I made a trip up north last week, and I did a survey of the launches at Spring Canyon, Keller on Lake Roosevelt, and Northrup on Banks Lake. All of these launches are being used, and anglers are chasing big kokanee on Lake Roosevelt, and a good number of folks are out on Banks Lake. I fished for walleye on Potholes last week, and even tried fishing from shore at Spring Canyon and Keller.

I practiced some social distancing by taking a trip to Potholes Reservoir on Tuesday. I met Shelby Ross at Mar Don Resort at 10 a.m. and we headed out on the reservoir. He first cruised around Goose Island looking for fish. This can be a good spot to look for fish in the early season. Not seeing enough to bother with we headed over to Lind Coulee. He put out the gear in a bay below the bridge and we started trolling. We were marking some fish in here and he landed a nice one not long after we started. I wouldn’t call it hot, but we were getting bites and putting fish in the boat at a good pace, then it slowed down a bit. He decided to take a quick run up above the bridge and maybe find a big fish in the shallow water up there. We trolled around in 13 feet of water for a while and didn’t mark anything or even get a bite in this shallow water, so we headed back down to where we started. A pretty good bite began in the afternoon, and when we quit we had 10 walleye from 13 ½ to 17 ½ inches in the live well. We missed at least that many too. He kept his speed to about 8 mph and we were in 28 to 32 feet of water. The best rigs were either a straight Slow Death Hook or one with a Smile Blade above the Slow Death hook. We used the biggest nightcrawlers we had on board. I am very eager to get back down there. As soon as they start filling Moses Lake, the bite will turn on there and in Crab Creek below the outlets into Potholes Reservoir. The photo in this week’s column is of Shelby with the stringer we put together last Tuesday.

A friend called saying he wanted to try the shore fishing at Spring Canyon Park on Lake Roosevelt. So, I jumped in the F-150 early the next morning and met them on the beach. Three of us fished, for at least three hours without landing a fish, so we gave it up. They headed home and I decided to make the drive to Keller, since I was so close. I fished for an hour without a bite. I did stop and take a couple of photos of the launch, which I posted on my Facebook Page, along with shots of the launch at Spring Canyon. Both of these sites are functional and being used. I also stopped at the launch at Northrup on Banks Lake and found that the docks are in already. I can’t figure out why the fishing sucked so badly. There had been a couple of nice sunny days, and the moon was just a thumbnail in the early morning sky. Everything was pointing to a great day to have a line in the water. So much for my theories about when is a good time to go fishing. Just go as often as you can is my conclusion. It was a beautiful day for a tour!

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks), Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the closure of all state campgrounds across Washington to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Campgrounds will remain closed through April 30.

The closure includes roofed accommodations like cabins and yurts. No new campers will be allowed into Parks, WDFW, or DNR lands beginning Monday, March 23. Current campers will be phased out following instructions from land officials. Day-use areas and trails remain open. Due to the volume of people visiting Washington’s ocean beaches, we are asking the public to avoid those areas.

People should continue to practice social distancing when recreating outdoors. Campers who have state parks reservations through April 30 will be notified and offered a full refund. Visitors can find the latest information about State Park operations at parks.state.wa.us/COVID19. Although camping is not allowed, WDFW wildlife areas and water access areas remain open for public use at this time. However, due to theft and increased usage of their restrooms, visitors should plan to bring their own hand sanitizer and toilet paper. For the latest information about WDFW operations, visit wdfw.wa.gov/about/covid-19-update.  DNR’s camping will be closed to dedicated camping areas and dispersed camping or camping outside of designated camp sites. For the most up-to-date information for DNR lands, visit dnr.wa.gov/recreation.

In just a week you will need to have your new Washington State fishing license. You don’t want to forget. People usually complain about the cost of a license, but it hasn’t changed for over 10 years, and I consider it a bargain for the enjoyment it provides me. This year spring has come early, and conditions are really great to get out on your favorite body of water. The kids aren’t in school and there are no sports scheduled, so practice some social distancing and get outdoors! Now is a perfect time to be outside, and there are plenty of lakes that are open year-round in our region. The weather forecasts are for 50- and even 60-degree temperatures, so why not grab a fishing rod and enjoy a sunny day on the shore or on a boat somewhere? It’s a great time to be with your family in the outdoors.

Also, I want to remind everyone that got a license last year that included a catch record card, it is time to send it in. It is required that it be returned to the WDFW if you fished for salmon, steelhead, halibut or sturgeon, and had success or not. The deadline to return these to the department is by April 30th. Please mail your catch record cards to: WDFW CRC Unit, P.O. Box, 43142, Olympia, WA 98504-3142.

I was very encouraged about the walleye fishing on Potholes Reservoir, and I think we can expect good fishing there this year. Maybe on Moses Lake and Banks too!