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Saturday,  January 25 , 2025
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Stories by Terry Otto

Columbian freelance outdoors writer

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sports@columbian.com
The Cowlitz River now only offers a later timed return of hatchery winter steelhead, since the early returning program was axed. Across southwest Washington the number of systems that still have early returning hatchery fish is shrinking.

State phasing out early steelhead as winter runs become spring

The Cowlitz River now only offers a later timed return of hatchery winter steelhead, since the early returning program was axed. Across southwest Washington the number of systems that still have early returning hatchery fish is shrinking.

January 18, 2025, 6:08am Clark County News Subscriber Exclusive

Winter steelhead are returning to local rivers, and anglers are gearing up for the action. Read story

These clients of Marvin’s Guide Service caught there two keepers immediately after the baits hit the river bottom. Guide Henkel had his boat limited out by 8:15.

Anglers angry after crowds force quick sturgeon closure at Bonneville Pool fishery

These clients of Marvin’s Guide Service caught there two keepers immediately after the baits hit the river bottom. Guide Henkel had his boat limited out by 8:15.

January 11, 2025, 6:12am Clark County News Subscriber Exclusive

While some guides and anglers were not surprised by a quick sturgeon fishery closure last week, they are not happy about how this fishery has been managed in recent years. Read story

Avian flu tends to spread more rapidly in the winter when waterfowl are concentrated in tight flocks, such as these cackling Canada geese.

Vigilance remains key for waterfowl hunters

Avian flu tends to spread more rapidly in the winter when waterfowl are concentrated in tight flocks, such as these cackling Canada geese.

January 4, 2025, 6:02am Latest News Subscriber Exclusive

Avian influenza, or bird flu, has been in the news a lot recently, especially since the pathogen is now infecting cattle and other mammals. Read story

A trio of anglers show off their catch of Bonneville pool sturgeon. The fisheries’ popularity has exploded in recent years, and the quota can fill quickly.

Anglers hope that less is more for new sturgeon season

A trio of anglers show off their catch of Bonneville pool sturgeon. The fisheries’ popularity has exploded in recent years, and the quota can fill quickly.

December 21, 2024, 6:06am Latest News Subscriber Exclusive

The increasingly popular Bonneville pool sturgeon retention fishery is slated to open on Wednesday. This year the retention fishing days have been reduced from three to two days a week. Anglers may keep sturgeon of legal size on Saturdays and Wednesdays only. Read story

A client of fishing guide Bob Rees shows off a nice spring Chinook. Spring returns have been low in recent years, and many guides are reluctant to take paying customers out when fishing is poor.

Guides worry about spring chinook forecast for the Columbia River and its tributaries

A client of fishing guide Bob Rees shows off a nice spring Chinook. Spring returns have been low in recent years, and many guides are reluctant to take paying customers out when fishing is poor.

December 14, 2024, 6:08am Latest News Subscriber Exclusive

The states have released their forecasts for the 2025 spring Chinook return to the Columbia River and its tributaries. The total forecast is for 254,300 returning adults, which would best last year’s actual return of 217,658. Read story

Jeff Otto of Sandy, Oregon, shows off a few Canada geese taken while hunting private land. Geese have been harder to find than usual this fall.

Start of waterfowl season has been slow in Southwest Washington

Jeff Otto of Sandy, Oregon, shows off a few Canada geese taken while hunting private land. Geese have been harder to find than usual this fall.

November 30, 2024, 6:05am Latest News

Waterfowl hunters in Southwest Washington have been finding a lot fewer ducks and geese this season when compared with recent years. Read story

Smallish cackling Canada geese gather at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is within the Northwest Permit Zone for geese, which is managed very carefully so hunters do not accidently kill any dusky Canada geese, which are closed to harvest.

Q&A with Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge visitor services manager Josie Finley

Smallish cackling Canada geese gather at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is within the Northwest Permit Zone for geese, which is managed very carefully so hunters do not accidently kill any dusky Canada geese, which are closed to harvest.

November 30, 2024, 6:04am Outdoors

Question-and-answer with Josie Finley, visitor services manager for the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complext: Read story

Tom Fritsch with a limit of dandy Black Friday trout taken last December at Rowland Lake while fishing with Buzz Ramsey. Several local lakes will be stocked with ìjumboî size rainbow trout ahead of Black Friday.

‘Jumbo’ trout are prize of Black Friday fishing opportunities

Tom Fritsch with a limit of dandy Black Friday trout taken last December at Rowland Lake while fishing with Buzz Ramsey. Several local lakes will be stocked with ìjumboî size rainbow trout ahead of Black Friday.

November 23, 2024, 6:05am Newsletter

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be planting hatchery trout from now through spring in many local lakes, and the season kicks off with the Black Friday trout opener. Read story

Bob Pennell/The (Medford) Mail Tribune Thousands of tiny winter steelhead are released Monday from an Oregon Fish and Wildlife truck for the start of their journey that begins in Carberry Creek above the Applegate Dam in Southern Oregon. ---

Hatchery winter steelhead program set to end on Washougal River

Bob Pennell/The (Medford) Mail Tribune Thousands of tiny winter steelhead are released Monday from an Oregon Fish and Wildlife truck for the start of their journey that begins in Carberry Creek above the Applegate Dam in Southern Oregon. ---

November 16, 2024, 6:01am Editor's Choice Subscriber Exclusive

Anglers who like to fish for winter steelhead on the Washougal River may soon find the offerings depleted. Read story

Razor clams are tasty, and gathering them involves an outing on the beach. Each clammer must dig his own clams and keep them in a separate container.

Fall for some clam digging on Washington beaches

Razor clams are tasty, and gathering them involves an outing on the beach. Each clammer must dig his own clams and keep them in a separate container.

November 2, 2024, 6:07am Outdoors

November kicks off the third razor clam tide series of the season, after the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that digging can resume starting on the first day of the month. Read story