Terry Otto
The Columbian
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Past articles by Terry:
Next round of razor clam digs given approval
The next round of razor clam digs has been given the green light by the WDFW. The approved digs will take place from Tuesday Jan. 21, through Sunday, Jan. 26. → Read More
Long Beach is bustling with clams, but night digs can be dangerous
It’s the time of year for holiday razor clams, and the beaches are boasting great numbers of good-sized clams this winter. However, night-time clamming digs often mean dangerous conditions, and clam diggers need to practice safety to avoid accidents. → Read More
Oregon, Washington at odds on barbless hooks
At the Aug. 2 meeting in Salem, Ore, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission refused an agency request to make barbless hooks voluntary on the Columbia River for salmon and steelhead fisheries. The use of barbed hooks is allowed right now because of a temporary rule change, which will expire on Nov. 28. → Read More
High-elevation hikes with a catch
Mists hovered just over the surface of the small mountain lake. Rising trout dimpled the water as they gently sipped hatching bugs. My second cast brought a solid hook-up, and I battled the chunky bro → Read More
Oceans of Fun: Action starting to improve for ocean chinook, coho fishing
They were becoming pests, these little king salmon. Many were below the 24-inch keeper threshold, and the few that were measuring out at 24 to 25 inches were just too small to keep. The problem was they wouldn’t leave our baits alone. We were fishing off Long Beach in Washington’s Marine Area 1 with guide Bob Rees, and although we were getting plenty of coho bites, and even a few decent sized… → Read More
State’s Bass Week aims to hook new anglers
It’s time to celebrate bass fishing in Washington. → Read More
Erratic Willamette: Spring chinook fishing has been inconsistent on Oregon river
OREGON CITY, Ore. —The Willamette River was as smooth as a lake. The riverfront homes were reflected in the mirror-like surface of the river, showcasing the quirky as well as the luxury abodes that li → Read More
Fishing report, May 16
Effective Thursday, angling for summer steelhead and spring Chinook jacks will be open between Tongue Point and the I-5 Bridge on the Columbia River. Angling for shad will be open from Buoy 10 at the → Read More
WDFW faces $7M budget shortfall
The Washington state legislature refused to act on several revenue requests from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, (WDFW) and have left the agency with a $7 million shortfall in their bu → Read More
Coalition of anglers would like to see more hatchery-raised fish in area waters
For 30 years, wild fish advocates have been framing hatchery produced salmon as the biggest obstacle to wild salmon recovery, and throwing their money, lobbying muscle, and legal expertise behind a co → Read More
Spring turkey season should be good
Each time I called to the birds they would gobble right back, and each gobble sent electric excitement through me. I struggled to contain my excitement while I also struggled to get the receptive bird → Read More
Weldon Wagon Trail is a lesser-traveled Gorge option for spring beauty
We were a little early for most of the spring wildflowers, but the grass widows were in bloom, their tiny reddish-purple petals nodding in the slight breeze as they peeked out from shrubs still barren → Read More
Bottoms Up: Ling cod, rockfish are biting in large numbers off Westport
Bottom fishing has been excellent out of Westport this spring. Ling cod and rockfish stocks are both healthy, and some recovering stocks have rebounded enough that some rules have been loosened. Angle → Read More
Change to gillnet policy stokes anger
In a vote that has angered the sport fishing community, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission (WFWC) has voted to alter the Columbia River Salmon Policy 3620, known as the Columbia River Reforms → Read More
Bi-partisan bill would end gillnetting
A bipartisan group of 24 Washington state senators led by Jesse Salomon, (D-Shoreline), introduced a bill Friday that requires ending the practice of using non-tribal gill nets to harvest salmon in th → Read More
Down, but not out: Spring Chinook still promising in Gorge
Guides say river conditions play bigger role than return projects for Spring Chinook → Read More
A League of Its Own: Vancouver Wildlife League has made many contributions in 90 years
On April 24, 1929, 19 sportsmen from the Vancouver area gathered at the old Memory Hall to address common concerns involving issues of fishing, hunting, and wildlife conservation. → Read More
Fees waived on Jan. 1 for state parks, with many hosting special hikes
There is no excuse for staying indoors this New Year’s Day. → Read More
Clammy Christmas: Digs scheduled for Washington beaches, but surf and size are issues
Clammers in Southwest Washington will finally get to dig for razor clams on the Long Beach Peninsula this coming Saturday, although high surf could scuttle the only dig planned for the peninsula’s bea → Read More
Fishing Report, Dec. 6
Fishing is good for plus-sized fall rainbow trout in the lakes stocked on Black Friday. → Read More