Andy “an interesting question and you’re just the man to answer it” Walgamott
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS
Dave Anderson, Mitch Friedman, William J. Harris, Scott Haugen, Jeff Holmes, MD Johnson, Randy King, Buzz Ramsey, Bob Rees, Troy Rodakowski, Dave Workman, Mike Wright, Mark Yuasa
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ON THE COVER
Count Zac Smith as among the myriad anglers stoked for the heart of Puget Sound pink salmon season! He “really learned a lot about fishing” during 2023’s run, Zac’s father Chad reported. “Netting the fish started to be one of his favorite things.” And there should be plenty to net, thanks to a forecast of 7.8 million! (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
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63 BUOY TENSE
Fishing Buoy 10, where 1.1 million fall kings and coho are expected in 2025, can be very productive – and stressful. Last year, William J. Harris found himself dodging freighters and dealing with multi-boat line tangles and backups at the ramp all to put a few fish in the box. He shares the less glamorous side of angling at the Columbia mouth.
The odd-year phenomenon known as Puget Sound pink salmon season has arrived, and with a monster forecast of 7.8 million, the 2025 edition should serve up lots of bites. Mark Yuasa details where and how to get in on the action from boat and bank!
69 HOOKIN’ CHINOOK ABOVE B10
Yeah, yeah, Buoy 10 gets all the ink, but did you know the rest of the Lower Columbia can actually be more productive for Chinook? Indeed, it yielded 13,500 more fall kings in 2024! Bob Rees offers up tips, as well as more August alternatives across Western Oregon.
73 THIS AIN’ T YOUR GRANDPA’S DRANO KING FISHERY
Good news – you don’t have to spin in endless circles to catch kings at Drano Lake this time of year! Jeff Holmes details the drill at this Bonneville Pool fall salmon fishery that really begins to heat up later in August and keeps going into October.
79 EXPLORE PANHANDLE’S UPLAND OPTIONS
Late summer is brutal for trout anglers, what with too-warm lowland lakes putting fish off the bite and making it questionable to even cast for them, especially if you’re going to let them go. Fortunately, the ’bows, cutts and brookies of North Idaho’s cool highland waters are still fair game. Mike Wright, our man in the Panhandle, highlights a mess of ’em to hit.
83 DOG DAYS DELIGHTS: BITTERROOT CUTTHROAT
They’re the stuff of legends, the St. Joe, North Fork Clearwater and Kelly Creek are, and they and their westslope cutthroat offer some of the Northwest’s best catch-and-release trout fishing in August’s legendarily hot days. Jeff Holmes has a camp-fishing primer.
109 THE BRUINS OF SUMMER
Troy Rodakowski has a love-hate relationship with August: He detests the heat that bakes the Willamette Valley and the rest of the Beaver State, but relishes the opening of Oregon black bear season. Rodakowski shares tips, top units and how else to enjoy the woods while hunting up a late-summer bruin.
103
OUTDOORS MD Fall Bear Advice From The Willapa Hills
Officially, he’s not a biologist, but one of MD’s acquaintances in the greater Lower Columbia region is a guy who does know his black bears. Settle in for a tutorial on hunting Ursus americanus in the Willapa Hills and beyond.
COLUMNS
55 BUZZ RAMSEY Tap Into Million-strong Fall King, Coho Run
Yes, a return north of 750,000 Chinook and several hundred thousand coho should make for strong fishing at Buoy 10, but the bite also depends on the tides. Buzz details the wheres and hows of working the incoming, slack and outgoing tides in this vast salmon fishery.
115 CHEF IN THE WILD Hunting In The Heat? 5 Keys For Good Meat
Chef Randy got lucky. The buck he arrowed during a heatwave and couldn’t find till the next day didn’t spoil. It also reinforced lessons about hunting when it’s hot out. With big game season kicking off, he shares tips for ensuring you don’t lose any big game meat – and serves up a recipe for venison roast with Italian cheesy rice!
121 BECOMING A BETTER HUNTER Hot Days Afield Now = Big Rewards Come Fall
It’s August, do you know where your buck and bull are? If not, it’s time to get crackin’! Dave A. details the field work you should be doing this month so as to maximize your success come September and October’s seasons.
127 ON TARGET Don’t Waste This Month!
Scouting will only get you so far if you don’t pay attention to hunting’s other nitty-gritty details – specifically, grit and gunk in your rifle, and dull knives. Dave W. has a timely reminder about doing preseason firearms and knife maintenance.
133 GUN DOG There’s More To Gun Dog Fitness Than Just Exercise
The endless heat makes it tough – even dangerous – to get in the exercise a gun dog needs to go into fall’s bird seasons at peak fitness, but there’s another aspect of weight management to focus on now: diet. Scott offers up the feeding regimen that helps keep his four-legged hunting companions in fine fettle.
(MILES)
THE BIG PIC: BOOK EXCERPT Hunting For Solutions
Mitch Friedman’s roots in environmental activism include being arrested while protesting old-growth logging, but nowadays he takes a far more pragmatic approach. His new book, Conservation Confidential, tracks his changing philosophy and why he’s come to see “hunters as allies and partners, sharing the big tent of conservation.”
Southwest Washington man sentenced for illegal hound hunt; Kudos; Jackass Of The Month
37 OUTDOOR CALENDAR
Upcoming fishing and hunting openers, events, deadlines, and more
38 DERBY WATCH
Ongoing and upcoming fishing derbies
(MITCH FRIEDMAN)
THE EDITOR’S NOTE
Opening these pages to Mitch Friedman and his new book, Conservation Confidential, might not please all readers, given that he once ran with radical elements of the Northwest’s environmental world, but hear me out.
Friedman, in case you’ve forgotten the 1980s’ timber wars, was one of the Earth First! folks climbing old-growth trees, and the cover of his book features a photo of one of his many arrests. You get the sense that the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office deputies that day wouldn’t have minded giving him a swift kick in the family jewels.
Some won’t forgive him for those times, but fast forward four decades and Conservation Confidential describes a far more pragmatic Friedman, one I’ve observed publicly as well. He’s still active in environmental efforts through his Seattle-based Conservation Northwest, but nowadays he’s as willing to torch the firebrands of that world for their over-the-top, no-compromise tactics as reach out and help ranchers deal with wolves – even support the state’s lethal removals. At heart, his book is a manual for a more strategic, collaborative green movement, one that can work across rural-urban, red-blue, state-tribal divides for the benefit of people, wildlife and wildlands. I appreciate that approach. It’s the antidote to Washington Wildlife First and some on the Fish and Wildlife Commission.
I’VE QUOTED FRIEDMAN here from time to time, including for a 2010 wolf article. At the time I was suspicious when he told me he hunted deer in Northcentral Washington, like I did, but checking with state sources to see whether he was “orangewashing” himself, I learned he’d been buying deer tags annually for 10 years and had reported killing three bucks and a doe with a rifle. A photo in his book shows him carrying a pump-action .30-06, a rifle that might be as rare in the Okanogan as my circa-mid-1960s Remington 600 in .308.
It’s through the scope of his rifle that Friedman delivers one of the most interesting ideas in the book. After acknowledging 1) that CNW had played a role in banning hound hunting in Washington – he said their goal was to reduce the odds of grizzlies accidentally being pursued – and 2) that it had backfired in leading to increased, less discriminate take of cougars by boot hunters, he writes, “Ideal would be if cougar hunting was limited to selective hunts using hounds.”
It’s all ancient history now, but in the immediate lead-up to 1996’s ban, cougar hunting was by special permit only. I loathe the thought of taking general season ops away from hunters, but I have also been moving toward a position like this for some time. With tribal biologist Bart George’s research showing aversive conditioning with dogs can train big cats to stay away from people, potentially reducing human and livestock conflict – and thus lethal removals that now count against the hunting quota – and the fact that treeing cougars allows hunters to be more selective (I could see purposefully directing harvest toward younger, more tender lions than territory-stabilizing, mature toms), this is an idea that just might have legs. Especially with Friedman’s old buddy Victor Garcia now on the commission.
Friedman’s a sharp tactician, no doubt, and that comes through in the book, as does his humor and humanity. One thing’s for sure: I prefer to have him working on common goals like more critters and better habitat, as well as thinking about reinstating a hunt, even one admittedly “hard to achieve,” than against them. –Andy Walgamott
Hunting For Solutions
A longtime member of the environmental world sees ‘hunters as allies and partners, sharing the big tent of conservation.’
Author Mitch Friedman hunts deer on the Figlenski Ranch of eastern Okanogan County. The organization Friedman heads up, Conservation Northwest, purchased the spread and transferred it to the Colville Tribes. (JAY KEHNE)
While Friedman’s roots in environmental activism include being arrested while protesting the logging of old-growth trees, these days his work takes a more pragmatic approach. His new book, Conservation Confidential, tracks the change. (MITCH FRIEDMAN)
Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from Conservation Confidential by Mitch Friedman and with permission from Latah Books. It is available for preordering now and for sale August 13 at latahbooks.com.
By Mitch Friedman
Jackie, who would become my wife, and I were going out to buy a piglet. This was in about 2010, when my daughters were in their early teens. We were not actually going to take home the piglet, just confirm that she was being treated well by the family on Bellingham’s fringe that had posted the ad on Craigslist. If so, we would leave a deposit and return months later to take delivery of butchered pork.
I invited Jessie and Carrie to join us, surmising that they would enjoy the outing and seeing a cute piglet rooting about. They were instead appalled. “Why would we want to meet something that we are going to eventually eat?” For years I had been feeding these girls venison from deer I had shot and butchered, bison or beef bought from trusted ranchers, and eggs from chickens and ducks in our yard. All of this was intentional. I called the question: “Would you rather eat meat from an animal that you had enough relationship with to know had a good life, or one you had no connection to and could assume its life had been miserable?” Their answer, if I remember precisely, was, “Duh!” Apparently, the emotional world is more important than the living details of livestock.
My daughters were young, so they can be excused. But I really don’t know how the average American would answer
that question. I do know my own answer, contorted though it is. I do not like shooting the deer I eat, though I continue to do it. If I had the opportunity, I would shoot an elk but not a moose or a bear. I have killed and butchered, with zero pleasure, roosters and ducks that I had raised. I infamously and regretfully did the same with a turkey that made the mistake of landing in my chicken yard.
MY ETHICS AROUND hunting and indeed eating are admittedly inconsistent. They slip further when it comes to the marine fish, squid and clams that I like to harvest, process and eat. (I have largely given up fishing rivers and lakes.) I readily photograph and even post to social media my clam haul, but never that of a deer I killed but do not want to disrespect. The point is that ethics are tricky things. I know and admire people who live vegan
lifestyles that are intentionally as light on nature as possible. I also know and admire people who hunt and are every bit as ethical and deliberate about their relationship with nature as those vegans.
Sadly, not all hunters are so noble. I have heard countless hunters display openly an attitude that implies that paying their license fee entitles them to wild game, as though nature is a vending machine. If the topic is wolves or cougars, many hunters will vent about competition, even ranting about the bloodlust of wolves that supposedly kill just for fun, leaving dead quarry to rot. Such opinions are not limited to white hunters, as I have seen them on tribal social media including from people I know and value.
One could argue that hunters are among both the best and worst people in the woods, both the most and least attuned
GUNNELL)
to nature. They run the gamut from expert backcountry archers to road poachers. American hunters have organized themselves into interest groups for over a century. These groups have a history of impressive impact on policy, including conservation. Hunters and anglers lobbied to generously tax themselves to fund regulatory agencies and habitat measures to protect the resource their interest relies on. Under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, 11 percent is added to the purchase of guns and ammo, which the federal government distributes to the states for things like research on wildlife and land acquisition for habitat. Tens of billions of dollars have been raised and spent over the century. Congress passed a similar law, the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950, to tax fishing gear to fund protecting that resource. There is no comparable added
tax on backpacks, fleece and binoculars to support maintaining hiking trails, not to mention stewarding the birds and animals that motivates many into the backcountry. Nor is there a tax on mountain bikes to pay for their needs or impacts.
Hunting groups range from firebreathing conservatives to almost liberal. Such groups have been part of the coalitions behind just about every campaign that has ever persuaded Congress or a state legislature to protect a wild place.
IT IS TEMPTING to want to impose ethical limits on hunting. But whose ethics? As I confessed, mine are a mess! It is often people who have the least direct knowledge and experience who try to set the standard. At what point the effort crosses a line into counterproductive culture war is hard to say. But there is such
a line, and it gets crossed often.
Conservation Northwest helped pass a voter initiative about 25 years ago that outlawed certain wildlife-trapping methods in Washington. Reduced trapping has been a benefit to wildlife conservation, including the recovery of fishers and wolverines. Yet we have since relied on trappers for wildlife conservation and had great experiences doing so. CNW collaborated with the National Park Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and others to reintroduce Pacific fishers to the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. One of our roles in that effort was paying and coordinating with trappers in British Columbia and Alberta who provided the animals. Dave Werntz did that work. Dave also worked substantially with trappers from Kelowna, British Columbia, in our work with Tribes and First Nations to restore lynx to Northeast Washington.
The trappers were knowledgeable,
helpful, and generally thrilled to get income trapping for wildlife restoration rather than pelts. We could not have achieved our goals without them, so I am glad that they exist. I have also read in government surveys the heartbreaking statements of remote British Columbia trappers complaining that rampant clearcutting of boreal forest had eliminated their quarry and livelihood. These people, many of them Natives, were the human voice of the forest.
CNW WAS ALSO involved in a voter initiative in 1996 that banned certain hunting practices, including the use of bait to attract bears and use of hounds to pursue bears or cougars. Our motive was to reduce the chance that hunters using these practices would inadvertently harass or kill grizzly bears of the fragile and then-dwindling North Cascades population. One result of that initiative is that even today, few cougars are killed in Washington using dogs, which are now restricted to problem situations (when a specific cougar is acting in ways considered risky to a community). A lot more are killed by boot hunters, meaning somebody who is hunting for deer or other game when he has a chance encounter with a cougar. It is legal for that hunter to shoot the cougar if he has an inexpensive endorsement on his license. It is a common occurrence. Even I once engaged with a cougar while he and I were both pursuing deer. I had no interest in shooting that cat, preferring to revel in observing him through the scope on my rifle. The upshot is that now more cougars are killed than prior to the initiative.
Another result of the initiative is that the state put a lot of money and effort into studying cougars. There is quality research indicating that mature male cougars (called toms) tend to be well-behaved. They silently go about their deer-hunting business. Some fitted with radio collars are found to be living and hunting amongst human homes, passing through backyards undetected and without mischief. These toms also defend their territory against
(WDFW)
young cougars, which are less wellbehaved. If the tom is killed, the young delinquents move in, often followed by rising complaints about vanished pets, or cougars seen too close to the schoolyard or bus stop. Those complaints pressure wildlife officials to allow more cougars to be killed, which can extend the negative cycle. (Though Bart George, a Spokanebased biologist working for the Kalispel Tribe, has done research showing that cougars can be effectively hazed from an area, responding more if the hazing involves dogs. The prospect of non-lethal deterrence is very welcome.)
Boot hunters are usually not selective. They shoot the cougar that crosses their path, generally with no knowledge of its sex or age. Hound hunters are generally more expert and may also have a good view of the cat that their hounds have treed. The hunter has the option of shooting only younger or female cougars, letting the big toms go. Ideal would be if cougar hunting was limited to selective hunts using hounds. But ideal is hard to achieve.
Most people agree that it is ethical to hunt deer and elk for food, particularly
in a place where they are abundant. Can the same be said about hunting cougars? Is it ethical if the hunter eats the cougar’s meat, as is often done, and unethical otherwise? The same questions could be asked about hunting of black bears, which are numerous in parts of Washington. Some Indians hunt and eat black bear while others have spiritual reasons not to. This might vary not just between Tribes but between clans or even families. Some Indians hunt cougars and wolves under the specious belief that doing so bolsters game populations for subsistence hunting by Tribal members. None of these are easy questions.
I SUBSCRIBE TO Northwest Sportsman Magazine. I am not interested in the articles on hunting tales or techniques or even the wild game recipes. I like its editorials, which I find to reflect solid conservation values. And I like the feature report on poachers that have been busted by state officers. Hunting has traditions and a culture in which poaching is widely condemned. Were it not for the strong culture stewarded by these organizations
“Ideal would be if cougar hunting was limited to selective hunts using hounds,” writes Friedman, who once supported the dog ban and whose change of heart is potentially key to a return. “But ideal is hard to achieve,” he adds.
and publications, poaching might be more common. A would-be poacher probably cares far more about being ostracized by those he can relate to than by those whose culture he already feels alienated from.
One of the biggest problems facing wildlands today is motorized recreation. Some people with powerful vehicles (trucks, ATVs, etc.) drive them on creek beds, across delicate meadows, and in other places where they damage habitat and disturb wildlife. There are organized clubs of people who enjoy four-wheeling, though these groups tend to not be as large, old or established as hunting organizations. Laurel Baum, on the CNW staff, has found she can partner with motor recreation clubs on some projects, including restoring streams or habitat damaged by rogue riders. The people who belong to such groups tend to be
more law-abiding and are aware of the harm that illicit riding causes to the land and to the reputation of their hobby. But many people who own these expensive and powerful vehicles have not grown up in a responsible culture and are not associated with a group that fosters one.
A collaboration I undertook with motor recreationists left a bad taste in my mouth.
Along with a friend who represented a sportsman’s group, I negotiated with a few leaders of the motor clubs a deal whereby all-terrain vehicles would have easier access to roads in exchange for a requirement of visible license plates and higher infraction fines. The idea was to facilitate more legal riding but less unlawful (harmful backcountry) riding. Our leaders in the legislature were a liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican who troublingly later emerged to be a leader in a far-right militia movement.
Our bill passed unanimously and remains state law. The bad taste comes from the dishonorable actions of those we collaborated with, who immediately and unilaterally returned to the legislature to try to sweeten their deal. Worse yet, rural sheriffs and prosecutors turned out to have little interest or capacity for engaging on the enforcement provisions, so we failed to reduce the harmful actions of the bad apples.
