Elger Bay Grocery Store
Stanwood Eagles

If you have any additional information call Stanwood Eagles (360) 629-3224 or Ed Keller (425) 308-9437.

Anacortes Derby Results

Overall, the Anacortes Derby results of this past weekend were not too bad. There was a total of 211 fish turned in with 174 weighed in on Saturday and 37 on Sunday. The total weight was 1,798 pounds with an average weith of 8.6 pounds. Here's a run down on the winning fish:

1st Place - Ted Radke - 21.72 pounds - $15,000.00 cash
2nd Place - Mike McCauley - 21.51 pounds - $5,000.00 cash
3rd Place - Michael Beard - 21.40 pounds - $2,500.00 cash
4th Place - Rod Nau - 20.74 pounds - Scotty 2106 Downrigger
5th Place - Rob Hyatt - 20.56 pounds - Lowrance HDS 5
6th Place - Kate Hansen - 17.98 pounds - Cordless Pack
7th Place - Danny Davis - 17.92 pounds - MR3 Islander Reel
8th Place - Jay Pederson - 17.52 pounds - Brutus Line Hauler
9th Place - Nathanael Stanford - 15.74 pounds - Hand Held Lowrence
10th Place - Phil Colwell - 15.26 pounds - Cannon Downrigger

Secret Weight:
Jim Ciecko 9.2 pounds - $2,500.00 cash

Women's Division:
Kate Hansen - 17.98 pounds - Merchandise

Active Military Division:
Adrian Gaudreau - 14.83 pounds - Merchandise

Over 70 Division:
Stanley Reed - 8.28 pounds -Merchandise

Youth
Danielle Long - 12.42 pounds - Merchandise

Congratulations to all those who placed in the derby!

Lake Chelan Area Reports - Anton Jones - Darrel & Dad's Family Guide Service

What’s hot is trolling the upper trench of Lake Chelan for nice numbers of Mackinaw. It has been fair fishing on Roses Lake for rainbows. Rufus has been producing nice triploid rainbows, but it is relatively “tough sledding”.

On Chelan, fish the upper end of the trench by working water from 185 to 215 feet deep. Troll at speeds of 1.2 to 1.5 mph as close to the bottom as you can. Silver Horde’s Kingfisher Lite Spoons in Chartreuse double Splatterback glow worked best. Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders were productive. Also, Silver Horde’s Ace Hi Flies rigged with a smile blade and baited with a triangle of Northern Pikeminnow caught fish.

On Roses Lake, trolling cone head muddler minnows with an action disk up front caught a few fish. When still fishing, Pautzke’s Firebait in the American Wildfire caught some fish.

On Rufus we caught a few fish near the lower net pens. The best fish came by jigging.

Your fishing tip of the week is to remember “set tension” downrigger releases to keep your presentation “in the zone” when trolling on Lake Chelan. Set tension releases will stop the false releases. We prefer Sam’s Pro Releases by Silver Horde. They are simple and effective. An additional tip if you are just bringing your gear out of winter layaway is to change out the line. Memory laden / checked line will make that first trip a frustration instead of the joy it should be.

The kid’s tip of the week is to carve bigger blocks of time for outdoor pursuits during Spring Break. This is a great time to plan an all-day fishing expedition. It can start with the night time exercise to catch nightcrawlers for bait. Then, packing the lunch and snacks. Don’t forget your bird book while you are fishing. Our wetland birds are raucous with spring activity. Snacking is always a welcome respite. Maybe even a campfire if the area you are going to permits it.

Your safety tip of the week is a legal warning. Remember, your old fishing license expired at the end of March. You’ll need a new one. Also, now that spring has sprung, plan to deal with the typical short blasts of wind that accompany this time of the year. If your craft is weatherly, point your bow into it and ride it out. If it isn’t, get yourself to shore before the squall hits.

If you are a Manson area resident, please don’t forget to vote for the Park levy. The Manson Parks and Recreation activities are one of the things that binds us together as a community. They need this levy to operate.

by: Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service
http://www.darrellanddads.com/ or 1-866-360-1523
Don't forget to visit us for daily reports on facebook

3/31/12 - Vic Doperalski and John of the Lake Washington Puget Sound Anglers with their catch of Lake Chelan Mackinaw
3/30/12 - John again with PSA contest leading rainbow from Rufus.

Razor Clam Dig - April 7,8 & 9

Razor clam dig opens April 7-9 to those with 2012-13 license
OLYMPIA - Fishery managers have approved a morning razor clam dig at several ocean beaches April 7-9 after marine toxin tests confirmed that the clams on those beaches are safe to eat.
Three beaches - Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch - will be open for morning razor clam digging all three days. Mocrocks will be open for two days, April 7-8, and Copalis will be open April 7 for one day only.
No digging will be allowed any day after noon at any of those beaches.
Most diggers will need a valid 2012-13 fishing license to participate in the upcoming opening, since all 2011-12 licenses expire at the end of the day March 31. The exception is young people under age 15, who may fish for free.
"We strongly advise diggers to obtain a new license before they leave home," said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "It can be very frustrating to be stuck in line waiting to buy a license at low tide."
Licensing options range from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, which can be purchased online (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov), by phone (1-866-246-9453) and from sporting goods stores and other retail license dealers around the state.
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day, and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.
Ayres noted that Copalis was added to the line-up for the upcoming dig because fewer clams were harvested on that beach than expected in late March.
"We still have enough clams available for one more day of digging at Copalis," Ayres said. "I'm sure that beach will be a welcome addition to the upcoming dig."
In addition, Kalaloch Beach inside Olympic National Park will open for digging April 7-9 for the first time this season. The beach has been closed to digging since October due to a low abundance of clams, but park officials say the razor clam population is robust enough to sustain three days of digging.
"We are pleased to be able to provide this opportunity for park visitors from both near and far," said Olympic National Park Acting Superintendent Todd Suess. "Spring is a great time to visit the park's beaches, whether you're clamming or simply enjoying the shoreline and scenic beauty."
Morning low tides and beach openings for the upcoming dig are:
April 7, Saturday (7:36 a.m., -1.2 ft.): Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch
April 8, Sunday (8:23 a.m., -1.5 ft.): Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Kalaloch
April 9, Monday (9:11 a.m., -1.5 ft.): Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Kalaloch
Aryes cautions diggers to observe the boundary between Mocrocks Beach and Copalis Beach on days when the latter is closed to digging.
Copalis Beach lies south of the Copalis River and includes Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis. Mocrocks Beach lies north of the Copalis River and includes Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Seabrook, Pacific Beach and Moclips.