FORKS HAS SUN and warmth, but most of the North Olympic Peninsula is covered in fog.
Neither weather condition is good for fishing and hunting.
“It’s kind of a weird time,” Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said.
“A lot of strange things are happening.”
Anglers who are venturing out into the fog are finding success.
“They’re still catching a bunch of fish,” Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said.
“Guys who are who are braving it are finding good numbers.
“I hear a few horror stories about the big ship that came too close to the boat.
“[The fog] is putting a huge damper on the fishing.”
But the fog hasn’t prevented fish from being added to the Port Angeles Salmon Club’s monthly salmon derby ladder at Swain’s General Store.
Curt Madison sits atop the ladder with less than a week left with a 14-pound, 2-ounce salmon.
Tom Blore is in second place with a 13.08-pound fish.
Third place belongs to Mike James with a 12-pound salmon, and Rand Pierce is fourth at 11.08 pounds.
Crabbing slow, too
The crab harvest also has been affected, because anglers aren’t dropping pots on their way to fish for salmon.
At least, the attempt at crab harvest is being affected, since the crab season has yet to boom, especially in the Port Angeles Harbor.
Sequim is a little better. Some doing well, other aren’t.
Menkal said crabbers seem to be finding more success in Discovery Bay than in Sequim Bay recently.
Rivers update
Coho are moving through the Dungeness River quickly.
Menkal said the mouth of the river has been producing more than any other spot.
“They’re moving, and they’re moving fast,” Menkal said.
He said the key is finding a school of salmon that is resting.
On the West End, Menkal said the rivers have salmon.
The problem is that the water levels aren’t best for fishing.
But the salmon might not be alone.
“I’ve heard about a few steelhead being spotted in the Dickey River,” Menkal said.
“Maybe a few other rivers will have an early run of steelhead.”
Lake Leland planted?
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife might have already planted the 2,200 jumbo trout in Lake Leland, fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist Ward Norden reports.
But, he adds, there isn’t much evidence of it yet.
“It would appear the fish are already down deep and not on the surface,” Norden said.
“Bank fishers are doing well on Power Bait, but trollers are experiencing slow action.”
River salmon and steelhead class
Cancellations earlier this week moved the start of Menkal’s two-part river salmon and steelhead fishing class to Tuesday, Oct. 29. The class will conclude the following Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Both sessions start at 6 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m.
The cost for the class is $25. Bring a notepad, pen or pencil and a chair.
Class attendance is limited to 20 participants. To reserve a spot or for more information, phone Menkal at 360-683-1950.
The classes are held at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More at 609 W. Washington St. in Sequim.
Ski bus program
The Kiwanis Club of Port Townsend is again sponsoring its annual youth snow sports program, and will be making six bus trips to Stevens Pass — the first on Saturday, Jan. 11.
This year, Quilcene students will be joining the Port Townsend and Chimacum students.
Signups for the program are earlier this year than they have been the last several years
The first 75 people who sign up, adults and students in seventh grade or above, may register Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Port Townsend Rec Center on Tyler and Clay streets from 9 a.m. to noon.
Participants who are in sixth grade and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult or guardian on all trips.
Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Please contact Stevens Pass directly for lift ticket prices. Transportation cost is $130.
For further information, please contact Michelle West, Kiwanis snow sports program director at evergreenfitness@qwestoffice.net (email preferred) or 360-302-1132.
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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Sports Editor Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
