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WINTER BLACKMOUTH SEASON is done, which can only mean that the saltwater big boys are right around the corner, while the current freshwater season is winding down with spring chinook playing hard to get.
Anticipation builds for halibut, those big boys discussed above, while the saltwater winter salmon season ended Tuesday.
The West End river season is coming to a close, too, at least until it reopens in June.
“The Hoh River will close Sunday and the rest of the rivers will close at the end of the month,” Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said.
Gooding should know because the rivers are in his backyard, so to speak.
The Hoh is closing just as a mysterious 30-pound monster fish (springer, steelhead, killer whale, whatever) was hooked but got away on the Hoh this past week.
That’s the story going around, anyway.
The story has made it to Port Angeles and Sequim (if the fish had a Facebook page, it would be world-wide news by now) but ironically, Gooding hasn’t heard about it.
“It’s always a guessamate of how big a fish you think you have on your hook,” Gooding said about the estimated size of this fish that got away.
“I heard that fishing was mixed in the rivers, but I did hear about someone hooking a big fish on the Hoh,” Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) of Sequim said.
“They had it on hook for 30 minutes before it broke off.”
Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles heard the same story, only with a tiny bit more detail.
“I hear it’s been a little slow in the West End rivers but I heard about a big fish, a 30-pounder, being hooked that broke off after 30 minutes,” Aunspach said.
By the time that fish tale gets to Port Townsend, it probably will be 40 pounds.
All kidding aside, if you go out hunting a monster fish in the Hoh, you have through Sunday to catch it. Or try to catch another spring monster on one of the other West End rivers through the end of April
The river season is on hold through May, and then restarts in early June.
This could be a good weekend to try to catch a steelhead or freshwater springer if the weather holds.
“It’s been pretty decent fishing this past week,” Gooding said about the rivers in the West End.
“There’s been some small ones and big ones caught, and lots of fish in the teens are being caught.
Aunspach of Swain’s said he heard about 12- and 18-pound steelhead being caught this past week.
“Everything is in good shape out here.”
That includes good water color and levels, he added.
No more blackmouth
The monthly Port Angeles fish derby, headquartered at Swain’s, is over for April because of the end of the blackmouth season, and is waiting for the halibut season to start May 3 in the area.
Aunspach said the April winner is Tony Dunscomb, who caught an 18.4-pound salmon.
Mark Reynolds is the runner-up at 15.12 pounds while Bill Davis finishes in third at 15.10 and Randy Johnson claims fourth at 15.01.
Ironically, bigger fish were caught this past week but the anglers didn’t purchase derby tickets, missing out on the monthly winnings.
One came in at 23.10 pounds while another was a 20-pounder, Aunspach said.
Either one could have been a winner.
Which goes to show how good the last week of the winter salmon season was.
“It was real good fishing last week,” Aunspach said.
That’s because the saltwater springers were starting to show up, he added.
Summer salmon season starts July 1 in Marine Area 6, the Port Angeles area.
Big boys awaiting
If you’re tired of paying for those high-priced halibut and chips in the restaurants, maybe it’s time you went out and caught your own.
That way you can have halibut fish and chips, steaks and whatnot for a long, long time, especially if you catch an 80-pound or bigger monster.
“Now’s a good time between seasons to get your boat and gear ready for halibut,” Menkal said.
Menkal is getting some anglers buying gear for halibut but the real rush will be in about two weeks, just before the season starts.
Everyone has his or her favorite halibut fishing hole, and there are several to pick from, Menkal said.
“It depends on how big your boat is [and how far you can go out],” he added.
Some spots that have paid off for anglers in the past are Dungeness Bar, the Dallas Bank, around Protection Island and Freshwater Bay off the Rock Pile, according to Menkal.
Kids fishing derby
The annual Lincoln Park Kids Fishing Derby will be held at Lincoln Park Ponds on Saturday.
Registration begins at 8 a.m.; fish measuring will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and the prize ceremony will start at 10:45 a.m.
The event is free for children ages 5-14.
Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
All state fishing regulations apply with maximum of five fish per day and no size limit.
The event is presented by the Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers, Olympic Kiwanis, Albertsons, Evergreen Meats and Bob and Debbie Petty.
Archery fun
The Wapiti Bowmen Archery Club will be hosting its annual Spring 3-D Extravaganza archery tournament Saturday and Sunday.
The Extravaganza, which draws archery enthusiasts from throughout western Washington, will feature life-size, realistic 3-D animals throughout Wapiti’s wooded 20-acre walk-around course at 374 E. Arnett Road in Port Angeles.
The 30-target course is set in realistic hunting scenarios offering shooters a challenging but rewarding archery experience.
Shoots offered by the Wapiti Bowmen archery club are a great opportunity to learn about the very diverse sport of archery from area and state champion archers, while enjoying a fun, safe, family-oriented experience.
Prizes for each class of shooters will be presented Sunday.
Also scheduled for Sunday is an auction of 3-D targets from the Wapiti Club, with the proceeds going to future target purchases for upcoming shoots.
Raffle tickets will be sold for a compound bow donated by Swain’s General Store.
Additional raffle items include a Rinehart 18-to-1 portable target and a Rinehart Broadhead Buck 3-D target.
Breakfast and lunch will be served for a nominal price Saturday and Sunday, with the kitchen opening at 7 a.m. each day.
Come out to the range and enjoy the beautiful spring weather this weekend.
Shooter registration opens at 8 a.m., and closes at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Shotgun start Sunday at 9 a.m. if necessary.
Adult fees are $12 per day or $20 both days, while youth (10-16 years old) costs $8 a day or $12 both days, and peewee (under 10) shoot for free.
Call 360-683-7787 for more information.
Lakes opener
Anglers preparing for opening day of the 2012 lowland lakes season on April 28 can expect to reel in trout that are one-third bigger this year.
With opening day fast approaching, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is releasing 3 million hatchery-reared trout averaging 11-13 inches — two to three inches longer than last year.
Those fish will join millions of other trout that were stocked last year and have grown to catchable size in lakes around the state.
Many of those lakes have also been stocked with triploid and jumbo trout weighing 1½ to 11 pounds apiece.
At least 300,000 anglers typically turn out for the first day of the lowland lakes season, which remains open into the fall.
Although many state waters are open year-round, the April opening marks the start of the state’s most popular fishery.
To participate, anglers must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2013.
Freshwater fishing licenses cost $27.50 for resident adults 16 to 69 years old.
Fifteen-years-old anglers and persons with disabilities can buy a license for $8.25, and seniors 70 and older can buy an annual fishing license for $5.50.
Children 14 years of age and younger do not need a fishing license.
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