The main fishing opener in the Columbia Basin will open tomorrow. Remember, the current Sportfishing Regulation Pamphlet is in effect through tomorrow at midnight, April 30.

The new pamphlet goes into effect on Sunday, May 1. Now isn't this a strange circumstance; one pamphlet the rules and regulations one day and another the official rules and regulations the next. Strange, but this is the way it works out this year.

What's more, the new pamphlets have just recently reached the outlets, to be accessible to anglers. This pamphlet is available online, but hasn't been there long.

We haven't had a chance to study it, so we expect every angler to check it for changes from Saturday to Sunday.

Besides any new regulations, there should be plenty of fish available in area lakes. There will be gobs of limits caught at Blue and Park lakes. Even if you don't fish, it is worth the drive to head to Sun Lakes State Park to see all of the campers and recreational vehicles parked along Highway 17 at Blue Lake, plus all on the anglers at the Park Lake dock.

We enjoy a drive up to Deep Lake to see how the lake is producing and perhaps a drive to the other, smaller, lakes in the area. As you take in the scene of all of the out-of-town anglers, in combination with the local anglers, consider the massive impact angling has on the Columbia Basin economy.

If you spot a Fish and Wildlife employee, thank them for the efforts Fish and Wildlife has put forth for the success of this opening day. Having said this, the big factor in any opening day of fishing is the weather.

The latest weather forecast indicates Saturday will see a low of 35 degrees and a high of 63 degrees with zero percent chance of rain. Sunday is looking at a low of 44 degrees and a high of 66 degrees and, again, zero percent chance of rain.

This is welcome news to fish biologist, who have been working for the past year to provide anglers with lots of fish to catch.

Latest fishing forecast

Jameson Lake, south of Mansfield, usually provides good fishing and is well-stocked. In Grant County, Blue and Park lakes near the town of Soap Lake, and Warden Lake east of O'Sullivan Dam on Potholes Reservoir are also well-stocked and traditionally fish well through May and beyond.

Have fun, but be careful out there.

Special hunt permits deadline May 18

Yes, we are just beginning the main fishing season, but we also must address some hunting aspects. Those of us who apply for special hunting permits, this is the time to begin studying the new hunting pamphlet in a serious manner.

Special hunt permits deadline May 18, but, as with last year, much study is required. Again we will be able to apply for various permits involving fall deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep, and turkey seasons.

Fish and Wildlife will select permit winners by random drawing in late June. The special permits qualify hunters to hunt at times and places beyond those authorized by a general hunting license.

Applications may be purchased from license vendors statewide or on  the Fish and Wildlife website. The cost for each application is $6.50 for residents, $60.50 for non-residents, and $4.10 for youth under 16 years of age.

Last year was the first time hunters could apply for many more special hunts. For example elk hunters could apply for a branched bull hunt as well as an antlerless-elk hunt.

There are over eight deer permit hunts, seven elk hunts, six moose hunts, four sheep hunts and a variety of other hunts. Of course not all of us will be qualified for all of the hunts. Dennis doesn't qualify for the youth hunt anymore and he won't qualify for the 65 and over until next year.

However he does qualify for five out of the eight deer hunts, four of the seven elk hunts, three of the six moose hunts and two of the four sheep hunts. He is expected to apply for all of the hunts where he meets the qualifications.

Raffle permit hunts

The raffle permit hunt deadline is July 22. Stay tuned for more information about these hunts.

More salmon fishing available on lower Columbia

Spring chinook season extended through May 1 above Bonneville Dam

The fishery for hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon has been extended through May 1 on a section of the Columbia River stretching 163.5 miles above Bonneville Dam.

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon agreed Wednesday to extend the fishery, previously scheduled through April 24, citing poor fishing conditions that also curbed catch rates on the lower Columbia River.

Test fisheries have found relatively high concentrations of spring chinook salmon moving toward Bonneville Dam, but turbid water conditions have made them hard to catch with a hook and line and delayed their passage over the dam.

Approval for the fishing extension above the dam came just one day after a 12-day extension in the lower river came to an end.

Above Bonneville Dam, fishing for hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon remains open to boat and bank anglers seven days a week between the Tower Island powerlines below The Dalles Dam and the Washington/Oregon state line, 17 miles upriver from McNary Dam. Bank fishing is also allowed from Bonneville Dam upriver to the powerlines located about six miles below The Dalles Dam.

Anglers fishing above Bonneville Dam can retain up to two marked, hatchery-reared adult chinook salmon or hatchery steelhead as part of their daily limit. All wild salmon and wild steelhead must be released unharmed.

Harvest guidelines for spring chinook fisheries above and below Bonneville Dam are based on a projected return of 198,400 upriver fish, minus a 30 percent buffer to guard against overestimating the run. Additional fishing time may be allowed in both areas if a run update in May shows that returns will reach or exceed the pre-season forecast.

More halibut this year for sport anglers

This year's recreational halibut seasons will be similar to 2010 in Puget Sound, but may allow for more days of fishing off the coast under new catch quotas adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

This year's quota for Washington, Oregon and California is 910,000 pounds, up 12 percent from 2010. In Washington, sport anglers will be allowed to catch 216,489  pounds of the big flatfish compared to 192,699 pounds last year.

In Puget Sound, where the sport catch has exceeded area harvest guidelines for the past two years, this year's higher sub-quota also helped to avert further cutbacks in fishing opportunities.

This year's catch quota for Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca is 58,155 pounds, up from 50,542 pounds in 2010. Like last year, most areas of the Sound will be open for halibut fishing three days a week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with exceptions. See the fishing regulations for specifics.

This year's coastal quotas are up by more than 17,000 pounds. Depending on catch rates during the course of the season, that could translate to extra time on the water in some areas.

All areas open to fishing have a one-fish daily catch limit, with no minimum size, a possession limit of one fish while on the vessel and a possession limit of two fish in any form once the angler is on the shore.