THE CONCLUSION OF the mighty halibut fishing season has most anglers turning their attention to preparing for the saltwater salmon and crab seasons, both of which begin Monday, July 1.
Crab pots are an essential part of crabbing, and they aren’t cheap — definitely not something most of us would be content with just losing at the bottom of the Strait of Juan de Fuca or Hood Canal.
According to the Washington State University Beach Watcher program, 120,000 crabs die in lost crab pots every year in the Puget Sound.
That is a lot of lost crab, and huge chunk of change wasted.
Beach Watcher programs in five Puget Sound counties — including Clallam and Jefferson counties — are working with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to educate new and experienced recreational crabbers about how to avoid lost crab pots, and curbing the unintentional damage to crab populations.
To this end, there will be a recreational crabbing program for Beach Watchers and other community volunteers Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Washington State University extension office in Port Townsend (381 Jefferson St.).
This educational session is free for volunteers willing to assist Washington State University with at least one recreational crabbing outreach event in Jefferson County or Clallam County this summer.
The training, led by regional expert Don Velazques of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, will cover crab biology, harvest techniques and rules, trap operation and outreach tips.
The presentation is designed to teach new and experienced crabbers the best practices to prevent crab pot losses and reduce the number of crabs that die in lost pots.
Volunteers will distribute information packets at licensing venues, boat ramps and festivals in Jefferson and Clallam counties throughout the summer.
For additional information, visit www.escapecord.org.
You can also contact Beach Watcher coordinator Cheryl Lowe at cheryl.lowe@wsu.edu, or by calling 379-5610 ext. 230.
Fathers Day fishing
Just in time for Fathers Day, state fish hatchery crews are stocking lakes throughout Washington with 10,000 triploid rainbow trout.
Only one North Olympic Peninsula lake is among the 20 receiving a plant of these triploids, which weigh an average of 1.5 pounds each, and were purchased from contracted private fish growers.
Jefferson County’s Sandy Shore Lake (5 miles southwest of Port Ludlow, off Sandy Shore Road) is receiving 150 of these triploids.
Sandy Shore also was stocked with 2,002 rainbow trout in mid-May.
Clallam County’s Wentworth Lake (almost 8 miles northwest of Forks, between the East and West forks of the Dickey River) didn’t receive any triploid plants, but the state did stock it with 4,729 rainbows earlier this month.
In less than two months, 9,566 trout have been planted in Wentworth.
So, there’s fish in there.
There also is fish in Lake Leland.
There always is.
“Took my hunting partner out day before yesterday on Lake Leland and he got four big trout in short order,” said Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist.
“I hoped to find a school of big perch — better eating in my honest opinion — but no luck; just little ones.
“Catfish should begin biting there in about two weeks, so I am looking forward to those for some fine meals.”
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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.
