A LITTLE RAIN would do North Olympic Peninsula hunters some good.
With hunting season officially underway — archery deer, archery cougar, grouse hunts all began Wednesday — the biggest obstacle for hunters right now is the cornflakes under their feet.
Better walk softly and carry some big broadheads.
“The weather is not what you would call ideal,” Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said.
“We finally got some rain the other day, but it’s tough. It’s very, very dry.”
That didn’t keep hunters from bagging a few nice bucks during the first two days of the season, however.
There have already been a handful of successful reports across the Peninsula. That includes Ryan Gedlund of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles.
The longtime Peninsula resident took down a 4-by-6 out near Sequim on opening day.
“I’d been watching him,” Gedlund said, likely echoing the story of many a proud Peninsula hunter. “It was a nice buck.”
Gedlund heard of a few other bucks being taken in the area too, as did Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim.
“It’s a little bit dry, but you go when you can,” Menkal said. “They are not spooked up yet. That’s the cool thing about it right now.”
Gooding hasn’t had as much luck tracking down grouse out west.
After two trips into the hills around Forks, the veteran of the grouse game came away with just two birds.
“It’s pretty tough sledding, really,” Gooding said. “That will change once the weather starts changing more into fall weather, when it starts cooling off a little and we get some wet out there [and] get [the grouse] out of the brush.”
Archery deer seasons lasts through Sept. 24 in the Hoko, Pysht, Clearwater, Olympic and Coyle Game Management Units (GMUs).
The Dickey, Sol Duc, Goodman and Matheny close after Sept. 19.
Archery elk season begins next Tuesday in the Hoko, Dickey, Pysht, Sol Duc, Goodman, Clearwater and Matheny. The Coyle – with the exception of elk area 6071 — also opens on that day.
Each will remain open through Sept. 19.
Let’s talk tuna
As much as coastal anglers might want to go after kings, perhaps a tuna trip is in order.
Granted, such a venture requires a long trek — 30 to 40 miles in many cases — but the reward is bountiful.
The occupants of Randy Lato’s boat found that out this past Sunday.
“It was a good time, a really good time,” said Lato of All-Ways Fishing (360-374-2052) in LaPush.
“It started out with a double [takedown] first thing. I didn’t even have all the gear in the water.
“I don’t think we got another double until 11:30 [a.m.], and then it just got stupid. Every time we got up to speed we had three or four [fish] on.
“At one time we had all five hooks loaded [with Lato and four others on the boat]. That’s illegal. The guide shouldn’t have to work.”
In order to locate tuna, anglers must first find some blue water and a temperature break.
If that area also has some chlorophyll — what the baitfish feed on — then there’s a real good chance a school of tuna is in the vicinity.
Once you get into them, it often translates into nonstop action.
“It’s usually good through September,” Lato said. “Everybody that’s gone, loaded up [so far this summer].”
Of course, the story isn’t quite the same with the salmon.
The coastal king and coho fisheries are still hit-and-miss from LaPush all the way up to Neah Bay.
“Last I heard [Thursday], Swiftsure [Bank] is still doing OK, and the Straits are catching a few silvers,” Steven Jimmicum of Big Salmon Resort (360-645-2374) in Neah Bay said.
“Other than that, down south isn’t that good, and Blue Dot isn’t that good.”
Strait fishing
A little rain wouldn’t hurt the Strait of Juan de Fuca silver scene either.
The little we got earlier this week was enough to stir up some movement in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu).
“We got rain, and Tuesday we had just excellent silver fishing . . . nice 10- to 14-pound coho,” Chris Mohr of Van Riper’s Resort (360-963-2334) in Sekiu said.
“[Wednesday] there was quite a few fish. And today, it looks like whatever blasted in on that rain is gone. Still, there’s a lot more fish than there was a week ago.
“I’m guardedly optimistic that it wasn’t just a two-day shot and now we’re back to picking and hunting.”
That same action hasn’t really shown up around Port Angeles for whatever reason.
But there has been some action near Dungeness Spit, according to Menkal in Sequim.
“I’m hearing some guys that were getting some silvers out off [Dungeness] Lighthouse] last week, and a guy yesterday said they were getting them off Protection Island,” Menkal said.
“They are starting to move in. Not huge numbers, but they are showing.”
Eastern Peninsula
So maybe I was half right in Thursday’s outdoors column.