I wish motorized recreation groups had as much history and culture as the hunting groups, and that rogue riders were ostracized to the same degree as wildlife poachers. Maybe someday that will be the case. The bottom line is that while there are hunting practices that rub me the wrong way, I see hunters as allies and partners, sharing the big tent of conservation. I would hate to see culture war push them away from us. NS
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Before Marvin Holder and his gang of fishy friends got ahold of him, Mike Franklin Jr. stuck to Olympia-area ponds for bass and panfish. Not so any more! “Looking forward to getting him into his first-ever pinks, silvers and kings this fall,” states Holder. “He was already a fishing fanatic, but I think after this fall he’ll be a full-blown fishing addict. Worst things in this world nowadays for kids to be addicted to.” Preach! (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
and Randy
The Knotty Pine and its steak fingers and tater tots were calling after a long day of fishing and working on his Curlew Lake property last month, but Jerry Han opted to head back out onto the water instead that evening – “and I’m pretty happy I did!” He caught and released this 41-inch, 19.5-pound tiger musky! (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Ol’ Whatshisname gets a lot of ink in these pages, but we all know who brings home the golden goods at the Ramsey house – that’s Maggie with some of the morels she and Buzz harvested this spring in a Central Washington forest. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
For your shot at winning a knife in our Knife Photo Contest, send your full-resolution, original images with all the pertinent details – who’s in the pic; when and where they were; what they caught their fish on/weapon they used to bag the game; and any other details you’d like to reveal (the more, the merrier!) – to awalgamott@media-inc.com or Northwest Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications.
Brad Mosier
Lightburn took advantage of late June’s Westport Chinook opener to nab this pair. They were fishing with friend-of-the-magazine Gary Lundquist aboard Lightburn’s boat, the Cluster Duck. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Longtime Oregon kokanee catcher Rhonna Schnell shows off her personal best, caught during a May trip to Wallowa Lake, where her sister-in-law Robin Schnell also caught a dandy! (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Troy Broders enjoyed a “great day on the Klickitat River” in early summer. Guide Tracy Zoller put the Tri-Cities fisherman into a pair of summer-runs during a stay at his lodge. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) It’s not every day that someone discovers and pioneers a brand-new fishery, but that’s exactly what Kaden Dechant has done. After catching the first known American shad on the Sammamish Slough in 2023, this spring Dechant got 27 out of the Lake Washington tributary, including eight and seven in a pair of evening outings (hint, hint). Dechant fileted some of his shad, others he planned to use for crab bait, and a cousin kippered a few as well. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Dennis Schwartz and pals took advantage of this year’s extended spring Chinook season on the Lower Columbia to put a few more salmon in their freezers. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
PHOTO CONTEST MONTHLY Winner!
Man Sentenced For Illegal Hound Hunt
A32-year-old Battle Ground, Washington, man caught on a cellular trail camera two years ago unlawfully hunting black bears with hounds was sentenced to pay $7,000 in fines and penalties, lost his hunting license for five years and ordered to serve 10 days in jail or home detention by a Wahkiakum County judge last month.
Casey Lipe also forfeited his truck, two firearms, GPS equipment for his dogs, an iPhone, two-way radios and other hunting gear as part of the plea deal stemming from the May 2023 incident, which we reported on in that year’s July Dishonor Roll.
“We wish to thank the Wahkiakum County deputy prosecutor, Shannon Eddy, for her hard work and diligence on this case,” stated Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police officials in late June.
As a reminder, the case began when game wardens received a report of several GPS-collared dogs pursuing a bruin past a cellular game cam, followed by a rifle-toting man about 20 minutes later. WDFW Officer Lisa Ariss just happened to be in the area outside Cathlamet and was able to quickly respond to the scene. Lipe eventually emerged from the woods with multiple collared hounds, three of which carried fresh wounds on their muzzles. Initially, Lipe told Ariss that he’d just been exercising
his dogs, but in the end he cooperated and took her to a dead bear and his stashed rifle and handgun, according to WDFW.
There was no spring black bear hunt at the time, and hunting bears (as well as cougars and bobcats) with hounds in Washington was banned by a 1996 vote.
Last month, after being charged with hunting bears with dogs and seconddegree unlawful hunting of big game, Lipe reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
“He was sentenced to serve a total of 10 days in jail or home detention at the defendant’s expense,” WDFW Police reported. “Additionally, he must pay $5,000 in fines, $2,000 in wildlife penalties and is on probation for the next 24 months to include not committing any fish and wildlife violations, entering Weyerhaeuser property in Wahkiakum County, hunting in Washington, accompanying anyone hunting in the state, or transporting any fresh hunting kills in the state.”
Lipe’s hunting license was also suspended in Washington for five years. Via the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, his privileges to hunt in Oregon will be revoked for half a decade because of a similar ban on hunting bears with hounds, and he will lose them for two years in Idaho and Nevada for the unlawful big game hunting conviction, WDFW stated.
JACKASS OF THE MONTH
Just as it’s illegal to use hounds or bait to hunt bears in Washington and Oregon – and those who continue to do so cast a bad light on law-abiding big game hunters – it’s unlawful to feed bruins. In early summer, North Puget Sound state game warden Isaac Bozeman investigated a person who was intentionally feeding a sow and its cubs. The local resident received a written warning and was advised that a $1,025 fine could be levied against them if any more violations occur.
While putting food out for bears might not draw the moral outrage from some that baiting or hound hunting does, it’s actually much worse for the animals because it causes them to lose their wariness around people, which in turn increases the chances of human-bear conflict as well as creates a public safety concern. In a 2010 Long Beach Peninsula feeding case, 10 bears had to be removed – five lethally –after they became habituated by a resident who put out an estimated $4,000 a year worth of dog food for them. Illicit feeders exacerbate the risks of living around bears and ultimately harm the species they’re trying to help.
By Andy Walgamott
KUDOS
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officer who disabled a getaway truck involved in a state salmon hatchery break-in last fall has been named International Wildlife Crimestoppers’ Game Warden of the Year.
Officer Blaine Corey, who patrols portions of Southwest Washington’s Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis watersheds, was presented with the award in Colorado early last month.
“While there were multiple deserving candidates, Officer Corey stood out for his rapport with the public, dedication to duty, effectiveness and efficiency in diverse resource enforcement, use of technology and overall demonstrated leadership,” said Rick Olson, IWC president. “From the excellent nomination letter we received from [WDFW Region 5] Captain Jeff Wickersham, it is obvious Officer Corey truly represents the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement program at a high professional level.”
Around 50 US and Canadian fish and wildlife agencies and related organizations are members of IWC, which is based in Maine and focuses on combatting poaching. IWC pointedly states that HSUS is neither affiliated with it or a member.
Officer Corey was part of enhanced WDFW patrols at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery early last fall after reports of some late-night Chinook and coho snagging. His body-worn cam recorded him catching one suspect, ordering the driver of the getaway truck to stop and slashing a tire when they didn’t halt, and chatting with the other suspects after their arrest nearby with help from local officers. We detailed it last November.
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
AUGUST
1 OR fall bear opener; WA fall bear opener in most black bear management units; Columbia River fall salmon opener from Buoy 10 to Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco (rules vary by location; see below entries); Hatchery steelhead retention closure begins on mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 to The Dalles Dam; OR Central Coast all-depth halibut summer season opens (open seven days a week)
1-6 Buoy 10 any-Chinook retention dates (hatchery coho also open)
2 2025 Washington Sanctioned Duck and Goose Calling Championship, Abrams Park, Woodland – info: washingtonwaterfowl.org
2-3 ODFW 3D Archery Event ($10, cash only, pay on entry; 17 and younger free when accompanied by an adult; registration not required), Denman Wildlife Area’s Military Slough tract – info: myodfw.com/workshops-and-events
7-25 Buoy 10 hatchery-Chinook-only retention dates (hatchery coho also open)
15 Fall bear opener in WA Okanogan and Willapa Hills BBMUs
16 OR any legal weapon controlled pronghorn season begins in many units
21 ODFW Intro to Oregon Hunting ($10, register by August 19), Tualatin Cabela’s – info above
23 CAST For Kids fishing event on Clear Lake, Fairchild AFB – info: castforkids.org
30 ID deer and elk bow opener in many units; OR deer and elk bow opener in many units
SEPTEMBER
1 OR ruffed and blue grouse and mourning dove openers; Western OR and select NE OR units fall turkey openers; Western OR quail opener; WA cougar, fall turkey, mourning dove and bow deer openers; Hatchery steelhead retention closure begins on mainstem Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco
1-30 Tentative OR Central Coast ocean any-coho dates (or 35,000-fish quota met)
6 WA bow elk opener; CAST For Kids fishing event on Lake Washington, Renton –info above
6-7 OR youth upland bird hunting weekend at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area
7 Buoy 10 season switches to hatchery coho only (Chinook retention closed); CAST For Kids fishing event on Hagg Lake – info above
7-30 Salmon fishing closure dates on Lower Columbia between west Puget Island and Warrior Rock-Bachelor Island line
8 Fee pheasant hunting opener at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area
10 Tentative Nehalem, Tillamook and Nestucca Basins wild coho openers (Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only; see regs for limits, open areas, more info)
11-14 Portland Fall RV & Van Show, Portland Expo Center – info: otshows.com
13 Tentative Siletz, Yaquina, Alsea, Siuslaw, Coos and Coquille Basins wild coho openers (open daily; see regs for limits, open areas, more info)
13-14 OR youth upland bird hunting weekend at Ladd Marsh and White River Wildlife Areas, and Central OR and John Day locations; WA upland bird youth hunting weekend
15 WA forest grouse opener
15-19 WA 65-plus and disabled hunter pheasant hunting week
15-23 OR and WA bandtail pigeon season dates
15-25 High Buck Hunt season dates in select WA Cascades and Olympics wilderness areas and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
18-30 Salmon fishing closure dates on Columbia from Warrior Rock-Bachelor Island line to WA-OR border east of McNary Dam
20 Western WA youth waterfowl hunting day; OR youth upland bird hunting day at Irrigon Wildlife Area
20-21 OR youth upland bird hunting weekend at Denman, Klamath and Sauvie Island Wildlife Areas
PROFESSIONAL GUIDES
Our guides and captains are members of the Washington State Guides Association, demonstrate patience and professionalism and are happy to answer your questions during trips.
AMENITIES INCLUDED
Whether you’re on the salt or on the river, our trips are an average of six to ten hours and include all gear, bait, tackle, fuel and captain or guide.
22 Fee pheasant hunting opener at Denman and Sauvie Island Wildlife Areas
27 54th Annual National Hunting & Fishing Day – info: nhfday.org; Eastern WA youth waterfowl hunting day
27-28 OR youth upland bird hunting weekend at Coquille and EE Wilson Wildlife Areas
Goosetown Goldens
Hall, MT
• Hunting
• AKC/HRC Hunt Tests
• NADD Dock Diving
• Agility, Obedience, and Other Sports
• Working Venues: Service, Therapy, Search & Rescue, etc.
29 Fee pheasant hunting opener at EE Wilson Wildlife Area
30 Last scheduled day of 2025 Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program season –info: pikeminnow.org
OCTOBER
1 Coho opener on OR Coast’s Siltcoos, Tahkenitch and Tenmile Lakes; Scheduled OR razor clam opener on Clatsop County beaches north of Tillamook Head
2-5 Tacoma Fall RV Show, Tacoma Dome – info above
4 Western OR and most Eastern OR controlled deer openers; WA muzzleloader elk opener; Eastern WA quail and partridge openers
10 ID deer and elk rifle openers in many units
11 OR pheasant and partridge openers; Eastern OR quail opener; OR Zones 1 and 2 early duck season opener; WA general rifle deer season opener
11-19 WA early duck season dates
15 Last day of OR recreational ocean crab season (bays open year-round)
18 Last day of bottomfish retention off WA Coast; Eastern WA pheasant opener
25 Eastern WA rifle elk opener
ONGOING & UPCOMING EVENTS
Now through end of salmon, ling and other fishing seasons: Westport Charterboat Association Derbies; charterwestport.com/fishing.html
Now through October 1 (or when waters cool off): 4th Annual Coquille River Smallmouth Bass Derby; coquilleriverstepassoc.org
Now through October 31: WDFW 2025 Trout Derby, select lakes across Washington; wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby
August 1: RCAW 12th Annual Salmon Derby Competition, Marine Areas 10, 11 and 13; rcaw.com/events
August 1-2: Washington Tuna Classic, Pacific off Westport; missionoutdoors.org
August 6-9: CAF Rogue River Salmon Derby; indiancreekhatchery.org
August 9: 29th Annual Gig Harbor Puget Sound Anglers Salmon Derby, Areas 11 and 13; gigharborpsa.org
August 9: Odell Lake kokanee derby; kokaneepoweroregon.com
August 14-16: Battle of the Bay Derby, Rogue River Harbor; battleofthebayderby.com
August 15-16: 19th Annual Oregon Tuna Classic, Pacific off Garibaldi; oregontunaclassic.org
August 16: Lipstick Salmon Slayers, Buoy 10 and Pacific off the Columbia; lipsticksalmonslayer.com
August 16: Salmon Harbor Fishing Derby, Winchester Bay; salmonharborfishing.com
August 22-23: Columbia River Salmon Derby 2025, Lower Columbia below Tongue Point; DebTessier@aol.com
Late summer: Annual Rogue Pikeminnow Roundup, Rogue River; dfw.state.or.us/fish/local_fisheries/rogue_river/fishing.asp
September 6-7: 25th Coos Basin Salmon Derby; facebook.com/profile .php?id=100063510016235
September 6-13: Nootka Sound Tuna Showdown, Pacific off Vancouver Island; nootkamarineadventures.com
September 13: 41st Annual SMW Local 66 Coho Salmon Derby, Deep South Sound and local rivers; smw66.org
September 13: Salmon for Soldiers Day of Honor, North Puget Sound; salmonforsoldiers.org
September 13-14: 3rd Annual Whidbey Island Coho Derby; whidbeypsa.com
September 15-October 31: Boat Basin Salmon Derby, Westport; westportgrayland-chamber.org
September 20: Kingston Coho Fishing Derby, Areas 9 and 10; kingstoncohoderby.com
September 20-21: Everett Coho Derby, Areas 8-10 and open nearby rivers; everettcohoderby.com
Davis Tent: Proudly Serving the Outdoor Community Since 1955
There is something timeless about stepping into the wilderness with the right gear – gear you can trust to perform in all conditions, season after season. For nearly 70 years, Davis Tent has been building that kind of trust with outdoorsmen, hunters, outfitters and adventurers across North America. Proudly made in the USA and based in Denver, Colorado, Davis Tent is more than a tent manufacturer. It is a family-owned business devoted to craftsmanship, service and a deep love for the outdoor lifestyle.
The company’s story began in humble fashion. Art Davis, the founder, originally opened a saddlery with the dream of handcrafting saddles. But when a customer asked if he could make a wall tent, Art traded a saddle for a sewing machine, a second for supplies, and stitched together his first canvas tent. The customer was thrilled. Art, it turned out, was onto something, and the rest is history.
Today, Davis Tent continues to carry that pioneering spirit forward. Though
the business has grown and evolved over decades, the heart of the company remains the same: quality tents, personalized service and a commitment to Americanmade excellence.
What sets a Davis Tent apart? First and foremost, it is the quality. Every tent is built from premium Sunforger treated canvas, with rugged galvanized steel pole systems and smart features like replaceable screen doors, stove baffles and their new UV-resistant “Sun Pro” fabric for high exposure environments. Their tents are designed to be long-lasting, dependable shelters in the backcountry. But customers also rave about something even more enduring: the people behind the product.
“At Davis Tent, we treat every customer like part of the family,” says company owner Will Marquardt about his team. “When someone buys a tent from us, we expect to be serving them for decades. We want to earn that lifelong relationship.”
That relationship is built on innovation and responsiveness. In recent years, Davis Tent has introduced exciting new models
like their lightweight, packable Go Tents, their single-pole tipi-style tents, and their glamping specific canvas options. Their rugged Iron Cloth panniers and packing gear are also made in the USA and have become a cult favorite among hunters and horsemen for their durability and classic design.
And now, perhaps most importantly for this time of year, Davis Tent has tents in stock and ready to ship, with many sizes available for same-day or next-day shipping. From 10x15 to 16x25, Go Tents to Single Shot Tents, this is a last-minute hunter’s dream come true.
“We are honored to be a part of the outdoor community,” Marquardt adds. “We love what wedo,andwearedeeplygratefulforthetrust our customers place in us. It is a privilege to build something that protects your camp, your memories and your adventures.”
Fromthefirststitchtoyournextbackcountry trip, Davis Tent is here to serve.
Editor’s note: For more information, visit davistent.com.
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COOS BAY Y Marina (541) 888-5501 www.ymarinaboats.com
CHINOOK
Chinook Marine Repair, Inc. (800) 457-9459 www.chinookmarinerepair.com
Master Marine Boat Center, Inc. (360) 336-2176 www.mastermarine.com
MOUNT VERNON
Tom-n-Jerry’s Boat Center, Inc. (360) 466-9955 www.tomnjerrys.net
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Us Marine Sales & Service (800) 455-0818 www.usmarinesales.com
They’re Baaaa-ack!
Pinkageddon set to swamp Pugetropolis, and here’s where and how to catch the odd-year salmon.
By Mark Yuasa
The hype of what is expected to be a “pink-tastic” summer fishery in Puget Sound began in June when pink salmon started to appear in catches around Marine Area 10 (Seattle-Bremerton area). This early signal came as no surprise given the fact that a pink salmon forecast of nearly 7.8 million – up 70 percent from the 10-year cycle average – is expected to flood into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound. If the forecast becomes a reality, then the pink salmon return could be the third largest on record, up from 2023’s forecast of 3.95 million and actual return of 7.22 million.
