The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking fly anglers at Merrill Lake to help them gather data on the fishery. An Angler Survey Box was installed at the lake recently, and the department and the Clark-Skamania Flyfishers, (CSF) are asking anglers to voluntarily fill out survey forms and deposit them in the box.
The information will be used to help guide management of the lake, which is a premier fly-fishing destination.
Anglers are asked to provide the date they fished, their zip code, whether you fished from bank or boat, and what time of day you fished. There is a blank form where you can record species caught, length, weight, and gear used. There is also a place for comments, and you can add your contact info if you want to hear back from the department.
The survey box is located at the CSF Fly Fishing Only sign.
The CSF asks that all anglers contribute with information so the lake can be managed intelligently, and better serve the anglers that fish there.
Halibut anglers get one more day on Friday
Anglers will get one more day to fish the Columbia River Subarea for halibut on Friday.
The WDFW has determined that there is enough quota left statewide to allow the extra day in every marine area along Washington’s coast.
Washington and Oregon co-manage the Columbia River Subarea, and have license reciprocity, so fishermen out of Oregon ports in the subarea will be allowed to participate in the all-depth halibut fishery as well.
Additional opportunities to fish for Pacific halibut also remain open in other areas of Oregon.
The all-depth halibut fishery in the Central Oregon Coast Subarea is scheduled to be open July 4-6, with the potential for the additional back-up dates of July 18-20 to open, if quota remains.
The summer all-depth season is scheduled to begin on Aug. 2-3 and be open every other Friday and Saturday until Oct. 31, or the quota of 67,898 pounds has been met.
Off the Central Oregon Coast Subarea (Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain) anglers may fish for halibut inside the 40-fathom line, seven days per week through Oct. 31, or attainment of the harvest quota (32,591 pounds) for that fishery.
The area between Humbug Mountain and the Oregon/California border is open to all depth for Pacific halibut seven days per week through Oct. 31, or until the quota of 11,322 pounds has been met, whichever comes first.
Days on which Pacific halibut fishing is open will be announced on the NOAA Fisheries hotline (1-800-662-9825) and posted on the ODFW Marine Resources Program Website.
Merrill Lake stolen signs returned
The CSF reports that the signs stolen from the Merrill Lake area were returned anonymously. The signs held special importance for members of the fly-fishing club, because they had been made by a club member who died. The club had reached out to the public for information about the thefts, and are glad to have them back.
