STAY WITH ME, my dear Peninsulites.
We’re almost out of the darkness that is a North Olympic Peninsula winter.
Soon enough, we’ll be dusting off those flimsy flip-flops and tangoing with transgenders in Port Angeles drinking establishments (gotta love Esprit Gala).
Unfortunately, we must first endure the last grisly gasps of a sorrow-filled season best known for snowpocalypses and stingy steelhead.
It will be cold, it will be wet and it will be dark.
It’s always darkest before dawn . . . or just before it goes pitch black.
That just depends on how closely you follow the Seattle Mariners.
Blackmouth fishing
The word on the Strait is sounding awfully good.
Blackmouth fishing picked up noticeably the past few days in Marine Area 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), particularly near Port Angeles.
And if the weather doesn’t blow anglers off the water this weekend, some favorable tides might help keep that going into the near future as well.
“I think this weekend is going to be great,” Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said.
“The guys that are getting out there are catching fish. We weighed numerous fish today and over the last couple of days.”
Among them was a 16-pound beauty caught by Jon Beltrami of Port Angeles, and a 15-pound, 2-ounce fish hooked by Gary Kettle of Port Angeles.
Another report told of a 23-pounder taken by Diamond Point near Sequim, but that area doesn’t seem to be carrying the same sort of volume as the waters around Ediz Hook.
“A few guys have said they’d done OK [near Sequim],” Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said.
“Some guys [have caught fish] off Protection Island, Discovery Bay. But not as much success as they had to the west.
“I just have this feeling that most of these fish that are moving in are right off PA.”
Reports out of Sekiu and Port Townsend continue to be sparse.
The Geoduck Restaurant Salmon Derby on Hood Canal saw 100 anglers catch 27 hatchery chinook last weekend.
Rick Poyner ended up earning the $400 top prize after bringing an 18-pound, 2-ounce salmon to the docks.
The second-place fish weighed 16 pounds, 7 ounces and third was 15 pounds, 4 ounces.
Steelhead stunner
Steelheaders might want to postpone any planned trips out west.
Another classic West End window washer had rivers a little too high and dirty for their own good Thursday.
All that rain left Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks less than optimistic about this weekend’s prospects, especially since more is likely on the way.
“How does the phrase ‘Shot to hell’ sound to you?” Gooding said. “It does not look promising.”
It’s too bad, considering the state of the fishery prior to Mother Nature’s unpleasantness.
The Sol Duc and Bogachiel had both been spitting out a fair amount of native steelhead.
In fact, the latter might have even been the best bet, according to Ruby Swagerty of Three Rivers Resort (360-374-5300) in Forks.
“We had a lot of boats out and everybody did well,” Swagerty said. “There’s been several in the 20-pound range for the natives.
“I’ve had anywhere from one to seven boats on the river every day, and I think the Bogachiel has been way better than the Sol Duc.”
Still, it doesn’t look like either will be in fishing shape anytime soon unless the rain stays away.
One piece of good news: The first spring chinook of the season was hooked earlier this week.
That should warm even the most sinister steelheader’s heart.
Poma update
Cross those fingers.
If the weather breaks just right — apparently, a formidable “if” — we may have ourselves an operational Poma lift atop Hurricane Ridge this weekend.
Mountain manager Craig Hofer got the north-side lift up and running Monday before snow began dumping atop the mountain.
As long as he and his crew can get back up there today, it should be operating for the first time this season Saturday.
Of course, that’s if Hurricane Ridge Road even opens; something that did not happen last Saturday or Sunday because of last weekend’s white-out.
Given this Saturday’s ominous forecast, that appears to be far from a done deal.
“It sure would be nice if we could have some nice weather starting right now and clear through the weekend,” said Hofer.
Amen, Mr. Hofer. Amen.
Road status and current conditions for Hurricane Ridge Road are available by phoning the park’s recorded information line at 360-565-3131 or by visiting www.nps.gov/olym.
For information on lift rates and the ski school, visit hurricaneridge.com.
