Whidbey Island Steelheading

There have been a few steelhead hooked and landed off the western beaches of Whidbey Island over the past couple of days. Robert had a nice 9 1/2 pound hen yesterday and said that there were a few others hooked that day. Would not say that the fishing has been "Hot", but on steelhead it generally never is. The beaches are a very unique fishery and for many is quite addictive in being able to catch a steelhead from the salt. If this is a fishery that appeals to you stop by and we'll be more than happy to fill you in on it.

Reiter Ponds - Skykomish River

There was a "Good" bite at Reiter Ponds this morning. A good number of our customers had limits of dime bright winter run steelhead. Most of the fish were caught on the pond side with the height of the water. Most of the fish were typical sized winter runs in the 7 - 9 pound range though there were a few smallish 4 pound fish caught. There was not a single method that seems more productive than others as fish were caught on floats and jigs as well as conventional drift gear. Shawn mentioned that he saw perhaps 17 or 18 fish landed this morning. We should see some good fishing for the next couple of days.

Chelan Reports - Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service

What’s hot is trolling the lower basin of Lake Chelan for Lake Trout. A landlocked Chinook is a beautiful and tasty bonus. Fishing for Triploid Rainbow Trout on Rufus Woods Reservoir should continue to be great. Roses Lake will get it’s annual ice fishing plant this week.

The Mackinaw on Lake Chelan have put on the feedbag. The fish are scattered throughout the lower basin. Do not be disappointed if you don’t see loads of fish on your depthfinder. They are traveling from outside the sonar to attack lures now. Try Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders in green and glow colors. Worden Lures U20 Flatfish in purple glow are also very effective. Silver Horde’s Ace Hi Flies in glow colors with a Mack’s Lures glow Smile Blade in front have been catching some fish too.

The Chelan Falls hatchery crew delayed the Roses stocking a bit to finish feeding up those rainbows. They should be in there by December 3rd.

This is prime time for catching Triploid Rainbow Trout on Rufus. If trolling around pump station #1 doesn’t get you fish, you can always run to the lower pens and fish bait to get these delicious fish.

Your fishing tip of the week is to study up a bit to improve your repertoire for fishing at Rufus. I have contributed to an article in Northwest Sportsman’s Magazine on Rufus as well as a bait fishing blog that is posted on Pautzke Bait’s website, Washingtonlakes.com and our own website. There should be something new and informative for most everyone between those two articles.

Your kid’s tip of the week is to remember to alter the duration of fishing trips to suit the kid’s temperament. This usually means being alert to end the trip at just the right time. It’s funny, you sometimes have to cut a trip short because the fishing is too slow and sometimes because the fishing is too good. It’s ironic that sometimes when you catch a bunch of fish, the kids attention span is shot almost in the same way that happens when you can’t get the fish to bite. Of course, if the weather is deteriorating, you don’t want the lasting memory of the trip being how cold and wet they got. Squeezing that last hour could lose you a long term fishing companion.

Your safety tip of the week is to add to that emergency trailer repair kit for those inevitable problems. Spare bulbs and fuses are the most important and easiest . Having a tester to locate that elusive ground short can save you from having an aneurism.

Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service
http://www.darrellanddads.com/ or 1-866-360-1523

11-26-11 - Melanie Frey of Seattle U with her gangs morning catch of Mackinaw and a Chinook. She fished with her dad, Jeff Frey; her brother, Rhyce (13); and his buddy, Bryce Todd (13).

11-26-11 - Bryce Todd with that lovely Chinook that he brought to the net.

Bogachiel Steelhead

For those that took a chance and went over the past few days to fish the Bogachiel River found that they were rewarded for their efforts. The river was in shape to fish and put out a good number of fish for those willing to fish. Here's a photo that was sent to us by Shane showing off todays catch! Yes, it is a three fish limit!

Thanksgiving Fishing

With many of our rivers out of shape on Thanksgiving there was not a lot of fishing opportunities to be had that day. A few of the boys did go and give Reiter Ponds a try in the late afternoon. Though the river was still a bit high and still had a lot of floating debris there were a couple of sumerruns caught. Yesterday the water was in better shape and there was much more angling pressure but all we heard of was a few summerruns taken. We should see some honest winter runs virtually any day now in this section of the river. There have been a few winter fish taken in the middle and lower sections of the Sky this past couple of weeks, but few and far between. The best reports that we have been receiving have been from the Blue Creek section of the Cowlitz, with many of our customers catching their limit of fish the past few days. This would be your best bet. We have also had some good reports coming from the Bogachiel, though the river has been extremely high from the past weather event. When the river drops into shape this will be on fire!

