WEST BOUND IS the way to go this weekend, with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures planned for all of Western Washington.
I’m heading out today for the Hoh River for a couple of nights camping, hopefully in a riverside spot in the Olympic National Park’s Hoh Campground.
There’s not many better spots to be on the North Olympic Peninsula on a a sunny, 80-degree day than hanging out on the Hoh.
I’ll just be sleeping in a van down by the river, not living in one like Chris Farley’s classic Saturday Night Live character, the down-on-his-luck motivational speaker Matt Foley.
I bought a used Honda Element in January, a comfortable riding, utilitarian box of a vehicle that has successfully piloted me to state basketball in Spokane, district softball in Tacoma and state softball in Yakima.
These cars are beloved by dog owners and outdoors enthusiasts for their ample cargo space and overall high level of funkiness.
I rolled my eyes when these toasters on wheels came out, but I’ve quickly become a convert — and this short trip is a test drive for a longer camping trip to Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Crater Lake and Mount Hood in August.
Head for the hills, indeed.
Sunscreen and salmon
With all that sun, make sure to pack the sunscreen as salmon fisheries get underway daily in Marine Area 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay) on Saturday.
The Neah Bay sport quota is 4,370 hatchery-marked coho and 7,900 chinook.
At La Push the sport quota is 1,090 hatchery-marked coho and 2,500 chinook.
In both areas, anglers can keep a daily limit of two fish (combined) and kings must 24 inches or larger and coho 16 inches or larger.
Fish on. And send some big king or chrome coho photos in to sports@peninsuladailynews.com.
Low tides
There will be some low tides approaching -3 feet this weekend, perfect for those looking to do some clamming, some oystering or some exploring along the exposed tidal flats.
Enjoy and stay safe. Also consult with the respective county health department for the latest information on closures.
Salmon seminar
There are still spots available for salmon fishing expert Rick Wray’s chinook fishing seminar at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More, 609 W. Washington St., from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. tonight.
“Wray will discuss using mooched herring as bait, jigging, trolling and techniques to find them on the bottom,” Brian’s Sporting Goods and More owner Brian Menkal said.
Menkal said Wray will discuss where and when to fish and how to read tides.
“These are techniques you can use anywhere for kings,” Menkal said.
“Rick is one of those rare expert anglers who enjoys sharing his knowledge. He’s not worried about somebody catching all the fish.”
Menkal recommends bringing a writing utensil.
“Rick will throw a lot of information out and there’s no way anybody could sit there absorb it and remember it all,” he said.
Cost is $20.
To sign up, phone Brian’s at 360-683-1950.
Hoh opens July 1
The Hoh River and South Fork Hoh River outside the boundaries of Olympic National Park will open for trout and steelhead next Saturday, July 1.
The river was closed to fishing this month due to the continuing need to conserve spring/summer chinook.
Anglers will have a daily limit of two trout over 14 inches, except no size limit on adipose-fin clipped, hatchery origin trout.
Unclipped rainbow trout must be released.
Anglers can’t use bait, and are restricted to one barbless hook with up to three points.
Any chinook or coho and any wild steelhead landed also must be released.
Other information: Daily limit of 2 trout over 14 inches, except no size limit on hatchery origin (adipose clipped) trout, and anglers are required to release wild (unclipped) rainbow trout.
Use of bait is prohibited, and only one barbless hook with up to three points may be used. Anglers are required to release any Chinook and coho salmon encountered, and any wild steelhead.
Fishing from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor is prohibited.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
