THE WASHINGTON OUTDOORS REPORT October 13 – October 19, 2023

Looking to do some hunting and fishing this Fall?  Maybe do both activities on the same day?  Here are a few cast and blast suggestions for you!

CONCUNULLY DEER AND TROUT:  Hunt for white-tail or mule deer in the morning on Forest Service land, fish for trout, bass and kokanee in the afternoon and enjoy dinner and a beer in the Sit ‘n Bull Bar and Grill or the Red Rock Saloon in the small town of Conconully where the deer in town outnumber the residents.  Conconully Reservoir (north of town) and Conconully Lake (south of town) both offer great fishing for all three species but the do close October 31^st.

LAKE LENORE LAHONTANS AND CHUKAR:  Lake Lenore in northern Grant County offers great fishing for Lahontan cutthroat trout averaging two to three pounds in size in the spring and the fall.  The latter season sees very little fishing pressure but the trout will readily hit cast or trolled spoons at this time of year.  This a selective regulation water body, meaning you can only use artificial lures with single, barbless hooks and only electric motors are allowed on boats.  While fishing here you’ll hear chukar chattering in the hills surrounding the lake valley.  Consider a morning hike for chukar followed by an afternoon of trolling for trout! Lake Lenore is open until November 30^th.

CURLEW LAKE TURKEY AND MUSKY:  There are a lot of deer and turkey roaming around Ferry County and you can certainly target those in the morning and then hit Curlew Lake in the afternoon for trout or for some of the big tiger musky swimming in these waters.

POTHOLES RESERVOIR DUCKS AND WALLEYE:  Guide Shelby Ross (Ross Outdoor Adventures) offers cast and blast trips during the month of October and for good reason, the hunting and fishing is very good!   Spend a morning in a blind in the sand dunes area that encompasses the northern part of the reservoir for a mixed bag of ducks to include teal, wigeon, gadwall and mallard.  Several hundred snow geese arrived in the area last week and if it’s a goose day you’ll have a chance to bag either a Canada or snow goose.  After a morning of hunting hop in the boat and troll the main lake near the face of the dunes for walleye which are definitely on the bite right now.

KLICKITAT COUNTY TURKEY AND STEELHEAD:  The Klickitat River is a great destination for Fall Chinook and coho salmon as well as summer steelhead during the autumn months.  Klickitat County is also a very good, but comparatively under-rated destination for wild turkey though most of these birds are found on private land.  If you can get permission to get on this land though, you’ve got an epic day of fishing and hunting waiting for you.

SNAKE RIVER STEELIES AND CHUKAR:  Hunt the breaks bordering the Snake River for chukar, get a great work out, and then fish the Snake River near Heller Bar or the lower Grande Ronde this fall for summer steelhead.  If you have a boat you can side-drift salmon eggs for success.  From the bank try fishing flies or casting spinners.

These are just a few ideas for cast and blast fun this Fall.  Go for a road trip with a rifle or shotgun and a fishing rod and enjoy the season!

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com