NEED SOME BEDTIME reading?
Try flipping through the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s draft management plan for the newly created North Olympic Wildlife Area (NOWA).
Like most bureaucratic documents, it’s filled with loads of snore-inspiring subject material and verbiage.
Just the sort of thing someone should’ve given to Al Pacino’s character in “Insomnia.”
That said, the nearly 100-page document isn’t without some excitement.
For it appears Fish and Wildlife might just throw a few bones the North Olympic Peninsula bird hunting community’s way.
First and foremost, hunters can expect the return of the pheasant release program at Dungeness Recreation Area for another three years.
The annual fall hunt has been a mainstay at the Clallam County-owned wetland (formerly known as Voice of America) for decades.
But with Fish and Wildlife’s lease coming to an end later this month, many thought that era had come to a close. Not so.
Fish and Wildlife is currently working with the county on a three-year extension to keep the hunt at Dungeness, according to state biologist Kyle Guzlas and Clallam County Director of Parks, Fair and Facilities Joel Winborn.
Once that is up, the department will look for another area on the Peninsula to keep the hunt alive.
At least, that’s what’s stated in the NOWA draft management plan . . . as is the desire to add more public options for bird hunters on the Peninsula.
That’s good news for an area that is lacking much in the way of public hunting opportunity when it comes to waterfowl.
“We’re always looking for more suitable locations,” Guzlas said. “It’s a question of whether or not we can come up with funding.
“We want to keep that [pheasant] program going in that area.”
The state acquires many of its public hunting lands through federal grants, he said.
“So if there was a prefect spot that we wanted, we would look at getting those funds to purchase it,” Guzlas said.
“We just picked up a bunch of properties within the last five years around the Dungeness River and also Three Crabs Road, but nothing large enough yet for a really solid waterfowl hunting spot.”
If a pheasant hunt is to continue on the Peninsula, the state would have to find something soon.
Winborn said the county intends to end pheasant and waterfowl hunting at Dungeness Recreation Area by the end of the three-year extension.
“I think from the county’s perspective, it’s just the realization of the conflicting uses out there,” he said.
“The area has grown quite a bit in the last 10 or 15 years. [Hunting]’s just not something that the county, I think, wants to continue happening up there on the site.”
Both parties said the extension has not been finalized, but it is highly likely it will be by the time hunting season comes around in the fall.
The NOWA management plan encompasses 1,800 acres of land from west of Port Angeles to the Quilcene area.
It is posted at http://tinyurl.com/yj6mkx3, and is open to public comment through April 15.
Comments may be submitted via the Internet at http://tinyurl.com/yfkw8l6.
Written comments can be sent to WDFW, Attn: Wildlife Program/North Olympic Wildlife Area Management Plan Comments, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091.
Freshwater fishing
The crowds might be dwindling, but a fair amount of steelhead remain out west.
So, too, do a few spring chinook, which are showing up in greater numbers every day, according to Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks.
“They are rolling around,” he said. “They aren’t biting worth a hoot, but they are there at least.
“I don’t know about a good number, but guys are seeing them.”
Conditions might be so-so for hooking the notoriously fat and finicky fish this weekend.
Rivers dropped into shape by Thursday, according to Gooding. But with rainfall a near certainty today, that might not be the case the next few days.
If things can hold up, however, there should be plenty of steelhead to target on the Sol Duc, Hoh and Calawah.
With a decrease in fishing pressure expected (interest in rivers typically dies down each April), that might make for a productive Saturday or Sunday.
The steelhead retention fishery closes at the end of the day April 15 on the Hoh, but will remain open through April 30 on the Quillayute system (including the Sol Duc).
“There’s people around, but it’s thinning out a bunch, always does,” Gooding said.
“Everybody thinks there’s no fish in April. Usually it is a very decent time.”
By contrast, the lake scene should start heating up during the next month.
A number of year-round lakes will likely receive trout plants in the coming weeks, including Teal in Jefferson County and Sutherland and Wentworth in Clallam.
Lake Leland already received 527 one-pound rainbows and 4,620 trout fry two weeks ago.
Still, the fishing has yet to pick up at the Jefferson County basin located just north of Quilcene, according to fishing tackle supplier Ward Norton.
“Lake Leland is warming up a little slower than you would anticipate,” said Norton, a Quilcene resident. “The only ones getting fish are the people fishing off the beach.
“Trollers aren’t doing very well at all.”
Saltwater stuff
All good things must come to an end.
In the case of this winter’s banner blackmouth season inside the Strait of Juan de Fuca, that arrives in eight days (April 10).
“The later we get into [the season] the better chance there is of finding these big spring chinook,” Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said.
“But, boy, we’ve had a bunch of nice ones already. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another high teener or something in the 20s [for poundage].”
Perhaps it would be better to wait for the much-anticipated lingcod opener in Area 4 (Neah Bay) on April 16.
Anglers haven’t picked off too many lings since Area 3 (LaPush) opened last month, but much of that can be attributed to weather, according to Fish and Wildlife ocean sampler Erica Crust.
