Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 334
OLYMPIA - Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fish managers will release "early winter" hatchery steelhead into inland lakes again this year, now that federal fisheries officials have decided to conduct a full-scale environmental impact analysis of all Puget Sound hatchery steelhead programs. WDFW leaders announced the action after learning that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has decided to develop an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the effects of... Full story
Some of Washington’s most popular fishing opportunities are available for anglers in the coming weeks, including trout in hundreds of rivers, crab in south Puget Sound, and chinook salmon in the Columbia River and in ocean waters along the coast. Sound like fun? Prospective anglers who are interested in fishing but don’t have a fishing license can get in on the action during Free Fishing Weekend, scheduled June 6-7. During those two days, no license will be required to fish or gather shellfish i... Full story
VANCOUVER - Children with disabilities will have a chance to reel in some big trout during a special fishing event July 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Merwin Fish Hatchery, east of Woodland. More than 100 young people and their families are expected to turn out for the 17th annual Merwin Special Kids Day, sponsored by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Pacific Power and GoPAW. Sponsors ask that participants be pre-registered by June 30, by calling 1-800-899-4421. Prior to... Full story
Effective dates: One hour before official sunrise June 6 to one hour after official sunset on Sept. 30, 2015. Species affected: Trout Location: Rattlesnake Lake (King County) Reason for action: Catchable fish planted in the fall of 2014 remain abundant enough to provide additional sport harvest opportunity. Other information: Selective gear rules are still in effect at Rattlesnake Lake. The fishery will revert to catch-and-release only beginning on Oct. 1, 2015. Information Contact: Jennifer... Full story
Locations: Grande Ronde River from mouth of Buford Creek (approximately ½ mile downstream of the Highway 129 Bridge at Boggan's Oasis) upstream to the Washington/Oregon state line. Dates: June 13, 2015, until further notice. Daily Limits: Seven hatchery chinook (adipose fin clipped), of which no more than two may be adult chinook salmon. Anglers must cease fishing when the hatchery adult limit has been retained for the day. Reason for action: The are sufficient numbers of returning spring chinoo... Full story
OLYMPIA - Fish hatchery crews with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will be stocking 10,000 large rainbow trout in 20 lakes just before Father's Day weekend, June 20 and 21. This is the fourth straight year the department has stocked these one-and-a-half pound trout before Father's Day weekend, said Chris Donley, WDFW inland fish program manager. "These fish will provide anglers with some great opportunities to spend time with friends and family," said Donley. "A fishing... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has hosted one and plans another public meeting to discuss a change in the management of sport and native fisheries in the West Fork of the Black River in Apache County The remaining meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 21 at 6 p.m. at the Arizona Game and Fish Department Headquarters Quail Room, 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. The Department currently manages the headwaters of the West Fork of Black River and several tributaries as a wild, native... Full story
Action: Open two sections of the Yakima River to fishing for hatchery spring chinook salmon. Species affected: Hatchery chinook salmon. Locations & Dates: Area 1: Open daily May 2 through June 15 from the Hwy. 240 bridge in Richland (river mile 2.1) to the Grant Avenue bridge in Prosser (river mile 47.0) approximately 1,000 feet downstream of Prosser Dam. Area 2: Open daily May 9 through June 30 from the Interstate 82 bridge at Union Gap (river mile 107.1) to the BNSF railroad bridge approximately 600 feet downstream of Roza Dam (river mile... Full story
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Game and Fish Department is implanting radio tags into a small percentage of hatchery-raised Apache trout that will be stocked into the East Fork of the Black and the Little Colorado River in the White Mountains to examine stocked trout movement and fate. The stockings begin in May and will coincide with the summer trout stocking schedule. If you catch a trout with external tags (as pictured) you may keep OR release the fish. These fish are safe for human consumption. If... Full story
May 6, 2015 By Chris Cantrell Chief of Fisheries, Arizona Game and Fish Department Fish hatchery workers across the nation are preparing for their busiest time of the year. During the next two months, Arizona Game and Fish Department employees and volunteers will stock more than 500,000 catchable “farm fresh” trout, providing the public an opportunity to engage in conservation -- some for the very first time. State-run aquaculture not only enables families to etch lifelong fishing memories, it... Full story
May 6, 2015 Action: Spring chinook salmon fishing closes on the Snake River below Ice Harbor and Little Goose dams, but remains unchanged in the Lower Granite and Clarkston areas. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Snake River fishery zones to close. Below Ice Harbor Dam: Effective immediately, Snake River from the South Bound Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upstream about 7 miles to the fishing restriction boundary below Ice Harbor Dam; Below Little Goose Dam: Effective 1 hour after official... Full story
May 7, 2015 Action: Close the Skykomish River to the retention of hatchery chinook salmon. Effective date: June 1 through July 31, 2015. Species affected: Hatchery chinook salmon. Location: The Skykomish River from the mouth upstream to the mouth of the Wallace River. Reason for action: The forecast run size for Wallace River hatchery chinook is below broodstock needs. Hatchery rack returns will be closely monitored and if early returns indicate that the run size will meet broodstock needs the... Full story
