ANGLERS NEED NOT bid adieu to North Olympic Peninsula lakes with autumn’s arrival.
Sure, a damp and drafty day on a lake in November, December or January can be uncomfortable.
But that can be remedied by casting a fly in a classic 10-to-2 arc.
Year-round lakes like Teal and Gibbs in Jefferson County and Wentworth and Sutherland in Clallam are often popular fisheries for fly guys and gals during our colder months.
The first two should be worth even more attention this winter.
They got jumbo rainbow trout plants in mid-September — Teal, 210, and Gibbs, 390.
The hefty trout came from Eells Springs Hatchery in Shelton, each averaging three-quarters of a pound.
And unlike those bigger coho and chinook returning to Peninsula streams during the same time, the rainbows are actually willing to bite.
“The lakes that are being stocked are open year-round and provide anglers a great fall and winter trout fishing opportunity,” state fish biologist Mark Downen said in a news release.
“Some of the jumbo rainbow trout will continue to grow and be available to anglers next spring as well.”
Teal and Gibbs are selective gear lakes, meaning only single barbless hooks can be used.
All trout must be released at Gibbs.
By contrast, most anything goes at Wentworth and Sutherland in Clallam, with the former often receiving 200 to 300 steelhead each January.
Those are returning spawners to the Bogachiel Hatchery and can weigh as much as 10 pounds.
Crab stuff
The recreational set will get more chances to catch crabs in the future.
State Fish and Wildlife commissioners approved changes to its Puget Sound Dungeness crab management policy at a public meeting last Friday.
The new policy could increase sport crabbers’ annual catch by 40 percent, with crabbing open five days a week instead of four from July through Labor Day (including Saturday and Sunday).
There will also be a seven-day-a-week winter fishery from October through December.
“This has been coming for a long time,” said Miranda Wecker, who chairs the nine-member commission.
“The number of sport crabbers has grown dramatically in recent years, and Puget Sound is – by far — the most popular place to fish.”
About 220,000 people purchased license endorsements for Dungeness crab in Puget Sound this year, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager Rich Childers said in a news release.
Five years ago, it was just 160,000.
The commission’s action will likely reduce the amount of harvested by the state-managed commercial fishery (from 67 percent of the non-tribal catch to as low as 55 percent).
To support increases in public education, enforcement and reporting efforts, the commission also authorized Fish and Wildlife to seek legislative approval to increase fees on license endorsements for Puget Sound crabbing.
The annual fee could rise from $3 to $7.50. The fee for a less than annual permit could increase from $1 to $3.
Mushroom mania
As much as pack of pimple-faced pre-teens might protest, Jabba the Hut is not a historical figure.
Yes, the opening crawl of “Star Wars” said the proceeding events occurred, “A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away,” but that was a movie, not real life.
That means any mushroom resembling the intergalactic gangster — and, yes, Karelle Slater was dead on with her submission — does not fit into the “Mushroom Most Resembling a Historical Figure” category of the 2010 “Mushroom Mania, a Fungus Festivus,” the PDN’s annual mushroom photo contest.
It appears this has been the most confusing category so far
Among the other submissions received for the look-alike category include fungal doppelgangers of Don Rickles and Cheetah, Tarzan’s chimp (both from Christine Jamison of Port Hadlock).
Unfortunately, neither could be classified as a historical figure, even by the looniest of middle school history teachers.
(Side note: The Cheetah mushroom actually had a cute little hat on it. This made me wonder whether props should be allowed. After seeing that little hat, I decided that props are not only allowed, they are strongly encouraged.)
Thus, I have decided to open up the category a bit more.
I’m now asking for the “Mushroom Most Resembling a Notable Figure.”
This includes historical figures, celebrities and, yes, fictional aliens who bear a strong resemblance to poo.
For those new to the Mania, the other two categories in the contest are “Biggest Mushroom” and “Prettiest Mushroom.”
The winner of each category receives $50.
Deadline for e-mailing your photos is Nov. 8. Don’t forget to include your name, address and phone number.
Only photos of wild, edible mushrooms will be accepted.
Photos should be sent to matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors and sports columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column regularly appears on Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.