In southern British Columbia, the Fraser River pink salmon forecast is 27 million and will likely contribute to fisheries in Washington’s northern marine areas like the San Juan Islands.
Breaking down the pink salmon forecast by watershed, here’s what it looks like: Green-Duwamish, 1,835,366; Hood Canal, 2,420,610; Nisqually, 1,503,704; Nooksack, 97,370; Skagit, 468,073; Snohomish, 315,942; Puyallup, 709,292; Strait of Juan de Fuca, 294,503; and South Puget Sound areas, 503.
The one downside this year is the Stillaguamish River pink salmon forecast of 117,322, which is low compared to past years. Because of that, recreational pink salmon fishing
won’t be allowed in Area 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), nor in the Stillaguamish River.
But the upside is the two-bonuspink-salmon daily limit for Areas 5, 6, 7, 8-1, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 during the August to September time frame. Opening and closure dates vary for each marine area. Refer to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing regulations webpage at wdfw .wa.gov/fishing/regulations or the 2025-26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet at eregulations.com/ washington/fishing for more details.
THE SPOTLIGHT HAS been on pinks – a salmon that mainly returns during odd-numbered years – more than
On your mark, get set, cast! The odd-year phenomenon known as Puget Sound pink salmon season has arrived, and with a monster forecasted return of 7.8 million, the 2025 edition should serve up lots of bites for boat and bank anglers, trollers and jiggers, and drift and float fishermen alike. Logan Smith prepares to work a hoochie-tipped Buzz Bomb in Marine Area 9 between Edmonds and Mukilteo. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
FISHING
two decades now since the forecast climbed to around 2.7 million in 2001.
In the following years, predictions called for around 2.3 million in 2003; 1.9 million in 2005; 3.3 million in 2007; 5.1 million (actual return was a record 10-plus million) in 2009; 5.9 million in 2011; 6.2 million in 2013; and 4.0 million in 2015. Those were the boom years.
But in the summer of 2015, the pink salmon return tumbled as the fish migrated right into the heart of an extreme drought coupled with bathtub-warm water temperatures in rivers. The offspring of the fish that managed to spawn then suffered from fall and winter flooding. The hits didn’t stop there as the juvenile fish migrated out to sea during the height of The Blob in the Pacific Ocean.
It was no blushing matter in 2017 as the Puget Sound pink salmon forecast dipped to 1.1 million but saw an actual return of just 511,000. In 2019, the prediction hit another rough spot with 608,388 forecasted, a figure that ranked among the lowest on record dating back to 1959. The turnaround occurred in 2021 when the pink salmon forecast climbed back up to around 2.9 million.
Pink salmon are more prolific than their Chinook and coho relatives. They tend to recover much faster from negative environmental factors and seem to have a better survivability rate. With just a two-year life cycle, fry will migrate to estuaries and marine areas right after hatching. A pink spends about one year in the open ocean before returning to spawn as a 2-year-old fish.
These are the smallest of the salmon species found along the West Coast, weighing between 3 to 6 pounds, though they can grow to 15-plus pounds. Average length is 20 to 25 inches.
The official Washington state record for a pink salmon caught in saltwater was landed by Jeff Bergman at Possession Bar on August 25, 2001, and weighed 11.56 pounds. The freshwater record was caught
One of the best things about pinks is that they’re pretty catchable off the inland sea’s beaches and piers. Crystal Woodward shows off a pink she landed at West Beach at Deception Pass on northern Whidbey Island during 2021’s run. (CRYSTAL WOODWARD VIA WDFW)
FISHING
by Adam Stewart of Arlington in the lower Stillaguamish River (again, closed in 2025 for pink salmon fishing) on October 11, 2007, and weighed 15.40 pounds and was 31 inches long with a girth of 24.75 inches.
THE GOOD THING about pink salmon fishing is that you don’t need a boat to participate, and anglers can catch them from the piers and shorelines with public access around Puget Sound.
As silly as this may sound, a pink salmon is attracted to the color pink, meaning no matter what you toss at them, whether a lure, spoon, jig or fly, just make sure it’s pink! The color closely resembles their diet of plankton and krill. However, other colors like red, chartreuse, silver and orange are known to catch their share of fish.
The most effective setup is a smallsized hot pink mini squid tied 13 to 16 inches behind a 1/0 white or silver dodger. You can also use a smaller 8-inch Pro-Troll flasher with a slightly longer leader of 15 to 20 inches.
A small cut-plug herring will also catch its share of pink salmon and is an effective offering when drift or motor mooching from a boat. Casting a bobber with a herring underneath works from shore too.
Another way to catch a pink salmon is casting a jig. There are many types and colors (think pink again) of jigs to choose and deciding what type of jig to use is pretty much up to the discretion of an angler. But some of the more popular jigs include a Buzz Bomb, Point Wilson Dart, P-Line Laser Minnow, Beau Mac Otori Puget Pounder, Dungeness
Stinger and Crippled Herring. Make sure to have a variety of weight sizes from 3 to 6 ounces.
No matter what style of jig, you’ll need to make sure it is constantly moving and twitching. Cast out and let it sink about a foot per second. Once you feel the jig go slack, reel up (don’t set the jig hard because a pink salmon has a softer jawline) until you feel the rod pull down.
Most store-bought jigs come with a barbed treble hook, which are illegal for salmon in Marine Catch Areas 1 through 13. Only singlepointed barbless hooks and one line with up to two hooks may be used.
Conducting a simple alteration of your jig will make it more effective and legal to use. If it has two metal eyelets at the top and bottom of the jig, bend those inward so your leader
Zac Smith fights a pink off his family’s boat in August 2023. While looked down on by some Puget Sound fishermen, pinks are great for getting youngsters and new anglers alike into hot action. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
FISHING
can run freely through them. For leaders, use a monofilament line of 40- to 50-pound test with a length of about 4 to 5 feet.
Attach a beaded swivel to your braided mainline and leader to alleviate tangles. I use a 6mm acrylic plastic green or red bead above the top eyelet of the jig, and small black rubber stoppers on the top and bottom of each eyelet to prevent the line from fraying.
As for hooks, go smaller than you would for other salmon species, like a 1/0 or 2/0 size. Tie the hooks tandem style, and much closer than
you would when using them for bait. The gap between the hooks should be about an inch or less.
Another effective setup is a pink Rotator jig with a small pink plastic squid trailer. Let it flutter down into the water and then slowly retrieve it from the shore or a boat.
When pink salmon fishing in the river (make sure to check that the stream you’re on is open) casting and retrieving a Dick Nite-type hot pink or half-and-half spoon or a Silver Horde Number 2 Kingfisher spoon can be effective. Also try a small 1/8or ¼-ounce pink jig fished by itself or
under a float. Use a slow retrieve or bounce it across the bottom.
Another favored river method is trolling a small pink Hot Shot or Wiggle Wart with no weight on your line about 35 to 40 feet behind your boat. Fly anglers will toss a size 4 pink Flashabou Comet, marabou fly or just about any other pink-colored pattern.
Anglers don’t need an expensive rod and reel, and many will use a stout 8- to 9-foot salmon or trout rod (6- to 10-pound line) with a good levelwind or spinning reel. Stick to a lighter fishing line of 8- to 12-pound test. A 6- to 7-weight fly rod will get
The bonus limit is in effect in most of Puget Sound this season, meaning you can harvest up to four a day. (MARK YUASA)
FISHING
the job done for those who prefer to cast flies.
Regardless of method you choose, be sure to coat your presentation with shrimp, anise or herring oil, paste and jelly-type scent attractants.
FROM A BOAT in the salt, downriggers are the most effective way to fish because you can dial in the precise depth of where the fish are located. If you don’t own a downrigger, simply attach a 6- to 8-ounce banana-shaped lead weight a few feet ahead of the dodger or flasher and set it no more than 30 to 50 feet behind the boat.
Whatever way you choose to fish, be sure to keep all the gear (no more than one rod per person unless the area allows a two-pole endorsement) in the water, as double- and even triple-header hookups aren’t uncommon when you find a school. Once you hook a pink salmon, be sure to circle back around to stay on top of the fish.
The best fishing occurs in the early morning or later in the evening just before sunset, but you can catch pinks all day long. Fish can be found from just below the surface to as deep as 80 to 125 feet, and they will go deeper, especially on bright, sunny days.
The top tip when fishing from a boat is to troll slowly, anywhere from 1.3 to 1.8 mph at most depending on current, tide and wind, and never try to go against the current. Don’t be surprised if you hook a Chinook or coho while pink salmon fishing and just remember to check the rules on whether you can keep them or not.
Keep tabs on the WDFW creel checks webpage at wdfw.wa.gov/ fishing/reports/creel to see what areas are generating good pink catches.
SPEAKING OF WHERE to go, the choices are far and wide. The fish can be found from the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca off Neah Bay all the way into southern Puget Sound. Again, just be sure to check the
regulation pamphlet for what marine areas or rivers are open or closed.
In the Strait and Sound, the pink salmon run peaks in mid-August, but plenty of fish should be around by the time you read this column. For southern Puget Sound, the best time is usually the last week of August and early September.
Pink salmon tend to hug the shorelines to avoid strong currents, making them easily accessible to bank anglers, especially during an hour before and right after a flood tide. Slack tide can be another favorable time to catch a pink salmon.
Often anglers will sight fish in the water before throwing out their presentation. Look for jumping or finning fish on the surface and take notice of other anglers reeling them in nearby.
When planning a bank fishing trip on Puget Sound make sure your chosen location has public access. Shoreline locations include
to
Point in
Dash Point State Park; Fort Casey, Keystone, Bush Point and Lagoon Point off the west side of Whidbey Island; Point Wilson near Port Townsend; Point No Point; Marrowstone Island’s eastern shoreline; along the east side of Bainbridge Island; Browns Point Lighthouse Park in Tacoma; Edmonds Pier; Seacrest Pier in West Seattle; and Point Defiance Park Pier and Les Davis Pier in Tacoma.
By late August and into September and early October, the majority of pink salmon will move into Puget Sound rivers and streams. Check the regulations for what rivers and streams are open or closed.
And be sure to follow WDFW’s “The Salmon Fishing Current” blog, summer and fall 2025 edition, at wdfw.medium.com for in-season salmon fishery information.
West Beach at Deception Pass; Lincoln Park
Alki
West Seattle; Richmond Beach; Redondo Beach;
Some pinks poke into river systems in August. Scott Fletcher caught this one on the Nooksack that month in 2021. He was running a pink jig under a float. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
FISHING
ON THE TABLE, pinks caught in the salt can be a very good-eating salmon, especially when smoked or grilled. The meat has a rather mild flavor, and it pairs well with citruses like lemon, lime or orange and a dash of seasoning.
Pinks are notably less oily than other types of salmon, so expect the filets to be a little bit leaner than a sockeye, coho or Chinook.
A pink salmon that isn’t properly
handled quickly after being retained can become soft, mushy and lose its flavor, especially since most are caught at the height of summer when the temperatures are very warm. Nobody likes to eat a mushy piece of salmon.
Once you catch a pink, bleed it by cutting the gill rakes with a knife or tear a section of the gills with your hand while holding the fish in the water. If you need to club them, do
so ever so gently, as this can also damage the meat. Then clean and gut your catch and get it on ice in a cooler or insulated fish bag. By taking the right steps, you’ll be able to ensure a pink salmon is the hit around the dinner table! NS
Editor’s note: Mark Yuasa is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife communications consultant, and longtime fishing and outdoor writer.
KNOW A PINK VERSUS CHINOOK
It’s very important for anglers to be able to distinguish the difference between a pink and a young Chinook, especially when fishing in marine areas.
A pink salmon has very large black spots on its back and heavy, oval-shaped black splotches on the upper and lower lobes of the tail. They also have a white mouth –few if any teeth are present – with a black
gum line and tongue. Their scales are very small with no silver pigment on the tail. Their nickname “humpies” or “humpy” comes from the dramatic hump that forms on the back of male pink salmon as they return to rivers and approach spawning time. Males also develop a hooked upper jaw during spawning season.
By contrast, in the marine environment, a Chinook has large black spots on its
back, dorsal fin and both the upper and lower lobes of the tail. They have a dark mouth and black gum line and large prominent teeth, and a silver pigment on the tail.
You can find a salmon species identification guide on pages 104 and 105 of the 2025-26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet at eregulations .com/washington/fishing. –MY
Tap Into Million-strong Fall King, Coho Run
If you are planning a trip to pursue fall salmon as they return to the Columbia River mouth, you can expect more Chinook and fewer coho this season as compared to last year. According to the official forecast, we should see 736,200 Chinook enter the Columbia this month and early next, which would be 67,000 more than last year. The forecast for coho is down from the 600,000 we saw in 2024 to something closer to 350,000 this year.
But with the combined return of Chinook and coho still exceeding 1 million salmon, I think the fishing should be pretty darn good at Buoy 10 this month and into the first week of September.
For the Buoy 10 management zone, which extends from an imaginary north/ south line from the number 10 red navigation buoy to a line located just west of Puget Island, the season is as follows:
August 1-6: The daily limit is two salmon, of which only one can be any adult Chinook. Release wild coho.
August 7-25: Retention of only hatcheryfin-clipped Chinook and coho is allowed.
Only one may be a clipped Chinook.
August 26-September 6: Retention of any adult Chinook and hatchery-fin-clipped coho is allowed. The daily limit is two salmon, of which only one may be a Chinook.
September 7-October 31: Up to two hatchery-fin-clipped coho salmon can be kept. All Chinook must be released, finclipped or not, during this time frame.
As for jack salmon, from Buoy 10 to Tongue Point all sublegal Chinook (less than 24 inches) and coho (less than 16 inches) must be released. From Tongue Point to west Puget Island, retention of jack coho (12 to 20 inches) and Chinook (12 to 24 inches) is
BUZZ RAMSEY
Angler Fred Contaoi shows off a fin-clipped Chinook he caught last year while trolling Buoy 10. With 1 million salmon expected back to the mouth of the Columbia River, author Buzz Ramsey expects “pretty darn good” fishing there this season. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
COLUMN
allowed when adult salmon season is open.
Keep in mind that all kept coho must be fin-clipped hatchery fish and the retention of steelhead (fin-clipped or not) is prohibited this year. Also, barbless hooks are required when fishing the Columbia, including the Buoy 10 management zone.
AT BUOY 10, when and where salmon can be found is all about tracking the tides, as each incoming tide will carry a push of salmon into the estuary. It’s this concentration of salmon, carried by the flooding ocean water, you are trying to connect with.
Many anglers wait for this pulse of fish near the fishery’s western boundary – the actual Buoy 10 – at the beginning of the incoming tide. How far each wave of salmon will flood into the estuary just depends on how big the tide is.
The bigger the tide, the farther salmon will be carried upstream, which means to and above the Astoria-Megler Bridge.
Flashers are used to attract salmon, and Pro-Troll rotating flashers and Fish Flash spinning flashers are popular choices. Fish Flash have the edge when big tides and fastmoving currents can make getting the right trolling speed with rotators difficult. Softer tides favor 360 flashers. When tides aren’t too erratic, many anglers will use a combination of both with the easier-pulling Fish Flash rigged on their front rods and the harder-pulling 360 flashers trailing out the back of their boat. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
Fishing a 3 5 spinner blade, sometimes in combination with a squid, 30 inches behind a Pro-Troll flasher is an effective setup for both coho and Chinook at Buoy 10. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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During lesser tide exchanges, the fish may only be carried into the lower or middle estuary, say, near the ports of Hammond and Chinook.
When salmon bite best is often determined by the tides too. For example, during medium to large tide exchanges, Chinook will often bite best at or near the Astoria-Megler Bridge during the last half of the flood and first half of the outgo.
During lesser tide exchanges, the salmon may only flood into the midestuary where, after multiple days of modest tides, they can accumulate in large numbers. This is especially true during the latter half of this month. In addition, small tide exchanges make for easy trolling combined with an all-day bite often occurring, as you are not fighting the strong currents associated with big tide exchanges.
And while the midestuary can fill with salmon after multiple days of “bathtub
tides,” the fish can make a big move to and above Tongue Point as tides begin to build.
It’s all a game of cat and mouse, with hundreds of boats and thousands of anglers making moves based on daily tide fluctuations and cell phone communications with friends and fishing guides.
WHEN TROLLING ABOVE and below the bridge during a decent exchange of water, many anglers will troll upstream (the same direction as the flooding water) during the latter half of the flood and switch directions, trolling westward, as the tide begins to ebb. These can be mile-long or farther tacks before picking up and running back for another pass.
Ocean tides change direction four times daily, with each 24-hour time frame having two high and two low water exchanges. These fluctuations are never the same from year to year. What some might refer to as
the wild card is when a big nighttime tide is larger than the daytime one, thereby moving many salmon into and perhaps through the estuary under cover of darkness.
A tide book or smartphone app (Tides is a reliable phone app) can provide you with the timing of the daily tide swings at various locations within the Buoy 10 management zone and tell you how much water is exchanged with each in-and-out movement. This is important because, as mentioned, a big tide will push more fish farther into the estuary, in which case you will need to move upriver with the school, while a low exchange will cause fish to accumulate in the middle estuary, near Hammond, the west end of Desdemona Sands or Baker Bay, where they may linger until building tides move them eastward.
Given a reasonable water exchange of, say, 7 feet or more, you will find most fish in the area extending from the west tip
Author Buzz Ramsey shows off a chrome fin-clipped coho he caught last season at the buoy. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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of Desdemona Sands eastward past the Astoria-Megler Bridge in both the North and South Channels. Given these larger tides, the best bite will likely occur during the last half of the flood and first half of the outgoing tide.
Another popular area to troll, especially on flooding tides, is along the north side of the river between the ports of Ilwaco and Chinook, as the lead edge of the flooding ocean water favors this side of the river.
