PLUNK ‘EM IF you got ’em.
With West End river systems poised to rise on the threat of a potential 4 inches of rain over the weekend, the best bet is to probably stay dry at home and wait for lower, clearer water conditions.
But if you have that itch and need to get out and about on a hunt for a catch-and-release battle with a native steelhead, plunk away.
“You’re gonna have to plunk,” said Jerry Wright of Jerry’s Bait and Tackle (360-457-1308) in Port Angeles.
Wright said to head west on the Mora Road and hit up the Richwine Gravel Bar at Quillayute River County Park.
If you were unaware of this 13-acre gem, the park offers a good stretch to plunk and send the weighted hook to the bottom of the river and see what comes by.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim says to try and find a smaller tributary stream feeding a larger river during rainstorms.
“The fish will be next to the bank, and if you can find a clearer creek they will stack up because that clearer water will clear out their gills and help them breathe better,” Menkal said.
Wright said that the steelhead season has gotten off to a strong start with larger fish so far this season.
“It’s been good,” Wright said.
“There have been a lot bigger fish this year, for sure.”
Menkal’s hearing similar tales.
“I’ve been hearing some good stories out of the Sol Duc,” Menkal said.
“Some guys are doing quite good with the natives.”
Wright mentioned seeing some steelhead in the mid-teens and even in the low 20-pound range, with the Sol Duc and Bogachiel rivers the most productive.
“The hatchery run is done and the size of the natives this year seem to be bigger after a smaller year last year,” Wright said.
“You get fluctuations as to what type of feed they can find when they are out to sea and each year is different.”
Wright believes the strong start will keep up through the remainder of the steelhead season.
“I expect it to be a good year, and actually it already has been a good year,” Wright said.
If you are looking for a guided steelhead trip, Wright knows plenty of well-heeled fishermen and will vouch for their bonafides. He can put you in touch, so phone him or stop by his shop at 2720 U.S. Highway 101.
Just be aware that these trips aren’t intended for fly fishing.
Menkal will offer another go-round of his two-part “Intro to Salmon and Steelhead” course beginning Tuesday and continuing next Tuesday, Feb. 3.
He will go over the equipment needed, successful setups and offer tips and tricks on productive locations in the class which meets from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each night.
Cost is $25.
Blackmouth bite
I made a dumb mistake in last Friday’s Outdoors column, declaring Port Angeles Harbor to be closed to salmon fishing when it’s very much open.
My apologies for that bogus information, I misread the state fishing regulations.
Winter blackmouth anglers are the diehards of the fishing set, so it makes sense that the pressure on the water is much lower than during calmer salmon seasons in the summer and fall.
Around Port Angeles, Wright recommends a glance at the tidal chart and a trip to the Winter Hole.
“Make sure to go to the Winter Hole on the outgoing tide and fish the ledge,” Wright said.
“That’s the best near here, with jigging and bait fishers having the best success.”
Wright said most of these chinook are in the 2- to 9-pound range.
Bigger blackmouth have come closer to Protection Island.
“The majority of the big ones are from near Protection Island, which is typical, Wright said.
“Mid-February is really when it peaks, around derby time, but there have been some bigger ones taken from there.”
Midchannel Bank off of Port Townsend also served up a 16-pound salmon for Wayne Chisolm on the opening day of blackmouth season in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), last week.
Blackmouth derby
Tickets are on sale for the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby that will be held Feb. 20-22, a change from past seasons when it was held during Presidents Day weekend.
The derby covers more than 500 square miles of saltwater, with five weigh stations set up to check fish and a $10,000 prize for the largest hatchery chinook.
Tickets cost $40 with sales ending Feb. 18, and no tickets will be sold during the derby.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Gardiner boat launch at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22.
For more information, visit www.GardinerSalmonDerby.org.
Fly fishing seminar
Fly fishing expert Skip Morris will present a fly fishing seminar to benefit the management of Teal Lake near Port Ludlow.
Hosted by the Port Ludlow Fly Fishers club, Morris will describe proven techniques for fly fishing lakes gained through years of hands-on experience.
The seminar is set for the Bay Club, 120 Spinnaker Place, Port Ludlow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Admission is $30 per person, $15 for ages 17 and younger in advance
The price for the seminar is $30 a person ($15 for ages 17 and under) in advance or $35 per person, $20 for ages 17 and under at the door.
The fee includes lunch.
Morris has published 17 books on fly fishing and fly tying over the past 25 years and written more than 200 magazine articles on the ins and outs of fly fishing.
To sign up, make checks payable to the PLFF Teal Lake Fund and mail them to PLFF, 81 Puget Loop, Port Ludlow, WA 98365.
For more information, phone Bill Master at 360-437-7976.
Save the date
The Puget Sound Anglers—North Olympic Peninsula Chapter’s annual fundraising auction and dinner is set for SunLand Golf & Country Club in Sequim starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21.
Proceeds from this auction provide the majority of funding for the annual Olympic Peninsula Kids Fishing Program held at the Sequim Water Reclamation Pond.
I’ll have full details in Thursday’s outdoors column.
For more information about the club and the latest information about the auction/dinner, visit www.psanopc.org.
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.
