THE FOURTH SATURDAY in April doubles as the lowland lake fishing opener in our state.
Thousands of anglers will head out to fish lakes and catch some of the 14 million trout and kokanee stocked by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife statewide.
Fish and Wildlife’s annual lowland lakes fishing derby also begins Saturday and anglers can catch a prize fish through Oct. 31.
Anglers who catch one of 1,000 blue-tagged trout can claim prizes provided by license dealers and other sponsors located across the state.
The total value of prizes is more than $39,000 with prize values ranging from $25 to $1,000.
Anglers can target a prize fish in Jefferson County’s Anderson, Leland and Tarboo lakes.
To learn how to claim awards, visit fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/Home/FishingDerby.
To participate in the opener and the derby, anglers must have an annual freshwater, combination, or Fish Washington fishing license valid through March 31, 2020.
Licenses can be purchased online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov; by telephone at 1-866-246-9453; or at hundreds of license dealers across the state.
My best opener
The lowland lakes opener was a college camping tradition for a group of buddies attending Western Washington University in Bellingham. I attended one gathering and came away with the best catch of all out of a group of seasoned anglers.
A friend had tangled his lure at the very end of a large semi-submerged tree. That same friend also had consumed a number of adult beverages (I arrived later in the day and wasn’t boozing) and was dead set on recovering the lure. We knew what the outcome would be — us fishing our boozy buddy out of the lake. So a proposition was made: If I could scramble out along the log, retrieve the lure and return without making a splash I would get $20. And if I didn’t make it? I had a change of clothes handy. Did I mention I was unemployed and that $20 was important?
Crouched like a baseball catcher, I inched slowly along the log all the way to the lure, untangled it and returned to shore unharmed and $20 richer. My buddies were probably more shocked than anything, but I was triumphant.
Junior Ranger Day
If fishing isn’t in the cards, take the kids to Junior Ranger Day at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, 3002 Mount Angeles Road, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Ranger walks, outdoor games, a microscope station and craft projects are planned.
Kids also can check out a wilderness campsite and learn about Leave No Trace practices with rangers from the Wilderness Information Center.
Mules, horses and ponies from the Backcountry Horsemen and the park’s trail crew will be on hand as wells a wildland fire engine.
Port Angeles bicycling events
The Bicycle Advisory Committee of Port Angeles and Clallam County has planned a number of events for May in honor of Bike Awareness Month.
The first week of events includes a High Socks Ride along the Waterfront Trail beginning at the Conrad Dyar Fountain in downtown Port Angeles at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A Bikes and Brews Happy Hour is planned for H20 Waterfront Bistro, 222 N. Lincoln St., at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 3.
A 14-mile round trip Gravel Ride to Granny’s Cafe is planned for Saturday, May 4.
Participants should meet at the Dan Kelly Equestrian Lot on Dan Kelly Road off of state Highway 112.
The route includes a stretch of the Adventure Trail and a gravel logging road that leads to Eden Valley Road near Granny’s and the reward of a tasty cone.
This ride is more for the intermediate to experienced cyclist — organizers ask attendees to come prepared with tools, snacks, water and dressed for the weather.
For the month’s schedule of events visit www.facebook.com/PortAngelesLikesBikes
Campground opening dates set
With fire danger likely to curtail campfires again this summer, those looking for the complete camping experience — the roasting of weenies, making of s’mores etc… should go sooner rather than later.
In that vein, The Olympic National Forest officials last week announced opening dates for campgrounds for the 2019 season.
The Hood Canal Ranger District will open campgrounds at noon on Friday, May 17 at Dungeness Forks, Collins, Hamma Hamma, Le Bar, Lena Creek, Big Creek and Brown Creek.
Other Hood Canal District campground opening dates include: Seal Rock Campground, April 25; Satsop Center Campground, May 1 and Coho Campground, May 18. The Falls View will not be opening this season; work will be done to remove root rot-infected trees.
For more information about recreational opportunities on the Olympic National Forest, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-ONFRecreation.
