HOPEFULLY, ANGLERS TOOK advantage of that long break between rainstorms because the nearly 10 days of uninterrupted sunshine, or sun and clouds, the North Olympic Peninsula just experienced certainly isn’t the norm for November.
All that sun and those cold temperatures were enjoyable. They reminded me of winter stretches in Pullman back when I was a student at Washington State University.
The cold certainly increased my hot cocoa intake. Two 20-ounce cups with whipped cream while covering the Neah Bay-Pateros football game and two more, minus the whipped cream, while attending the Peninsula women’s soccer NWAC championship game on Sunday.
Thanks for your warmth, Swiss Miss; you were a comfort in cold climes.
Normal is coming back in the form of West End deluges and rain and showers in the central and eastern portions of the North Olympic Peninsula.
With rainfall totals between 1 and 2 inches forecast today in Forks and more on the way this weekend, stream flows will shoot back up and water will change color from that delightful emerald to a high, dirty, brownish tint.
What’s that mean? Antsy anglers cooped up indoors and looking ahead to Thanksgiving and the traditional start of the winter steelhead season.
Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist, checked in with a report from Quilcene.
“Fishing has been tough on Lake Leland for the last week,” Norden said.
“Even though the lake didn’t freeze over, mornings with temps in the mid-teens and afternoons just above freezing kept nearly all anglers off the lake.
“I have not seen a sign of a fresh plant of large trout in the lake, even though a recent press release said we might get a few.”
Bird hunting was no picnic, either, during the cold snap.
“It hasn’t been cold enough to chase the birds off the local bays but a 50-foot-wide barrier of heavy ice and even a few patches of moving ice flows have been making it difficult for any hunters to get out,” Norden said.
“Lots of ducks are to be seen, though.”
Norden hasn’t heard tell of that winter steelhead run, but it’s early.
“Beach casters on Whidbey Island have not yet started catching steelhead, although that should start in the next week if the runs are on time,” Norden said.
“As soon as the fish start appearing on Whidbey, they should also begin appearing in good numbers on the lower sections of our Peninsula rivers, especially the Bogachiel.”
Norden said he is planning to spend some time varmint hunting in the meantime.
“Leaves are off the bushes, so it is time to brush the dust off of varmint rifles and start calling local predators like coyote, bobcat and, of course, [mountain] lions,” Norden said.
“The pelts of the coyotes I have seen recently in my travels look better than usual.”
Razor dig underway
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife approved a razor clam opening that runs through Wednesday after marine toxin test results showed the clams are safe to eat.
No digging will be allowed before noon.
“Diggers can fill their buckets right up until the holiday,” said Dan Ayres, Fish and Wildlife coastal shellfish manager.
Ayres noted that diggers are required to keep the first 15 clams they dig under state law. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
The state has razor clam recipes as well as advice on digging and cleaning clams wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams .
Digging days and evening tides during the upcoming opening are:
■ Today: 5:45 p.m., -0.5 feet — Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
■ Saturday: 6:24 p.m., -0.8 feet — Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Copalis.
■ Sunday: 7:05 p.m., -1.0 feet — Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
■ Monday: 7:47 p.m., -1.1 feet — Long Beach, Twin Harbors.
■ Tuesday: 8:32 p.m., -0.9 feet — Long Beach, Twin Harbors.
■ Wednesday: 9:19 p.m. — -0.5 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors.
Cranksgiving success
Cranksgiving, a cycling food drive for the Sequim Food Bank held last Saturday, was a big success.
I received a note on the ride from Thomas Coonelly, a member of event organizers, the Spoke Folk Cycling Club of Sequim.
“Great ride yesterday,” Coonelly said.
“Perfect weather. [A total of] 57 riders gathered 714.5 pounds of food and donated $533.40 to our food bank.”
Randy Barber earned the fastest finisher award after completing his shopping and cycling circuit of area food stores in 30 minutes.
Henry Lingan, age 76, earned the oldest rider award, with Theodore Miller, 11 months, tagging along and winning the youngest participant award.
The Miller family of Sequim won the big kahuna award for donating 39 pounds worth of items for the Sequim Food Bank, while Joe Cress and Pam Payne tied for the little kahuna award after donating 4 pounds.
Sequim Food Bank manager Mark Ozias joined participants at the after party at Rainshadow Coffee and thanked everyone for their efforts and presented the awards and raffle prizes.
Access restored
With removal of Glines Canyon Dam complete, Olympic National Park has reopened the road to the Olympic Hot Springs Trail after a three-year closure.
The Olympic Hot Springs Trail, a 2.5-mile hike to the hot springs that gains just under 300 feet in elevation, can be accessed once again from the Boulder Creek Trailhead.
The Crystal Creek Bridge along the way is closed to all travel due to extensive rock slide damage, but Crystal Creek can be crossed via a foot-log.
Hikers are urged to use caution, as the foot-log is often icy at this time of year.
Judging from the press release on the reopening, Parks officials are worried about vegetation, both natural and imported, up at the hot springs.
“Extensive restoration work has been done in Olympic Hot Springs area while the road has been closed,” said park superintendent Sarah Creachbaum.
“Visitors are reminded to camp only in designated campsites and to avoid stepping on plants when using the area.”
Park officials also said they want to remind visitors that marijuana use is prohibited on federal lands, including the park.
Before hiking, visitors are urged to check trail conditions online at tinyurl.com/pdn-parktrails, phone the Wilderness Information Center at 360-565-3100 or drop by the park visitor center at 3002 Mount Angeles Road, Port Angeles.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
