“OCTOBER NEEDS TO be about three months long,” said Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim, offering up a handful of outdoor activities available this month.
“There’s crabbing, fishing in the rivers, fishing in [Dungeness Bay], deer hunting. It’s a long list.”
Add in hiking opportunities while trails are still relatively dry, foraging for mushrooms after a rain and viewing fall foliage and bird migrations.
October also provides the intersection of all four major professional sports playing at the same time: the NFL, NBA, MLB and the NHL, plus major college football.
Pumpkin carving, Halloween candy and apple cider also factor into my belief in the primacy of October, greatest of all months.
Coho gets go-ahead
Those looking to nab a hatchery coho or two on the Dungeness River will be in luck starting Monday, the scheduled opening date for the river. With rains dropping only scant precipitation on the Dungeness, some folks had been worried the opening may have been delayed.
Not so, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“The flows are low, but we have rain coming next week so our intention is to open it up on Monday,” said Mike Gross, District 16 fish biologist. Gross had a conversation with co-managers at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe on Thursday and called back with good news.
“I have heard there are fish in the lower stretches of the river,” Gross said.
“We will be watching for broodstock returns, but those would only be a real concern if it stays dry.”
The Dungeness will be open from the river mouth up to the hatchery intake pipe at river mile 11.3 from Monday through Nov. 30. Anglers will have the opportunity to catch four hatchery coho each day of a minimum 12 inches in length.
If you’d rather not fish in crowded conditions, and aren’t craving coho, the river will open for trout and other game fish from the hatchery intake pipe up to the forks at Dungeness Campground from Monday through Jan. 31.
Dungeness Bay
Coho also are available on Dungeness Bay through Oct. 31.
Anglers can keep a daily limit of two hatchery coho in the waters of Dungeness Bay inside of a line from Dungeness Spit Lighthouse to No. 2 Red Buoy, then to the Port Williams boat ramp.
River fishing class
Menkal will offer another two-part Introduction to Salmon and Steelhead River Fishing course at his store, 609 W. Washington St., No. 21, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday with part two following at the same time Tuesday, Oct. 24.
Menkal, who loves to fish the rivers of the West End and knows a ton of tips, tricks and locations, offers the course for $35 per person plus tax.
To reserve a space, phone 360-683-1950.
Deer/duck hunting
Like blaze orange and camouflage clothing? You’re in luck as modern firearm deer hunters and waterfowl hunters will descend on forests, fields and marshes Saturday for those season openers.
For information on private lands open to hunting, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-Hunt17.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