Clam news
Here’s a couple of dispatches from the wonderful world of shellfish:
■ As was reported in the past two editions of the PDN, Kalaloch Beach will not be included in anymore razor clam digs this season.
Olympic National Park officials made the call after three straight sets of digs produced poor digger success at the West End beach.
There will be harvest dates this month at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks. Long Beach and Twin Harbors will open in April as well.
The first set of digs will be March 19-22 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks. Only Long Beach and Twin Harbors will open March 21-22.
■ The Fish and Wildlife Commission recently modified shellfish harvesting seasons for a number of beaches, including some on the Peninsula.
Among the area beaches that will see shellfish seasons expanded: Fort Flagler State Park (April 15-July 31), Port Townsend Ship Canal (Jan. 1-July 31), South Indian Island County Park (April 1-July 31) and Oak Bay County Park (May 1-July 31).
Dosewallips State Park will see its shellfish harvesting season cut to March 1 to July 31.
Details are available on the Fish and Wildlife website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission.
Also . . .
■ Professional downhill mountain bike racing returns to Port Angeles’ Dry Hill this spring with the first stop in the Pro GRT on April 9-10.
For more information, visit www.progrt.com.
■ Suquamish Tribe Salmon Recovery Coordinator Paul Dorn will speak at a special engagement presented by the Port Ludlow Fly Fishers on Tuesday.
Dorn has 43 years of experience with salmon recovery, and has worked for the Suquamish Tribe for 34 of those.
His presentation goes from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Port Ludlow Bay Club, 190 Spinnaker Place.
■ Dr. Frank Todd will discuss birds of Antarctica and the Falkland Island during a presentation at Dungeness River Audubon Center in Sequim on Thursday.
The noted expert on penguins and birds of the southern hemisphere will begin his talk at 7 p.m. in the River Center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road.
A $5 donation is requested at the door to help support River Center education programs.
■ World-class fly fisherman Jim Teeny will hold a special all-day presentation at Guy Cole Convention Center in Sequim’s Carrie Blake Park on March 19.
Teeny will provide instruction on new fly lines and techniques, fishing in British Columbia and Alaska and fishing the four seasons in Washington and Oregon.
The event will go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is sponsored by the Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers, Port Ludlow Fly Fishers and Grey Wolf Fly Fishing Club.
Admission is $5, with $1 raffle tickets also sold at the door.
■ Jefferson County Sportsmen’s Club will host a free event for first-time shooters at its Port Townsend range, 112 Gun Club Road, on March 26.
Part of National Shooting Sports Foundation’s First Shots program, the event offers a comprehensive introduction to target shooting by qualified instructors.
The free seminar consists of 90 minutes of classroom time on safety and other elements of firearm ownership as well as hands-on range experience .
Lunch will also be served by Jefferson County Hunter Education instructors, with donations accepted for the youth hunter education program.
Pre-registration is required and can be done by contacting Levi Ross at 360-390-8018 or levi@armspro.com.
■ This month’s Admiralty Audubon meeting will feature a presentation on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge next Thursday in Port Townsend.
Elston and Jackie Hill visited the island, once a military base and site of a famous World War II battle, in May of 2010.
They will share their experience at the Thursday meeting, set for 7 p.m. in the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St.
■ Port Townsend resident Leif Whittaker will talk about climbing exploits throughout the world during a special presentation March 29 in Port Angeles.
Whittaker will share stories, photographs and video from expeditions to the highest summits in Antarctica and South America as well as Mount Everest.
The presentation is set for 7 p.m. at the Peninsula College Little Theater, 1235 E. Lauridsen Boulevard.
Tickets cost $20 and are available at Necessities and Temptations, North by Northwest Surf Shop, and Brian’s Sporting Goods and More in Sequim.
■ Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their name in a drawing for a 2011 multiple-season permit.
Winners of the drawing will be eligible to purchase a special tag allowing them to participate in archery, muzzleloader and modern-firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk in 2011.
Hunters may purchase a multiple-season permit application at an authorized license dealer, or by calling 866-246-9453.
For more information, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/, or call the licensing department at 360-902-2464.
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; 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.