THE END OF salmon season in the Strait of Juan de Fuca may have come early.
Anglers still have four more days to go after coho in Marine Area 6 (eastern Strait), but it appears the once-hot saltwater fishery ended a bit prematurely.
After three straight weeks of epic silver slinging, anglers have struggled to pin down the run during the past few days, according to Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles.
“It was way better than I’ve seen in the last 10 years,” Aunspach said. “You usually don’t get that kind of silver fishing here, and it was really good.”
But, “it’s really starting to taper off pretty strong now. From what I’m hearing, it’s tapered way back and the fish have gotten way smaller.”
That’s unfortunate news for those who got to the coho party a little late.
After all, anglers were averaging well over a fish a rod during the past few weeks while mostly fishing near the PA buoy.
Now, anglers might think about heading toward the rivers, especially if a shot of rain comes through the Peninsula this weekend.
The Dungeness River Hatchery reported another 500-plus fish reaching its traps in the last week, and Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said more are on the way.
“There’s lots of fish still going in the Dungeness,” Menkal said. “I heard this morning that there’s more fish on the bottom, so there’s more coming in. The run is definitely not done yet.
“I wouldn’t even try to say [where to fish]. When in doubt, go up high and work your way down.”
Out west, the Hoh River has been unusually productive this fall, perhaps thanks in large part to the fact it’s been fishable so often.
Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said anglers have been running into scads of coho on the glacial-fed river.
“It’s been a good year for the Hoh, there’s been quite a few silvers down there,” Gooding said.
“Early on the Sol Duc was full of silvers, but it has slowed down a bunch. I think it has something to do with water in there being low. It’s low and it’s clear, and that never is really good.”
Indeed, Sol Duc Hatchery technician Brian Russell said the river is desperately in need of water.
All the same, people are still catching fish.
As for those keeping tabs on the Hoodsport chum run, now is the time to head down south.
The first wave of chum reached the hatchery this week, with a total of 853 returning to the facility in that time.
Just try to avoid that area Tuesdays and Thursdays when tribal anglers do their beach seine fishery in front of the hatchery.
For some reason the fish are a bit edgy after that experience.
One other note: Keep an eye out for a few winter steelhead.
Word has it a couple have already shown up out west.
Hunting news
Deer hunters could use a little weather change themselves.
Without much in the way of gray days, the modern firearm set has been hard-pressed to bag any bucks during its early season.
“Overall, it’s been pretty darn quiet,” Aunspach said.
“They are getting a few small bucks, but by no means are we anywhere near close to what we’d be hearing about this time [in a normal year], and that’s due to the weather.”
Things appear likely to change during this weekend, which could serve modern firearm folk well since the season comes to an end after Halloween.
Still, Aunspach sees the late season in November as the time when deer hunters will truly make their mark this fall.
“That late season is probably going to be the prime of the year,” he said. “The bucks aren’t coming into the rut as they would by this time of the season.
“It will still be a fairly decent weekend [the next few days], but it will by no means be as good as in the past.”
Modern firearm elk season is set to start next Saturday, Nov. 5, throughout much of the Peninsula.
Unlike its deer counterpart, elk season generally is a little better when the weather actually cooperates, if only because nobody likes having to track those things down in a downpour.
“There are plenty of elk around if you’re crazy enough to go chase them,” Gooding said. “It’s a lot of work.
“The fun doesn’t last very long. [It’s] boom and then it’s over and a lot of work starts.”
Razor clam opener
Razor-clam diggers better start pooling together gas money.
The first set of digs come to four state beaches this weekend, but none of them will be at nearby Kalaloch Beach.
That means anyone looking to score some clams will have to head south to Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis or Mocrocks.
All four open to afternoon digging today and Saturday.
Kalaloch, however, remains closed as state, tribal and Olympic National Park biologists continue to hash out seasons for it.
“We are still working with ONP staff to determine when would be the best time to start digging there,” state coastal shellfish manager Dan Ayres said last week. “I expect we will have an announcement out sometime soon.”
Tides for this weekend’s digs are as follows:
■ Today: Minus 1.8 feet at 8:28 p.m.
■ Saturday: Minus 1.5 feet at 9:17 p.m.
For more information on coastal razor clams, visit http://tinyurl.com/2avte8x.
Also . . .
■ Crabbers might want to dust off that lantern.
A series of evening low tides will allow crustacean hunters to wade out into Dungy territory tonight and Saturday.
I suggest heading for Pillar Point (-1.65 feet tonight at 9:15 p.m. and -1.38 feet at 10:03 p.m. on Saturday) or Dungeness Bay (-2.38 feet at 11:38 p.m. tonight and -2.13 feet at midnight Saturday.)
■ Brian’s Sporting Goods and More will hold a free two-session class on river steelhead and salmon fishing on successive Tuesday nights.
The class will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. this Tuesday and next at the Sequim shop at 542 W. Washington St.
To reserve a spot, phone Brian Menkal at 360-683-1950.
■ Area mushroom guru Lee Whitford will lead a fungus foray at Dungeness River Audubon Center next Saturday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m.
Whitford will discuss features used for mushroom identification, collection and eating and share resources for further study.
Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling the River Center at 360-681-4076.
■ Admiralty Audubon’s Ken Wilson will lead a 90-minute bird identification class next Saturday, Nov. 5, in Port Townsend.
The class is set for 7 p.m. at the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Building, 2333 San Juan Ave.
To register for the event, email Rod Mitchell at rodm90@cablespeed.com.
■ Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club will hold its annual Winterfest fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 19, at Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., in Port Angeles.
The event will feature live and silent auctions and a showing of the top movies from the Videolympics outdoor film contest.
Tickets cost $45 in advance and can be purchased at Swain’s General Store, Brown’s Outdoor, Necessities and Temptations and Brian’s Sporting Goods and More in Sequim.
■ Phil Hager will discuss still-water fishing at the Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers monthly meeting Monday, Nov. 7.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Campfire USA Club House, 619 E. Fourth St., in Port Angeles.
Send photos, stories
Want your event listed in the outdoors column?
Have a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique, why not share it with our readers?
Send it to me, Matt Schubert, Sports Department, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362; phone, 360-417-3526; fax, 360-417-3521; email matt.schubert
@peninsuladailynews.com.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column appears on Thursdays and Fridays.
