WANT TO ENTERTAIN yourself for a couple of hours?
Park somewhere along either of the Lincoln Park ponds Saturday morning and take a good look at the future.
The Port Angeles Kids Fishing Derby returns for the 15th straight year to the ponds, thanks to the city of Port Angeles, Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers and Kiwanis Club of Port Angeles.
And as I learned during my visit last year — one in which I saw a boy attempt to shove a live fish head first into his mouth — the combination of tiny tykes and trout can be a delightful diversion.
Of course, it’s a lot of fun for the kids, too.
“It’s a riot,” said Cliff Schleusner, Olympic Peninsula Fly Fisher and event volunteer. “It ought to be a lot of fun.”
A total of 825 trout have been planted in the ponds in preparation for the derby, which is free and open to children ages 5-14 from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
That includes 25 trophy trout 20-24 inches in length and 800 catchables that are approximately 12 inches long.
“We put the fish in on Monday, so they should be hungry,” Schleusner said.
Anglers must bring their own rods, reels and gear to the derby.
While the event is supported by the fly fishers, fly gear is strictly prohibited.
The banks are usually teeming with pint-sized piscators. You can only imagine the chaos that would ensue if they were all waving around muddler minnows.
“You need to come prepared to use power bait or worms,” Schleusner said. “They both work equally well.
“Most people just stick a bobber on and throw it out there, so the kids can see a bobber. Some throw lures and do actually catch fish, but it’s kind of crowded.”
Club members will be on hand to provide assistance, including the inevitable tangle.
New rod and reel combos will be awarded to the top seven fish in five separate age groups.
Kiwanis club members will also serve free hot dogs and sodas in the cabin located next to the ponds.
That’s gourmet fare for any child, including yours truly.
Blackmouth bye-bye
Winter blackmouth season is down to its last gasp.
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) all close to salmon fishing after Sunday.
As long as the weather cooperates, expect things to go out with a bang . . . at least around the Port Angeles area.
“If the wind doesn’t blow, I expect them to catch fish,” Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said.
“It will all depend on that wind.”
Unfortunately, Mother Nature did not cooperate much this past week.
Few anglers got out on the water after a big day of fishing April 1; one that saw several fish in the high teens added to the Port Angeles Salmon Club’s monthly derby ladder.
That included a 19-pound, 4-ounce beauty submitted by Bill Cargo of Port Angeles, and a 16-pound, 7-ounce bruiser caught by Craig Taylor of Port Angeles.
Some nice clipped chinook were also submitted to the Discovery Bay Volunteer Fire Fighters Salmon Derby last weekend on the east end of Area 6 and Area 9.
Jose Lopez got the $3,000 check for the top fish, a 17.74-pound salmon brought into a Discovery Bay dock Sunday.
Oddly enough, Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby winner Rob Schmidt of Sequim had the third-place fish (15.63 pounds). That puts his derby winnings at $10,750 for the winter.
“Some fish were taken inside Discovery Bay [during the derby],” Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said.
“The wind tossed them around a little bit, but fish were taken.”
That being said, Menkal added, it’s been hot off Port Angeles.
“If anybody is going to choose, that would be the place to go,” he said.
One other saltwater note: Lingcod fishing opens in Area 4 (Neah Bay) next Saturday, April 16.
Area 3 (LaPush) is already open for lingcod.
Freshwater fodder
Might want to wait on that springer trip.
Even as we move into mid-April, river anglers ought to keep their collective focus on steelhead.
With reports of a few big fellas getting caught out west during the past few weeks — including a 43-inch beast posted on piscatorialpursuits.com — there’s still reason to target the steelies.
“It’s been holding up pretty well [when the rivers are in], it really has,” Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said.
“The Sol Duc in particular, it’s just been fishing darn good.”
Expect West End rivers to drop into decent fishing shape by Saturday.
Much of what came out of last week’s wet weather should start washing out into the deep blue Pacific.
Hopefully that will leave anglers with some decent water and a whole lot more fish; perhaps even a few chrome bright spring chinook.
“To target them [right now] would be kind of foolish, I think,” Gooding said. “Traditionally, the middle of the month [the springer run] will start.
“Middle of May through the end of June is usually the best. Again, it depends so much on the water and what not.”
