THE LOWLAND LAKE fishing opener is coming up on Saturday, April 23, and besides the fun and sense of fulfillment that comes with catching a trout dinner, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has sweetened the pot with something new for anglers.
A statewide fishing derby featuring more than $20,000 in prizes from tackle shops, charter operators, gear makers and resorts, will kick off with the lowland lake opener and continue until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Anglers will be casting for 800 catchable-sized rainbow trout implanted with fluorescent orange, noodle-like tags.
Each tag features a number that will correspond to prizes claimable at 140 outlets around Washington.
The prize fish will be stocked in 104 different lakes in 32 counties, including Leland, Gibbs and Sandy Shore lakes in Jefferson County.
Unfortunately, no Clallam County lakes will be planted with a winning rainbow trout.
Most prizes are small, in the $20 to $100 range.
The tagged rainbows will be planted in lakes near the stores or businesses offering the prizes.
On the North Olympic Peninsula, Quimper Mercantile Co. in Port Townsend will provide two $25 prizes, Swain’s in Port Angeles will offer five prizes totaling $100, and Mt. Pleasant IGS will give one $40 reward.
Sekiu Charters also has stepped up for the derby in a big way, offering two prizes worth a combined total of $800.
All anglers need to do to enter the contest is possess a valid fishing license and a phone to call in the tag number.
Anglers 14 and younger do not need to purchase a fishing license.
After an angler catches an implanted rainbow trout they can phone 360-902-2464 to find out what they have won.
Fish and Wildlife will provide the specific donor prize information corresponding to the tag, and the successful angler will be required to present the tag at the prize donor’s place of business to claim the prize.
In a few cases, donors have provided prizes to Fish and Wildlife — mostly involving gift cards — and if the tag that an angler phones in corresponds to one of those prizes, Fish and Wildlife will inform the angler and mail the prize to the angler, registered receipt required.
Catch record return
As someone who adopted email and online bill payment early, my mail box often sits empty, waiting for its weekly delivery of coupons and dueling satellite television offers.
Last week, however, I received a friendly reminder to return my catch record card from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The 2015-2016 fishing season ends at midnight tonight, so it’s time for an angler’s yearly ritual, sending in the catch record card.
For information on how to fill out the card and where to send it, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-CatchCard16.
Deadline today
Today is the last chance for deer and elk hunters to enter their names into a drawing for a 2016 multiple-season tag, which can greatly increase the opportunity for success in the field.
Fish and Wildlife will hold the drawing in mid-April, randomly selecting names for 8,500 multiple-season deer tags and 1,000 multiple season elk tags.
Winners of the drawing will be eligible to purchase a special tag that allows them to participate in archery, muzzleloader, as well as modern firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk in 2016.
Winners who purchase the multiple-season elk tag can participate in general elk hunting seasons in both Eastern and Western Washington.
The deadline to purchase the multiple-season tag is July 31.
Winners may also choose any weapon type when applying for a special permit to hunt deer or elk.
The tags can be used only during general seasons and in game management units open during a modern firearm, muzzleloader or archery general season.
For example, winners may not hunt during the muzzleloader general season in an area that is not open for the muzzleloader general season.
Hunters can apply only once for each species and are limited to harvesting one deer or elk.
A multiple season application can be purchased at any authorized license dealer.
The application costs $7.10 for residents and $110.50 for nonresidents.
A 2016 hunting license is not required to submit an application, but winners of the drawing must purchase one before they can purchase a multiple season tag.
Hunting licenses and multiple season tags can be purchased from authorized license dealers, online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, or by phoning 866-246-9453.
Including transaction fees, multiple season deer tags cost $139.10 for residents or nonresidents, while multiple season elk tags cost $182 for residents and nonresidents.
These prices are in addition to the cost of an annual hunting license.
Anglers scholarships
The East Jefferson Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers is offering three $1,000 college scholarships to students graduating from Jefferson County high schools in June.
The scholarship was created to promote interest and pursuit of studies in the fields of environmental science, ecology, conservation, marine science, marine biology, and aquatic and fishery science.
Send applications to East Jefferson Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers, P.O. Box 157, Port Townsend, WA 98368.
For more information, phone chapter president Jerry Johnson at 360-379-2855.
The deadline to apply is May 9.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
