MATT SCHUBERT'S OUTDOORS: Here come the steelies
Five best bets
• Bird of another feather -- Haven't had your fill of fowl?
There's sure to be a few grouse pecking around the Peninsula in the next few days.
Now that the big hunting seasons have come to a close, you should have the timber all to yourself to scare them out.
• Steelhead starter -- Rising rivers be damned, this is the start of the steelhead season.
No doubt, scads of steelies are entering rivers out west. Given the high flows, some of the lesser tributaries (Clallam, Pysht and Lyre) should be the best option to start the season off right.
• Rain forest jaunt -- The Hoh Rain Forest is at its fairy-tale finest after a good drenching.
Last time I checked, we just got hit with a whole lot of wet stuff. So a hike through the Hall of Mosses Trail to Five Mile Island should be quite picturesque.
The hike -- featured in Craig Romano's recently released book, Winter Hikes of Western Washington -- is approximately 10.6 miles round trip. Hikers have a good chance to encounter Roosevelt elk during the trip, with plenty of "old growth grandeur" to take in.
• Bird outing -- Admiralty Audubon's Bob Whitney will lead a birding trip to Point Wilson in Port Townsend on Saturday.
A group will meet in the parking lot next to the lighthouse in Fort Worden State Park at 9 a.m. It's sure to be cold and windy, so come prepared.
• Rotten Apple -- The Huskies and Cougars are playing for nothing but pride in yet another uninspiring Apple Cup this Saturday.
Washington is a hefty 24 ½-point favorite at home against rival Washington State, which is way too high of a spread for a rivalry game.
The Cougars might be certain losers, but I'd expect a more respectable score like, say, 34-14.
Matt Schubert
• Bird of another feather -- Haven't had your fill of fowl?
There's sure to be a few grouse pecking around the Peninsula in the next few days.
Now that the big hunting seasons have come to a close, you should have the timber all to yourself to scare them out.
• Steelhead starter -- Rising rivers be damned, this is the start of the steelhead season.
No doubt, scads of steelies are entering rivers out west. Given the high flows, some of the lesser tributaries (Clallam, Pysht and Lyre) should be the best option to start the season off right.
• Rain forest jaunt -- The Hoh Rain Forest is at its fairy-tale finest after a good drenching.
Last time I checked, we just got hit with a whole lot of wet stuff. So a hike through the Hall of Mosses Trail to Five Mile Island should be quite picturesque.
The hike -- featured in Craig Romano's recently released book, Winter Hikes of Western Washington -- is approximately 10.6 miles round trip. Hikers have a good chance to encounter Roosevelt elk during the trip, with plenty of "old growth grandeur" to take in.
• Bird outing -- Admiralty Audubon's Bob Whitney will lead a birding trip to Point Wilson in Port Townsend on Saturday.
A group will meet in the parking lot next to the lighthouse in Fort Worden State Park at 9 a.m. It's sure to be cold and windy, so come prepared.
• Rotten Apple -- The Huskies and Cougars are playing for nothing but pride in yet another uninspiring Apple Cup this Saturday.
Washington is a hefty 24 ½-point favorite at home against rival Washington State, which is way too high of a spread for a rivalry game.
The Cougars might be certain losers, but I'd expect a more respectable score like, say, 34-14.
Matt Schubert
By Matt Schubert
PDN Outdoors Columnist
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These manic masses do not swarm malls, big box stores or any other retail outlet hopping with consumer crazies.
Their target lies in the rivers of the West End. For the passing of Turkey Day means just one thing to this haggard horde: winter steelhead season.
It's an equally elusive endeavor, filled with as many obstacles as any calamitous Christmas shopping excursion.
Sure, gift buyers might have to deal with a few wild-eyed Walmart wanderers. But anglers must encounter piscatorial posses equipped with sharp hooks and even sharper words.
And just like a fresh supply of Zhu Zhu hamsters, the steelies can be awfully hard to come by.
Oh, yes, these elusive fish will pinch your pocket book as much as any run on Tickle Me Elmos ever could.
Not that something so fleeting as a bank account balance could ever stop this stampede of steelheaders from hitting their favorite West End tributary.
This is, after all, the North Olympic Peninsula.
And today is the day after Thanksgiving.
Ker-plunk
Unfortunately, there are but a few options for those looking to get in on the action.
Almost all of the tradition steelhead standbys are sure to be punched today due to weeks of unrelenting rain.
That means rivers like the Clallam, Pysht and Lyre -- smaller streams that receive early hatchery returns this time of year -- might just be an angler's best bet.
Although, things could start to drop into shape on the Bogachiel, Calawah and Quillayute rivers in the next few days.
Once that happens, there should be a few fish to hook into.
"We probably have 20 or 30 fish in the creek right now," said Michael Sedgwick, hatchery specialist for the Bogachiel Hatchery, on Wednesday.
"We have fish in there right now. I was just down at the boat ramps and saw two fish caught and another on the line that was lost."
Of course, a whole lot of wet stuff came down hours after that.
And according to Lonnie Archibald of Forks on Thursday, "Right now [the rivers] are out."
"The Calawah might be plunkable, that's always the first one to come in. It will be a few days before it's ready for drifting."
Translation: Today's opener is for the plunkers.
