ALL THE RAIN that has hit the North Olympic Peninsula recently has predictably caused the water levels of the West End rivers to skyrocket.
Fortunately, the levels have dropped back down just as quickly.
“They’re coming down pretty fast,” Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said.
“People should be able to do some plunking this weekend.”
On the Strait of Juan de Fuca, blackmouth fishing has stalled after a good end to 2012.
“It’s partially because we’ve had a lot of wind, but it’s also because of the tides,” Aunspach said.
There is good news on that front, too.
Aunspach said the tides should be favorable by the middle of next week, possibly sooner.
Then you’ll just have to cross your fingers that the wind dies down.
Skiing/snowboarding
Hurricane Ridge will be open the customary Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
Right now, the weather forecast said there is a 40 percent chance of snow on Saturday, while Sunday should be snow-free.
Here are a few other snow sports notes from Thursday’s column (read at http://tinyurl.com/OutdoorsJan10):
■ Ski and snowboard lessons start Saturday.
Group lessons will be held Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
For more information and to download forms, visit http://tinyurl.com/RidgeLessons.
■ The Hurricane Ridge Ski Team starts on-hill training Saturday.
For further program information and pricing, visit http://tinyurl.com/RidgeSkiTeam or email coach John Fox at skifox@wavecable.com.
■ The eighth annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival will be held Saturday at Wine on the Waterfront in downtown Port Angeles at 7 p.m.
Admission is $10 at the door.
Duck hunt
Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and hunting expert, reports that duck hunting has been going well when the weather cooperates.
“Due to the size of the tidelands, the best spots are only accessible by boat when the tides are high enough, long enough,” Norden said
“My rule of thumb for Hood Canal is that when tide height is above 6.5 feet, it is time to duck hunt if the wind allows.
“That means [there is] about a three-hour window per day.”
Derby tickets available
Aunspach said tickets for the 2013 Port Angeles Salmon Club’s monthly salmon derbies are currently available at Swain’s.
Tickets are $40, and allow you to participate in the monthly derbies all year long.
First prize wins $100, second place gets $75, third garners $50 and fourth place gets $25.
Steelhead class
Brian Menkal will hold his first fishing class of 2013 on Tuesday. Part two of the class will take place Tuesday, Jan. 22.
This class will teach you all you need to know about catching steelhead in the North Olympic Peninsula’s rivers.
Menkal has made some changes to his classes: there will be a fee of $25, and the class is limited to 12 people.
He will also have handouts so attendees won’t have to worry about drawing maps in their notebooks.
Menkal recommends dropping by his store or phoning him at 360-683-1950 to reserve a spot.
The classes last from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More, located at 542 W. Washington St. in Sequim.
Bring a pen or pencil, a notebook and a chair to the class.
Razor clams
There are still four days left for the current razor clam dig.
Here are the dates, evening low tides and participating beaches:
■ Today: 6:14 p.m., -1.6 feet — Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks.
■ Saturday: 6:58 p.m., -1.5 feet — Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks.
■ Sunday: 7:41 p.m., -1.2 feet — Twin Harbors.
■ Monday: 8:22 p.m., -0.6 feet — Twin Harbors.
Anglers’ auction
The Puget Sound Anglers’ annual auction/dinner will take place on Feb. 22 at the SunLand Golf and Country Club ballroom in Sequim.
This is a change in both date and location from past years.
The auction/dinner is the club’s fundraiser for the Kids Fishing program that provides trout fishing opportunities for children at Sequim’s water reclamation pond.
More details for the auction/dinner will be available closer to the day of the event.
Salmon derby
We’re getting closer to the 2013 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby, which will take place over Presidents Day weekend (Feb. 16-18).
The derby benefits emergency and other vital services for Gardiner, Diamond Point and nearby communities.
It features more than 500 square miles of fishing with weigh stations at five different launch ramps: Freshwater Bay, Ediz Hook in Port Angeles, John Wayne Marina in Sequim, Gardiner and Port Townsend Boat Haven.
First prize is $10,000.
Tickets are $40 for all three days. They can be purchased online at www.GardinerSalmonDerby.org.
Tickets are also sold at retailers throughout the North Olympic Peninsula, including Brian’s Sporting Goods and More in Sequim; Four Corners Store, Fish N Hole and Westside Marine in Port Townsend; Olympic Equipment Rental (formerly Just Ask Rentals) in Port Hadlock; Longhouse Market and Deli in Blyn; and Swain’s General Store 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.