THE DESDEMONA SANDS Island separates the dredged South Channel from the North, or false, Channel. Much of the island is submerged, even at low tide. You should know that the western tip of the Sands is located 2 miles west of Hammond and it extends eastward all the way to Rice Island. The North Channel, although ultimately a false one, maintains good depth over 3 miles above the Astoria-Megler Bridge and can offer success equal to the south, which is a well-maintained shipping channel.
What many anglers do when trolling the North Channel is to parallel the island in 20 to 30 feet of water and make their upriver troll well past the bridge as the flood tide is nearing its peak. Once the tide changes direction and begins to ebb, they turn their boats around and troll westward.
Another effective strategy during big tide exchanges is to hold your boat (facing
west) into the flooding water and let the current carry the salmon to you. And while this works near the western boundary, mostly for coho, this strategy can yield limits of Chinook in areas west of the bridge.
When tides are soft or flooding, many anglers will let out 20 to 30 feet on their linecounter reels, as many salmon will suspend at middepth over deep water.
Of course, when currents are moving fast, the salmon, not wanting to battle heavy currents, can sometimes be found holding near bottom. This is when heavier sinkers (up to 24 ounces) and stout fishing rods are deployed. Likewise, salmon will seek relief from strong currents by hitting edges where the water is slower moving.
BUOY 10 RODS are
fairly stout and stiff enough to handle cannonball-style sinkers that might vary in weight from 4 to 16 ounces or more. What most anglers do, including me, is to run heavier sinkers on my front rods, say, 12 to 16 ounces, and lighter sinkers, 8 to 10 ounces, on lines trailing out the back of the boat. How much weight you might need depends on how deep the salmon are running and whether or not you are trying to keep your gear at or near bottom. Keep in mind, though, that not all salmon are on the deck, as many will suspend at middepth, especially when the tide exchange is minimal or flooding.
What many anglers do is run their front rods out 20 to 25 feet on their linecounters and their back rods out far enough to occasionally hit bottom if trolling over water less than 30 feet in depth.
Levelwind reels equipped with linecounters are what most anglers use at Buoy 10, since you really need to know what depth you are trolling and be able to return to the one producing fish.
When it comes to line, most anglers use high-tech braid. They spool 50- or 65-poundtest super braid, which is way thinner than even 25-pound monofilament and totally eliminates the thought of an unexpected breakoff. This is something that can happen when using mono, especially if it has been heavily used and on the reel for more than one season. However, if you prefer mono (some anglers do), I would suggest picking a tough one like Berkley Big Game or Maxima in at least 25-pound test. NS
Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a sportsfishing authority (as related to trout, steelhead and salmon), outdoor writer and proficient lure and fishing rod designer. Buzz built a successful 45-year career promoting gear related to Northwest and Great Lakes fisheries during his tenure with Luhr Jensen, Pure Fishing and Yakima Bait. Now retired, he writes for Northwest Sportsman and The Guide’s Forecast.
SAFETY FIRST AT THE BUOY
While the weather and water can be calm and easily navigated at Buoy 10, be aware that fog, rough water, fast-moving tides, wind, sometimes hundreds of other sport boats and ship traffic can up the odds of a mishap. For example, sea-going freighters move quicker than you might think and have the absolute right of way, so keep your eyes peeled and move out of the shipping channel well in advance of oncoming ocean vessels.
My fish finder includes GPS mapping that displays my exact location on a builtin map of the area. It’s great for knowing where I am at all times, especially if and when the fog rolls in. Of course I have
waypoints of all my favorite fishing spots and boat ramps marked on the unit too. But just to be safe, I also carry a compass and portable GPS unit as a backup. After all, electronic devices can and do fail and the last thing I want is to be caught in a thick fog without knowing where I am and what direction to go.
Although much of the water here is deep enough to easily navigate, there are areas beyond just Desdemona Sands where underwater sand bars can spoil your day. And while Desdemona can be crossed, depending on the stage of the tide and how much water your boat drafts, you will need to know where it is safe to do so in advance of just trying your luck.
What many boaters do when wanting to head to the North Channel from the Oregon side of the river is to navigate around the western tip of Desdemona Sands rather than to try a crossing. The western tip is marked by a three-pillar piling, located midchannel, with a black and white checkerboard on top.
Most guides and anglers, including me, insist that everyone on board wear an inflatable life jacket while navigating this area. As you might know, these inflatable jackets are comfortable to wear, even with a big salmon on the end of your line, and can be quickly inflated should a mishap occur. Keep in mind that inflatables are not legal unless they are worn. –BR
Buoy Tense
Fishing the mouth of the Columbia can be very productive, but also very stressful. An angler shares his observations.
By William J. Harris
It was early August and Buoy 10 fishing was open again. A big run of Chinook salmon was expected and I was there with grandson Dylan trying to hook into a few. I was not interested in combat fishing, so we were fishing on a Wednesday and Thursday. The river wasn’t crowded and there were only a relatively few boats in line at the Ilwaco launch in front of me.
The mouth of the Columbia is a wide expanse of water. On these two days, the 6½-mile river gave everyone plenty of room to try and catch these hard-fighting brutes. The limit was one Chinook each and we ended our twoday trip with three 25-pound beauties that all had dark red meat. It had been an easy two days without the stress of being among hundreds of boats.
A big factor is whether the ocean is open. With an open ocean, the boats can scatter over many square miles of good fishing areas. If there is a dangerous bar condition and boats under 20 feet can’t get out, or if the
ocean salmon fishery is closed, then all of the boats are concentrated behind the buoy. It can be a madhouse from Friday through Sunday.
A WEEK LATER I was back at Ilwaco to try and get my brother Duane his first Chinook. We were fishing in the middle of August on a Thursday and Friday. Once again there was no line at the boat launch and the river was wide open. We had plenty of space between boats near the red Buoy 10, and so when Duane did hook his first upriver bright, there was no interference from any other boat. After a hard fight and many long, deep runs, the 25-pound king lay in the net. Unfortunately, this was the first year I could remember when wild kings had to be released. That meant that his first fish was let go without even a photo to document the catch.
Duane experienced dual emotions. He had been able to enjoy a great fight with his first king and it was great being a conservationist, but it sure would have been nice to take the fish home and enjoy it with his family.
A giant container ship appeared on the horizon and with amazing speed it approached the buoy and the fleet of fishing boats. A loud series of horn blasts announced its presence and the boats in the ship’s pathway quickly made a hasty retreat.
Fishing was slow and since wild coho also had to be released, we ended the day with only a single 7-pound hatchery coho in our cooler. All the other fish we had caught had to be released.
Friday wasn’t as bad at the boat launch as Saturday would be, but we did have 11 boats in front of us waiting to launch. We entered the river and in front of us was an armada of fishing boats. Between the Astoria Bridge and Buoy 10 there had to be a thousand boats. You couldn’t walk from Washington to Oregon across the boats, but at times it seemed like that was almost a possibility.
It was particularly crowded around Buoy 10 as everyone was waiting for the anticipated surge of fresh Chinook to enter freshwater. Unbelievably, I saw one guy fishing
A container ship steams through an armada of fishing boats at Buoy 10. Vessels restricted to the shipping channel have the right-of-way on the Columbia, regardless of whether fall Chinook and coho are on the chew. (WILLIAM J. HARRIS)
FISHING
out of a Sea-Doo, another from a kayak. There were many large charter boats and at least a hundred of the 20-plus-foot-long open-bowed guide boats with up to six clients each hoping for a king.
ALL THE BOATS were fighting the incoming tide and working for position as they trolled their flashers and lures or bait while trying to avoid the other boats. At times the powerful bouncing waves of the strong rip tides and numerous continual wakes from all the moving boats made my body feel like it was a human bobblehead doll.
To complicate the situation, a huge freighter came steaming through the armada, making the fishing boats scurry out of the way. In the middle of it, the guy in the boat in front of us and to the left hollered, “Fish on!” and his rod bent double. Then the boat in front to the right yelled, “Fish
on!” too, and seconds later Duane sounded out, “Got one!” It had to be a school of kings surging into the river with the incoming tide to have so many hits simultaneously.
A minute later hopes were dashed as the guy on the right and Duane realized that the first guy’s fish had made a run and tangled the other two lines. It was only a 15-pound fish but still capable of making strong runs and able to tangle the other lines.
It was quite the picture as three boats and three rods were all pointing to the exact same spot. It took some doing and cooperation, but with everyone doing their part, the hatchery king was brought to the net. The tangled lines were cut and the tackle returned to the respective boats where it was retied. At least everyone was relatively calm and there had been no shouting or cursing. Tangled lines are a common outcome in combat fishing.
There was loud multiple honking as a massive container ship sped towards the armada, which parted like the Red Sea. The big ship had the right of way and you do not want to be in front of one of these monstrosities as they roar into the river. Every hour another giant freighter came through with amazing speed for such a large ship. Thankfully, the wakes they made were no larger than those of the surrounding fishing boats that were always moving to new positions.
WITH THE TIDE at full force and speeding boats creating multiple wakes, along with the rip tide, it felt very comfortable to be wearing my CO2 inflatable life vest. Off to the south on the Oregon side, two Coast Guard cutters were at rest taking in the chaos at the buoy.
I had moved to the side of the main group of boats when Duane again hollered, “Fish on!” I looked
An angler fights a salmon that also swam into the lines of other boats at the buoy. Author William J. Harris and his brother Duane had to deal with two such tangles. (WILLIAM J. HARRIS)
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FISHING
back to see Duane pulling a hardthrobbing rod out of the holder. I put the motor in neutral as Duane fought the fish. I grabbed the landing net and stood by him so other boats would realize we had a fish on and hopefully steer clear.
The fish made multiple strong runs and, thankfully, didn’t tangle with other fishermen. Several times Duane brought the fish to the boat only to have it dart away at the sight of the net. Finally, it looked ready. Duane was bringing it to the boat and I was starting to push the net to it. But it wasn’t quite ready and it turned and sped away inches past the net. After another few minutes the tiring fish was finally only a foot away as I readied to net it.
But the new 30-pound leader parted between the two hooks and the 20-pound salmon swam away in triumph.
Not long after that we saw a spinning diamond flasher pass in front of the boat. It was obviously hooked to a fish, but we saw no boat
with an angler fighting a fish. It must have been towing a broken line.
A few minutes later Duane yelled, “Fish on!” and grabbed his bent rod. Then I hollered, “I got one too .... we have a double.” We both started reeling but something was wrong. I could feel the fish pumping on my rod but it wasn’t running like a normal king would. Then I realized that Duane and I didn’t have different fish ... we had somehow hooked the same fish. It had to be a monster, as we just couldn’t move it. Something was weird.
Then a boat moved behind us and we could see that the angler in it had a fish on. He never said a word, but it was obvious that his fish had tangled in both Duane’s and my lines. We realized that our combat fishing had resulted in another fish tangling our lines when it made a long run. Duane and I quickly put slack in our lines so that the other guy could reel in the fish. He eventually netted the fish despite the hassles. We got our tackle back, which was a plus. The Chinook
was only about 12 pounds and because it was wild, it was released. Once again, combat fishing had resulted in three fishermen fighting the same fish. It’s one thing when you are standing on shore shoulder to shoulder combat fishing, but it’s quite another when all the fishermen are all in boats facing fast-moving tides, powerful winds, rip tides, inconsiderate boaters, fast-moving freighters and large, powerful fish that don’t want to cooperate.
COMBAT FISHING
JUST isn’t for me. No more Buoy 10 fishing Friday through Sunday for me. We started trolling back towards the Ilwaco harbor and just when I was ready to have Duane reel in the lines, his reel started to sing. After a great fight with several long runs Duane finally had his first keeper king.
Still, fishing at Buoy 10 was not producing as everyone had expected. At midafternoon as we took the boat out of the water, I talked to the fish checker. She was only checking every fourth boat. Shockingly, she had only checked a single Chinook. It was a far cry from what was anticipated; I had expected the number to be in the hundreds.
If you are a fisherman, then you are an optimist. A poor day or two of fishing doesn’t mean that you won’t have fantastic fishing the next time you go out.
Just know that there are a ton of big Chinook massing in the ocean ready to come into the Columbia. So next week I’ll spend two more days looking for the surge to come in while my boat sits right in front of them with my lines in the water.
You can bet it will be midweek, though. No more combat fishing for me where three people are fighting the same fish. I love the thrill of fighting large fish that will spool you out if you don’t follow them in your boat. That’s exciting.
Trying to avoid being run over by large fishing boats and freighters isn’t exciting – it’s stressful. NS
Harris’s grandson Dylan shows off a nice hatchery Chinook caught on a calmer midweek day at the mouth of the Columbia. (WILLIAM J. HARRIS)
Hookin’ Chinook Above B10
By Bob Rees
August is often considered one of the best fishing months of the year in Oregon. With the Columbia River lighting up with its fall run of Chinook, both saltwater and freshwater opportunities abound.
Over 1 million Chinook and coho are due back to the mouth of the Columbia in 2025, and anglers are pretty excited about prospects on the Pacific and mainstem of the river well into the month of October.
THE INRIVER FISHERY kicks off with the August 1 opener of the famed Buoy 10 fishery, which will certainly bode well for those targeting Chinook, but soft tides will temper the coho bite, at least the first week of August.
Columbia regulations differ by year and by river reach, so be sure to check them before starting your season. There is more any-Chinook opportunity than we’ve seen in recent years, but it’s still pretty complex. Under this year’s fishery plan, regulations are subject to change on a moment’s notice based on catch rates and stock composition.
As a general rule, however, anglers use bait below the AstoriaMegler Bridge, and spinners or plastics upstream from there. Most anglers are running their offerings behind 360-degree rotating flashers.
By mid-August, Chinook action can turn epic from Longview to St. Helens, and anglers will find multiple opportunities for quality Chinook until the fishery below the Warrior Rock-Bachelor Island line goes into a temporary closure beginning September 7. Again, the fishery plan is dynamic, so watch wdfw .wa.gov and myodfw.com for updates.
Bank angling upstream of Longview can be productive by boat or by shore fishing. Bank anglers often employ the use of a kayak to get their wobbler spread to deeper water where temperature-sensitive Chinook travel during this hottest Your monthly Oregon fishing outlook provided by The Guide’s Forecast.
Anglers will be trolling 3.5 spinners, Super Baits, the new Skinny Minis and other lures behind 360 flashers or sitting on anchor fishing wobblers in hopes of catching fall Chinook in the Lower Columbia this month and next up to September’s closures. (BEN HOWARD)
FISHING
time of the year. Target water deeper than 32 feet for best success.
Up by Bonneville, anglers often anchor or back-troll using plugs wrapped with tuna or sardines for success, but anglers have also found success using flashers and spinners or Super Baits.
Upstream of the dam, hover fishing with eggs is becoming more popular, but trolling still takes a lot of fish in this reach as well.
DON’T OVERLOOK THE
ocean adjacent to the mouth of the Columbia either. Until the tides get strong enough to push higher concentrations of salmon into the estuary, the Pacific will be the best idea for boaters who are confident navigating this expansive body of water, especially during the first half of the month.
And speaking of saltwater ops, albacore tuna fishing becomes more
consistent in August, with catchable numbers distributed coastwide by this time of year. Trolling seems especially productive in the early season, but anglers need to plan for fishing 30-plus miles offshore for best results.
Halibut fishing in August can be excellent as well, with Newport often providing the best catches overall for the entire state. The summer all-depth season is open daily through October.
FALL CHINOOK START
in on a few coastal estuaries in August, with the Nehalem River often producing Chinook catches from the jaws to the town of Nehalem for much of the month. Anglers target Chinook at the bay entrance on softer tides, and at Wheeler and Nehalem on stronger tides. August is likely to be the peak month for this fishery, particularly around midmonth. Just as a reminder, the wild Chinook bag limit
on this system this year is one a day and two for the entire season.
Other coastal estuaries, with the exception of the Siletz, have seen depressed fall Chinook returns in recent years, but expanded estuary coho opportunities will keep these fisheries viable starting in midSeptember.
Further south, the Rogue estuary will also produce fine catches of quality Chinook in August. Anglers should troll anchovies behind spinner blades for what’s likely to be another robust return.
And last but not least, sea-run cutthroat trout are a viable fishery in almost every estuary and tidewater reach of Oregon’s coastal watersheds. August is a great month for trolling for these trophy trout. NS
Editor’s note: For more information, visit TheGuidesForecast.com.
A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife graphic illustrates the new Warrior Rock-Bachelor Island deadline near the Lewis River, an improvement on past seasons’ cutoff that featured a midriver dogleg to triangulate off of. Under this year’s fishery plan, salmon angling downstream of the deadline to the western end of Puget Island is closed September 7-30, while it’s paused September 18-30 above there to Bonneville Dam. These waters will be a good albeit popular bet in the meanwhile. (WDFW)
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This Ain’t Your Gramp’s Drano King Fishery
No need to sit in the Toilet Bowl for Chinook when you can troll spinners, stuffers in the main lake, Bonneville Pool.
Story and captions by Jeff Holmes
August through October of 2025 is set to be an exciting time of rod-buckling takedowns, filthy bleed buckets, anglers scrambling for pens and catch-area codes, and coolers stuffed with kings. After a disappointing sockeye season where
the run came in way under prediction, anglers are likely to be heartened by a big ol’ run of kings. A projected 736,200 fall Chinook are headed to the Columbia, and it’s clear the run will not disappoint after excellent saltwater action this summer from Alaska to Marine Area 1. Buoy 10 and Lower Columbia anglers get first crack at these
fish as they enter freshwater, whereas those of us above Bonneville Dam must usually wait until September before we can expect good fishing.
There are exceptions, however, where Mid-Columbia and even Upper Columbia anglers will find good to excellent fishing in August. So as not to blow up a couple of sort-of-secret honey holes for early-arriving falls above Tri-Cities, let’s focus on a notso-secret fishery that will kick out kings early in August and that will be on fire in the second half of the month: Drano Lake.
