INSTEAD OF GOLD, frankincense and myrrh, the gift I will give you for our first Christmas together is shrimp.
Before your hopes get too high, I have to warn you that I’m not literally giving you the shrimp, but rather the knowledge of shrimp.
Here you go: recreational shrimp fishing opportunities will increase significantly in 2013.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved a new shrimp policy and management strategy that allocates 70 percent of the shrimp catch to sport harvesters.
Nontribal commercial fishermen will receive 30 percent.
Under the new plan, recreational shrimp harvesting could be open 31 additional days on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, while other areas could be open one or two additional days.
I hope this gift keeps you warm or entertained during the long winter months.
Ridge report
Hurricane Ridge is ready for skiiers and snowboarders.
The rope lifts are ready and there’s plenty of snow — in fact there’s too much of the white stuff.
Last weekend was supposed to be the season opener at the Ridge, but the road was only opened for a few hours, according to Frank Crippen, the owner of North by Northwest Surf Co. (360-452-5144) in Port Angeles.
The ski area at the Ridge is scheduled to be open a few extra days for the holidays — weather permitting, of course.
It will be open today through Sunday, instead of the usual Saturday to Sunday schedule.
Next week, the ski area will be open Friday, Dec. 28 through Tuesday, Jan. 1.
This all depends on the conditions of the road that leads up to Hurricane Ridge.
Road and weather condition updates are available on the Olympic National Park website (www.nps.gov/olym) or by calling the park’s Road and Weather Hotline at 360-565-3131.
You can also obtain road condition updates on Twitter at @HRWinterAccess.
Save the trails
It was a great year for the Washington Trails Association as they preserved and maintained more trails throughout the state than ever before.
The trails association logged 100,000 volunteer hours on 170 trails throughout the state.
It reopened the Duckabush River trail in the Olympics after it was destroyed by fire.
With constant budget cuts, the trails association relies heavily on donations, and needs to raise $70,000 by Dec. 31 to get a solid start to 2013.
You can contribute by filling out a secure online donation form at http://tinyurl.com/TrailsDonation.
If you want to donate the old-fashioned ways, phone 206-625-1367 or send a check postmarked by Dec. 31 to Washington Trails Association, 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300, Seattle, WA, 98104.
Fishing College
Ron Link will again be teaching fishing classes for Peninsula College, starting next month.
The classes are titled River Fishing and Fly Fishing.
River Fishing will be a tour of the fishable waters of the Sol Duc River and will cover the best techniques.
Fly Fishing will teach the basics of fly fishing, including the techniques and tackle to use.
Each class consists of weeknight classroom time and one Saturday “field trip.”
Here are the course details:
■ River Fishing
Dates: Friday, Jan. 11, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Center — 905 West 9th St. in Port Angeles.
Cost: $68.
Notes: No equipment necessary, but students will need to provide their own transportation.
■ Fly Fishing
Dates: Thursdays, Jan. 10-24, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 26, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Center — 905 West 9th St. in Port Angeles.
Cost: $93.50.
Notes: No equipment necessary, but students will need to provide their own transportation.
To register for these classes, phone Peninsula College at 360-417-6340.
2013 derby tickets
Need a last-minute gift? Tickets for the 2013 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby are now on sale.
The derby, which takes place on Presidents Day weekend (Saturday, Feb. 16, to Monday, Feb. 18), offers a $10,000 first prize.
The event spans the North Olympic Peninsula and features more than 500 square miles of fishing, with weigh stations at five launch ramps: Freshwater Bay, Ediz Hook in Port Angeles, John Wayne Marina in Sequim, Gardiner and Port Townsend Boat Haven.
Derby tickets cost $40. They can also be purchased online at www.GardinerSalmonDerby.org.
The derby benefits emergency and other vital services for Gardiner, Diamond Point and nearby communities.
And to all a good night
Happy Holidays to you and yours.
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.
