Gamefish and migratory salmon fishing seasons and steelhead limits have been updated for a number of West End rivers.
The updates clarify rules on coastal tributaries regarding fishing seasons for all species, including gamefish and salmon; fishing from a floating device; selective gear rules, which prohibit the use of bait, including scents or scented materials; the use of one single-point barbless hook allowed in all areas open to fishing; and the required release of wild rainbow trout.
The changes also reduce the steelhead daily limit for the Quillayute system (Bogachiel, Quillayute, Calawah and Sol Duc rivers) and Hoh River to two hatchery steelhead.
Anglers are allowed to fish from a floating device on the Quillayute system at the following locations:
• Bogachiel: downstream of the U.S. Highway 101 bridge through March 31.
• Calawah: downstream of U.S. Highway 101 bridge through March 31.
• Quillayute: downstream of U.S. Highway 101 bridge through March 31.
Park pond planted
Children ages 14 and younger are able to fish without a license at the recently planted Carrie Blake Park pond in Sequim.
State Department of Fish and Wildlife employees planted 180 good-size trout in the pond Wednesday and didn’t find any signs of loss when checked Thursday morning.
And the large number of ducks in the area hasn’t had an impact either.
Further plants are expected next week as well as another either the week before or after Christmas. So, there are plenty of fishing opportunities spread out over the holiday break.
“These are all fish from last year, so they are pretty good sized, around 2 pounds, mostly,” said Don Jones, Hurd Creek Fish Hatchery specialist 3. “Should make for some smiling youngsters. We’re growing this year’s batch up to size for plants after Jan. 1, and we are also working on getting the ‘jumbos’ up to the 5-pound range. So far, I am pretty happy with how things are going, and fingers crossed that the water quality stays acceptable.”
Fish plants at Carrie Blake Park are supported by the North Olympic Peninsula chapter of Puget Sound Anglers, Fish and Wildlife.
Ridge needs snow
Snow sports enthusiasts should put mountain snow into their thoughts and hope for a good haul of the white stuff in the next few days.
Hurricane Ridge’s Ski and Snowboard Area announced Wednesday that a weekend opening was 99.5 percent unlikely, but they did leave in some room for optimism based on the forecast.
“On the bright side, we have a couple big storms coming in this week with a forecast of anywhere between 23 to 36 inches of new snow between now and Saturday and plenty more for early next week,” the post said. “What’s it all mean? There is a 99.5 percent chance we won’t be open this weekend, and there is a 97.325 percent chance we will be open for next weekend.”
Ducks on the pond
I took Center Road through the Chimacum Valley to state Highway 104 while heading to Tacoma to cover Quilcene’s state football championship game last Saturday and discovered some new territory.
On the way, I passed a couple of successful duck hunters in the vicinity of Short’s Family Farm walking back to their pickup with at least a couple of mallard males and a hen in their possession. The lower portions of the valley have a good amount of water pooled up, and with the remnants of farm plantings or new winter shoots nearby, it appears there’s a good population of ducks spending time in the area.
A duck dinner could be had by calling up land owners and trying to find permission to access their landholdings in the valley.
Duck season runs through Jan. 30.
For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/PDN-DuckHunt.
Swans here, too
Trumpeter swans have returned to Sequim-area farm fields, and Fish and Wildlife has a hotline to report any sick, injured or dead swans at 360-466-4345, ext. 266.
Callers should be prepared to leave a short message, including their name and phone number, a detailed location and condition of the swan(s). The hotline is available through March.
Swans are closed to hunting, and lead shot has been outlawed in the state since 1991. But swans still pick up discarded lead while foraging, others fly into power lines and some succumb to exhaustion.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladaily news.com.
