DOES ANYONE TELL big fish stories anymore?
Rather, do they still try to get away with sharing tall tales about tussles with massive fish?
Stories like, “I caught a whopper, biggest the river has ever seen, but unfortunately I ate it before I took a photograph,” or “I reeled in the biggest fish you’ve ever seen, but I had to put him back in the river due to state rules.”
Why even bother these days?
In this modern age, if the photograph of you and your huge fish isn’t on Facebook by the time you get off the river, it’s almost as if you never really caught it.
That being the case, it is unlikely that you can get away with telling stories about fish that never existed.
“Everybody has phones that can take pictures,” Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said.
“I can take pictures with my phone, but I don’t know how and I don’t want to.”
Lately, many anglers have been catching nice Facebook fish on the West End rivers.
The wild steelhead are making their run, and there are some big ones.
“Size is what everybody is chasing right now,” Gooding said of the native steelhead, which mostly go unharvested.
State Department of Fish and Wildlife rules only allow an angler to retain one wild steelhead, and most anglers elect to just put them back in the river.
Gooding said he has seen photographs of fish “in the 18- to 22-pound class,” in the last few weeks.
The river fishing was hindered recently by significant rain storms.
The rain stopped, and now the water levels are fine.
“The rivers came up and got back down quickly,” Gooding said.
“It didn’t last long. We’ve actually been pretty dry here.”
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim reports that anglers are finding success on the West End Rivers, including an 11-year-old who caught a 16-pound steelhead on the Bogachiel River.
“It’s not a bad time to fish the rivers,” Menkal said.
Adding to the good news, the reports of seals stunting the fishing on the Bogey and Calawah rivers have died down.
Leland fishing
Still good reports from Lake Leland.
Other than photography opportunities on the West End rivers, fishing for trout on Lake Leland might be your best bet on the North Olympic Peninsula.
“A lot of fish are being taken if people want to go trout fishing,” Menkal said of Lake Leland.
Hunter education
Washington law requires all first-time hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972, to successfully complete a hunter education class in order to purchase a hunting license.
Randy Mesenbrink, a volunteer instructor certified by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, will be teaching this course next month at the West End Sportsmen’s Club in Forks on Sportmens Club Road.
Participants will receive instruction on firearms safety, wildlife conservation and sportsmanship.
The classes start next week on Monday and Wednesday, and will continue the following week on Monday, March 11, and Wednesday, March 13.
Classes last from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The final test will be Saturday, March 16, at 9 a.m.
Students must attend all classes to be eligible for the hunter education student certificate.
These courses are open to everyone, but Mesenbrink said that most who complete the course are at least 10 years old.
A parent or guardian is required to attend the first night of class with their student, and are encouraged to attend all classes.
Students younger than 10 years old must be accompanied to all classes by a parent or guardian.
To participate, you must pre-register online at http://tinyurl.com/HuntClass.
For more information, call Mesenbrink at 360-374-5718.
Monthly meeting
The Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers will have another unique presentation at its next meeting on Monday by club member Carl Thompson, who has been fishing in Mexico for years.
Recently, he has been fly fishing for sail fish, dorado and rooster fish in Mexico, especially in the Sea of Cortez.
Thompson will demonstrate the unique flies involved and show attendees the catch from the warm waters of Mexico.
He will also explain how to fish for fast, exciting fish without spending a lot of money.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Campfire USA Clubhouse at 619 E. 4th St. in Port Angeles.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
