From local biologists about the opening weekend, Oct. 15 and 16

The Winchester Quality Hunt Area produced 4.7 birds per hunter and the site is being underutilized. The lone hunter at the area on Sunday limited out. Mostly teal and mallard were taken. The area allows five hunters to hunt at a time.

The Frenchmen Quality Hunt Area put out 3.2 birds per hunter during the opening weekend. The site allows seven hunters at a time.

Overall: Success at the rate of 3 to 3.5 birds per hunter during the opener was experienced. Birds in the bag were dominated by teal, widgeon and mallard. Participation was said to be down.

Although we have no stats about the upland bird success, biologist says the pheasant population appears to be up. Quail about average.

Later arriving harvest information from Region 1, Spokane

At the Deer Park check station on the opening weekend, 117 hunters stopped with five white-tailed deer and one mule deer. This is half of last year's harvest when 226 hunters stopped with 15 white-tailed and no mule deer.

The Fish and Wildlife biologist listed several items which may be affecting the numbers: The economy, the Fish and Wildlife fee increase and the fact this check station is volunteer, meaning hunters are not required to stop.

Salmon

Oct. 31 is also the last day of the extended salmon season in the Hanford Reach, where anglers have caught a record catch of more than 10,000 adult fall chinook and over 2,500 jacks. Anglers were still averaging 1.7 chinook per boat through the middle of October.

That leaves hatchery steelhead, usually the main attraction in November. The season opened Sept. 16, two weeks earlier than usual, but anglers have been working hard for their fish ever since.

Steelhead fishing has been unusually slow at a time when it should be ramping up, according to Fish and Wildlife. Twenty anglers are coming in with one fish among them.

This year's forecast is below the 10-year average, but that does not fully account for the low number of hatchery steelhead in angler's creels in this area.

Like last year, creel surveys and fish counts at the Ringold Springs Rearing Facility indicate a lack of one-salt fish returning from the ocean for the first time.

Although counts of two-salt fish are generally on track, one-salt fish generally make up three-quarters of the catch. November may be another tough month of steelhead fishing in this area.

Anglers can retain two marked hatchery steelhead from the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco to the wooden powerline towers at the Old Hanford townsite. Hatchery steelhead can be identified by a clipped adipose fin and/or a ventral fin clip. All unmarked steelhead must be released unharmed.

Hunting: Waterfowl hunting action can really start to heat up in the Columbia Basin in November if temperatures start to cool down and bring migrant ducks and geese from the north. Small Canada geese, Lesser's and Taverner's, have arrived at Stratford Lake in Grant County and more are likely on the way, according to Fish and Wildlife.

Biologists in the Columbia Basin also report that hunters are seeing a fair number of pheasants and quail, along with a few chukars. Farm-raised rooster pheasants continue to be stocked periodically at several release sites throughout the region.

Meanwhile, modern firearm elk hunting season runs Oct. 29 through Nov. 6 in some game management units and through Nov. 15 in others. The Mission Game Management Unit, GMU 251, in Chelan County traditionally has the highest elk harvest in the region. Hunters should take note that GMU 251 is under a true-spike regulation to aid bull recruitment in the Colockum herd.

Late archery deer hunting seasons run Nov. 23 through Dec. 15 for whitetails in some units, and Nov. 21 through 30 for mule deer in other units.

Black bear hunting continues through Nov. 15 in the region. The latest report is bear hunters are not having the same success as last year. The reason is the weather. The berry crop failure last year forced bears to travel widely in a search for food, thus exposing them to hunters. This year's late spring and summer have delayed the decline of forage in the high county, giving bears more feeding opportunities. It is likely bears are traveling less to feed before going into dens, and are tougher to find.

Comments requested about upcoming sport fishing season

Fish and Wildlife is requesting written public comments through Dec. 30 on rule proposals for the 2012-13 sportfishing season in Washington. Besides written comments, public meetings have been scheduled to discuss the rule proposals and accept comments.

Three public meeting have been held through the state. Now the public is allowed to submit written comments.

The commission, which sets policy for Fish and Wildlife, is scheduled to vote on the final sportfishing rules package during a meeting Feb. 3-4.

Sportfishing rules currently under consideration include:

Closing fishing early for steelhead and other game fish in several river systems in Puget Sound and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca to protect wild steelhead. The early closures, ranging from mid-January to mid-February, would apply to the Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Green and Puyallup river systems, along with several streams along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The proposal also includes closing the upper section of the Samish River on Dec. 1 and the lower section Jan. 1 to fishing for all species.