FOR MANY, DRANO conjures images of the Toilet Bowl, a counter-clockwise bumper-boat show where anglers spin in April and May hoping to intercept spring Chinook at this Columbia River backwater on the Bonneville Pool. Save for a few dip-ins to the lake that will proceed upriver to many points in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and even Montana, almost all of the spring fish are headed for Drano’s Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery. But in summer and fall, the fishery changes in a couple of major ways.
First, many, many more Chinook enter the lake during late summer and early fall than in spring. Fall Chinook are simply a much more numerous fish. The Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery releases a paltry 1.4 million spring Chinook into Drano, whereas 4.5 million upriver bright juveniles are let go in the lake for return as adults. (The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facility here raises another 1.1 million juvenile URBs for the Yakama Nation to release into the Yakima River near Prosser.) Officially, these fall fish are part of the PUB, or pool upriver bright, stock, which also includes Chinook from two other hatcheries as well as natural-origin kings. This year’s forecast is for 82,800 PUB fish back to the mouth of the Columbia, up from 2024’s prediction of 61,900 and actual return of 78,868. The 10-year average is roughly 73,000.
In addition to Drano-bound
Many or most big “hawg” fall Chinook bound for the Hanford Reach and other Upper Columbia and Snake River fisheries swim past or dip into Drano Lake to sniff and feel the cool water that flows into the Bonneville Pool via the Little White Salmon River. Dan Rees, Paul Goulet and Jim Thurston had themselves a day there in August 2023 (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
FISHING
returning kings, many more kings bound for points upstream dip into Drano to feel the cool plume of water feeding into it from the Little White Salmon River. These cold waters are what enable both the hatchery and the remarkable fall fishing opportunities that kick off in August.
Aiding this great angling is a major difference in the rules from spring and the nauseating spin of the Toilet Bowl: Anglers may troll right under the Highway 14 bridge and out into the mainstem of the Columbia, the Bonneville Pool. The outlet arm of Drano is still an excellent fishery in late summer and early fall, but anglers are not constrained to spin in circles. The freedom of fishing the main river and the several hundred yards of historic Little White Salmon River channel provides access to the many more fish that stream past Drano without entering the lake.
LATE AUGUST AND early September can produce some of the most amazing king fishing I’ve seen with perverse takedown numbers possible. The crowd can still be pretty large at times when the fish are coming over Bonneville Dam in huge numbers later in the month, but the pressure is spread out even on the busiest days. The result is a much less intense and competitive environment with easier while still challenging boat handling at times, especially when it’s windy. Drano in August is a perfect training opportunity for fishing the lake in the spring or for fishing many of our more crowded and intense salmon fisheries. Parking and launching are easier, there’s no constraining regulations forcing folks to spin in the Toilet Bowl, and along with the lake’s outlet and the Little White Salmon River channel in the mainstem, there’s the whole of Drano Lake to spread out in.
If you fish the main lake, remember that a good general rule is not to run gear deeper than about 18 feet to avoid the lake’s many snags.
In the last 200 or so yards of the lake’s outlet (aka the Toilet Bowl) you can run gear a bit deeper, as you can and should in the Columbia outside of the bridge, which is essentially the Little White Salmon channel, where running gear fairly close to bottom is usually wise for kings. There are still snags and obstructions to find, and gear gets eaten and lost at Drano and in the main river, even for cautious anglers. Taking a monkey-see, monkey-do approach and not trying to pioneer new water here is wise and will save you gear and hassles. You’ll notice that all of the many guides are essentially fishing the exact same water at the same speed. Don’t vulture them and get in their way, but pay attention to how the guys fishing for money are doing it. Or, book a trip. There are lots of excellent guides at Drano in August, but the guys who boat the most fish
are probably Jerry and Ivan Reyes of Flatout Fishing (flatoutfishing.net). Jerry and other excellent guides can show you the ropes and help you to recognize the difference between desirable upriver bright kings and dreaded tule Chinook. Tules are kings that mature sexually in the salt and arrive in freshwater with already degrading flesh. They are numerous at Drano and should be carefully released. There are many useful online resources to help you distinguish between these shorter, stockier, more densely spotted kings that are headed to Spring Creek NFH and several nearby Columbia Gorge tributaries.
THREE-SIXTY FLASHERS TRAILED by 3.5, 2.5 and even 1.5 spinners are probably most productive here, and some tip these spinners with coon shrimp while others do not and do
Flatout Fishing’s Jerry Reyes nets a nice upriver bright Chinook for Molly von der Mehden. This fish was one of 14 takedowns in a three-hour afternoon session in late August that resulted in boat limits of URBs with a few tule Chinook released. (JEFF HOLMES)
FISHING
equally well. Original and smaller Super Baits can also be effective, especially early in the day, during low-light periods and when spinners are not producing.
Many colors of spinners work, and I’ve seen Mexican hat, Coast Guard and the many avante-gard patterns painted by Tony Milewski of Hanford Reach Outdoors (hanfordtackle.com) catch fish nearly as fast as they bite at a heavily stocked trout lake. Everyone has their favorite Super Bait colors, but hot tamale, lava, ladybug, twisted sister, rotten banana, limit out, black jack and Seahawk are great choices, among many others.
Generally speaking, you’ll find biter kings in the lower half of the water column, usually closer to the bottom, although there are times when running a shallower rod is wise. It’s more likely to pick up coho or steelhead – the latter of which must be released during this time frame – but sometimes the kings bite shallower than the norm.
Don’t go to Drano early in August and expect lightsout fishing, but do expect small crowds and good chances to connect with a big, bright king or two. As the month progresses and you see Chinook pouring over Bonneville, expect the catching to increase along with crowds. Don’t let that discourage you. Head to Drano and expect a different experience from the spring and three to four times the fish. With a limit of one king per angler, limiting out is likely for experienced and lucky anglers, and there are smallmouth to pursue and cool water to swim in when you’re done. NS
As
10 TIPS FOR FALL SALMON SUCCESS
With fall Chinook starting to stream up the Columbia River, now is the time to get ready for their arrival at Drano Lake and elsewhere. Being ready and well supplied before the good fishing starts is the way to go.
1) Buy all your needed gear in advance, and if you’re not super experienced yet, figure out what you’re going to need (e.g., flashers, baits, leader, bead chains, sliders and lead are some of the many essentials). September isn’t the time to try and find your favorite spinner/flasher/Super Bait/plug, nor is it the time to get a sense for all that you’ll need.
2) Even if the fish aren’t in yet in big numbers at your particular fishery, spend time on the water getting everything dialed in. Understand exactly how the program works on your boat. Practice deploying and stowing gear over and over, and make it like riding a bike when the fish are in.
3) Even if it’s early in the season, book a trip to watch an excellent guide run gear and make decisions throughout the day. Or, if you know some true experts, see if you can jump in with them to learn on the water. Choose great teachers like Jerry Reyes (flatoutfishing.net), TJ Hester (hesterssportfishing.com), Tyler Miller (fishmillertime.com), Bryce Doherty (odohertyoutfitters .com) or George Preszler (preszlersguideservice.com).
4) Attend to your motor maintenance annually. This includes attention to your oil/water separator and a visual wire inspection. If your boat goes down during the season, you might not get it back from the shop until the Chinook are spawning zombies.
5) Keep a clean boat and clean baits. Boats can become quite a filthy scene in the heat of salmon season battles. Even at the peak of craziness, you’ll notice that all guides wash their boats meticulously and fish clean baits for more bites. Leftover oils on spinners or stuffer baits can deteriorate quality and confidence in using those baits in the future.
6) Have multiple lengths for everything: bumper to flasher, 16 to 24 inches; Super Bait leaders, 36 to 42 inches; spinner leaders, 30 to 38 inches. Having all bumpers and leaders pre-tied and at different lengths makes it a lot easier to change gear on the fly and saves time on the water. By the way, the suggested lengths are just suggestions.
7) Use fresh bait, always. For stuffer baits or even wrapping plugs, cheap canned tuna works great, but it must be fresh. You can buy the cheapest tuna in oil you can find, but never use the same can two days in a row. Combinations of anise, garlic, shrimp and krill work great, as do other scent cocktails.
8) Store bait oil/scents in cool environments too. Keeping scents refrigerated when not fishing and on ice to and from the fishing grounds is a recipe for spending less money and having the scents you want available when you need them.
9) Learn your launches before season, and be an expert at backing down your boat. Practice launching your boat at uncrowded launches, learn from experts, and bring a friend when the launch is busy whenever possible.
Bonneville
salmon over Labor Day Weekend 2023. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
10) And make sure your electronics are working prior to season. Keep spare fuses on hand, and replace your transducers periodically since most suffer from road damage and function poorly over time. –JH
August advances, more and more kings cross
Dam, and the best fishing at Drano Lake and the nearby Bonneville Pool occurs in the second half of the month and into September. Danika Campos and bro Cristian Campos put Kaleb Benson into his first-ever Drano fall
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Explore Panhandle’s Upland Option
North Idaho's high lakes keep the trout action going in late summer.
By Mike Wright
Many devoted Inland Northwest anglers were starting to believe that summer would never happen this year, but finally the cold began to moderate, the wind faded away and the fish began to feed. Many insect hatches were weeks behind their traditional starting time, but when summer finally arrived, bugs made their presence felt. Swarms of chironomids and callibaetis mayflies were first to appear, followed closely
by damsels and the caddis hatches. Other hatches will appear, depending on where you are fishing.
As summer continues to progress and the water temperature continues to increase, the fishing becomes a little more difficult. Stocking in the lowerelevation lakes generally ends in late spring or early summer. Weeds also become a major problem. Once you get a take, landing the fish becomes much more difficult. And as water temperatures continue to increase, many of the fish in the lowland lakes develop a case of lockjaw and become
much more selective than they were just a few weeks earlier. Another problem that springs up in certain waters is blue-green algae. It’s not a major issue for the fisherman, but it can be poisonous to their dogs and other pets.
BUT FOR AVID anglers who are not ready to put their rods away just yet, there is another option. That would be to fish the high mountain lakes around Bonners Ferry, Priest River, and Clark Fork, Idaho. The water temperature is generally cooler, and the trout have
The clear green waters of Estelle Lake and many other mountain tarns of North Idaho and Northeast Washington beckon when late summer’s heat turns off the action at lowland venues. (HAMPTON COOGLE, USFS)
FISHING
regained their appetite.
True, many of the lakes have very low growth rates, which means there is really no need to clear off a spot for a taxidermied trophy trout, but what these fish lack in size, they more than make up for in aggression. They will take anything that resembles food.
One excellent example of this behavior can be found in the Roman Nose Lakes, west of Bonners Ferry. The first of these lakes can be reached by a short walk from the parking lot at the end of a gravel road, while a relatively short hike leads to the others. A number of years ago, the Idaho Department Fish and Game planted bull trout in one of the upper lakes. This was a noble experiment and provided a little added excitement in the lakes. The bull trout are gone now, but there are rainbows and brookies to be caught.
Another drive-in lake is Antelope Lake, located a short distance northeast of Clark Fork off Highway 2. The road up to the lake sometimes makes the old Oregon Trail seem like a four-lane interstate, but Antelope is stocked with rainbows each spring and has a good growth rate.
Another easy-to-reach water is Smith Lake, located off the highway north of Bonners Ferry. Smith has a boat launch and picnic area and
is very popular with locals, so it can get rather crowded during warmer weather. The lake is liberally stocked with rainbow trout in the spring and enjoys a good growth rate.
IF A HIKE isn’t a turnoff, there are a number of smaller mountain lakes in North Idaho that have good populations of rainbow and/or cutthroat trout. One of these is Hunt Lake, off the east side of Priest Lake. To reach Hunt it is necessary to navigate over a slide area where the trail is marked with spray paint on the sides of boulders. At one time the lake was the home for a thriving population of golden trout. The ideal environment for this species is to have a smaller body of water linked to the main lake by a stream connecting the two bodies of water. The smaller lake is used as a rearing area for the juvenile goldens. Unfortunately, goldens no longer inhabit Hunt Lake, but it is stocked every other year with westslope cutts. Several other lakes are located close to Hunt. One is Standard, which is stocked with cutthroat, and they are doing well with a good growth rate. (There’s another body of water next to Standard but it is barren.)
Up a rocky, steep route at the south end of Hunt Lake is a small, seldomvisited tarn called Fault Lake. It is stocked in even years with cutthroat
fry, but little is known about how well they are doing.
About 8 miles to the north as the crow flies is Harrison Lake, much larger than other waterbodies in this area. It is much easier to reach Harrison by way of the Bonners Ferry side. Cutts are regularly stocked in Harrison, which IDFG also recognizes as a “recommended fishing water.”
NORTH OF PRIEST River – and actually located in Washington – is Petit Lake. Turn west off Highway 57 at Kalispell Creek Road. It would be a wise decision to take a map along since signs in this area are rather rare. When, or if, you finally find Petit, there is a campground and picnic area. The lake is stocked each year with fingerling cutthroat. It was originally stocked with rainbow trout, but that was changed a few years ago now.
And finally, traveling down Highway 200 toward Clark Fork and turning at Lightning Creek will lead to some small hike-in lakes that can provide some very good fishing. The creek itself has a small population of bull trout that makes a spawning in the fall. While fishing the creek is easy, getting to the lakes is a different story. Porcupine, Moose, Darling and Estelle all require a long hike, some up to two hours. They mainly feature brook trout, but triploid rainbows are stocked annually in Porcupine.
For searchable stocking records, see idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner.
MOUNTAIN TROUT ALWAYS seem to be hungry and go after anything that resembles food. They usually stay close to the shoreline and are fond of grasshopper patterns, Prince Nymphs and Pheasant Tails.
While late summer fishing can be challenging on lowland trout waters, if you are fortunate enough to live in North Idaho or Northeast Washington, there are ways of making things a little more tolerable by fishing the high mountain lakes of the area. You may have to settle for smaller fish, but at least you are catching fish. NS
Float tubes, packrafts, even kayaks in a few cases allow alpine fishermen a better chance at catching rainbow, cutthroat, brook and other trout that swim in these highland lakes. (MIKE WRIGHT)
Delights Of The Dog Days
Cool off while wading Idaho’s Bitterroot Mountains streams for colorful, aggressive cutts and other trout.
Story and captions by Jeff Holmes
If you know, you know. Fly fishing for trout in wild mountains during the peak of summer is sublime. I’ve had the pleasure of camping and fly fishing all over the Northern Rockies for the last 30 years, and during those times I’d say most of my greatest angling pleasures and some of my life’s greatest pleasures occurred.
British Columbia, Alberta, Montana and Wyoming have all beckoned and produced excellent fishing, indescribable natural beauty, great camping and memories I will cherish all my life. However, on most of those trips, fishing and sleeping in low-key fear near lots of grizzlies, the same thought repeatedly occurred to me: In no place in the Northern Rockies’ wild mountain landscapes have I ever felt so free, contented and surer I would not be mauled by a grizzly than in Idaho’s portion of the Bitterroot Mountains. Whether it was my beloved Coeur d’Alene, St. Joe and North Fork Clearwater Rivers or river-sized Kelly Creek, I have always returned in my thoughts and in reality to North Idaho and these special places. If you haven’t been – or maybe it has been a while – and you love camping in wild mountains along tranquil streams loaded with big, wild cutthroat trout, August is a great time to explore the mountains and great cutthroat streams of North Idaho. There are more streams than I’ll feature here, but for my tastes,
these are the best rivers in August that offer the most.
A TERRIFIC TRIO
The St. Joe River, Kelly Creek and North Fork Clearwater River are famous catch-and-release fly fishing waters that are loaded with beautiful westslope cutthroat trout, rainbow
The beauty of North Idaho’s westslope cutthroat trout is something to behold. They are ready biters that rise to dry flies more often than perhaps any other species of trout. That said, streamers and nymphs are very productive too.
(NWOUTFITTERS.COM)
trout in the latter two, and improving numbers of bull trout and lots of mountain whitefish in all three. Along their lengths and along nearby Forest Service roads are hundreds of dispersed campsites along with lots of national forest campgrounds. While there can be crowds during weekends and holidays, there
FISHING
are always spots to fish and trails and side roads into the mountains that present opportunities to be alone in nature and to pick huckleberries, shoot guns, splash in creeks, eat good food, hike to lakes, and much more. Black bears, elk, mule deer, whitetails, moose, wolves and cougars make these drainages their homes, as do many other native Northern Rockies wildlife species.
All three rivers are catch-andrelease streams requiring single, barbless hooks, but I’ve never found the regulation a hindrance to catching fish, nor to taking total newbies out for successful first fly fishing trips. Most people do choose to fly fish here, but single, barbless-hooked lures are also allowed, no bait. The St. Joe is Idaho’s best trout stream, and Kelly and the North Fork Clearwater are right on its heels. After tightened regulations along more of its length in the late 2000s, biologists have been amazed to see more and bigger fish showing in their annual snorkel fish counts.
The St. Joe has tons of mature westslope cutthroats in it, and they’re the Northwest’s most eager fish species to rise for a fly. Fish from 12 to 14 inches are the average, but some days the fish all seem to stretch 16 inches or better, topping out in rare
This special hole in the background on the upper St. Joe River is one I affectionately call the waterfall hole. It’s usually good for a few big cutts and an occasional bull trout to release. It’s a place that holds many fond memories. (JEFF HOLMES)
cases over 20 inches. Fish are similarly sized although slightly smaller in Kelly and the North Fork Clearwater. The rivers are all home to superb numbers of quality fish, and catching them isn’t rocket science. I detail approaches to successful fly fishing in the second half of this article.
THE ST. JOE
The closest great cutthroat streams to Spokane and Coeur d’Alene and easy I-90 access are the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene and the St. Joe Rivers. For my tastes, the Coeur d’Alene is a little too close, too crowded, and low in flows in August to feature it here for late summer. But it is an option, and I love the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene in spring and in June and July. Meanwhile, the St. Joe remains cold in August –especially the upper river as described below – and drains taller mountains that hold snow longer. It is the crown jewel of North Idaho and perhaps all the state. It is my favorite place in the outdoors.