Did you know that your state taxes do not support the conservation of Arizona's wildlife, but your donations do? Taxpayers can help the state's wildlife at tax time by "making a mark" on their state income tax form. The Arizona Wildlife Fund is a voluntary program that allows Arizona taxpayers to make a donation to specifically help imperiled and endangered wildlife, including majestic bald eagles, black-footed ferrets, California condors, Apache trout, Mexican wolves and desert tortoises,... Full story
Mark your calendars! The cats are coming/are back. Our first stocking of the season: Thursday, March 19. For delivery: Close to 15,000 pounds of hungry catfish into 21 core waters - Get your family, grab a picnic basket, and come on outside because it's the perfect time of year to hit the lakes. Last Trout Stocking Of Winter Season Our last trout stocking for central and southern waters this season is taking place March 2-7. Trout will continue to be stocked into Green Valley Lakes in Payson... Full story
When: May 2015 to Sept. 2015 Where: Tonto Creek Hatchery is located approximately 17 miles east of Payson, Ariz. Description: The hatchery host is a volunteer who lives onsite and interacts with visitors, assists with tours, and helps with light facility upkeep. Example of Duties: Host duties include interacting with visitors, picking up litter, cleaning visitor restrooms, replacing full sign-in sheets, tracking visitor numbers, maintaining and updating department pamphlets in visitor center... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with Mohave County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), succeeded on March 4 in executing agreements to restore rainbow trout stocking at Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, which is located along the Colorado River south of the Hoover Dam. "I am very pleased that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission have finalized an agreement to begin restoring rainbow trout stocking operations at Willow... Full story
The Reel Deal Spring fishing is here in all its bedding-bass, crisp-morning glory. Yet the vernal equinox, or the first day of spring when the Earth is neither inclined toward, nor away, from the sun, isn't until Friday, March 20. And the summer trout stocking schedule just came out. Read all about where trout are being stocked in a lake near you. This week's full moon has coincided with consistent, warm weather. The result? Springtime spawning conditions for largemouth bass have graced the... Full story
Action: Opens Cases Pond to fishing by juvenile anglers (under 15 years of age). Effective dates: April 11 through April 19, 2015. Species affected: All game fish. Location: Cases Pond (Pacific County) Reasons for action: The opener will allow additional fishing opportunity for young anglers on Cases Pond during spring break for local school districts. Cases Pond is an "Opening Day" lake regulated for juvenile anglers only. Cases Pond will re-open Saturday, April 25, 2015. Other information:... Full story
OLYMPIA -Trout fishing in Washington hits full speed April 25, when several hundred lowland lakes - stocked with millions of fish - open for a six-month season. Anglers have already been taking advantage of good spring fishing opportunities on year-round lakes, but the fourth Saturday in April marks the traditional start of the lowland lakes fishing season. Hundreds of thousands of anglers are expected to turn out for the big day, said Jim Unsworth, director of the Washington Department of Fish... Full story
Tip Of The Week Alamo Lake has possibly the best crappie fishing in the state right now. Bartlett is also noteworthy. Mark Knapp from Alamo Lake State Park said these "specks" are fishing up by the north end of the buoy line. Anglers are using a road runner with a white jig head and minnow trailer. The fish are in approximately 25 to 30 feet of water. The Reel Deal Bass fishing in the desert regions could pick up in the next weeks, maybe a few days after the recent cold front has run away and... Full story
Our last trout stocking for central and southern waters this season will take place on the week of March 2-7. Catfish stockings will resume after that during the week of March 16-21. Trout will continue to be stocked into Green Valley Lakes in Payson until early May. Friendship Park agreement finalized! The Department finalized an intergovernment agreement with City of Avondale to add Friendship Park Pond. We'll be working with the city to initiate stockings into Friendship Park pond very soon.... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking nominations through Feb. 27 for membership on its Cowlitz River Advisory Group. The ad hoc group generally meets about four times a year to develop recommendations designed to support sustainable fishing opportunities on the Cowlitz River, while conserving wild native runs. "We want a diverse group of individuals to promote sustainable fisheries that meet our recovery and conservation goals," said Jim Scott, who... Full story
Tip Of The Week At Silver Creek, Cinda Howard of Fly Fish Arizona said fishing is good but has been getting tougher. Flies of choice have been bunny leeches in tan or black, Glo Bugs, San Juan worms and zebra midges. There also has been some top-water action, especially when the sun hits the water and generates midge hatches. Water temperatures are in the 40s. The Reel Deal We call them "incentive" trout for a reason: To get you out on the water and hopefully onto some big fish. The reports of... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted to give the director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department authority to finalize a cost-sharing agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to repair the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery. In a 5-0 vote, the commission agreed to pay up to $389,000 to fix a broken pipeline for the hatchery. The contribution amounts to 50 percent of the cost of the project. "This is a great pre-New Year's present for the people of Mohave County and... Full story
Tip Of The Week At Apache Lake, anglers have been catching a high number of largemouth bass in the 1-2-pound range on Lucky Craft rip baits. The Reel Deal Some reported hot spots have been Bartlett Lake for largemouth bass, Lake Pleasant for flathead catfish, and Kinnikinick Lake for brown and rainbow trout. Kudos to Rich Griner of Queen Creek, who caught this 26-inch, 8.6-pound rainbow trout from Canyon Creek on a worm in mid-November. Griner said his fish was caught upstream of the hatchery... Full story