Those with an eye toward the lowland lakes opener can get out on a pond or two this weekend.
Year-round fisheries such as Leland and Wentworth lakes should start warming up with the weather.
Winter lives on
Want more time on Hurricane Ridge?
Well, my dear Peninsulites, it’s up to you.
Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club will resume skiing and snowboarding activities in the Peninsula’s winter paradise Saturday and Sunday.
If more than 100 tickets are sold during those days, everyone will come back and do it again the weekend of April 16-17.
As anyone who experienced Wednesday’s bizarre weather pattern knows — Rain, sleet, snow and sunshine in one day? — winter has yet to release its grip on the Peninsula.
In fact, the Ridge received a few extra inches of fresh powder in the past few days.
A special Easter Egg hunt Sunday (see “best bets” for more details) will give skiers and snowboarders extra incentive to charge up the hill.
Lift ticket prices for this weekend are $12 for bunny hill only, $25 for intermediate and $27 for all lifts.
Season Pass holders can ride all lifts for $10.
For information on skiing the Ridge, visit hurricaneridge.com.
Shrimp schedule
The state announced shrimping dates throughout Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca on Thursday.
Sport fishing for the covetous crustaceans begins May 7, with resource managers predicting a good season.
Test fisheries conducted by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife found an abundance of spot shrimp in most areas of Puget Sound, state shellfish biologist Mark O’Toole said in a news release.
“Fishing prospects in many areas are looking even better than last year,” O’Toole said. “Some of the boat ramps can get pretty crowded, so we encourage fishers to be patient and wait their turn.”
In all areas of Puget Sound, shrimpers are limited to 80 spot shrimp per day.
Fishing seasons should be similar to last year throughout the state. Here’s is a rundown of Peninsula fisheries:
■ Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) — Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 7, 11, 14 and 25. Additional dates and times may be announced if sufficient quota remains.
■ Discovery Bay Shrimp District — Open May 7, 11 and 14 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional dates and times will be announced if sufficient quota remains.
■ Marine Area 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5 and 6 — Open daily beginning May 7 at 7 a.m., except in specified shrimp districts.
The spot shrimp season closes when quota is attained or Sept 15, whichever comes first.
■ Marine Area 9 — Open May 7 and May 11 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional dates and times will be announced if sufficient quota remains.
For a description of fisheries, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/shrimp.
Also . . .
■ Olympic Peninsula BirdFest returns to Sequim today through Sunday.
Festival events include special field trips, presentations, a banquet, owl prowls and many other birdy activities.
For more information, visit the event website www.olympicbirdfest.org.
■ Author and fly fisherman Doug Rose will talk about his outdoor experiences on the Peninsula at the Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence St., on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Rose has written three books focused on fly fishing on the Peninsula, as well as hundreds of articles in magazines like Fly Fisherman, American Angler and Northwest Fly Fishing.
His fly fishing blog (dougroseflyfishing.com) should be visited by any fly fan at least once a month.
■ Admiralty Audubon’s Dan Waggoner will lead a birding trip past Oak Bay, Indian Island and Fort Flagler State Park on Saturday.
The walk runs from 9 a.m. to noon, with a group meeting at the Haines Place Park and Ride in Port Townsend at 8:30 a.m. and Oak Bay at 9 a.m.
Pre-registration for all Admiralty walks is strongly encouraged.
To do so, contact Waggoner at 360-301-1788 or danwags57@gmail.com.
■ The 11th annual Port Angeles Kayak Symposium returns to downtown Port Angeles next weekend, April 15-17.
The event includes numerous on-water and off-water clinics, kayak demos, a kayak race and special presentations the nights of April 15 and 16.
For more information, visit www.raftandkayak.com.
■ Mike O’Connell, facilities manager of Glenwood Springs Salmon Hatchery on Orcas Island, will speak at the Puget Sound Anglers-East Jefferson chapter monthly meeting Tuesday.
O’Connell is also a member of Long Live The Kings, an organization devoted to restoring wild salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Marina Room of Hudson Point Marina, 130 Hudson St., in Port Townsend.
■ The Washington Coast Cleanup is set for April 23 along the state’s pristine coastlines.
There are still several volunteer opportunities for those interested in lending a helping hand. For more information, visit www.coastsavers.org.
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.
