WITH FLOOD WARNINGSand high wind advisories predicted for much of Western Washington, including the West End, it’s probably a good idea to sit this weekend out by a warm heating source and prep for steelhead season.
“The rivers, they are going to go sideways,” said Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles.
It’s too bad Mother Nature isn’t cooperating, because salmon fishing has been lights out in the Sol Duc River, according to Aunspach.
“The lower part of the Sol Duc has been phenomenal for coho, and even chinook,” Aunspach said.
“It’s way late for chinook, but folks are getting some pretty decent fish coming through.
“A friend was out there a couple of days ago and said it was unbelievable.”
Larger-sized coho were a little late to arrive in the salt water this season, and those fish have apparently taken the same tack in heading upriver.
“Still good color on a lot of those fish,” Aunspach said.
“And they seem to have grown from what was being caught [on the salt water.]”
And if your salmon is looking a little coppery, Aunspach said it should do just fine after some time in a smoker.
“Considering how late a lot of those coho were this year, I’d bet this keeps up for awhile longer,” Aunspach said.
There’s even been some talk of the first winter steelhead in a few different rivers.
“I’ve heard winter steelhead are starting to show up in the Calawah and the Bogachiel,” Aunspach said.
“That is a little early, but we’re not too far off.”
The traditional kickoff for the hatchery steelhead season is right around Thanksgiving.
Dungeness producing
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said the Dungeness River has raised to a fishable level.
He’s been having success on early-morning jaunts before heading to his store.
“I’ve caught some salmon on the Dungeness this week,” Menkal said.
“Five in four days so far this week, a darker one [Wednesday], but most were a real good color.
“And these were 8 to 10 pounds, not the dinks people were seeing on the salt water.”
Commission meeting
If you’re an angler who just can’t stay indoors, head to Olympia to offer public testimony on proposed changes to North Coast sport fishing regulations at Saturday’s meeting of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission.
The commission, a nine-member panel that sets policy for the department, will convene at 8 a.m. in room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St., on the state Capitol Campus.
An agenda for the meeting is available at tinyurl.com/PDN-RulesMeeting.
Snoopy Rod Classic
The title of the event alone caught my eye, but the intent of the annual Snoopy Rod Classic is even more interesting.
A group of members from Piscatorial Pursuits, an online message board dedicated to fishing, gather for a day of friendship, fishing and fundraising for one of their own, Forks’ Gordon (Gordy) Gracey.
A longtime fishing guide for steelhead and salmon on the West End, Gracey was badly injured in a fall onto a rock slab while hiking near Dickey Falls in 2007.
Read about Gracey’s return to fly tying at tinyurl.com/PDN-Gracey.
Gracey faced mounting medical bills, so his friends banded together to put on this fundraiser.
“A group of us from Piscatorial Pursuits fish the Bogey [Bogachiel River] on the first Friday of December,” said Scott Sypher of Canyon Man’s Guide Service (206-518-4982) in Bothell.
“Everybody pays a nominal fee, and there’s an auction and a raffle to raise funds for Gordy.”
“It’s nothing huge but its something we do every year to try and help Kim [Gracey’s wife] and Gordy out.”
The group is seeking auction and raffle items for this year’s event, set for Friday, Dec. 4.
“We’re hoping to make it a banner year,” Sypher said.
The twist of the event is in its title.
“Everybody is mandated to use the cartoon one-piece rods and fish the Bogachiel for steelhead with Snoopy rods,” Sypher said.
To offer an item, or for more information, phone Sypher at 206-518-4982.
Last days for elk, deer
The modern firearm season for elk wraps Wednesday in game management units on the North Olympic Peninsula.
That paves the way for the four-day late-season black-tailed deer hunt from Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 22.
This late-season hunt is for bucks only.
Menkal said that during this later hunt, the bucks are in full rut, which leaves them a little preoccupied.
Cue the Marvin Gaye greatest hits.
“They have something else on their mind during late buck season,” Menkal said.
“They won’t be bedding down as much, but moving around during the day, on the prowl.”
Peculiar kokanee
Ward Norden, owner of Snapper Tackle Company and a former fishery biologist, has noticed some new behavior from kokanee this fall.
“Because of our long fall of warmer weather than usual, kokanee have had a much longer growing season than normal and are already feeding on larger than usual food,” Norden said.
“These are fish that will be in our lakes another year.
“The few anglers fishing for them are fishing much shallower than usual, even flatlining.”
Flatlining is a technique in which a small troll, lure or lure tipped with bait is worked in the top 10 feet of water with no, or very little, weight.
The lure is usually let out behind the boat and trolled close to the surface.
“Some of the fish are even up to 14 inches long,” Norden said.
“This fishery won’t last much longer, as lakes get colder, but if you live near a year-around lake that has kokanee, it might be worth a look over the next week.”
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