Divided into “upper” and “lower” stretches by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the lower river’s trout fishery stretches from the 16mile bridge on Forest Highway 50 (St. Joe River Road) upstream 30 miles to
Avery, a tiny town at the confluence with the North Fork of the St. Joe. St. Maries, Idaho, 16 miles downstream from the bridge, 46 miles from Avery, is the main access point to the St. Joe, especially the lower river, offering a full range of services. The lower St. Joe between 16-mile bridge and Avery is a great fishery and produces throughout summer, but by far the better fishery in August can be found upriver due to cooler water in late summer.
The upper St. Joe, the 66-mile stretch between Avery and the river’s source at St. Joe Lake, is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. Before anglers venture into the wildest parts of The Joe, it’s important to remember that Avery offers the last-gasp chance for services: gas, cold drinks, convenience-store food, a small motel, campsites and an excellent little fly shop, The Idaho Flyfishing Company (208-245-3626). They sell flies and fly gear, gifts and awesome ice cream. Avery has long been home to a concrete trout pond with a candy machine that dispenses trout chow. Kids love it, and so do I.
A very good thing for wild trout, the upper river above Avery offers the coldest water in August and is absolutely where I focus and recommend for late summer. Forest Highway 50 parallels the St. Joe for 30 miles above Avery through a magnificent canyon marked by a mix of emerald pools, broad riffles, pocket water and rapids. This road-accessed stretch offers excellent fishing and camping access along its entire length. Admire and swim in the emerald pools and fish the water in between them that is swift (thus oxygenated) and deep enough that fish feel safe and hidden from aerial attacks.
Thirty miles above Avery, Gold Creek Road (Road 388) leads away from the river and switchbacks 14 miles to the Montana border, where it becomes Little Joe Road. Fifteen miles further is St. Regis, Montana, a “shortcut” from I-90 to the remote upper St. Joe for many. St. Regis is home to groceries, restaurants,
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FISHING
huckleberry shakes and a few fly shops that dispense excellent advice and flies for Bitterroot streams.
Back on The Joe at Gold Creek, Forest Highway 50 becomes Red Ives Road (Road 218) and shrinks dramatically into a very narrow, mostly paved route that parallels the river. Fishing and free camping opportunities are nearly constant along the 10-mile drive to Red Ives Ranger Station, home of a U.S. Geological Survey gauge. Road 320 – a rough, one-lane track – leaves the river at Red Ives for the mountains, only to reconnect with the St. Joe at Heller Creek, the upstream-most drive-in access. Road 218 continues along the river’s north bank for 2 miles beyond Red Ives, providing access to more Forest Service campgrounds and trailheads. From the end of Road 218, a popular hiking and horse-packing trail leads to Heller Creek. This and many other hike-in fishing opportunities are featured in Rich Landers’ 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest.
NORTH FORK CLEARWATER AND KELLY CREEK
The upper North Fork of the Clearwater River and its larger tributary, Kelly Creek, originate from the rugged slopes of the Bitterroot
Late-summer downpours can be scarce in the Bitterroots but are frequent enough to lead me to always keep lightweight rain gear on my person when hiking or at least in the truck when fishing roaded sections. I’ve found these downpours to trigger excellent bites both during and after the rain. The well-named Avery Cash caught this St. Joe cutt during a July freshet. (MIKE BEARD, SILVERBOWFLYSHOP.COM)
Mountains on the Idaho-Montana border. Native westslope cutthroat and cuttbows provide fantastic fishing throughout summer and early fall.
The cutthroat genetics are less pure here than on the St. Joe for three reasons. First, IDFG historically stocked rainbows in streams, though long, long ago now (including the St. Joe). Second, they still stock rainbows (albeit triploid versions) way downstream in Dworshak Reservoir. Third, when Dworshak Dam was erected in 1966 and buried many hundreds of miles of steelhead streams under impounded water, native rainbows and steelhead smolts alike were locked behind the dam. You will not see many pure rainbows, but their genetics can still be seen, and felt.
I swear, as do others, that fish in these two streams fight harder than in other North Idaho cutthroat streams with purer cutts, and they also rise to the dry fly with slightly more reluctance. I’m more likely to fish nymphs, soft hackles, emergers and streamers here. The result is more fish landed, and that includes bull trout. Populations of bulls are fairly robust on both streams also.
It’s harder to get to these streams
than it is to fish them; they are blessedly remote. The streams are close to each other and are both accessed from either Pierce, Idaho, or from Superior, Montana. A third route exists via a crazy Forest Service road from the Lochsa River, but it is a longgg, indirect route. I once did it as a young man in my girlfriend’s 1992 Toyota Corolla, partially on a donut tire. I don’t even recommend it in a truck, and I definitely recommend treating your old lady and her vehicle with more respect. The upper North Fork of the Clearwater and Kelly Creek converge at Kelly Forks, at the bottom of the Black Canyon on Forest Road 250.
Below their confluence, the river takes the name North Fork of the Clearwater even though Kelly Creek is arguably bigger where they converge. Below Kelly Forks, fishing can be great for trout until you get closer to Dworshak Reservoir, which is currently the continent’s best smallmouth bass fishery. Smallmouth make a run quite a ways up the North Fork.
In August, with lower flows and warmer water, it’s advisable to fish the Black Canyon of the North Fork above Kelly Forks. All of Kelly Creek
FISHING
is excellent, although the roadless portion above Kelly Creek Trailhead number 567 is the best stretch I’ve fished. It’s an easy trail, though it offers little shade and is best hiked in the early morning. Spend the day wading the creek’s cold waters, and hike out in the cool of the evening. Better yet, backpack up Kelly Creek. Whether car camping or backpacking, there are no services anywhere near these streams, so coming prepared is essential.
The cutts and cuttbows in both streams range from 10 to 16 inches, with some larger fish available. I love the cutts and release them carefully, but I don’t feel bad watching them get occasionally brutalized by the big, marauding bulls that lurk in the rivers’ emerald pools, deep runs and log jams. These bulls sometimes top 10 pounds, and they will hammer streamers, nymphs and even the cutthroats on the end of your line. Bulls seem more numerous in the North Fork of the Clearwater, cutts more numerous in Kelly Creek.
BITTERROOT TROUT HOW-TOS
Before I make some inexpensive suggestions about getting outfitted with rod, reel, line, boots and other essentials, including some fishing strategy suggestions, here’s a caveat. If you don’t have the coin right now or just aren’t sure if you want to invest a few hundred dollars for a complete setup, but you already have some gear, just get out there and use it so long as your fly line floats. The first giant cutthroat I caught as a kid on a fly rod was on a sunken Danielson dry fly that looked vaguely like an insect, and I remember my rod and reel combo cost me about $25 at the now defunct Spokane Valley White Elephant sporting goods store.
Now, I don’t recommend you fish with total trash either, but you will probably catch a fish or two, but maybe not big ones though in August. That big cutt that ate my sunken make-believe insect on the roadless North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River did so in early summer. Water levels had just settled
in August. Dispersed camping and cheap or free national forest campground camping draw visitors from far and wide, but there’s always spots to camp somewhere and always opportunities to land cutthroats.
down, and fish hadn’t seen much pressure. That was also pre-1992 when A River Runs Through It was released, and hordes of newcomers had not yet descended on the sport. These days, by the time August rolls around, fish will have seen plenty of flies, and water levels will have dropped, concentrating fish and making fishing a little more technical. It helps to have the right fly and gear that can reasonably get the job done. So, if you can swing it – no fly fishing puns intended – here’s a cheap entry to effective gear, followed by some suggestions for a small selection of flies you can fish with confidence on these rivers – and really, any Northwest river – in August.
Footwear: First, let’s talk boots and other gear before rods and flies. You can wade in sandals or sneakers, but the analogy I always use is that wading in these kinds of footwear is like driving in snow and ice in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with bad tires. Wearing inexpensive felt-soled wading boots and wool socks is like
Ahhh, the Bitterroot Mountains – home to the St. Joe, Kelly Creek and the North Fork of the Clearwater – are all ablaze in sun-drenched splendor
(USGS; JEFF HOLMES)
FISHING
driving in the same conditions in a four-by-four.
You can spend plenty on felt-soled boots from Simms or Orvis, but you’ll also be fine with some $35 to 60 boots from Hodgman or Frogg Toggs. I highly recommend felt-soled boots, and there’s zero need for waders in August. Wading in felt-soled boots without waders is called “wet wading,” and this approach and the chill of mountain waters in summer are great joys of life.
Supplies: I also recommend a small backpack packed with ultralight rain gear, a fleece, firestarter and a lighter, bug spray, a water bottle and water filter (or just tons of water), caloriedense food, a first-aid kit, a headlamp with extra batteries, a multitool, and bear spray kept handy outside the pack. I carry a pistol, too, but not for critters so much as man, the most dangerous game.
Fly rod: I recommend a 5- or 6-weight 8½- or 9-foot fly rod with a fast or medium-fast action, which means a stiff rod with some power. Noodley slow-action and mediumaction rods make it tough to fish streamer patterns and are tougher to learn on. You can spend a lot on a rod, or you can get a Cortland, Echo or other less expensive rod for around $125. Or you can buy an even cheaper rod, get a hand-medown or buy a used rod. A great time
can be had with any fly rod.
Reel: You’ll want to pair it with a mid- to large-arbor fly reel that costs well under $100, and you should load it with 50 to 100 yards of Dacron line as “backing.” Look for a reel that is fitted to the same weight rod that you purchase. You can get into something for $30, and if you look around, you might find a fancy name-brand reel online for a fraction of its retail cost. You could also have a great time with the cheapest reel at your local sporting goods store.
You’ll want a weight-forward (WF) floating flyline in the same size/weight (5 or 6) as your rod. Flyline is expensive, and you can pay $60 to $100 for the really good stuff, which is worth it when you fish a lot, since it lasts years when cared for and is important to casting. For new fly anglers, any WF floating line will work, although nice line is a luxury that translates to better fishing. WF line is heavier and fatter in diameter on the front end of the spool, which enables easier casting to “shoot” your leader, tippet and fly forward of the fly line.
Leader and tippet: You’ll want to have at least several tapered leaders in 4X (roughly 6-pound test) and 5X (roughly 4-pound test) in 8- to 12foot lengths. These fluorocarbon or monofilament tapered leaders are true to their name and start with some fat, stout line and taper down to thin line,
the part that is 4X to 5X. The tapering, like the WF floating line, enables you to “turn over” (or “shoot”) the leader and propel your fly far in front of your floating line. As you change between patterns on your tapered leader over time, it will become shorter and ultimately thicker. Before you get to a portion of the leader that’s too thick, you’ll want to tie new tippet to your leader to keep the leader long and the line thin so it’ll pass through the eye of your fly. Tying on tippet before it’s too late also extends the life of your tapered leader.
Knots: You’ll need spools of tippet and knot knowledge to achieve this. Double surgeon’s, uni and doubleuni knots are simple and effective for this task of joining mono to mono or fluorocarbon to fluorocarbon. Carry plenty of quality tippet, monofilament or fluorocarbon, but I think mono is easier to fish with and is usually about as effective unless fishing heavily pressured fish. Mono is definitely easier to cut and tie knots with, so I recommend it starting out. Get little spools in 4X, 5X and even 6X.
Other knots you’ll want to learn that are a breeze include loop and loop connector knots as well as knots that affix tippet to fly, such as the ever popular improved clinch knot. Other knots I tie for fly fishing include arbor knots and nail knots, but there are many more.
Fly equipment: You’ll also need nippers, hemostats and fly floatant, which you can find at fly shops or online. Floatant enables you to dress a dry fly and protect it from moisture and extend the time it will float. Nippers cut line and do so with precise, clean cuts so that you can fit thin-diameter line through the tiny eyelets of some flies. On the back end of nippers is also a fine metal poker to ream out the eyelets of flies to aid you in threading line through eyelets. Hemostats allow you to crimp barbs, release fish and cut line in the case of medical hemostats, which come equipped with scissors. All this gear can fit in a shorts or pants
Catch-and-release and other strict regulations were first put in place in 1969 and have paid huge dividends. Cutthroat populations are robust, bull trout are recovering, and brook trout in nearby mountain lakes and streams provide opportunities for harvest. Check your regs carefully, but Idaho fishery managers actually encourage brook trout harvest, especially in the Kelly Creek and North Fork of the Clearwater watersheds. (NWOUTFITTERS.COM)
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pocket, on a lanyard, in a vest or in a chest or fanny pack.
Fly selection: You’ll need a small box of flies, and below is a very short list of good ones for August stream fishing. I recommend focusing mostly on dries when you start out for fun’s sake and the sake of learning to cast and turn over flies, getting good drifts, and getting visual confirmation of what your casting and mending is doing by watching the fly on the surface.
Dries: Foam ants and beetles, preferably black with white or orange indicators and in sizes 12 to 16; X Caddis and Elk Hair Caddis in sizes 14 to 18; Comparadun and Sparkle Dun mayfly imitations in sizes 14-18; and Hopper patterns with yellow and beige abdomens in sizes 6 to 12.
Wets: If you want to fish nymphs, you’ll catch trout for sure, but also probably hard-fighting mountain whitefish, which are nymph-crazy fish that exist in good numbers in
the Bitterroots. Try Prince Nymphs in traditional and purple colors in sizes 12 to 18, Pheasant Tails in traditional and purple colors in sizes 12 to 18, and both gray and olive Hare’s Ear nymphs in 12 to 18. Fish these with or without an indicator (a tiny bobber).
Streamers: I am a strong advocate of stripping streamers in deep pools in Bitterroot streams during August, and I strongly suggest it for beginner fly anglers who want to increase chances of hooking the rivers’ biggest fish. Try black, brown and olive coneheaded Woolly Buggers in sizes 8 to 14 , olive and natural-color weighted Zonkers and Bunny Leeches in size 6-12; and olive, brown, and purple weighted String Leeches in sizes 6 to 12. Cast steamers (carefully to avoid hitting yourself) perpendicular to the current or slightly downstream in deeper slots, runs and pools and strip the fly back to you 6 to 12 inches at a time.
Techniques: When you’re fishing dry flies and nymphs, you’ll want to fish drag-free, the polar opposite of stripping line. Mending line to present flies drag-free involves manipulating your fly line and leader such that you do not impart any action on your fly, allowing it to drift “drag-free” and naturally. Mending is generally lifting your fly line upstream carefully and placing it above your fly, allowing your fly to drift downstream in front of your fly line without drag. The longer and more consistent your dragfree drift, the more fish you will catch dry fly and nymph fishing in streams. Of course, look for rising fish and get your fly upstream of them to present your fly naturally and drag-free. If you don’t see fish actively feeding, fish where they are likely to be in August. Late-summer fish favor water that is swift and thus more oxygenated and that offers them protection from ospreys and other predators. NS
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Fall Bear Advice From The Willapa Hills
Ihave a friend, in and of itself a shock to some folks. We’ll call him Miles, though that’s not his real name. Miles is a keepto-himself sort of guy, a skosh suspicious by nature, but I can’t say I really blame him for being that way. If you’ll recall, I try to live under what I call the “To Each His or Her Own” mantra. Miles is, to my way of thinking, a remarkably normal man. Significant other. Family. Job. Chickens. Twists a wrench on his own pickup. Normal. And I hope he’s not offended by my use of the word “normal.”
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By MD Johnson
Miles isn’t much of a fisherman. Oh, he fishes. And he’ll catch a salmon or steelhead. But what Miles is is a damn good hunter. Deer. Elk. Ducks. Geese. He does it all, and he does it all quite well in an old-school way. He knows the animals. He knows his abilities and limitations. He constantly hones his marksmanship skills, which are first rate. He puts his time in afield. He’s patient and stealthy, and knows how to play the wind. He’s conscientious of the world we share with our natural resources. Ethical. Responsible. A damn good consumptive user; one of the best I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in my 51 years of doing this hunting thing.
MOST OF ALL, perhaps, Miles knows bears. Each year beginning in late June or early July, I’ll start receiving cell phone images from Miles. Trail camera photographs with short comments. “Big one here,” he’ll write. “Another 200-pounder.” “Just the right size to pack out and eat.”“But wait … there’s more.” And my favorite: “This one looks like he has enough fat for you guys.”
Why that one? ’Cause Miles has agreed to, well, let’s just say he’s agreed to point me in the proverbial right direction evenings after August 15, which is the date under the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s new black bear management rules the Willapa Hills opens for bruin
A Southwest Washington black bear hunter advises finding a high point overlooking water sources and forage, and then to “sit back, relax and start looking for dead trees and torn stumps,” signs a bruin is feeding in the area. (MILES)
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hunting this year, annual limit one.
Surprising to me, Miles agreed to a short, on-the-record sit-down with me recently. The topic? Bears, specifically bear hunting in August in Southwest Washington. Now, I’m sure much of what Miles told me could be applied to bear hunting scenarios in Eastern Washington or Northern Idaho or Southern Oregon; however, the man works his bruin magic, for the most part, in our shared neck of the woods.
BUT BEFORE WE “talk” with Miles, let me tell about my one and only black bear. Yes, sir. I said one and only. ’Tis true, I’ve sat and I’ve seen several bears since returning to Southwest Washington in 2015; however, I’ve tagged but one.
My biggest take-away from that experience? Bears, unlike Midwest whitetails, do not stop and stare when you grunt at them in an attempt to make them stop walking and present a better shooting opportunity. Oh, no. Bears just turn and run away. And they run away amazingly fast.
