JUST WHEN WILD steelhead were beginning to build up on West End rivers, a warm front is forecast to move through.
Temperatures in the mid 50s and on into the mid 60s are predicted to begin Sunday in Forks.
Any such rise in temperature would push up the snow level and send meltwater running downhill, raising river flows and shutting out anglers.
Maybe it’s for the best since the hatchery run has ended.
Wild steelhead retention begins on the West End rivers Feb. 16, but most anglers will continue to abide by catch and release methods.
“I’m scared of getting knocked out starting Saturday with the snow level rising, said Randy Lato of All-Ways Fishing (360-374-2052) in LaPush.
“If it goes up as high as the forecasts say, there could be a pretty good flush of water coming down.”
That would be a bummer for every angler itching to fish out west, but particularly upsetting for Lato, who just purchased a new drift boat for his operation.
Lato said he bought a new Willie Boats drift boat, 17-feet in length and 54-inches wide across the bottom.
The three-seat aluminum boat is chromed out on the bottom and along the seating areas.
Maybe a little too much chrome, according to Lato.
“I might have a self-inflicted headache on a bright shiny day,” Lato said.
Kidding aside, Lato has been pleased with the new purchase.
“The first time I took it out I was a little afraid of it,” Lato said.
“But I put a little weight in it, and the maneuverability and the way it reacts in the water is amazing.”
Lato said he took the boat out with a friend last Tuesday and had success fishing the Sol Duc River.
“We had a hold of five and landed four before putting them back in,” Lato said.
“We were bobber-dogging baits with roe eggs.
“No scent, just cured up professionally.”
Lato said matching the size of the bobber (float) with your weight is important.
“The weight drifts along the bottom, you get a good float through the drift and it creates a natural presentation and less hangups,” Lato said.
Less hangups equal more chances to catch these wily fish.
Lato said the color of the Sol Duc was “prime” on Tuesday, prime being that emerald-green color, but the water was a little high.
He couldn’t tell the number of boards due to silt at the Maxfield Road Bridge ramp.
Chinook limit trimmed
Today is the first day of the reduced hatchery chinook fishery in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca).
As reported in my column last week and confirmed by the state Departmant of Fish and Wildlife, the daily catch limit has dropped from two to one hatchery blackmouth per angler.
Estimates conducted by the state through last Thursday indicated 71 percent of the 2,586 total chinook encounters had been achieved.
Razor digs scheduled
A month-long razor clam dig started yesterday and continues through March 10 at Long Beach.
Tides are:
■ Today: 4:28 p.m., 0.2 feet.
■ Saturday: 5:11 p.m., -0.3 feet.
■ Sunday: 5:52 p.m., -0.7 feet.
■ Monday: 6:32 p.m., -1.0 feet.
■ Tuesday: 7:12 p.m., -0.9 feet.
■ Wednesday: 7:52 p.m., -0.7 feet.
For tidal information at Long Beach beginning Thursday, diggers should check the tide charts listed on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/map.
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2015-16 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.
Derby tickets on sale
The Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby will be held Friday through Sunday, Feb. 19-21.
The derby, which features 500 square miles of fishing territory, five weigh stations and a $10,000 first prize, is part of the Northwest Marine Trade Association’s Northwest Salmon Derby Series.
Tickets are $40 for one day or all three days when purchased at various North Olympic Peninsula outdoors stores, including Swain’s General Store in Port Angeles, Brian’s Sporting Goods in Sequim and Four Corners Store and the Fishin’ Hole in Port Townsend
See the complete list of locations selling tickets at www.gardinersalmonderby.org.
Tickets also can be purchased online for $42.50 through that same website.
All ticket sales end Wednesday, Feb. 17. No tickets will be sold at weigh stations during the derby.
The event spans much of the north Olympic Peninsula, with weigh stations at Freshwater Bay, Ediz Hook in Port Angeles, John Wayne Marina in Sequim, Gardiner Beach and Port Townsend Boat Haven.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Gardiner Boat Ramp on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m., which is an hour later than in previous years.
The ceremony also will include a cash prize raffle and a free barbecue, which will start at noon.
Benefit auction, dinner
The North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers are selling tickets for the club’s annual fundraising dinner and auction at SunLand Golf & Country Club in Sequim on Saturday, Feb. 20.
The event begins at 5 p.m. and is open to all members and friends of the club.
Proceeds from the auction provide the majority of funding for the annual kids fishing day at Carrie Blake Park in Sequim, and also for natural resource scholarships awarded to area high school students.
The ticket price is $15, and the preferred method of purchase is to email webmaster@psanopc.org. Those interested in attending also may phone 360-681-4768.
Silent and live auctions of fishing trips, gear and more are planned.
A spaghetti buffet dinner, with choice of marinara or white clam sauce, plus garlic bread, tossed salad and dessert, starts at 5:30 p.m. A no-host bar will provide beer, wine and spirits.
For more information, visit www.psanopc.org.
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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.