Razor Clam Digs Friday, Nov 25 & Saturday, Nov 26

OLYMPIA – Clam diggers today got a green light to proceed with a two-day razor clam dig starting the day after Thanksgiving Day at several ocean beaches.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the dig after marine toxin tests showed that the clams on those beaches are safe to eat.
Four beaches – Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks – will open to razor clam digging on evening tides on Friday, Nov. 25. Three of those beaches – Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks – will remain open to digging Saturday, Nov. 26.
No digging will be allowed either day before noon.
“Digging razor clams is a popular way to burn off a big Thanksgiving dinner,” said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. “Fortunately, we have some nice low tides for the holiday this year.”
For best results, Ayres recommends that clam diggers hit the beach an hour or two before the evening low tide. On Nov. 25, an evening low tide of -1.9 feet will occur at 6:27 p.m. The evening low tide Nov. 26 will be -1.8 feet at 7:14 p.m.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2011-12 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. 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.
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.
Because Copalis Beach will not be open for digging Nov. 26, Ayres cautions diggers to observe the boundary between Mocrocks Beach and Copalis Beach, which are adjacent to one another north of Grays Harbor.
Mocrocks Beach, which will be open to digging both days, lies north of the Copalis River and includes Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Seabrook, Pacific Beach and Moclips. Copalis Beach lies south of the Copalis River and includes Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis.
Tentative digging dates, evening low tides and beaches are as follows:
Dec. 10, Sat. – 6:30 p.m. (-0.5 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 22, Thurs. – 4:40 p.m. (-0.9 ft.); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 23, Fri. – 5:29 p.m. (-1.4); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Happy Thanksgiving

All of us here at Ted's wish all of you, your families and friends a "Great" Thanksgiving. Hope that all of you have a "Fantastic" day having a good meal and spending some quality time with everyone!

Rain - Rain - Rain - Rivers Out

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, which for many of us marks the start of the winter steelhead season. Unfortunately it appears that we will not be doing much on the river fishing scene the way the rain has dumped putting the rivers to flood stage or just below. If one has to go steelheading I would have to say the salt water scene on the western beaches of Whidbey Island will be where it is going to be. Some of the smaller streams such as the Wallace or the Cascade will be the first to become fishable once the waters start to subside. Perhaps its going to be one of those weekends to set around and rig gear, do things with the family or just set around eating left overs and watching football!

Lake Chelan Reports - Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service

Though it is very apparent that Old Man Winter has come to Chelan it has not dampened the fishing opportunities that are available to those that are willing to brave the elements.

What’s hot is trolling for Lake Trout on Lake Chelan. Fishing for Triploid Rainbow Trout on Rufus Woods Reservoir should continue to be great as the surface water temperature drops through the 50’s. There continues to be more triploids than steelhead caught on the Columbia River below Chief Joe dam although there is a preponderance of Steelhead once you are as far down as Pateros. Roses Lake will get it’s annual ice fishing plant during this Thanksgiving week.

The Mackinaw on Lake Chelan have mostly spawned now which means they are really putting on the feedbag. Typical early winter locations like the Bar and the Trench will be best now. As always, troll close to the bottom. Speeds of 1.3 to 1.5 mph have been best. Try Silver Horde’s Ace Hi Flies in glow colors with a Mack’s Lures glow Smile Blade in front. Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders are very effective too. Of course, Worden Lures Flatfish are the old reliable fish producer on Lake Chelan.

This is prime time for catching Triploid Rainbow Trout on Rufus. If trolling around pump station #1 dozen’t get you fish, you can always run to the lower pens and fish bait to get these delicious fish.

Your fishing tip of the week is to use the family gathering of Thanksgiving to get in an early winter fishing trip. Over the years we have taken grand kids to Roses Lake, out on Chelan, up to Rufus and even up to Omak for an alternative to shopping and non-stop football watching. It’s almost become a rite of passage for the kids.

Your kid’s tip of the week is to make sure that once you have picked your battle, you do not lose. Although, you can avoid punishment by a variety of means most of the time, there will come that time when a kid will “test the fences” and check to see who is in control. You will have to clear your calendar, keep your cool and follow through. The biggest danger here is having your authority challenged and backing off because you don’t have the time for it. The time for deciding that is before you decide that discipline is appropriate.

Your safety tip of the week is to put together an emergency trailer repair kit for those eventualities. Having emergency warning triangles or flares and a jack that can lift your trailer are the most important items this time of the year.

Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service
1-866-360-1523 or http://www.darrellanddads.com/

Pictured: 11-19-11 Wes and Andrew Diack with fishing friends Jody Subotin and Nick Cooluris Osoyoos and Kelowna, BC with their days catch of Lake Chelan Mackinaw. Jeff and Brian guided them to this pile of fish.

Big Island Hawaii - Ono

With the cold weather and snow showing the coming of winter this week, Tim Bauer sent me this photo of part of a really nice Ono (Wahoo) that he caught yesterday. Unfortunately the man in the grey suit (shark) did its best to relieve Tim of a vast majority of the fish. It does not matter where you fish, as there is always something that is more than willing to take your catch. Here it's seals and sea lions, there is is sharks and porpoise. Tim figured the fish was around 60 pounds whole and remaining portion weighed 36!