However, bears, as mine did, will sometimes return to the apple orchard within minutes and then stop and stare, allowing me the chance to set down my Zane Grey novel, prop the scoped CVA Accura VII – note: scoped muzzleloaders with optics greater than 1x are legal during a modern rifle season; see page 75, Section 4 under “Muzzleloader Regulations” in WDFW’s 2025 Big Game Hunting Regulations – on the sticks, and deliver a single .50-caliber AeroLite/ AeroTip bullet precisely where it needed to go. A mile-wide blood trail took me 50 yards to my first (and only) black bear. The landowner then hauled the bruin out of the tules with his John Deere, hoisted him with the bucket so I could remove the beast’s innards, and then laid him nicely in the bed of Grandpa’s old Chevrolet pickup, at which point I shook the man’s hand, thanked him and drove home. Who said packing out a bear was tough? Andddddd … let the cursing begin!
BACK TO MILES and his thoughts on August bear hunting. I want you to
remember he’s a man of few words. Short and sweet and to the point; however, though the sentences themselves might be of little length, their message is of great importance.
MD Johnson Gearing up for the opener, how important are trail cameras at this point? Do cameras play a role?
Miles [Cameras] are extremely important if you don’t know the area. If it’s a new area where you’ve never been, (cameras) are the only way to determine if it’s worth spending your time.
MDJ That said, how do you determine, especially given it’s uncharted territory, where to hang the cameras?
M You get a topographical map – author’s
Give “Miles” a cloudy late summer day and he’ll hunt the morning hours, but mostly he likes the evenings as temperatures begin to cool off and the animals become active again. (MILES)
note: see what I mean about “old school” ... – and you look for drainages and water sources. Then it’s just a matter of getting to the highest point, somewhere where you can see, sit back, relax and start looking for dead trees and torn stumps. Water and feed, and then you go from there.
MDJ Feed? Come August, I’m surrounded by blackberries. How do I differentiate between a “fair” berry patch and a “hot” berry patch?
M A good berry patch will have blackberries, cascara, black caps (Rubus occidentalis, or blackcap raspberry), elderberries and salmonberries, all in the same patch. For August to September bears, yes, it’s a berry thing.
MDJ You mention food and water. Are you looking for both side by side?
M Bears are naturally lazy, so you want to find a spot that has both food and water in the same spot. Generally, most of the spots I hunt have water year-round. A bear will drink up to 7 gallons of water each day.
MDJ If you could only hunt one time period, which would it be – morning or evening?
bolt-action big game rifles to pump-action 12-gauges loaded with slugs. Young Southwest Washington hunter Bryce
M Evening. Once you pick a good spot and you sit, most of the time a bear’s already in there napping. Then it’s just a waiting game until they get up and start moving around as the temperatures cool off.
MDJ If, as you say, the bear’s already there napping, how crucial is it you get into position quietly?
M Ah, I’ve walked up to within 20 feet of bear multiple times. They’re so noisy when they’re tearing apart a log or a berry patch, I don’t think they generally hear you. Their eyesight is poor. It’s their nose. You always have to have the wind in your favor. Me? I just play the wind. Where I hunt, I know the tides and (how they influence) the wind shifts.
Author’s note: At this point, Miles interjected what he believes to be the number one variable, per se, in the equation that is successful bear hunting.
M The most important factor in success when it comes to getting a bear is patience. You have to be able to sit for two to three hours in the same spot. I didn’t start killing bears until I slowed down and
started sitting around.
MDJ If you could control the weather, what weather conditions would you conjure up on your hunt days?
M A nice overcast morning in September, and I’ll go hunt the morning. Those bears will be out moving around and eating as much as they can while it’s cool. If it’s a bluebird sunny day, I’ll wait until evening when the bears are all rested up. Then it starts to cool off and they just come out of the woodwork.
MDJ The most important piece of gear you take into the field with you is … ?
M A flashlight. Nobody likes bumping into bears in the dark without a flashlight.
MDJ Your firearm of choice when it comes to Washington black bears?
M My .338 Federal with either a 200-grain Nosler AccuBond or the 210-grain Partition. Why those? You can bust shoulders, both sides, if you have to and the bullet holds together.
MDJ To quote Robert Ruark, when it comes to bears, it’s always “use enough gun.” Yes?
M I’ve seen bears fall over dead (when hit with) a .243 Winchester. And I’ve seen bears take seven or eight rounds of .30-06 before they were done.
Bullet placement is extremely important on that first shot. Where? About the middle of the bear. Their heart sits further back than on a deer or an elk. Shoot right behind the shoulder and you’ll miss the heart. It’s more midpoint.
Author’s note: There are dozens upon dozens of excellent articles on Al Gore’s Internet headlined by “Where to shoot a black bear.” Surprisingly, at least to me, it’s further back, i.e. middle of the body, than one would think, especially as Miles says, compared to traditional wisdom as to where to shoot a deer or elk. The important thing here, as always, is to use enough gun, be confident with that firearm, and make the first shot count.
MDJ I’ve been told that judging a black bear as to size, i.e. weight and age, is a challenge. Suggestions here?
“Enough gun” for black bears can mean anything from
Foytack poses with his first bear, taken last season. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
M I look at ear spacing. Not necessarily the size of the ears, but how far apart they’re spaced. And how they walk. A smaller bear (200 pounds and under) will walk somewhat like a deer or an elk. A big bear won’t necessarily strut, but he’ll “swing” his arms. Like an ape maybe.
SIMPLE INFORMATION, YES, but worthwhile nonetheless because it comes from someone who has put in the time and effort. Me? Once Miles notches his tag, I have a standing invite to join him and partake of his knowledge, something I’ll gladly do. This time, though, there won’t be a John Deere tractor, a haul rope or a friendly landowner. This time, it’s going to be packs ’n backs. I’m OK with that. Yeah, I’m counting my chickens prior to the egg break, but my wife will enjoy having all that bear fat, and we sure do love us some bear breakfast sausage. Be safe out there as another hunting season gets underway, and good luck. NS
ASK THE M.D.
Admittedly, the MD in MD Johnson’s name doesn’t exactly stand for “medical doctor,” but as you’ve seen in these pages over the years, he’s a pretty thoughtful guy on a wide range of topics. So we’re offering you a chance to pick MD’s brain on anything from crabbing to crappie fishing, muzzleloader hunting to duck decoying, and more. Got a question for him? Hit me at awalgamott@media-inc.com and I’ll get him on it for a future issue. –The Editor
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The Bruins Of Summer
Oregon’s August opener an early chance to kick off fall big game seasons.
By Troy Rodakowski
Ivery recently told my 8-year-old daughter that “summer is my least favorite time of year.” For many reasons, I despise these hot, sweaty and uncomfortable dog days. By the look she gave me, I’m not so sure my daughter agreed, but there is one thing I always do look forward to come early August: the opening of fall bear season across Oregon. It signals the beginning of the approach of big game seasons and gives me a great excuse to get out into the mountains.
There are always good reasons to get out in the woods and away from the summer grind, but now is a
particularly good time to glass berry patches and open hillsides for feeding bears. Add in a nearby swampy creek bottom where fresh food and water can be found and you might just have a good spot to put some time in at.
While late spring’s birth pulse is when they do most of their predation, bears are still on the lookout for fawns and calves during late summer and I have even had some luck calling them with distress calls this time of year.
One year, we were able to harvest a good bear in early August from a reprod/clearcut drainage. The meat was ground into Italian sausage, and we took the berries we had picked
and made a syrup to incorporate with the meat, onions and fresh herbs. Add some blackberry pie for dinner and it was simply perfect.
Bear season also gives me a very good reason to check trail cameras, scout for deer and elk and observe post-fire landscapes, all while roaming around the woods picking fresh blackberries and huckleberries. Usually, I make a trip to our regular family camp spots just to see how things are looking and make sure no repairs are needed to the fire pit, meat poles and lean-to frames.
Of course, we’re always on the lookout for bears as we do our end-of-
A sow checks the wind during a recent fall bear hunt in the Coast Range. Always be sure of your target – in Oregon and new this year in Washington, it’s illegal to take a female with cubs or cubs less than a year old. (GARY LEWIS OUTDOORS)
HUNTING
Taking a kid along on a bear hunt will help familiarize them with the process, and while your bruin tag may go unfilled, you’ll have an extra pair of hands to pick berries. Reese Rodakowski helped her dad load up on blackberries, a major bonus during fall bear season, during an outing. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)
summer chores. In fact, many times we find a bear out feeding when we are least expecting it. We have missed several such opportunities.
AS FOR WHERE to go in Oregon, looking at the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s 2024 harvest statistics, the Heppner, Catherine Creek and Mt. Emily Wildlife Management Units had some of the highest takes of fall bears in Northeast Oregon.
The Metolius Unit was the winner in Central Oregon, while on the Westside, the Indigo, Rogue, Dixon, McKenzie, Siuslaw, Alsea and Trask Units were top performers. A total of 436 bears were taken throughout the Northwest Zone last fall, while Southwest Zone units reported 684 and Northeast Oregon 337. The statewide total was 2,569 fall bears.
Historically speaking, black bear populations have been on the rise throughout much of Oregon. In the 1930s, it was thought that only approximately 9,000 bears inhabited the state, but using an integrated population model and plugging in data from multiple research sources, ODFW last year estimated there were 44,000 animals, plus or minus 5,000.
FOOD, FOOD AND more food is what is on the menu for August bears. Berries, orchards (apple/pear), vineyards, fresh forest vegetation, skunk cabbage, spawned-out fish and everything else on Mother Nature’s buffet table this
BRING ALONG A KID
Now is a great time to take youngsters on a bear hunt and enjoy the outdoors together. My 8-year-old always asks when our next adventure will be and typically, August weather is nice and comfortable for young ones to spend a weekend at bear camp, roast some marshmallows, hot dogs and make some s’mores before they have to return to school.
One thing to be mindful of is not to overdo it. Burning a kid out by hiking too far or in steep terrain will not make for happy times. We want our youth to enjoy the outdoors, so taking our time and being mindful of a youngster’s limits is very important. I like to hear, “Daddy, when are we going hunting again?”
Also, make sure to keep in mind that fire danger may not allow for open flames unless in designated fire rings at maintained campgrounds. –TR
SEASON ALL TERRAIN
The rabbit, deer, elk, and moose are what color? Brown...Exactly! If green were such a good camo color the good lord would have made these animals green. Most camo today is designed to catch the hunter rather than to help catch the quarry.
If you use ASAT Camo exclusively for 1 year and do not see more game than you ever have wearing any other brand of camo, we will buy it back guaranteed!
HUNTING
time of year is where you’ll find bears. Some of the most important things for consistent success on bruins are:
Scent control: Hunters tend to overlook cover scents and scent eliminators during bear season. One of the biggest defenses a bear has is its ability to smell and detect food or danger, especially since their eyesight isn’t the greatest.
Pack patience: Hunters, regardless of what tag they have, tend to call it quits too early. With bears, find a comfortable location and wait a fair amount of time, glassing and calling. This is crucial especially during prime hours of movement, early and late.
Mix things up: That said, if you have been glassing for a couple days without success, go for a hike, set up around a food source or do some distress fawn, calf or rabbit calling. Just make sure to check out new areas and explore a bit.
Go where few have: Especially later in the season, look to locations away
from roads or well-used trails. Bears will be drawn to these isolated zones.
Remain optimistic: For me, it seems that oftentimes I see bears when I least expect it. They are quiet and shy for the most part, so try to keep that in mind while pursuing them.
THE BEAVER STATE offers some of the best bear hunting in the country with its various climates and hunting options available to hunters. Spot and stalk open country in northeast Oregon’s Snake River divide, Wallowa Wilderness and Blue Mountains or head even further west to the Cascades and throughout the Coast Range.
No matter what your reason might be, I have found that there really is no good excuse not to get out there and see what’s bruin. NS
Author’s note: Remember, all black bears need to be checked by ODFW and female reproductive tracts saved following harvest.
Old trails and logging roads are popular travel routes for cruising bears. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)
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Cameron King, author Randy King’s son, works quickly to take care of a deer he just killed. Technically they’re fall hunts, but some deer, elk, pronghorn and bear seasons occur during late summer’s high, meat-spoiling temperatures, so being able to break down and cool harvested animals quickly is a critical consideration before shooting. (RANDY KING)
Hunting In The Heat? 5 Keys For Good Meat
CHEF
IN
THE WILD
When we arrived I left my wife at the last blood drop and started making a grid in the aspen stand. Soon I found him. Piled up under a willow next to a creek. I was thankful. But also worried.
Was the deer bad? That was my question. Had the heat caused the buck to rot? Or was the cool of the night and creek enough? There was no way to tell except to start skinning.
Thankfully, nothing was bad. This time. The meat smelled fine; there was no vague smell of sulfur or rot. But I have lost meat before and not much will piss me off more than spoiling the meat on a hunt. It has only ever happened a few times in my life and, man, I am still bitter and ashamed.
I OFTEN SEE dead critters treated inappropriately on social media. I’ll put it this way – if you are driving around with an ungutted buck in the back of your truck in September to show your buddy, you are doing it wrong. When the weather’s hot, taking care of your wild game becomes a race against time.
Even if the meat is not technically “spoiled,” that buck might have a bit of a twang to it after the joy ride to the neighbor’s house. Or maybe that mule deer tastes a little too much like sagebrush? Often, the issue isn’t the animal – it’s the hunter. Heat can do a number on meat quality, and fast.
So, below are my five tips for keeping game meat at its highest possible quality even when it is hot outside.
1) GUT IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT – FAST
WBy Randy King
hen the arrow came out of the bow, I knew – I just knew – it was a good shot. But I could not find the little buck. We had his trail; we had blood; we didn’t have a body. And it was hot outside. The valley below us was in the midst
of a September heatwave well over 100 degrees. It was in the mid-80s on the mountain we were hunting.
Eventually I had to call it. We went back to camp. I didn’t sleep that night. At daybreak I was back on the blood, scrambling and hoping. We had taken the UTV back to where we had been tracking the buck’s blood. It was chilly outside, and I was never happier to be cold when driving my utility vehicle.
If it’s 85 degrees and you’re still admiring your shot, you’re already behind. Heat is the enemy of good meat. The moment that animal hits the ground, the clock starts ticking. Get it gutted quickly. Open it up, get the heat out, and let the air in. Bonus points if you can prop it open with a stick like a meat teepee. This isn’t the time for a photo shoot – save that for later.
Also, know that big masses of meat hold heat. (Hey, I rhymed!) But seriously, if you can get the back legs off an elk (or whatever critter you’re working on) sooner rather than later, the meat (and
CHEESY RICE MAKES VENISON NICE
Ihave never – not one time – made the correct amount of rice for my family’s dinner. I am either short or long on rice. And I had to embrace it. So now I purposefully cook a little extra. Someone in this house of heathens will eat it. Or I can make fried rice later in the week, or Italian cheesy rice, like below with venison.
1.5-pound venison sirloin roast (rubbed with salt, pepper and garlic powder)
2 cups cooked rice
¼ cup sliced green olives with pimento ½ bundle asparagus, cut into ¾-inch pieces
¼ cup butter, divided
1 tablespoon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano Fresh sage, thyme and rosemary
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, in a heavy-bottomed sauté pan set over medium-high heat, melt half the butter. Sear the sirloin on one side until browned. Add the herbs and baste the meat with the butter and pan juices.
your dinner guests) will thank you. The thick thighs of a critter hold heat like a Dutch oven and are often the first thing to spoil. If you’ve ever smelled that smell, you know exactly what I mean.
Even just separating the quarters from the body cavity can make a huge difference. Let that heat escape. Let the air do its job.
If you gut shot it and it is warm outside, I’d consider using the gutless method. This will keep the bacteria from the critter off the meat.
(You cannot help cross-contamination when you gut shoot …)
Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 115 degrees for medium-rare. Remove from oven and let the meat rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer the meat to a cutting board and reserve the pan juices. Discard the herbs.
To prepare the cheesy rice, in the same pan, add the remaining butter and heat
2) SHADE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Dragging a deer across a sun-baked hillside might feel like a hero move, but your meat will hate you for it. Find shade. Make shade. Be shade. Even a tarp strung between trees can drop the temp enough to slow spoilage. If you wouldn’t nap there, don’t hang your meat there.
North-facing slopes, creek bottoms and thick timber are your allies. Think like a mushroom – cool, dark and damp.
My brother once made a little bridge out of sticks across a small stream in the middle of a September elk hunt. Then he put his game bags on the bridge next to
until just beginning to brown. Add the cooked rice, olives and asparagus. Sauté for two minutes.
Stir in the mustard and reserved pan juices. Mix well to combine and heat through. Sprinkle on the Parmesan and stir until melted and creamy.
Slice the sirloin and serve over a generous bed of cheesy Italian rice. Enjoy! –RK
the water. Then he covered the whole thing (with a little air gap) with his tarp. It made an excellent little refrigerator. The chill of the water moved the air around the meat, keeping it cool. The shade of the creek helped, and the tarp provided some insulation against the sun. I don’t say nice things about my brother often, but this was brilliant. I’ve since stolen that trick, but I’ll give him grudging credit for the idea.
3) BAGS, NOT BUGS
Flies love warm meat, so game bags are a must. Not the cheap cheesecloth ones
Pan-roasted venison sirloin with Italian cheesy rice. (RANDY KING)
COLUMN
that rip if you look at them wrong – get the good stuff. The cheap ones stretch so much that they let in dirt, flies and whatever else is buzzing around. That’s the exact opposite of what a game bag is supposed to do.
I use the ones that remind me of old-school pillowcases – tight weave, breathable, tough. They keep the bugs out and let the meat breathe.
One tip I picked up on a caribou hunt in Alaska was to use citric acid spray. You can buy it online in granule form and mix it with water in a spray bottle. It works like bug spray for bacteria. A light mist on the outside of the meat makes it less hospitable for microbes. Just remember, you’ll need to trim that outer layer off later. But it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.
4) ICE IS NICE, BUT AIRFLOW IS KING
If you’ve got a cooler, great. But don’t just toss meat in there like it’s a six-pack. Keep
it dry and elevated – use frozen water bottles or milk jugs instead of loose ice. I will stack the meat in the cooler with frozen water bottles pressed against the largest segments of meat. And crack the lid now and then to let it breathe.
