A RULE CHANGE that goes into effect today restricts wild chinook retention for West End river anglers.
Citing in-season data, state fisheries biologists say the fall run of wild chinook in the Quillayute watershed are returning well below the preseason forecast.
And in order to meet the minimum spawner escapement goal of 3,000, anglers will have to send back any wild-caught kings in these rivers, all in Clallam County:
• Quillayute River: from Olympic National Park boundary upstream to confluence of Bogachiel and Sol Duc rivers.
• Sol Duc River: from mouth to the concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery.
• Dickey River: from Olympic National Park boundary upstream to the confluence of the East and West Forks rivers.
• Bogachiel River: from mouth to U.S. Highway 101 bridge.
• Calawah River: from the mouth to U.S. Highway 101 bridge.
Fall lake plants
A bit behind on the fall trout plants in area lakes, but there’s probably another week or two left before the trout bite really quiets for the winter.
Lake Leland received a large plant of 1,900 smaller rainbow at the end of September.
Teal Lake was planted with 150 small trout, and catch-and-release Gibbs Lake received a plant of 350 smaller rainbow, also in late September.
Fall rains have lifted the level of Lake Leland, and stormy weather has helped stir up the lake since an algae bloom last month.
Recent testing on Oct. 25 showed no bloom visible with harmful levels of toxins not detected. Testing by Jefferson County Environmental Health did show some presence of toxic cyanobacteria.
Free day in parks
A fee-free day in recognition of Veteran’s Day is planned for state and federal parks Nov. 11.
Late-season deer
Late-season white-tailed deer season for the Eastern Washington-concentrated population begins Saturday. In GMUs open to hunting in Western Washington, the late-season black-tail season begins Nov. 18.
Hunters targeting white tails on trips to Eastern Washington or other points east should bear in mind some recent developments concerning deer and COVID-19.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture study of white-tailed deer populations in Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York showed that 40 percent of deer tested across those four states in 2021 were positive for COVID-19 antibodies, meaning they had been exposed to the virus at some point.
Makes you wonder how the deer populations contracted the virus for sure, but apparently the risks associated are low.
Public health experts say the risk of contracting COVID-19 from a bagged deer is low, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission said there is no evidence humans can contract the virus by consuming venison.
Wearing rubber gloves while dressing the deer, refraining from eating raw meat or consuming blood and sanitizing hands after processing animals are all advised.
Razor clam digs
The following digs were approved, along with the low tides and beaches:
• Today: 7:46 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
• Saturday: 8:33 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
• Sunday: 8:23 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
• Monday: 9:16 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
• Tuesday: 10:13 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
• Wednesday: 11:16 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsula dailynews.com.
