WINTERTIME AND THE bait of choice for blackmouth chinook is candlefish, often found in soft, sand or gravel bottoms in water depths around 100 feet.
This means anglers should troll smaller live bait or Coho Killer spoons near those gritty bottoms.
Color patterns like Irish cream, cookies and cream and white lightning, as well as Mexican flag, and the green, blue, and purple splatter-back patterns are popular chinook aggravators/attractors.
I’ve heard the the glow and UV patterns put off more color down below in the winter months when blackmouth are hugging the bottom in deep water. Chrome finishes are best for sunshine salmon fishing.
These are good bits of advice available for anglers competing in the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby running today through Sunday in portions of Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet).
Traditionally, anglers have found derby success off of Protection Island. But last year’s winning fish, a 20.7-pounder was landed a ways away from the normal derby epicenter near Gardiner.
Anacortes’ Danny Davis caught the winner halfway to his hometown, near Smith Island, a piece of land west of Whidbey Island and due north of Port Townsend’s North Beach in Marine Area 6.
Weather-wise, showers and rain are in the forecast for all three days of the derby.
High tides in the Gardiner portion of Discovery Bay, are 7.8 feet at 7:33 a.m. today, 7.6 feet at 8:04 a.m. Saturday and 7.4 feet at 8:40 a.m. Sunday with the water moving out in the afternoon each day.
Both marine areas have a daily limit of one hatchery chinook and an overall two-salmon limit. All coho and wild chinook must be sent back.
Enjoy the derby.
Clam digs next week
A six-day razor clam opening begins Thursday on Pacific Ocean beaches.
The upcoming dig is approved on the following beaches, dates and evening low tides:
• Thursday, 4:42 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Twin Harbors.
•Friday, Feb 24, 5:21 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks, Twin Harbors.
•Saturday, Feb. 25, 5:58 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks, Twin Harbors.
•Sunday, Feb. 26, 6:34 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks, Twin Harbors.
• Monday, Feb. 27, 7:11 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Twin Harbors.
• Tuesday, Feb. 28, 7:48 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Twin Harbors.
Tentative Kalaloch digs
Fish and Wildlife also announced numerous tentative digs for March and April, including some proposed digs at Kalaloch.
The first two days are Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12.
• Saturday, March 11, 5:54 p.m.; -0.3 feet.
• Sunday, March 12, 7:31 p.m.; -0.1 feet.
Much better tides and times are planned for Kalaloch digs in late March and April.
• Friday, March 31, 9:47 p.m.; -0.6 feet.
• Saturday, April 1, 10:40 a.m.; -0.5 feet.
• Saturday, April 29, 9:32 a.m.; -1.7 feet.
• Sunday, April 30, 10:24 a.m.; -1.3 feet.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
