IT GOT AWFULLY cold on the North Olympic Peninsula, in more ways than one.
Blown-out rivers made for some forgetful fishing during Thanksgiving weekend, the traditional kickoff to the winter steelhead season.
Now that the wet stuff has taken a break and temperatures have dropped down into the 40s, however, rivers are starting to drop into place.
That begins with the Bogachiel and Calawah — the epicenter of the hatchery steelhead run on the Peninsula.
“All these early hatchery fish are right there,” Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said. “The rivers are dropping into pretty good shape, and they are catching fish.
“Some days are better than others, but it’s not been bad.”
The cold conditions are forcing anglers to cover some water.
Steelhead, noted for their disdain of all things fishing gear, are even more apt to stay idle when water temperatures drop.
So it behooves anglers to hit as many holes as possible.
“Their blood is probably running like a Slurpy at the 7-Eleven right now, so they are not going to move real far to hit something,” Gooding said. “They are just kind of hanging in there until it gets warmer.”
There are some other options outside of the more traditional steelhead streams.
As was noted last week, the Clallam, Pysht and Lyre all see a healthy run of hatchery steelies this time of year.
The Sooes River inside Makah Indian Reservation also offers some decent steelheading for those willing to make the jaunt to Neah Bay and pony up the $22 for a tribal fishing license.
“I’ve heard it can be a real smoker out there.” said Brian Menkal of Swain’s Outdoor (360-385-1313) in Port Townsend. “They have more fish in that river per mile than most rivers in the West End.
“I guess it can really be worth a good drive.”
Caroline Peterschmidt of the Makah National Fish Hatchery estimated that more than 250 winter steelhead have reached her facility already.
“Historically, the peak spawn days are the middle of December,” Peterschmidt said. “Today it is [fishable], three days ago it was not.
“It’s been pretty thick lately and these last three days of clear weather are the first we’ve had in quite a while. There are people that are out here . . . [and] they are catching fish.”
Tribal licenses can be purchased at a number of retail outlets on the Makah Reservation, including Washburn’s General Merchandise.
Ridge report
Everything is ready to go, we just need a little more snow.
Hurricane Ridge mountain manager Craig Hofer and company put up both the bunny and rope tows during the last week.
Yet, with patches of earth still showing on the intermediate hill, there’s still a need for a few more feet of powder before the Dec. 19 opener can be declared a go.
“If we had a foot or foot-and-a-half that came down nice and gentle, I think we’d be in business,” Hofer sad. “Other than that, we are pretty darn close.”
The Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard School will once again offer lessons for children as young as 4 as well as adults this winter.
Classes will be broken up into five sessions during a period of two months.
Sessions will be held on consecutive Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
An additional make-up weekend will be put in at the back end of the schedule in case of road closures.
Single season passes cost $200 and a family pass $400. That includes access to all lifts for the entire season.
For more information on ski and snowboard activities at the Ridge, visit www.hurricaneridge.net.
Clam opener
Get ready to dig in the dark.
Some late low tides will have harvesters surrounded by blackness during the razor clam openers today and Saturday on the coast.
All five ocean beaches — Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Long Beach and Kalaloch — are open to evening digging during the next two days.
The surf report indicates Saturday night will likely be the best time to dig, with 5.5-foot swells at 11-second intervals predicted during that period.
Of course, with low tide expected to hit the beach at 8:51 p.m., diggers will have to get a late start.
It is always best to hit the beach at least one hour before low tide.
Digging is restricted to the hours between noon and midnight.
Here are the tides for this weekend’s digs:
• Today — -1.3 feet at 8:04 p.m.
• Saturday — -0.9 feet at 8:51 p.m.
Another set of openers is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 31 through Jan. 3, pending marine toxin testing.
For more information on coastal razor clams, visit http://tinyurl.com/oyekj.
Hunting
Hunters have but a few weeks to fill the freezer.
Only a series of late hunts remain for the most popular big-game seasons.
Archery deer is open through Dec. 15 in the Hoko, Sol Duc, Goodman, Matheny and Clearwater GMUs. There is also a late season in Coyle and Pysht through Dec. 31.
Muzzleloader deer is open until Dec. 15 in the Dickey GMU only.
Archery elk is set for the Pysht, Goodman and Clearwater through Dec. 15. Muzzleloader elk goes until Dec. 15 in the Hoko and Matheny.
Forest grouse season lasts through Dec. 31, while ducks and Canada geese are fair game through Jan. 31.
Also . . .
• Curt Reid of Waters West will discuss steelhead fishing at the Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers’ monthly meeting at the Loomis Log Cabin in Port Angeles’ Lincoln Park on Monday at 7 p.m.
Reid will demonstrate three separate steelhead fly pattens and will discuss how to fish them.
There also will be a video illustrating the “Moffit Angling System,” which uses “hookless” flies and claims a greater catch rate.
And no, I have absolutely no idea how that works.
• John Allen will give a presentation on Northwest salmon ecology and recovery at the Greywolf Fly Fishing Club’s monthly meeting Wednesday in Gardiner.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Road. All members of the interested public are invited.
• The East Jefferson County chapter of Puget Sound Anglers will hold its monthly meeting at the Marina Room of the Hudson Point Complex in Port Townsend on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
No information on this month’s guest speaker was available.
• Discover Your Northwest will be holding its annual holiday sale at a number of Olympic National Park locations.
The Olympic National Park Visitor Center, Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center and the park’s information center in Forks will all have items on sale at a 15 percent discount. That includes books, DVDs, maps, stuffed animals, puzzles and more.
• Birders can warm up for the annual Christmas Bird Count with an outing in Sequim on Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A group will explore the local forests around Railroad Bridge Park before heading to Dungeness Landing Park at noon to view some saltwater birds.
For more information on the birding trip, as well as the Christmas Bird Count, visit www.dungenessrivercenter.org.
• Washington Trails Association will host its annual volunteer appreciation party at the Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101, on Saturday.
The party will run from 1-4 p.m., with food and refreshments provided. There also will be door prizes awarded.
• As was mentioned in Thursday’s column, a free screening of the documentary “A Sea Change” will be presented at the Peninsula College Little Theater tonight at 7 p.m.
The film examines changing seawater chemistry in the world’s oceans and its impact on aquatic life and those who depend upon it. A panel of experts will discuss the film after the showing.
• Public comment on the Puget Sound rockfish draft conservation plan will be taken through Jan. 4.
The plan is available on Fish and Wildlife’s Web site at http://tinyurl.com/yjs8d7o. Those who would like a copy of the plan in print can call 360-902-2844.
Comments can be submitted by e-mail to SEPAdesk2@dfw.wa.gov, by FAX to 360-902-2946, or by U.S. Mail to: WDFW SEPA Desk, 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091.
Stories welcome
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; e-mail 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.