THERE IS NO shortage of fishing options throughout the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend.
Let’s discuss some of the best bets.
First, clams and oysters.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim reports Sequim Bay has been a shellfish hot spot over the last few weeks.
Part of the bay’s popularity revolves around the uncertainty of how long it will be open.
Last year Sequim Bay was shut down due to high toxin levels.
“So, a lot of people are making it count,” Menkal said.
So far, only the butter-clam harvest is restricted at Sequim Bay. Same goes for Discovery Bay and Kilisut Harbor, including Mystery Bay.
The Strait of Juan de Fuca from Low Point west to Cape Flattery is closed for all species.
From Low Point east to the Dungeness Spit there are no restrictions.
For more clam and oyster harvest information, including where to go, read last month’s column online at http://tinyurl.com/clamoyster.
To get the latest on beach closures, visit the Department of Health website at http://tinyurl.com/beachclosures or call 360-236-3330.
To the lakes
Warmer weather has made the lakes of Clallam and Jefferson counties fruitful for anglers.
“Trout fishing has really turned on,” Menkal said.
As has been the case all spring, Lake Leland is getting the best reviews.
Menkal said good reports are also coming in regarding Teal Lake and Tarboo Lake.
Hit the river
Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said there aren’t many anglers on the West End rivers, possibly due to high gas prices, but the river fishing has been “fairly decent.”
“People are getting springers,” Gooding said. “And some sockeye are moving into the Sol Duc.”
The Sol Duc River remains the best option, especially for spring chinook.
Menkal dropped a line in the Calawah River recently, but didn’t have much luck.
“There was hardly any fish in there,” Menkal said.
If the water retreats a bit, the Calawah can be a great choice for steelhead.
Saltwater choices
The flatfish harvest was cranked up in Sekiu last weekend.
“There was just a lot of halibut,” Gary Ryan of Van Riper’s Resort (360-963-2334) in Sekiu said.
Donalynn Olson of Olson’s Resort (360-963-2311) in Sekiu reports others are having success with other bottom fish, such as sea bass or rock fish.
However, from Thursday to Saturday, most anglers focus on halibut.
The Sekiu halibut fishery remains open until next Saturday, June 23.
This Saturday is the Sekiu halibut derby.
The entry fee is $15, and every person in your boat must be entered.
First prize is $10 for each pound. The runner-up will receive $400 and third place gets $100.
The participant who reels in the largest sea bass will take home $100.
No three-peat
Unfortunately, Gooding wasn’t able to extend his great fish story streak to a third consecutive week.
But he did provide a quote that I believe is nearly as good.
“Right now it’s just a bunch of dumb guys out fishing,” Gooding said. “Sometimes they catch a fish, sometimes they don’t.”
Halibut hero
Here’s more proof that years of fishing experience isn’t always the best bait.
Jeremy Meyer, only 14 years old, caught a monster halibut last month near Freshwater Bay.
It took him 20 minutes to reel in the 135-pounder.
He enticed the ugly thing with squid.
Celebration
Rivers, Forests and Fish Forever, a celebration of the North Olympic Peninsula, will take place Saturday at McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend.
The event provides entertainment and education for children and adults.
It features local, regional and national musical acts, speakers and storytellers.
There also will be performances by Peninsula’s Native American tribes.
The celebration is free and lasts from noon to 10 p.m.
For more information, call 360-805-0336 or visit www.riversforestsand
fishforever.com.
Another river class
Menkal is once again offering a free class on river fishing at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More at 542 W. Washington St. in Sequim.
The course consists of two sessions.
Part one is this Tuesday. Part two will be the following Tuesday, June 26.
Both parts start at 6 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m.
Menkal recommends participants bring a pen, chair and notepad.
For more details, call Menkal at 360-683-1950.
Anglers club meeting
The North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers Club will devote their next meeting to salmon fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Discussion will help anglers prepare for the king and coho salmon fishery that opens on the Strait on Sunday, July 1.
Club members will present demonstrations on equipment, advice on fishing areas and methods of saltwater salmon fishing.
The club’s meeting will be held Thursday, June 21, at 6:45 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave. in Sequim.
For additional information, call 360-582-0836 or visit the club’s website, www.pugetsoundanglers.org.
Streamkeepers training
Clallam County’s volunteer stream monitoring program, Streamkeepers, will begin training volunteers Saturday.
New recruits will join existing stream teams in performing quarterly stream monitoring on streams throughout Clallam County.
Monitoring functions include collecting stream health data, performing data entry and analysis, and conducting education and outreach.
The training will continue on Saturday, June 30.
No prior experience is necessary.
Bring boots or waders if you have them.
To register or inquire, call Streamkeepers at 360-417-2281 or email streamkeepers@co.clallam.wa.us.
Free education
The North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association will hold its chapter meeting Thursday, June 28, at Jerry’s Bait and Tackle Shop in Port Angeles.
Fishing guide Jerry Wright will be sharing his knowledge on how to fish our West End rivers.
The meeting is free and open to the public.
Jerry’s Bait and Tackle is located at 2720 E. Highway 101, across from Safeway.
For any questions, please contact John Albiso at nop@ccapnw.org or 360-928-1073.
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.
________
Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lee.horton@peninsuladailynews.com.