Anton Jones has been busy on the Upper Columbia River and Rufus Woods Lake. Read on.

From Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service in Manson:

Steelhead

Fishing for Steelhead on the Upper Columbia River with a jig and bobber from Pateros to Bridgeport has been great. Bringing 10 to 15 fish to the net per day has been the norm. 

We suggest fishing baited jigs under slip bobbers baited with pink shrimp. The depth that we hung those jigs varied from as shallow as 3 feet to as deep as 28 feet. 

Worden's Maxi-Jigs in one-eighth ounce Calypso has been working. Mack's Lures Glo-Getters in pink and orange have also caught fish. Bait the jigs with shrimp that have been cured in Red Pautzke's Fire Cure.

Move that slip knot deeper and work in deeper water if the river flow is slow and the river is down. If the water is moving at a fast pace, get in the shallow part of the runs. 

Triploid escapees from Rufus and even native Bull trout have been a bonus. Remember, it is mandatory to keep adipose clipped Steelhead. 

Rufus Woods

At Rufus, try casting Worden's Black or Green Roostertails in one-eighth to one-quarter ounce sizes to shoreline points especially where big chunk rock is present. If this works you can catch and release fish. 

Remember, if you fish with bait, the first two fish caught become your limit no matter if you release them or not.

Contact Anton at 509-687-0709 or toll-free 866-360-1523

Razor clam dig set this weekend

Fish and Wildlife doesn't let us know well enough in advance to provide Columbia Basin clam diggers, and we know there are a few out there, with too much advanced notice of digs. Just recently we learned of one this weekend, so thought it prudent to pass it along.

A three-day razor clam dig on Washington's coastal beaches is planned over the New Year's holiday.

Fish and Wildlife approved the series of evening digs after marine toxin tests showed that the clams on all five coastal razor clam beaches are safe to eat.

The beaches include Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks and Kalaloch, which will be open for clam digging today and tomorrow, Jan. 1, from noon to midnight. One beach, Twin Harbors, will also be open from noon to midnight Sunday, Jan. 2.

The National Park Service scheduled the dig at Kalaloch, which is within Olympic National Park, to coincide with those at the other beaches.

A big turnout is expected as more than 22,000 razor-clam diggers have flocked to Washington beaches during previous New Year's Eve openers.

Razor clam digging has become a New Year's tradition for thousands of Washingtonians. The tides allow for another holiday dig this year.

In early January, Fish and Wildlife will release a tentative schedule of digging days in early 2011. As in the past, final approval of those dates will depend on the results of future marine toxin tests.

Opening dates and evening low tides for the upcoming New Year's dig are: Jan. 1, Sat., 4:31 p.m., (-0.4 ft.), Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch; Jan. 2, Sun., 5:18 p.m., (-0.7 ft.), Twin Harbors.

For best results, it is recommended diggers get started about an hour before low tide. Those heading to Copalis and Mocrocks account for possible delays on eastbound U.S. Highway 101 in Hoquiam due to emergency work on the Simpson Avenue Bridge.

Under Fish and Wildlife rules, harvesters may take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 taken, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's limit must be kept in a separate container.

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2010 annual shellfish/seaweed, razor clam or combination license is still valid. 

Commission to consider new sturgeon plan

The Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider adoption of new management guidelines that address the declining abundance of Columbia River white sturgeon during a public meeting on Jan. 7 and 8.

The commission, which sets policy for the Fish and Wildlife, also will discuss Puget Sound crab-fishing seasons and hold a public hearing on a proposed fishing moratorium associated with the removal of two dams on the Elwha River.

The commission will convene at 8:30 a.m. both days in Room 172 on the first floor of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., in Olympia.

On the second day of the meeting, the commission will consider adopting a policy to guide Fish and Wildlife in negotiating a joint three-year management agreement with Oregon for sturgeon fisheries on the lower Columbia River.

Steelhead still hot on Upper managers from both states have expressed concerns about declines in sturgeon abundance in recent years, and have recommended a 30 percent reduction in harvest levels for sport and commercial fisheries below Bonneville Dam from 2011 through 2013. Final decisions on harvest levels and fishing seasons are expected in early February.