So if sitting around, shooting the bull and checking on your Spin-n-Glo in between beer curls is your idea of fishing, then have at it.
Otherwise, head to state Highway 112 and find a spot on one of those smaller streams on the northwest Peninsula.
Just don't tell anyone I sent you.
Hunting nears end
The big bang that is the late modern firearm deer hunt came to a close last weekend.
Given the steelhead season to come, that probably means things are going to quiet down a bit in Peninsula timber country.
Reports were mixed after the biggest hunt of the year, with a few hunters coming home with a prize buck and even more nothing at all (except maybe the sniffles).
"It was quiet," said Brian Menkal of Swain's Outdoor (360-385-1313) in Port Townsend. "We didn't hear shot one [by the Sol Duc]. For a late buck hunt I was really surprised."
Those in absolute need of some venison still have a number of late season hunts to choose from in select GMUs (Game Management Units).
Archery deer is open through Dec. 15 in the Hoko, Sol Duc, Goodman, Matheny and Clearwater GMUs. There is also a late season in Coyle and Pysht through Dec. 31.
Muzzleloader deer is open until Dec. 15 in the Dickey GMU only.
Archery elk is set for the Pysht, Goodman and Clearwater through Dec. 15. Muzzleloader elk goes until Dec. 15 in the Hoko and Matheny.
Forest grouse season lasts through Dec. 31, while ducks and Canada geese are fair game through Jan. 31.
Clam opener
The state has sufficiently covered its bases.
Marine toxin tests showed razor clams from all five ocean beaches (Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Long Beach and Kalaloch) are safe to eat.
So go ahead and plan that clamming trip for next week.
Evening digs are scheduled Dec. 2-5 at Twin Harbors and Dec. 3-5 at Copalis and Mocrocks. Long Beach opens Dec. 2, 4 and 5, while Kalaloch will open to digging Dec. 4-5.
Kalaloch was relatively unmolested during the last set of digs earlier this month thanks to high winds and surf. That could bode well for next week's digs at the Olympic National Park beach.
Here are the tides for each opener:
• Wednesday, Dec. 2 -- -1.2 feet at 6:32 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 3 -- -1.4 feet at 7:18 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 4 -- -1.3 feet at 8:04 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 5 -- -0.9 feet at 8:51 p.m.
Additional digs are tentatively schedule for Dec. 31 through Jan. 3.
For more information on coastal razor clams, visit http://tinyurl.com/oyekj.
Crabby caption
Yes, that was a family of crabbers at Port Angeles City Pier on the front page of Monday's PDN.
No, that does not mean crabbing secretly opened in Marine Area 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca). It is still closed, and I am still bummed about it.
There are other options, however. Marine Areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) are all open seven days a week.
One might even be able to do some beach crabbing at Pillar Point next Wednesday through Friday with minus tides hitting the beach all three nights.
All sport crabbers must submit catch reports for the winter season regardless of whether they participated or not. Those who do not comply will be fined $10 when they apply for a 2010 Puget Sound crab endorsement.
Catch record cards may be mailed to WDFW CRC Unit, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091.
The online reporting system will be available Jan. 3-15 at http://tinyurl.com/yhjxf79.
Also . . .
• The Olympic Peninsula Paddlers Club holds a Friday morning paddle at Lake Aldwell each week from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• That's a whole lot of snow sitting atop Hurricane Ridge, enough to make one hopeful for some Dec. 19 skiing (the tentatively scheduled opener).
"Once we can run around on the snow, there's a lot to be done," mountain manager Craig Hofer said. "We need probably six days of good weather [to get things going]."
You can get a preview of the winter wonderland this weekend, with Hurricane Ridge Road scheduled to open today at 9 a.m.
• The Dungeness River Audubon Center, 2151 Hendrickson Road in Sequim, will hold its seventh annual docent appreciation night on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Volunteers, board members and spouses are all invited to partake in some food and fun during the gala event. There will also be a $10 gift exchange.
Those attending must RSVP by Monday. To do so, call 360-681-4076.
• Washington Trails Association will host its annual volunteer appreciation party at the Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101, on Dec. 5.
The party will run from 1-4 p.m., with food and refreshments to be provided. There also will be door prizes awarded.
• A free screening of the documentary "Sea Change" will be presented at the Peninsula College Little Theater on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
The film examines changing seawater chemistry in the world's oceans and its impact on aquatic life and those who depend upon it. A panel of experts will discuss the film after the showing.
• Fish and Wildlife will hold a public meeting discussing its draft conservation plan for Puget Sound rockfish at Bremerton City Hall, 345 6th St., on Monday from 7-9 p.m.
Public comment on the draft conservation plan will be taken through Jan. 4. It is available on Fish and Wildlife's Web site at http://tinyurl.com/yjs8d7o.
Those who would like a copy of the plan in print can call 360-902-2844.
Comments can be submitted by e-mail to SEPAdesk2@dfw.wa.gov, by FAX to 360-902-2946, or by U.S. Mail to: WDFW SEPA Desk, 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091.
Stories welcome
Want your event listed in the outdoors column?
Have a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique, why not share it with our readers?
Send it to me, Matt Schubert, Sports Department, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362; phone, 360-417-3526; fax, 360-417-3521; e-mail matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column appears on Thursdays and Fridays.
Last modified: November 26. 2009 9:07PM
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