Loose ice creates water. Meat sitting in a puddle of bloody water is a one-way ticket to funkytown. Wet meat also kills a lot of texture and color. I’ve waterlogged several deer in my life, and each time I regret it. It’s like soaking a steak in a mop bucket – just don’t.
5) KNOW WHEN TO CALL IT
Sometimes it’s just too dang hot. If you’re 5 miles deep with no shade, no ice and no plan, maybe don’t pull the trigger or loose the arrow.
When I was younger, I watched my dad come to full draw on a cow elk at 20 yards. We were about 4 miles back off the road, almost out of water, and it was the middle of
the day. He looked over at me, apologized, and lowered his bow. It was his only shot opportunity that year on an elk.
Respect the animal. Respect the meat. There’s no shame in walking away if you can’t take care of the meat – or yourself. You’ll get another chance. And when you do, you’ll be ready.
BOTTOM
LINE, TAKING
care of wild game in hot weather isn’t rocket surgery – but it does take a little planning, awareness and some discipline. The best-tasting meat comes from hunters who treat the animal with respect from the moment it hits the ground to the moment it hits the grill/ pan/stove/Crock-Pot/toaster/air fryer. You get the point …
So next time you are hunting in the heat, remember: gut fast, find shade, bag smart, keep it dry and know when to walk away. Your taste buds – and your family –will thank you. NS
Late-summer activities for big game hunters include locating deer and elk trails, bedding and feeding areas and wallows, as well as remote and digital scouting. (ERIC
Hot Days Afield Now = Big Rewards Come Fall
ABECOMING A BETTER HUNTER
By Dave Anderson
ugust isn’t just the countdown to hunting season – it’s when hunters start getting serious. The actual hunt or hunts may not take place until September or October, but the time to prepare and get ready is now. You need to lay the groundwork to ensure the best possible outcome once fall arrives.
Whether you’re after a velvet mule deer buck or a bugling bull elk with your bow in September, or a blacktail or whitetail with your rifle in October, summer scouting makes a difference. There is still time to prepare. In this article, I will dig into what you should be focusing on this month to make sure you are in the right spot this fall.
EYES, BOOTS ON THE GROUND
Nothing beats getting into your unit and laying eyes on the landscape now. This time of year, animals are in fairly consistent summer routines. Bucks and bulls are still
in bachelor groups, feeding heavily and staying in predictable patterns. They are easier to spot if you know where to look. Start by glassing early in the morning and late in the evening. Mule deer bucks will often feed out into the open, shady benches or edges at first and last light. Elk are more likely to stick to edges of timber near water or in high-elevation meadows. Your job is to find those areas that offer food, shade and escape routes.
Pay attention to terrain features like saddles, benches and north-facing slopes. These hold cooler temperatures and better forage, especially when the weather is hot. Don’t just mark where you see animals – note when they move and what terrain they are using.
If you find tracks, animal beds or wellused game trails during midday hikes, you have struck gold. Fresh sign in the area shows you they are around. Elk like to bed in dark timber, so if you find a bed with fresh droppings and disturbed dirt, you have most likely found their daytime hangout. But don’t scare them off – take notes and quietly back out.
SCOUT WHILE YOU SLEEP
Trail cameras help you gather information without being there. In August, place your cameras wisely and check them less often so you leave less scent in the area. Every time you hike in to check a trail camera, you are adding scent and pressure, so be strategic.
Good spots to set trail cameras include:
• Wallows (elk);
• Saddles or natural funnels;
• Water sources, especially small springs;
• Mineral licks and edges between timber and feeding areas.
Use video mode or multi-shot settings to learn not just if animals are there, but how they are moving through. Cellular cameras are a great option if you are able to utilize them in the area you are hunting. Cell cams help keep pressure off the animals and give you real-time insights.
Just remember not to overcheck your noncellular cameras. Let them sit for at least 10 to 14 days before checking them again. Of course, always follow state regulations when it comes to trail camera usage.
BRAATEN, LEFT; DAVE ANDERSON, MIDDLE, RIGHT)
COLUMN
READ THE SIGN
Knowing how to read animal sign is just as critical as spotting critters themselves. In August, old rubs and scrapes can still help, especially if they’re in high-traffic zones like saddles or ridgetop crossings. They may get used again during the rut. Fresh signs to look for include:
• New, well-worn trails;
• Tracks with clear edges;
• Beds with hair or recent droppings;
• Droppings that are wet, warm or sticky.
For elk, look for trails leading to and from wallows or shady bedding areas. You might
even notice early signs of rutting activity. For mule deer, focus on the routes they take to and from feeding areas, as well as the subtle trail systems between feeding and bedding. These bucks may only move short distances, so a consistently used trail can be your clue to their patterns.
MONITOR NATURE’S WILD CARD: FIRES
One of the biggest overlooked tools for scouting in August? Fire maps and fire activity.
Wildfires can seriously impact hunting opportunities and they are becoming more frequent on our public
lands. Whether it’s closures, smoke or habitat destruction, fires can easily ruin a carefully planned hunt. On the flip side, they can also open new ground if you are staying alert and paying close attention to fire maps.
There are several resources you can utilize to stay up to date on current, recent and past fire activity. These include:
• InciWeb for wildfire updates (inciweb.wildfire.gov);
• Local Forest Service and state natural resources/forests updates;
• Fire maps from apps like onX (fire layer) or HuntStand’s fire data tools.
The Pomas Fire, burning at the head of the Entiat River in the Glacier Peak Wilderness in early July, is likely to impact access during September’s Washington High Buck Hunt. Tracking wildfires, red flag warnings and public land closures from past burns has become a fact of life in summer and fall for Northwest sportsmen. (INCIWEB)
COLUMN
Stay informed about active fire watches or recent burns. Know if your unit is under an active fire watch or if there are any closed roads. Also be aware of recent burns in your hunting unit. Recent burns (a year or two old) can actually create amazing glassing and hunting conditions. Animals often return quickly to burned zones for their new regrowth.
August scouting trips are essential to getting the lay of the land – before or after a fire hits.
DIGITAL SCOUTING
Not every scouting trip needs to be tough and involve bug spray and blisters. August is also perfect for digital scouting. Use tools like:
• onX Hunt or BaseMap for terrain, land ownership and access;
• Google Earth for elevation and satellite view;
• State mapping resources for game or wildlife management units, trails and water data.
You can use these tools to mark bedding areas (cool, shady spots), feeding areas (green meadows, alpine zones), glassing spots and water sources (small springs, wallows). You can use apps to overlay your maps with past weather and fire activity. Combining all of this will provide you with a solid hunting guide, not just a gut feeling.
CHECK YOUR GEAR
August is also the month to evaluate your gear and get into shape. Make sure your optics and rangefinders are ready (fresh batteries, clean lenses), your boots are broken in, your backpack fits well and you can comfortably pack weight in it, and that you practice shooting in real-world settings and practice in the field.
Hit the trail with purpose. Take some long hikes with weights to build your stamina and strengthen your legs. The work and mental grit you put in now during the heat of August will 100 percent pay off come September or October.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Here’s the reality: There are no guarantees in big game hunting. But the more you know about the land, the animals and how they behave before the season starts, the better your odds of success.
Scouting in August can be hot, dusty and exhausting. But every mile you hike, every camera you check and every mark and pin added to your mapping app will bring you closer to that moment when you get to a spot and know you are in the right place. Do the hard work now, and come fall it will feel less like luck and more like a strategic plan coming together, making you a better hunter overall.
Good luck this season – and if you see a guy glassing from a shady ridge with his beautiful wife and two boys this month, feel free to say hi. It might just be me. NS
The reward for putting in all that sweaty work now? Filling the freezer with venison this fall. (DAVE ANDERSON)
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Don’t Waste This Month!
ON TARGET
By Dave Workman
It’s August, and this is the time to be doing gun maintenance, getting your licenses and tags – if you didn’t already do it earlier this year to beat Washington’s 38-percent fee increase –and reading the regulations pamphlets.
Oh, yeah, you want to read those regs. The Big Game pamphlet covers a staggering 122 pages. Separately, the Game Bird and Small Game pamphlet spans 64 pages. When I was a kid, there was a single pamphlet, there weren’t scores of “special permit hunts,” we had longer deer and elk seasons, and a Game Department focused on hunting and game management.
I’ll only say this once, for the record: Recent allegations/revelations by the Sportsmen’s Alliance in its battle with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the state Fish & Wildlife Commission should concern every gunor bow-toting outdoorsman and woman. Nobody is sure where this is going, but we’re all along for the ride, like it or not.
That said, what about necessary chores beyond sighting in your rifle(s), and practicing with your shotgun(s) and your handgun(s)?
WHEN WAS THE last time you cleaned the magazine of your big game rifle? Never, you say? I’ve got an unpleasant news flash: Magazines, whether they
are detachable or self-contained, are magnets for crud. Powder residue, dust, grit and even needles from conifer trees can accumulate, and it can ruin your day at the worst possible moment.
I’ve got three good bolt-action big game rifles, one with a detachable box magazine, a second with a hinged floorplate that opens up at the bottom and a third with a fully enclosed, loadfrom-the-top magazine. They all get a good cleaning this time of year. A can of compressed air, maybe some alcohol and cotton swabs, and maybe a spot of oil will keep your magazines operating like new.
Yeah, this sort of thing never happens … until it does. It’s been my good fortune to own a Marlin MR-7, a bolt-gun in .30-
Q-Tips – they’re not just for ears, they’ll also work for cleaning your rifle’s magazine and other nooks and crannies. August is last call for preseason firearms maintenance. (DAVE WORKMAN)
take time to clean your
and
up
06 with which I’ve anchored deer in Utah, Wyoming and Washington, all rather long shots. The magazine setup is rather clever. The floorplate opens up and the actual magazine comes out attached to it. It’s a box which can be swapped out, and I made darned sure when I got that rifle decades ago to also acquire a couple of spares, and they go with me on any hunt where that ’06 is in my gear. Alas, the MR-7 is no longer made; a pity because the ones I’ve fired were all delightfully accurate.
My Savage bolt-action in .308 Winchester has a detachable box magazine, and I also prudently bought a couple of spares. I clean them all in late summer so they’re ready to rock in October and November. I took one of my biggest bucks with that rifle, and I take care of it.
AUGUST IS ALSO the month for taking out your hunting knives (you do have more than one, right?) and checking the blades for any rust that just might have appeared over the past 10 months while sitting idle in a leather, nylon or hard plastic/Kydex sheath. If there is rust, clean it off with steel wool, wash the blade with hot, soapy water, and then hone the edges.
Clean your sheath! If you’ve had a
bloody knife blade poked in there for any length of time, the interior of your sheath might qualify as a toxic waste dump. If this sounds silly, you’ve obviously never gotten an infection by accidentally slicing a finger during a cleaning operation in the field. Dab a cotton swab in alcohol and probe into your sheath. Don’t be shocked at the stuff you might extract.
Another thing to do: Go to the auto parts store and buy a small bag of black nitrile gloves. Keep them in your daypack. My hunting buddy doesn’t clean game without putting on a pair of gloves, especially if he’s got an early-season rabbit for the pot.
Also replenish or replace your first aid kit. Way too many people never pay attention to this detail. Don’t be one of them. It’s not that you could get hurt, but if one of your group needs first aid, he/ she needs it right now!
LET’S CUT NOW to the chase. Washington’s mourning dove season opens Monday, September 1, and you should be stocking up on shotgun shells well ahead of time. There are also a couple of early goose hunts, detailed on page 20 of the pamphlet.
The traditional dove areas along the
lower Yakima Valley should once again be productive, as well as areas out in the Columbia Basin. While the dove season runs through October 30, we all know the first signs of bad weather will send them south. How much you want to bet a lot of wingshooters will be taking a three-day mid-September weekend, eh? Forest grouse hunting opens on Monday, the 15th, and I will be there. Because it’s a weekday opener, I expect to not be competing with weekend trail bike demons roaring along the high ridge trails where I find fat blue grouse. Bandtail pigeon hunting also opens that Monday.
Rabbit and raccoon hunting opens September 1 and runs through March 15, 2026. (See page 40 of the regs pamphlet.) I generally don’t even think about popping a bunny until after the first good, hard frost. A couple of years ago while motoring down from the top of South Cle Elum Ridge, I came around a corner and there on the road edge was a fully white snowshoe hare. It startled me so bad I didn’t even think about stopping, grabbing my .22-caliber pistol and following the little devil back into the brush until I spotted him bouncing off into the heavy cover. There wasn’t a
Also
hunting knives
touch
the edges. Author Dave Workman’s cutlery is always sharp. (DAVE WORKMAN)
Sound
flake of snow on the ground, so watch the temperatures and be better prepared than I was. When they turn color, they stick out like a road flare.
In both Eastern and Western Washington, a special youthonly pheasant hunt runs September 13-14, followed by a hunt for seniors 65 and older, and disabled persons, September 1519. The general Westside ringneck hunt opens September 20. The general Eastside pheasant season runs October 18-January 19, 2026 (see page 34 of the regs pamphlet).
And just in case you want a wild turkey for the Thanksgiving table, the fall season opens September 1 in Units 101-154, 162186, 382, 388 and 568-578. (See page 36 of the regs.)
ALL THE NEW fees for hunting licenses and tags are listed on page 8 of the Big Game pamphlet, and some of them are pretty pricey. Senior guys like me get a price break, as do disabled persons and even youth.
If you waited until now to buy a license, be prepared to leave the store with lots less in your wallet. A resident deer license now costs $61.70 and if you add a discounted small game license it costs $92.06. A resident deer and elk license is $116.85 and if you add a discounted small game license it’s $146.41. These prices sort of set the tone for all of the other fees listed for resident and nonresident hunters. One word: Yikes!
Oh, and if you purchase online, “WDFW will charge a 2.9% processing fee for credit card transactions made online or by phone, starting January 2025,” the pamphlet notes on page 8.
All maps in this year’s Big Game pamphlet are located in the rear. Upland bird hunters must wear hunter orange, except for people using muzzleloaders or archery equipment. (See page 12.) NS
Washington bird seasons are just around the corner, and for Workman, none is more anticipated than grouse. Sharpen up your shotgun skills now so you can go home with a fool hen in the cooler next month. (DAVE WORKMAN)
There’s More To Gun Dog Fitness Than Just Exercise
By Scott Haugen
While exercise is important to keep your dog in good hunting shape, getting the proper amount is difficult during the hot days of summer. Hyperthermia is actually more dangerous and more common than hypothermia. We pay close attention to our dogs when hunting on cold days. But on hot days we assume they’ll call it quits when the training gets hard or they’re too hot. By the time they stop, it can be too late.
While summer conditioning by running and swimming is important for weight maintenance, a proper diet is where weight management actually begins.
SOME GUN DOG owners like feeding their dog once a day. Others, twice a day. During hunting season, I usually feed my dogs once a day. One big meal after a day of hunting maximizes nutrient absorption, thereby replenishing energy storage and optimizing muscle repair.
But during the summer, I feed my dogs twice a day, right after each outside training session. I add water to each meal, essential for keeping them hydrated on hot days. I’d rather them hydrate twice a day than just once.
I also feed less dry kibble in the summer and boost their raw food intake. My kibble of choice is NutriSource grain-free formulas because they deliver compact nutrition and include prebiotics and probiotics to help support a healthy gut.
Check the label before choosing dog food; don’t let price and marketing sway you. Some of the most heavily marketed, least expensive dog foods are some of the most detrimental for your dog. Balanced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids intake, along with L-carnitine, taurine, choline chloride and DL-methionine supplementation to boost overall health – including bladder, heart and more – are important to have in a dog’s diet.
We save scraps from the fish we catch, as well as bones and scrap meat from big game and birds. Even the internal organs, including gizzards, are saved for our dogs. These high-protein options contain a lot of moisture, vital to a dog’s health in summer. I mix one part kibble to half a part water and half a part raw food for each summer meal.
I also increase the number of water
GUN DOG
Hunting season will be here before we know it, and getting your dog in shape starts with a good diet. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
COLUMN
Make sure to have plenty of water on hand during the hot summer months. Having multiple bowls inside and outside the house, as well as in the truck, will help your dog stay hydrated and healthy. (SCOTT
bowls inside and outside the house in the summer. This encourages the dogs to drink at will. They can’t get too much water this time of year.
ANOTHER STEP I take in summer is to give my dogs healthy, frozen treats a few times a day. I make my own using NutriSource Come-pooch-a and blueberries, raspberries or blackberries from the garden. Comepooch-a is a savory, meaty bone broth that’s packed with activated postbiotics from fermentation that promotes a healthy gut and digestion support in dogs. It can be used as a topper, but I make ice cubes from it, placing a berry or two in each one.
Blueberries are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and are low in calories, making them a great summer treat for your dog. Raspberries are low in calories, but high in fiber, manganese, vitamin C and antioxidants, which can be beneficial for a dog’s overall health. Blackberries offer vitamins and antioxidants. In addition to freezing these berries with the Comepooch-a, I’ll feed them to the dogs each day when we’re outside, right off the vine. Carrots, watermelon, kale and peas also make up my dogs’ summer diet. Start by giving these items in moderation in order to avoid digestive issues. Once your dog is used to it, these can make up 10 percent of their daily intake, collectively.
Never give your dog unhealthy table scraps. Items such as pizza crust, salty chicken skin, spicy foods, a potato with butter, the cooked fat trimmings of a steak, and more are not good for your dog. They’re hard to digest and loaded with calories dogs do not need.
WITH BIRD
SEASON
nearing, get your dog in shape by providing a healthy diet and routine exercise early and late in the day. Water is crucial for conditioning and keeping dogs hydrated in these hot weeks of summer. Come opening day, you want your dog hunting at full speed, not struggling because it’s overweight and out of shape. NS
Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.
HAUGEN)
Come-pooch-a is a savory, meaty bone broth loaded with activated postbiotics that promotes a healthy gut. Mixed with berries, then frozen, it makes for a healthy summer treat your dog will love. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
