IT’S A TRAP.
At least there’s the potential of a trap for anglers in the waters of the northern stretches of Hood Canal.
For the first time in 22 years, Hood Canal north of Ayock Point in Mason County is open to salmon fishing.
Through the end of July, that fishery is pink-focused, and anglers are able to keep up to four pink or coho salmon.
No bait is allowed this month, so anglers must use single, barbless hooks measuring a half-inch or less from point to shank.
Therein lies the problem, according to Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist who lives in Quilcene.
“This reg specifies hooks a half-inch or less for any lure,” Norden said. “That is a size No. 1.
“There are no artificial lures for salmon on the market that use or will accommodate a hook this small.”
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim had a different opinion.
Menkal said finding a lure to use becomes a matter of switching hooks to comply with the regulation.
“You could use Buzz Bombs, 1-ounce darts, micro squids or crocodiles, a type of spoon that people can cast from shore or a kayak.”
To help chinook
The same prohibition on bait and a half-inch or less restriction on gear will be in place for the pink-only fishery running Thursday, July 16, through Saturday, Aug. 15, on Dungeness Bay.
“The gear restrictions are there in both sites to minimize chances of catching chinook,” Ryan Lothrop, state Department of Fish and Wildlife Puget Sound recreational salmon fishery manager, said.
“Pinks are typically higher on the water column than chinook, so we just want to limit bycatch.”
Another bait-focused dilemma arises in both locations for anglers looking to double-dip and catch bottomfish while also hauling up the humpies.
Bottomfish fishing was reopened on Hood Canal on July 1 in a portion of Quilcene and Dabob bays from Turner Creek north of Brinnon to the Toandos Peninsula in waters shallower than 120 feet.
This type of fishing is open year-round on Dungeness Bay, and the regulations make no mention of depth restrictions.
“These flatfish are almost exclusively caught on bait,” Norden said.
Remember, the regulations stipulate no bait is allowed for pink fishing.
“Most anglers will automatically go to herring or anchovy pieces to catch flounder, so if the ‘fish cop’ is having a bad hair day in July, he can claim you are fishing for salmon with those pieces of fish,” Norden said.
“The way around this problem is to fish with thin strips from a frozen mackerel fillet.
“It is highly unlikely a coho or humpy will bite a chunk of mackerel.”
There is a silver lining for anglers: mackerel’s versatility as a baitfish for many different species.
“The good news is that mackerel makes some of the best crab bait, so just save a few strips from your crab bait and fill the bucket with flounder while filling your traps with Dungies,” Norden said.
“Mackerel strips also make excellent catfish and yellow perch bait in lakes.
“You have to keep it hard frozen since it spoils super fast.”
Mackerel also make an efficient bait, according to Norden, since anglers can get more than 30 bait strips per a standard-sized mackerel.
“When hooked throughout the skin, a mackerel strip is so tough, it can catch a half-dozen fish or more,” Norden said.
Steelhead gene banks
Fish and Wildlife is planning to designate at least one wild steelhead management zone, or gene bank, in each of three Puget Sound regions: Hood Canal and Strait of Juan de Fuca, Central and South Puget Sound and North Puget Sound (rivers of the North Cascade mountains).
Public input is sought on the selection of at least three rivers where hatchery steelhead would not be released by the department in order to conserve wild fish stocks.
The state cites studies that show hatchery steelhead can compete with wild stock, and interbreeding between the genetically distinct populations can reduce wild steelhead survival.
In the selected watersheds, fisheries could be held if wild steelhead management objectives are met, but no hatchery releases will occur.
The Elwha and Sequim/Discovery Bay are listed as possible selections.
Sequim has been selected as a location for one of three public meetings to discuss the options and to take public comment.
The Sequim meeting will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 28.
For more information, and to submit comment, beginning Monday, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-GeneBank.
Drought conditions
The state is asking anglers for help in managing the low-water levels found across Washington.
Fish and Wildlife is suggesting anglers should limit fishing to the morning hours to reduce stress on fish, immediately return fish to be released back to the water and to land fish quickly.
For more on this, see Page A1 of today’s edition.
I’ll add another suggestion: go fishing in marine waters, instead.
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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.