Allowing anglers to fish with two poles on the Pend Oreille River and the lower Spokane River; Closing fisheries on a number of small coastal streams that drain into Washington's ocean waters to protect juvenile anadromous fish; Changing the opening day of the lowland lake fishing season from the last Saturday in April to the fourth Saturday in April; Closing sturgeon retention in Puget Sound, as well as its tributaries. The proposal is designed to protect Columbia River sturgeon that venture into Puget Sound to feed. Under the proposal, catch and release fishing for sturgeon would still be allowed.

The proposed rules, which would affect various freshwater and saltwater fisheries around the state, are available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/.

Coho salmon fishery continues

The coho salmon fisheries, which opened Oct. 5, continue on the Wenatchee, Methow and Icicle rivers through a scheduled closure of next Monday, Oct. 31.

This is because of a predicted strong return of coho to the upper Columbia River system.

The Icicle River had a small coho fishery in 2009, but the Wenatchee and the Methow rivers have not opened for coho fishing in at least 30 years, according to Fish and Wildlife.

Up to 20,000 adult coho are expected to return this year above Rock Island Dam, more than enough for spawning escapement and hatchery broodstock needs.

Coho salmon nearly disappeared from the upper Columbia River in the early 1930s, but they've really made a comeback in the past decade.

Steelhead fishing is currently open on the Wenatchee, Methow and Icicle rivers with a daily limit of two hatchery fish per day. Anglers fishing the Wenatchee River may also retain up to three adult chinook salmon per day, including one wild chinook.

Areas opening to coho fishing include: The Wenatchee River, from the mouth of the Wenatchee River to the mouth of the Icicle River. Anglers should be aware that the upper boundary of the coho fishery on the Wenatchee River is downstream from the boundary for the chinook and steelhead fisheries; The Icicle River, from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam; The Methow River, from the mouth to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop. Fishing from a floating device is prohibited from the second powerline crossing to the first Highway 153 Bridge.

On all those rivers, anglers can catch up to three coho salmon, with or without an intact adipose fin, in addition to the catch limits for other species. Coho must measure at least 12 inches to be retained.

Selective gear rules and a night closure will be in effect to help protect wild steelhead, some of which are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Bylaw, all fisheries in these areas must close immediately if the allowable incidental impact to wild steelhead is reached, according to Fish and Wildlife.

Anglers also will be required to release any coho fitted with a floy tag and those with one or more round quarter-inch holes punched in their tail fin. Motorized vessels are not allowed on the Wenatchee or Icicle rivers under Chelan County ordinances.

To participate in these fisheries, anglers must possess a valid fishing license and a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement. Revenue from the endorsement supports salmon or steelhead seasons on many rivers in the Columbia River system, including enforcing fishery regulations and monitoring the upper Columbia River steelhead fisheries. The endorsement has generated more than $1million annually for Fish and Wildlife to maintain and increase fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River Basin.

Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Recreational Anglers Board need members

Fish and Wildlife is seeking nominations for two vacant positions on the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Recreational Anglers Board, a citizen advisory group responsible for reviewing plans to improve sport fishing opportunities for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to the board, which is composed of nine people affiliated with recreational fishing organizations in the region.

The board currently has one vacant position in northcentral Washington, which is Region 2, and another in southwest Washington, Region 5.

The board's primary role is to advise Fish and Wildlife on implementation of the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Pilot Endorsement Program, approved by state lawmakers during the 2009 legislative session.

Board members will also serve as an important communication link with the fishing public. People seeking appointment to the board should have a solid background in Columbia River fishery management, along with the ability to communicate effectively with anglers and anglers' organizations.

The board meets at least three times per year to review and evaluate program implementation, program expenditures and provide recommendations consistent with the intent of the pilot endorsement program. WDFW will provide financial assistance with meeting-related travel costs.

Board members will serve two-year terms and can be reappointed. Current Board member shave all agreed to reappointment; however, nominees are still needed for the two existing vacant positions.

Nominations must be mailed no later than Oct. 31 to: Jeff Korth, Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement Program, 1550 Alder St. NW, Ephrata, WA 98823. More information is available by contacting Jeff at (509) 754-4624 ext. 224.

Nominations must include the following information: The name of the advisory group the nominee is applying for; the nominee's name, physical and email address and telephone number; the nominee's affiliations; the region the nominee is seeking a position for; the name, address and telephone number of any organization submitting a nomination; experience, including the amount and type of experience, and any species or areas of interest, and references.