AN EARLY CHRISTMAS present, or maybe something to be thankful for ahead of Thanksgiving, comes in the form of three upcoming rainbow trout plants set for the Carrie Blake Park Pond.
For the second-straight year, the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will be planting 450 rainbow trout in the city of Sequim pond to provide fishing opportunities for area youth.
“This was very popular last winter, so we have decided to make it an annual event,” club member Sherry Anderson said.
The plants are scheduled to occur around Nov. 5 and 25 and Dec. 19 — just in time for the holidays.
Good-sized fish
Anderson explained that these are some high quality trout.
“These fish were held over from our April Kids Fishing Day and are around 3-pounds each, so really nice trout,” Anderson said.
Kids ages 14 and younger can fish the Carrie Blake Pond and keep the first two fish they catch per day. No license is required.
The Carrie Blake Pond is open from dawn to dusk — except from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays when the Sequim RC Aquanauts have access to sail their sailboats.
Club members ask the public to fish away if the Sequim RC club members aren’t there, but if they show up to please honor that club’s time slot.
Start the process
A reminder to start rounding up old sporting equipment in advance of the annual Outdoor Gear Swap at the Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles, 308 E. Fourth St., on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Gear drop off is slated from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with shopping from noon to 3 p.m.
Pick-up of unsold gear will follow from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Vendors and groups on site will include North by Northwest, Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area, the Olympic Peninsula chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, Sound Bikes & Kayaks, Peninsula Wellness and Performance, The PA Winter ICE Village, Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports School and more.
Admission is $5 for individuals and $8 for a family.
Proceeds support the Hurricane Ridge Ski Team and the Surfrider Foundation.
For more information, email skifox2@gmail.com.
Winterfest tickets
Tickets are on sale for Winterfest, an annual fundraiser featuring dinner and short films that supports winter sports at Hurricane Ridge.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. Nov. 23 and Winterfest will begin at 6 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St.
Tickets are $65 in advance and $80 at the door.
To buy in advance, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-Winterfest19.
Also available are community tables for parties of eight or 10. The tables are $500 or $625.
A prime rib dinner will be served, along with appetizers and an oyster bar. Live and silent auctions are planned, plus live music by Bill, Barry and Friends are on tap for the evening organized by the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation.
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Sports reporte/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
