MARINE AREA 9 (Admiralty Inlet) reopened to blackmouth chinook fishing today and the fishery will run until encounter guidelines are met, or April 15, whichever comes first.
Area 9 had reached 39 percent (4,347) of a 11,053 chinook encounter guideline when the fishery was shuttered Nov. 12, so anglers will have the remainder left over to fish on.
Blackmouth season in Area 9 was shut down due to overabundance of sub-legal sized (less than 22 inch in length) shaker chinook and was scheduled to reopen Jan. 16, but test fisheries continued to show small chinook.
No additional time will be tacked on to the end of the fishery.
Steelhead creel reports
Winter steelhead creel reports collected recently by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife on West End rivers show dismal numbers for hatchery steelhead. But catch-and-release fishing for wild stock jumped to the highest total of the year on the Sol Duc River from Feb. 9-11, with 86 anglers releasing 104 wild fish.
Four wilds were released on the Bogachiel/Quillayute with a total of 18 anglers interviewed.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More in Sequim (360-683-1950) said this dovetails with what he’s heard from out west.
“It’s been on and off with people fishing out on the West End,” Menkal said. “People are buying tackle but the fish haven’t been cooperating very well.
“It’s like a bad date, just terrible.”
Razor digs in place
State shellfish managers have tentatively scheduled razor clam digs through April on four ocean beaches.
No digging is allowed before noon during evening digs and digging must be completed by noon during morning digs. However, the Department of Fish and Wildlife is making exceptions to that rule on two dates in April, since low tides occur close to noon those days
The proposed razor clam digs, along with low tides and beaches, are listed below:
• Friday, March 2: 6:54 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Mocrocks
• Saturday, March 3: 7:34 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Mocrocks
• Friday, March 16:7:03 p.m.; +0.2 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks
• Saturday, March 17:7:36 p.m.; +0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• Thursday, April 19: 9:46 a.m.; -0.9 feet; Mocrocks
• Friday, April 20: 10:37 a.m.; -0.7 feet; Mocrocks
• Saturday, April 21: 11:34 a.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks (digging hours will be extended to 1 p.m.)
• Sunday, April 22, 12:38 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks (digging hours will be extended to 2 p.m.)
Never turn your back
During the most recent razor clam digs, two diggers on separate beaches along the Washington coast died after they were swept away by waves in Pacific County.
Both incidents were reported within four minutes of each other.
The incidents are a good reminder to never turn your back on the ocean while clam digging.
More good advice comes from fishing guide, Peninsula Daily News ‘Wilderness Gossip Columnist’ Pat Neal, who cautions diggers to have a partner, wear a flotation device and a whistle.
And if wearing waders, wear a belt to keep out water.
Neal said some clam diggers recommend not wearing hip boots as they could fill with water if knocked down by a wave.
And maybe the best piece of advice: don’t clam in the dark.
Bird count weekend
The Great Backyard Bird Count runs today through Monday.
Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time.
Birders of all levels of experience are invited to count the number of birds they see in a 15-minute period and enter their tallies, by species, online at gbbc.birdcount.org/.
Greywolf Fly Fishers to meet
The next meeting of the Sequim Greywolf Fly Fishers will be held at the Sequim Masonic Lodge, 700 S. Fifth Ave., from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday.
There will be a brief business meeting followed by fishing reports on local lakes and favorite flies that successfully catch fish. The remainder of the meeting is reserved for individual fly-tying. Attendees may tie a fly of their choice (bring your fly tying equipment and materials) or observe this month’s tying event. There will also be a fly raffle and discussion about recent adventures. Annual membership fees are due (single fishers, $30; family fishers, $30).
For information, call Erik Simpson at 360-683-6684.
River fishing class
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More will offer another two-part Introduction to Salmon and Steelhead River Fishing course at his store, 609 W. Washington St., No. 21 in Sequim, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday with part two following at the same time Tuesday, Feb. 27.
“It’s a great way to become a two-season fisherman,” Menkal said. “The same fish come through the fresh water as they do the salt, so it’s a chance to double your chances and keep fishing when one or the other is closed.”
Menkal knows a ton of tips, tricks and locations and offers the course for $40 per person.
To reserve a space, phone 360-683-1950.
