OF ALL THE words of tongue or pen, the happiest are these: “It’s free.”
Whether outdoors or indoors, one of the best ways to gain favor or influence over others is to give them something free.
Think about it: one of the first things a person does when trying to spark a romance with another is buy them a meal.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife knows the power of free, and has designated this Saturday and Sunday as Free Fishing Weekend.
For those two days, no license will be required to fish or gather shellfish in any waters open to fishing in the state.
That’s not all: no vehicle access pass or Discover Pass will be required during the weekend to park at any of the nearly 700 water-access sites maintained by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Anglers also will not need a Two Pole Endorsement to fish with two poles on selected waters where two-pole fishing is allowed.
“If you haven’t fished for years, never fished in Washington, or want to introduce fishing to someone new to the sport, this is the weekend to get out there,” Larry Phillips, the state’s inland fish program manager, said in a news release.
The first of the free days, Saturday, just so happens to coincide with the extra day of halibut fishing on the northern coast.
Last week the state gave Marine Area 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay) an extra day of flattie fishing because some quota still remained from last month’s fishery.
Anglers on the coast also can go after lingcod.
Another option is lake fishing.
In the past three weeks, the state has planted catchable fish in three Jefferson County lakes.
Lake Leland, probably the North Olympic Peninsula’s most fishable lake, received 2,000 cutthroat on May 23 and 1,855 on May 31. That’s a grand total of 3,855 cutthroat.
Gibbs Lake received 500 catchable cutthroat on May 31.
Horseshoe Lake, meanwhile, was planted with 650 rainbow trout on May 25.
In Clallam County, the Bogachiel Hatchery Pond was planted with 3,360 catchable rainbows. Since the beginning of May, the Bogachiel Hatchery Pond had received 8,587 rainbow trout over four planting sessions.
The size of these trout isn’t as big as the rainbows planted in Horseshoe. Those averaged 2.12 fish per pound, while the Bogachiel Hatchery Pond plants are 1.4 per pound or less.
Anglers on the North Olympic Peninsula also can try to catch hatchery steelhead on West End rivers such as the Bogachiel, Calawah, Sol Duc, Quillayute and Dickey. These rivers all opened to trout fishing last week.
For fishing rules and more, pick up a rules pamphlet from a nearly outdoor retailer or visit www.tinyurl.com/PDN-FishWash.
More free
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is getting in on the free weekend.
Saturday also is National Get Outdoors Day, and to commemorate this day, visitors can access state parks for free. In other words, not Discover Pass needed.
Saturday is free only at state parks. Not Olympic National Park and not Department of Natural Resources lands.
This free day applies to the state parks in Washington and Oregon.
“The Pacific Northwest is blessed with incredible natural beauty and world-class recreation opportunities,” regional forester Jim Peña said in a news release.
“Whatever your interest or skill level, there’s something for everyone, so get outdoors and enjoy your public lands.”
The fees are waived at many picnic areas, boat launches, trailheads and visitor centers.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton is filling in for outdoors columnist Michael Carman, who has the week off.
