IT’S ALMOST THAT time of year where Lake Leland becomes one of the best outlet for anglers who need their fishing fix.
There’s still nice river fishing, and the saltwater blackmouth fishery opens in a few weeks, but Leland is ramping up.
The lake has received at least one plant of jumbo trout, with 2,000 being plopped in Oct. 17, but fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist Ward Norden said the lake appears to have received second planting since then.
Either way, the trout are biting at Leland.
“Trout fishing has been excellent, with many patient anglers scoring near limits on nice sized trout between 12 and 14 inches long,” Norden said.
“Fishing for those trout requires patience with water as cool as it is.
“Anglers floating Power Bait above the bottom are doing well, and I talked to one boat angler with five nice ones who got his by very slow trolling a Wedding Ring spinner with the hook tipped with Power Bait.”
Leland wasn’t the only Jefferson County lake stocked with jumbos.
Gibbs Lake received 191 jumbo in October, and Teal Lake was planted with 155 last week.
Fair fishing on the rivers
The recent rains raised the rivers to good fishing levels, and anglers are catching kings and cohos.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things for salmon on the West End,” Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said.
Some anglers continue to find success on the Dungeness River near Sequim.
“There are still fish in the Dungeness,” Menkal said.
“It’s not hot by any means, but there is some fresh fish [showing up].”
Coho are no longer the only fish in the Dungeness. Menkal said steelhead are being caught there, too.
Saltwater scoop
Some beach casters are fishing for steelhead in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), but not many.
“A few are beginning to show for the few anglers participating,” Norden said.
“Fishing will get serious as we approach Thanksgiving, I hope.
“I recommend Fort Flagler’s Marrowstone Point, which is good for winter blackmouth as well.
“Blackmouth are caught on bait, while steelhead are caught on lures comprised of Spin-n-Glo bobbers and orange plastic skirts.”
Winterfest on tap
Winterfest, the annual fundraiser to support winter sports education at Hurricane Ridge, will be held next Saturday, Nov. 23.
The event will feature a prime rib dinner prepared by Next Door Gastro Pub, live and silent auctions, live music by Bill and Rudy and a series of short films featuring local skiers and snowboarders ripping it up at Hurricane Ridge.
All proceeds go to snow school and ski team operations, as well as scholarships to underprivileged youth in the community who would like to learn how to ski, snowboard or participate on ski team.
Winterfest will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles.
Following the auctions, the top films from the VideOlympics, a film festival/contest that we held in the spring, will be shown.
Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. Children twelve years of age and under are $25.
Individual tickets can be purchased at Swain’s General Store, Necessities & Temptations, Brown’s Outdoor, all in Port Angeles, and at Brian’s Sporting Goods in Sequim.
Community tables are $320, a $5 per person savings. For further information regarding community tables, phone Eric Flodstrom at 360-452-2327 ext. 30.
Fly fishing film
Rose Theater in Port Townsend (235 Taylor St.) will present two showings this weekend of “Kiss the Water,” a film about Megan Boyd, a master at creating fish flies.
The film will can be viewed Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Puget Sound Anglers
The next gathering of the Puget Sound Anglers’ North Olympic Peninsula Chapter is Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church located at 100 S. Blake Ave. in Sequim.
Troy Hatler from Aqua Tech Marine in Bremerton (www.aquatechmarineservices.com).
He will discuss boat and motor winterizing and storing procedures for optimizing engine life and performance.
River fishing class
Menkal is teaching his two-part river salmon and steelhead fishing class on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Both sessions start at 6 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m.
The cost for the class is $25. Bring a notepad, pen or pencil and a chair.
Class attendance is limited to 20 participants. To reserve a spot or for more information, phone Menkal at 360-683-1950.
The classes are held at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More at 609 W. Washington St. in Sequim.
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.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.