THE RAINS ARE coming, and so are the fish.
An already bountiful fall salmon season should turn into angling Armageddon during the next few days as more and more coho and kings enter rivers across the North Olympic Peninsula.
The Dungeness River has already exceeded last year’s hatchery returns and appears to be on its way to an above-average season, and the Quillayute system and Hoh rivers are spitting out fish with regularity as well.
While it might not be the sort of “walk-on-their-backs” fishery the old-timers delight in waxing poetic about, it’s definitely doable for anyone looking to hook a few slightly-haggard salmon.
That includes a Strait of Juan de Fuca saltwater showdown that’s been as good an any in recent memory, according to Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles.
“This is probably the best silver year I can remember as far as the consistency of those guys finding fish,” Aunspach said.
“During the week, I know different guys that are going out and catching limits. PA Buoy is still probably the No. 1 spot, even though they are catching them straight off [Ediz] Hook.
“And I kind of expect this to continue to the end of month. I just think we got some pretty good silver runs, so we have fish straggling in still to this day.”
It’s quite possible a few of those fish are headed for the Dungeness River.
The Dungeness Hatchery has already seen approximately 1,400 fish return to its traps thus far this fall, according to hatchery specialist Jeff Gufler.
That’s pretty good considering 1,146 made it to the facility all of last season.
“There’s still plenty of fish out there,” Gufler said. “I’ve been walking on the banks and lots of fishermen are catching fish, so there’s still fish in the river.
“It’s kind of a mixture [between bright fish and more colorful spawners]. I’d say maybe 30 percent of them are still pretty bright fish.”
Unfortunately, just like many of the rivers out west, the Dungeness is in need of water.
The Quillayute system — Bogachiel, Calawah and Sol Duc — is still pretty clear, forcing many anglers to head for the Hoh.
“Most everybody has been down in the Hoh because it’s still got some color and some water,” Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said.
“It’s been fishing OK. There’s some fish around.”
Added Gooding, “A lot of guys from the bank [are fishing the Sol Duc], and they are getting some fish; not nearly what they were but they are picking some fish out there.
“[The fish] do not like that low, clear water and they just shut their mouth and leave it shut.”
It appears anglers are still waiting on the Hoodsport chum run as well.
The hatchery reported eight fish at its traps on Wednesday. Expect a whole lot more than that in the coming weeks.
Hunting tidbits
The modern firearm folk may have had a blast during the first week of their early deer season.
But that was likely due more to the enjoyable weather that accompanied it than any newfound big-buck trophies.
“There’s been a few bucks taken,” Aunspach said. “We’ve had a couple pictures come in of some real nice ones; one taken up in Dungeness, one in the Sol Duc somewhere.”
But, added Aunspach, “They are not seeing a ton [of animals] right now, because the first week the weather was just crystal clear. It’s going to get better this weekend.”
While there may be a bit of an early rut period going on right now, the truly randy times aren’t for a few more weeks.
That will come during late November.
As it is, deer hunters have until the end of the month to score some antlers from the early season.
“They are getting some of the smaller bucks, but the big ones, as the season goes on, there will be more opportunity to get those,” Aunspach said.
The weather didn’t quite cooperate for the duck and goose set during last weekend’s opener.
Until things start blowing around, it will likely remain pretty tough to score a bag full of birds when duck season reopens this Saturday.
And just about all hope is lost on a good grouse season.
“I chased them around, got one the other night [and] went out last night and didn’t get any,” Gooding said. “I still go just to get in a run for the dogs and myself. There’s just not many around.”
Rule changes
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is now taking public comments on a list of fishing rule proposals for the 2012-13 season.
Among those that will affect Peninsula anglers are changes to seasons for Strait of Juan de Fuca and coastal streams during winter steelhead season.
Several rivers that drain into the Strait — including the Dungeness, Sekiu, Clallam, Pysht and Morse Creek — would close to steelhead and other game fishing Feb. 1.
There’s also a number of changes proposed for coastal streams.
Each of the proposals can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/3etqr75.
The state has scheduled four public meetings for next week to address the proposals, each running from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The closest ones are:
■ Monday — Rotary Log Pavilion, 409 South Monroe, Aberdeen.
■ Tuesday – Fish and Wildlife’s Mill Creek Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek.
■ Wednesday – Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E, Olympia.
During the meetings the public can discuss the proposals with state staff and submit written comments.
Comments also can be submitted to Fish and Wildlife Rules Coordinator Lori Preuss at Lori.Preuss@dfw.wa.gov or 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA, 98501.
Written comments must be received by Dec. 30.
Gear Swap
The Hurricane Ridge Ski Team’s annual ski and snowboard swap is expanding this year.
This year’s event, set for Saturday afternoon at Port Angeles High School, will include outdoor gear of all kinds, with tents, backpacks, kayaks, bikes, scuba gear and other outdoor gear welcome.
Those interested in participating can bring gear to the high school gym from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., then return between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to shop around.
Tickets are $3 for individuals and $7 for families. Gear that doesn’t sell can be picked up at 4 p.m.
Kitsap Sports and North by Northwest Surf Co. will both be on hand selling the latest outdoor equipment and clothing.
Kitsap Sports will also offer a boot-fitting clinic, season ski and snowboard package rentals as well as ski and snowboard tuning.
The finished product will be picked up and delivered by Ski Team members.
The event concludes later that night with two showings of the Warren Miller ski and snowboard film “Like There’s No Tomorrow” at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the high school auditorium.
Admission is $10.
Unlike in years past, Winterfest will not be held on the same weekend.
Instead, it is set for Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., in Port Angeles.
Tickets can be purchased at the outdoor expo. The cost is $45 in advance or $320 for a community table of eight.
Also . . .
■ The Olympic Peninsula Mycological Society will host its annual Wild Mushroom Show this Sunday at the Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road, in Sequim.
There will be hundreds of wild mushrooms on display at the afternoon event, set from noon to 4 p.m.
Identifiers will also be available to classify wild fungi, and mushroom cultivator Lowell Dietz will be selling mushroom kits to those who would like to grow their own.
■ Dungeness River Audubon Center will hold a special 10th anniversary open house today at its Sequim headquarters, 2151 Hendrickson Road.
The event includes a bird walk at 10 a.m. and river walk at 11 a.m., as well as several other educational activities in the afternoon.
■ Fish and Wildlife will plant hundreds of jumbo trout (approximately one pound in size) at Gibbs, Leland and Teal lakes in Jefferson County by the end of this week.
Information on when and where fish are stocked is available at http://tinyurl.com/44cnt52.
■ A proposed salmon/steelhead farm between the Lyre and Twin rivers will be discussed during the Coastal Conservation Association-North Olympic Peninsula chapter meeting next Thursday.
The monthly meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Moon Palace Restaurant, 323 E. Washington St., in Sequim.
■ The first razor clam digs of the fall are set for Oct. 28 and 29 at four ocean beaches.
Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks will all open to afternoon digs on that Friday and Saturday.
There is no word on when, or if, digs will commence at Kalaloch Beach.
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; email 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.