Peninsula Daily News news sources
THE NATIVE STEELHEAD are arriving in the coastal rivers, and anglers are catching some king-size fish.
Some steelies have topped 30 pounds.
The Salmon and Hoh are the best bets.
Jigs with sand shrimp fished under a bobber, corkies and yarn in pink, shrimp and eggs all seem to be working, says Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks.
Flyfishers using Glo Bugs under an indicator are pulling in big, bright fish from the Sol Duc.
The Sol Duc, Calawah, Bogachiel, Hoh, Queets, Humptulips, Wynooche and Satsop — all running low and gin-clear — are producing fish, but locals say overall, fishing is not as good as in previous years.
Rretention of wild steelhead is currently limited to one fish per year on the Bogachiel, Calawah, Clearwater, Dickey, Hoh, Hoko, Pysht, Quillayute, Quinault and Sol Duc.
Elsewhere, all wild steelhead — identifiable by an intact adipose fin — must be released.
There is no annual limit for hatchery steelhead, although daily limits apply.
Anglers targeting blackmouth salmon — resident chinook — have had a tough time this week because of winds.
But between gusts they’ve found success around Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Sekiu.
Once the weather cooperated, an angler landed a 23-pounder in front of the Caves off Sekiu at midweek, Olson’s Resort in Sekiu (360-963-2311) reported.
Just as the temporary one-lane road relinked state Highway 112 with east and west near Pysht on Thursday, blackmouth weighing in the mid-teens were plentiful and fishing was particularly good.
Most folks are trolling, but mooching has been effective at the Winter Hole west of Port Angeles.
A few blackmouth are being caught north of Hoodsport, especially in the Ayok and Seabeck-Dabob Bay areas, says Gary Florek at G&M True Value Hardware in Hoodsport, 360-877-9834.
Coyote Spoons, Coho Killers, flies, Hoochies and Point Wilson Darts have been the best lures.
Sea-run cutthroat are heading out of the streams and feeding aggressively after a long winter.
The closer you get to the mouth of the rivers, the better your chance at catching a fish that will jump and run and get your blood pumping.
Spinners and small candlefish/sandlance, sculpin and scud fly patterns are a good choice right now.
The action has been slow in Lake Sutherland west of Port Angeles and the Peninsula’s other year-round trout lakes, mostly because the cold weather has kept the anglers away.
Try using worms fished under a bobber at Sutherland, changing the depth until you find the fish.
Locals say it is too soon for trolling because the fish are holding deep out in the lake.
Reports of whales in local waters are on the rise.
A gray whale was spotted in the Strait between Port Townsend and Keystone by ferry riders on Wednesday.
Lingcod season
Lingcod season gets under way Saturday in Marine Areas 1, 2 and 3 south of Cape Alava.
Minimum size for tasty lingcod in these areas is 22 inches, with a daily limit of two fish per angler.
In Marine Area 2 (Westport/Ocean Shores), recreational fishing for rockfish or lingcod is not allowed in waters deeper than 30 fathoms from March 15 through June 15.
Additional information about the lingcod fishery and other bottom fish is available on the state Fish and Wildlife Fishing Hot Line, 360-902-2500, or online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm/.
Halibut tips
Veteran outdoors writer Terry Rudnick, author of How to Catch Trophy Halibut, will be the speaker at the next meeting of the Puget Sound Anglers’ North Olympic Peninsula chapter.
The meeting will be this coming Thursday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., Sequim.
For more information, phone 360-582-0836, or click on www.pugetsoundanglers.org.
Razor clams
An early spring, three-day razor clam dig is still scheduled on morning tides March 27-29, provided marine toxin tests a few days before then show the clams are safe to eat.
Two digs are also tentatively scheduled on morning tides April 10-12 and April 25-27.
Tentative opening dates and morning low tides in March are:
• Friday, March 27 (7:49 a.m. 0.0 ft.) Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
• Saturday, March 28 (8:29 a.m. -0.4 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
• Sunday, March 29 (9:12 a.m. -0.6 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
Clamming remains closed at Kalaloch Beach.
Bear hunting
State Fish and Wildlife officials are accepting applications for spring black bear hunting permits through today.
To be eligible for a permit, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2009 hunting license that includes bear as a species option.