Rumors of scads of coho coming through Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) appear to be true.
Unfortunately, that’s about all they’re doing.
“It doesn’t seem like anybody is catching much of anything,” Eric Elliot of the Fishing Hole (360-385-7031) in Port Townsend said. “Apparently, they are going right through.”
Reports from Marrowstone and Wilson points weren’t all that promising, either.
Menkal, for instance, had a friend who went out to Marrowstone six times in the past few weeks and came up with just one fish.
Creel checks in the area have been modest at best.
That being said, Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) may very well be worth a look.
Ward Norden of Quilcene recommends targeting returning coho off Hazel Point on the Coyle Peninsula.
Some people like to use Buzz Bombs or Point Wilson darts while fishing near shore.
Peninsula resident Pete Rosko is a big fan of half-ounce chrome Kandlefish.
“The dart falls too fast for silvers, and the Buzz Bomb cannot effectively reach the deeper fish,” Rosko wrote in an e-mail. “The Kandlefish is deadly in both situations.
“Kandlefish would outfish its competition at least five to one because of its lively action that drives silvers nuts.”
Freshwater fishing
Coho continue to trickle into the Quilcene River.
An additional 500 fish (approximately) reached the Quilcene National Fish Hatchery traps between Aug. 27 and Tuesday.
While that might not be the sort of coho conga line one might want in early September, it’s certainly enough to inspire the combat fishing masses.
“Take a helmet and kevlar and you’ll be fine,” Menkal said.
Those looking to avoid the chaos might consider heading toward the Hoh.
The glacial-fed river is often a steady producer during the late summer, when the rest of its West End counterparts are running low and clear.
“They’ve been getting some silvers in there, some kings, some steelhead,” Gooding said. “It’s really been fishing pretty decent.”
Anyone who really want to press their luck can head to the Sol Duc.
It has more than a few summer coho calling it home these days, although they aren’t likely to bite given the river’s current low and clear status.
Also . . .
• Waterfront Trail in Port Angeles closes to public access between the Red Lion Hotel and Francis Street Park during the day next Tuesday through Friday.
The closure, which will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will allow Happy Valley Pruning workers to safely trim trees and remove debris. The trail will be open before 9:30 a.m. and after 3:30 p.m. to allow commuters to bicycle or walk to work.
• Norm Baker will discuss Puget Sound fisheries restoration at the Puget Sound Anglers-East Jefferson Chapter monthly meeting Sept. 14.
Specifically, Baker will go into detail about Marine Reserves at the meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Marina Room at Hudson Point Marina in Port Townsend.
• Port Ludlow Fly Fishing Club President Arnie Koch will be the featured speaker at the Greywolf Fly Fishing Club monthly meeting in Gardiner next Wednesday.
Koch will discuss his club’s recent adoption of Teal Lake in Easter Jefferson County. He will give his presentation shortly after the meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Road.
• The Quilcene Antler Show returns to the Quilcene School Gymnasium on Sept. 18-19.
Hunters from across the Peninsula are welcome to come display their trophies, with official Boone and Crockett measurers on hand to provide official scoring.
Those wishing to provide a display can contact Mari Phillips in Quilcene at 360-765-0688.
• Admiralty Audubon’s David Gluckman will lead a shorebird trip to Dungeness Bay on Sunday morning.
The group will meet at 8 a.m. at the Port Townsend Park and Ride before heading off to John Wayne Marina (8:45 a.m.) and other spots around the bay.
Those planning on attending, must contact Gluckman at 360-379-0360 or cgluckman@aol.com.
• The LaPush Last Chance Salmon Derby returns to the coast Oct. 2-3.
Participants will see a reduced entry fee this year ($25), with cash prizes awarded to the largest ($500), second largest ($250) and third largest ($100) salmon submitted.
There will also be a $100 reward for the largest bottomfish.
Tickets can be purchased at Swain’s General Store, LaPush Marina, Forks Outfitters and the Forks Chamber of Commerce office. For more information, call 360-374-2531.
• Washington Trails Association is accepting submissions for its annual Northwest Exposure photo contest through Oct. 17.
Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in five categories: Wild Landscapes, Flora and Fauna, Hikers in Action, Families on Trail and Offbeat Outdoors.
The grand prize photo will be featured on the cover of Washington Trails magazine.
For more information on the contest, including how to submit photos, visit http://tinyurl.com/yj29nxg.
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.