FOR MY MONEY, Easter is the best candy holiday.
Christmas has some nice sweets, but most of them are just festive versions of year-round candies, merely coming in special holiday colors or packaging.
Valentine’s Day does have those heart-shape boxes filled with chocolates, but that’s about it.
And don’t get me started on Halloween, which is more about quantity than quality, with plastic bags being loaded with what I swear are sub-par forms of everyday candy bars.
Nope, it’s Easter.
There are all manner of egg-shaped goodies, some are chocolate filled with another type of sugar, and others have a candy shell filled with chocolate.
There are various jelly beans to choose from, including those made by Starburst.
Finally, marshmallow treats, highlighted by the iconic bird-shaped Peeps.
Personally, I’m not a fan, but I can’t deny their popularity.
And now, Peeps are birds of distinction, according to a press release sent out this week by the American Bird Conservancy.
“American Bird Conservancy, bowing to a tidal wave of public opinion,” the release said, “has declared the Peep (Marshmallicious delicious) to be this year’s Easter bird of the week.”
The Peep becomes the first bird to be named bird of the week more than once.
Even more, each of the different colors of Peeps will receive its own species status.
Until this week, only yellow Peeps were recognized as a full species; but now the blue, teal, pink and purple forms, called color morphs, will receive that same consideration.
“There simply isn’t any evidence that these forms interbreed,” senior scientist Dr. David Wiedenfeld said.
“While they can often be found roosting in the same box, the fact is that nobody has ever seen an intermediate bird between the color morphs.”
Needless to say, this is big news for the ornithological community.
Salmon in Sekiu
The way blackmouth fishing has gone this season, I’m hesitant to give anything resembling a good report.
“That’s how the blackmouth season has been,” Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said.
“There will be one good day, then decent for half a day, and then completely die.”
All that being said, anglers seemingly had a nice weekend in Sekiu.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s sport fishing reports had double-digit catch numbers at the Olson’s Resort ramp last Saturday and Sunday.
There have also been some good reports out of Freshwater Bay.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said an angler caught three there in two days.
But, as Aunspach found out first-hand, that doesn’t mean Freshwater Bay is a hot spot.
He fished the bay earlier this week and his boat didn’t bring home any fish.
Trout plants
The state recently planted trout in a few of the North Olympic Peninsula’s year-round lakes in time for spring break.
Lake Leland received 300 cutthroat earlier this month, and Teal Lake received 40 cutthroat a few weeks ago and 40 rainbow last Friday.
The Leland plants might not be noticeable, according to Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist.
“That plant is so minuscule for a lake that size — over 100 acres — that it should not have much impact,” Norden said.
Menkal reports the fishing at Lake Leland has been inconsistent.
“Some guys are doing well, some aren’t,” he said.
Norden said better fishing is nigh.
“Water temp at Lake Leland is now up to 47 degrees, and fishing remains fair for the patient angler,” he said.
“I still see no insect hatches on the lake in the evenings, but that should begin soon.
“By the end of next week, I hope to have caught my first few largemouth bass of the season in Lake Leland — if we don’t have another cold snap.”
Licenses expiring
Next time you read this column, your 2012-13 hunting and fishing licenses will have expired.
Starting Monday you will need a 2013-14 license to fish the Peninsula’s waters.
Licenses can be purchased online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, and from license dealers throughout the state.
The cost of 2013-14 hunting and fishing licenses is the same as last year.
College courses
The next round of Peninsula College fishing classes, taught by Ron Link, have been announced.
The first of these four classes doesn’t start until the end of April, so there is plenty of time to register.
These classes consist of class time and a Saturday field trip.
More information on these course will come later, but here are the dates and times:
■ Fishing for Steelhead: Friday, April 26, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
■ Fly Fishing: Thursdays from May 2 to May 16, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
■ River Fishing: Friday, May 10, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
■ Fishing the Peninsula: Friday, June 7, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To register for these classes, phone Peninsula College at 360-417-6340.
Halibut clarification
The second weekend of the Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) halibut fishery is open Thursday, May 30, through Saturday, June 1.
I wrote the wrong day of the week in Thursday’s column.
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.
________
Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