“Neah Bay is historically a good fishery for lings,” Crust said in a news release. “If the weather cooperates, we should see some excellent fishing there again this year.”
The minimum size for lingcod in Areas 1-3 is 22 inches, while the minimum size in Area 4 is 24 inches. All areas are open seven days a week.
Additional information about the lingcod fishery and other bottomfish is available on the Fishing and Widllife’s fishing hotline (360-902-2500) or online at http://tinyurl.com/y8ewe4u.
Wapiti shoot
Bambi doesn’t stand a chance . . . or Godzilla for that matter.
That’s because standing is about the only thing they can do.
The Wapiti Bowmen will hold its annual Safari/3D archery shoot at club headquarters, 374 E. Arnette Road, in Port Angeles this Saturday and Sunday.
Archers will get to shoot at 28 Safari targets and 22 full-sized 3-D animals (i.e. deer, elk and, yes, a dinosaur) at marked distances along the club’s wooded outdoor course.
Targets vary in distance from 35 feet to 80 yards, with realistic uphill, downhill and level shooting conditions.
“If you are even a moderate archer you should have no problem whatsoever,” club member Jameson Hawn said.
Adult fees are $12 for one day, and $20 for two. Children are $8 for one day and $12 for two. A family package covering both days can be purchased for $45.
Registration is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
Breakfast and lunch will be served at the club, with door prizes and awards also given out during the weekend.
Awards will be up for grabs in various age groups from youth to seniors. Camping is available on site.
For more information, contact Hawn at 425-478-0587 or send an e-mail to wapitibowclub@gmail.com.
Razor update
Diggers unconcerned with size came away happy from last weekend’s razor clam harvests at Kalaloch Beach.
The clams remained a bit on the small side (approximately 4.1 inches), but there were plenty around on Friday and Saturday.
Harvesters brought home an average of about 12 clams per digger, according to Olympic National Park coastal ecologist Steve Fradkin.
And he sounded confident the beach will produce along the same lines during the next set of morning digs tentatively scheduled for April 17-18.
“The population certainly does seem to be rebounding,” from the severe declines of 2006-08, Fradkin said.
“We’ve started to see a new recruit class [aka spawning event] occur. It will be interesting to see in our next sampling period what sort of survival we’ll have in those.
“The main spawning time is April and May. July is when we do the stock assessment. That will certainly give us a really good picture.”
Another couple of digs are likely to occur in early May as well, according to Fradkin.
Approval of each harvest is pending marine toxin testing.
For more information on coastal razor clams, visit http://tinyurl.com/oyekj.
Also . . .
• A state crab advisor will speak at the Puget Sound Anglers-East Jefferson Chapter’s monthly meeting on April 13 in the Marina Room at Point Hudson Marina.
The advisor will explain a number of options for the 2010 crab season, beginning at 7 p.m. The featured raffle item will be a halibut rod and reel.
• Karen Matsumoto, education coordinator for the Seattle Aquarium, and Ron Hirschi, biologist and author of children’s nature books, are the featured speaker at the Feiro Marine Life Center’s monthly meeting April 10.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the life center at Port Angeles City Pier. For more information, call 360-417-6254.
• Admiralty Audubon’s Ron Sikes will lead a trip from Point Wilson to Point Hudson on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Participants can expect to run into various birds and aquatic life during the walk, scheduled for low tide. To register, contact Sikes at 360-385-0307 or sikes@olympus.net.
• Washington Trails will hold a volunteer work party at Lower Big Quilcene Trail on April 13.
Volunteers must pre-register 48 hours in advance. To pre-register, contact Washington Trails at 206-625-1367 or visit www.wta.org.
• The 10th annual Port Angeles Kayak Symposium comes to Hollywood Beach and City Pier the weekend of April 16-18.
The event includes on-water and off-water clinics, free demos and discounted kayak merchandise offered by a variety of vendors.
Admission is $5 to the demo beach or free with a donation to the Port Angeles food bank. For more information, visit www.raftandkayak.com.
• The fifth annual Olympic Peninsula BirdFest returns to Dungeness River Audubon Center the weekend of April 9-11.
Events include field trips, presentations, a banquet, owl prowls and many other birdy activities. For more information, visit www.olympicbirdfest.org.
• The Klahhane Club continues to take on new members for its year-round hiking club on the Peninsula.
Hikers must do four “get acquainted” hikes, meet a sponsor for membership application and complete six “qualifying” hikes within six months of applying.
Dues are $12 annually — $9 if you receive the newsletter via computer — with a one-time initiation fee of $13.
For more information, visit klahhaneclub.org.
• Waters West Fly Fishing Outfitters will hold free fly-tying seminars on April 10 and 24,
Each seminar begins at 10 a.m. at its Port Angeles shop, located at 140 West Front St.
The April 10 edition will focus on lake flies for trout, while the one on April 24 will examine saltwater cutthroat patterns.
For more information, call 360-417-0937 or send an e-mail to info@waterswest.com.
Send photos, stories
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.