A drawing will be held in mid-March for 295 permits in western Washington and 225 permits on the east side of the state.
Successful applicants will be notified by March 31.
Hunting licenses, bear transport tags and bear permit applications may be purchased online (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/), by phone (866-246-9453) or at any license vendor in the state.
Applications, which require a correct hunt choice number, may be submitted online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ or by calling 877-945-3492.
Let it snow
Partly sunny skies are forecast today at Hurricane Ridge, but snow (65 inches at the snow stake Thursday morning) is forecast starting tonight and continuing through Monday, the National Weather Service said.
Call the recorded hot line at 360-565-3131 to find out about road conditions before heading up to the Ridge, which is 17 miles south of Port Angeles.
The rope tows are expected to operate today, and through the weekend if the road is open and weather permits.
Single-day lift tickets cost $20 for the intermediate and bunny lifts, and $18 for a half day.
All-day and half-day bunny lift tickets are $10.
Skis are available for rent at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
Snowboards can be rented from North by Northwest Surf Co., 902 S. Lincoln St. in Port Angeles.
Snowshoeing, tubing and sledding (weather permitting) and cross country skiing are also available at the Ridge.
Free ranger-led snowshoe hikes, lasting about 90 minutes, are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Since space is limited, participants are encouraged to register at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk 30 minutes beforehand.
When weather permits, Hurricane Ridge Road is open Fridays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All drivers are required to have tire chains on their tires or in their vehicles.
Information on weather conditions at the Ridge is also available at www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/hurricane-ridge-current-conditions.htm.
The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club is offering its last one-day learn to ski or snowboard class this Saturday.
The class will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost is $50 per person each day and includes an all-day lift ticket, two hours of group instruction and your choice of ski or snowboard rentals.
Spaces for a class can be purchased in advance at Angeles Electric, 524 E. First St. in Port Angeles.
To register, or for more information, phone 360-461-3633 or 360-461-1764.
Fishing and biking
The popular spring fishing newsletter by well-known Peninsula author and fly fishing guide Doug Rose is out — click on http://dougroseflyfishing.com/blog/.
Off-road bikers should check out the Olympic Dirt Society’s Web site — http://olympicdirtsociety.blogspot.com/
Shorebird Festival
Now is the time to start planning for the world-famous Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival, which is April 24 through 26 this year.
And right now is a great time to visit festival birding spots, such as the Sandpiper Trail at Bowerman Basin, to see early birds.
And there are birds — hundreds of thousands of shorebirds — to see from now through May.
The massive shorebird migration from wintering grounds in South America, Central America and the southern United States funnels millions of birds through Grays Harbor mudflats, beaches and marshes.
The birds — sandpipers, dowitchers, dunlins, plovers and more — stop at the huge Grays Harbor Bay and beaches to feed and prepare for the next leg of their long journey to Arctic breeding grounds.
Some of these birds fly 15,000 miles during this migration, which is one of the planet’s great wildlife spectacles.
Birders see huge flocks of shorebirds scuttle across mudflats — and take to the air in massive flocks that wheel and dive in the air.
Birders from all over the world journey to Grays Harbor to spot birds, take classes and seminars, go on guided field trips and hobnob with fellow birding addicts.
This year, Hoquiam High School is the headquarters for the shorebird festival.
The festival itself offers free and pay-to-play field trips to great birding spots at the Bowerman Basin section of the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, Westport, Point Grenville, Tokeland, Grayland, Ocean Shores and other coastal beach and Grays Harbor spots.
Birders should sign up now for limited spots on field trips.
Some of the trips, such as guided walks at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, are free.
Others, such as a shorebird class for beginners are $15, while longer trips, such as guided jaunts to Point Grenville and the Westport, Tokeland and Grayland loop, run from $30 to $35.
These trips fill up very fast. Birders should log onto www.shorebirdfestival.com or phone 800-303-8498.
Call us, photos welcome!
Want your event listed in the outdoors column?
Got a photo of your latest catch?
Have a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Why not share it with our readers?
Send it to Matt Schubert, Sports Department, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362; phone, 360-417-3526, fax, 417-3521; e-mail matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.
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Matt Schubert, outdoors columnist for the Peninsula Daily News, is in Yakima covering the state basketball tournament. His column, which appears on Thursdays and Fridays, will return next week.
