OK, let's get this out of the way immediately. The rumors are true. Silvers are starting to strut their stuff at the Fishing Hole.

Easy now, don't abandon your family or pets yet. A big pulse has not invaded, but there are a few jumpers on these big tides and fish are being caught in the lagoon although most of them are just a bit bigger than the bait usually used to hammer halibut.

Cohos also are being taken by trollers who are savvy enough to discover areas abundant with bait fish and cool waters. Knowledgeable skippers look for these schools on their fish-finders or scan for birds diving and feeding. Why? Because salmon attack bait fish from underneath and drive them to the surface where lazy-ass sea birds dive on the yummy critters like they're a government giveaway program.

For those lucky enough to have a real boat and are not trolling behind a jet-ski or a boogie-board, remember, torpedoing birds are usually an excellent indicator that salmon are present and have the munchies of a six-month pregnant wife.

Whether you are fishing from a boat, a line tied to your survival suit or an easy chair on the beach, the most important factor in attracting salmon is the action or smell on your bait or lure. Erratic or wounded fish action is outstanding. When salmon get a hankering to hit a buffet they will search for a ball of baitfish. If they find one, they'll tear through the middle of the mass smacking the baitfish with their heads and tails. They then spin a one-eighty and look for the cripples that they can put a serious scarf on.

Want to know what they are attacking? Well, this may be an urp-factor 10 elucidation for some queasanoids, but I have caught more fish by splitting the bellies of gutted fish that someone else caught just to see what the Oncorhynchus kisutch were hitting (betcha ya didn't know than that means silvers). Why offer them hummus when they crave a candlefish quiche?

That goes for the Fishing Hole, too. Right now bright red eggs fished on the bottom are working, but give it an hour and small plug-cut herring will be hot, but only if you float it upside down two and three-quarter inches below a chartreuse and orange bobber with a siren activated flashing light attached. In other words, figure it out yourself.

Emergency Orders and Regulation Reminders

The Tanner crab sport, personal use and subsistence fisheries in Cook Inlet are open. A permit is required and available at the Anchorage, Soldotna and Homer Fish and Game offices.

King salmon fishing is closed in Deep Creek and Anchor River. King salmon may not be targeted and all kings incidentally hooked from Deep Creek and the Anchor River must be released immediately, unharmed.

Hatchery king salmon may be harvested from the Ninilchik River as long as you are aware that these kings have a missing adipose fin and a healed scar where the adipose fin should be immediately front of the tail fin. Wild king salmon incidentally hooked from the Ninilchik River cannot be removed from the water and must be released immediately, unharmed.

Fresh Waters

Deep Creek and Anchor Rivers are open to fishing for species other than king salmon from their mouths to department markers located approximately two miles upstream.

Expect fair fishing for pink salmon. Dolly Varden are starting to show in notable numbers.

The bag limit for Dollies is two per day/two in possession. Use small (size 3 or smaller) spinners and spoons.

Expect silver salmon to begin arriving when they decide they don't have anything else to do. The bag limit is two per day/two in possession.

Salt Waters: Halibut

Halibut fishing is good in Lower Cook Inlet. Most anglers are catching their bag limits with most halibut harvested weighing 15-20 pounds in tourist "Chicken Holes." Fishing near Bluff Point, Point Pogibshi and Flat Island has been productive as long as you have bait and don't run out of beer.

Herring is the preferred bait unless something else works.

Salt Waters: Salmon

Silver salmon trolling set-ups include herring, Hootchies, tube flies and spoons. Try using dodgers or flashers for extra attraction, especially if you flash charge the glow lures that we suggested last year.

The Fishing Lagoon remains closed to snagging. You will be reported if you mess with the law. Those who have had enough of these outlaws should call (907) 235-8239.

Silvers are being caught in the Point Pogibshi/Flat Island areas by competent charter captains and competent private boaters.

Other Saltwater Fishing

Dolly Varden are available off the end of the Homer Spit. Try fishing small silvery or orange spinners for best results.

For more Reeling 'Em In, see www.homernews.com.

Anything that smells really rotten will work if you can keep it on a hook.

Lingcod season opened July 1. Many anglers target lingcod near the rock piles and pinnacles. Best fishing success is usually in the vicinity of the Chugach Islands and beyond. There is a minimum size limit of 35 inches and a bag limit of two per day and two in possession. Any fish intended for release must not be gaffed. The bag limit between Gore Point and Cape Fairfield is one per day and one in possession.

Personal Use

The China Poot personal use dipnet fishery is open through Aug. 7. Complete regulations can be found on pages 17 of the South Central Alaska regulation booklet.

Dipnetting success has been fair. Most dipnetters are traveling up to the falls to get their daily limit. Be aware that commercial nets have been set and retrieved so sockeyes availability may suck.

Shellfish

A series of clamming tides run through July 26.

The razor clam daily bag limit is the first 60 that you dig.

You may not release razor clams you dig -- they are delicate and handling damages them, increasing their chances of dying. The fine for releasing razor clams that you dig is $100. The minimum size for littleneck clams is 1 inches and 2 inches for butter clams. Undersized clams must be returned to the beach and should be reburied on their side or neck up. The fine for taking undersized clams is $100 plus $2 per clam.

You are a primo idiot if you don't check your Regulation Summary Booklet for clam limits.

Fisheries for king crab, Dungeness crab and shrimp in Cook Inlet remain closed.

The Tanner crab sport, personal use and subsistence fisheries in Cook Inlet opened July 15. A permit is required and available at the Anchorage, Soldotna and Homer Fish and Game offices.

Nick C. Varney is a fishing fanatic in search of semi-truthful tales, tips and facts associated with anything that includes bait and a pole. If you have some, he can be reached at ncvarney@gmail.com.