IF YOU THINK you will get the Strait of Juan de Fuca mostly to yourself for this weekend’s salmon derby — think again.
The big dailies in the Seattle, Tacoma and Everett areas all are touting the North Olympic Peninsula’s Presidents Day weekend salmon derby in their outdoors sections this week.
The ever-popular 2012 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby, sponsored by the Gardiner Salmon Derby Association, will attract from 800 to 1,000 anglers.
Luckily, there is a lot of room to fish for the out-of-towners and all the area anglers.
Like last year, the derby includes 500 square miles of fishing and five weigh stations.
And besides the fun of fishing, this giant derby also has a grand prize of $10,000 for the biggest fish.
The winter blackmouth classic is part of the Northwest Marine Trade Association’s “Northwest Salmon Derby Series.”
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said this weekend’s derby could very well attract 1,000 anglers.
“The derby gets a lot of people,” Menkal said. “Especially a lot of local people. It is a huge area for the derby.
“Last year they added the Port Angeles and Freshwater Bay area to the derby and they picked up a huge amount of people.
“People in Port Angeles could fish at their favorite spots.
“Last year Freshwater Bay had the best quantity of fish in the derby but Port Townsend and Discovery Bay had the best quality.
“I don’t know how it will be this year.”
The good news is that blackmouth fishing has opened with a bang, just in time for the derby.
Blackmouth season opened Thursday and Menkal had heard by noon of anglers finding fish.
“There’s fish out there,” Menkal said. “I had a guy just show me one he caught that was 15 pounds.”
Rain is predicted off and on this holiday weekend but that shouldn’t affect the ocean fishing.
The wind, though, that’s a different story.
“The wind always is a big factor in the ocean,” Menkal said.
“If it is breezy, you’ll have to troll. But if it’s calm, you can do anything. You can jig, mooch, do herring off the bottom or troll.”
The $10,000 cash prize for first isn’t the only prize for this derby.
This year’s prize list is worth more than $21,000.
Port Townsend will have plenty of derby action but four other launch ramps will also be serving the anglers expected to fish the derby.
Volunteers will staff weigh stations at all five launch ramps: Freshwater Bay, Ediz Hook in Port Angeles, John Wayne Marina in Sequim, Gardiner and Port Townsend Boat Haven.
The event uses selective fishery — only clipped-fin (hatchery) winter blackmouth chinook salmon can be submitted.
Tickets for the event cost $40 for one day or all three days.
Tickets are on sale at many area merchants, and also online at www.SwainsInc.com.
Tickets will also be available at the five launch ramps, but only on Saturday.
This event benefits emergency and other vital services for Gardiner, Diamond Point and nearby communities.
In addition to the top prizes, awarded by weight, there are three Mystery Fish prizes ($1,000, $500, and $500) that anybody can win.
The awards ceremony will be held on Monday at the Gardiner Boat Ramp at 2 p.m.
This event, formerly the Discovery Bay Salmon Derby, supports area emergency and other services by generating funds from derby ticket sales as well as from contributions by area residents and businesses.
This year,the association is funding a Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) for use by Clallam County Fire District No. 3 at its Diamond Point station.
Firefighters use these devices, which cost about $10,000, when dealing with structure fires in search and rescue, and in other emergency service applications.
For more information, including derby rules, visit
GardinerSalmonDerby.org.
Blackmouth opener
While the action will be in the Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend area this weekend because of the derby, the Sekiu area is just bidding its time before it starts getting the blackmouth crowds.
“Not many people out here today [for the blackmouth opener],” Donalynn Olson of Olson’s Resort (360-963-2311) in Sekiu said Thursday.
Even though, Olson has seen a 16-pound and a 14-pound blackmouth salmon that anlgers had brought in.
“Otherwise, it is pretty quiet,” she said.
“The water is pretty good [calm], and it looks like it will be a good start.”
Still, Olson said she isn’t expecting a lot of action on opening weekend because of the derby.
“Everyone will be at the derby,” she said. “But afterwards, we’ll get going.”
Steelhead get wild
While the derby is going on, don’t forget about those steelhead.
Especially the wild ones.
Wild steelhead season opened Thursday, the same day as blackmouth season, and now anglers can keep a wild one, only one, while that season continues.
The steelies are still in their peak, and the derby might not thin out the crowds that have been swamping the West End rivers, especially Sol Duc, the past few weeks, Menkal said.
“Pick your fun,” Menkal said.
Anglers can choose the derby and blackmouth or the West End rivers and steelhead, Menkal added.
On the other hand, Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks isn’t expecting the wild steelhead season start will increase the river crowds significantly.
“Most people don’t keep wild steelhead any more,” Gooding said.
To keep or not to keep, this is still a good time for steelie fishing.
“Steelhead fishing is still pretty decent,” Gooding said. “This time of year you can get pretty decent fish.
“This is the chance to get the big ’uns.”
The biggest fish Gooding saw this week was about 32-33 pounds.
“That’s a monster,” he said.
“They also have been getting them in the 18 to 22, 24-pound range.”
Sol Duc still is the river of choice but the Hoh is picking up quite nicely.
“Sol Duc has been putting out pretty decent fish, the Hoh has been putting out decent fish and the Bogachiel has been putting out some pretty decent fish but not as good as Sol Duc and Hoh,” Gooding said.
Menkal has heard the same from his angler friends and clients.
“Sol Duc has been doing the best, the Hoh is doing well but all the rivers are producing,” Menkal said.
The West End rivers are the only locations where anglers can fish for steelhead in the state right now.
But, oh, don’t forget about those clams waiting for your shovel.
Clamming up
The final evening razor-clam dig of the season will take place Saturday and Sunday on three ocean beaches.
After that, clam diggers can look forward to a series of digs on morning tides.
Evening digs at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks beaches have been approved by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for this weekend after marine toxin tests showed that the clams on those beaches are safe to eat.
No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon.
Copalis Beach will remain closed for razor-clam digging this month, due to a relatively low abundance of clams.
That closure will affect beaches near Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis.
Kalaloch, the closest beach to the Peninsula, also will remain closed, due to a low abundance of razor clams.
The National Park Service, which manages that beach in cooperation with WDFW, has announced plans to open Kalaloch for a razor-clam dig April 7-9.
For the upcoming dig, the evening low tide Saturday is at 4:13 p.m. (0.0 feet), and on Sunday at 5 p.m. (-0.2 feet).
Diggers should hit the beach one to two hours before evening low tide for best results.
Once the harvest is totaled for this month’s dig, WDFW will announce plans for future digs, starting in early March.
Because of the change in tides that occurs in spring, those digs will all be held during morning hours.
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day, and are required to keep the first 15 they dig.
Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2011-12 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.
Licensing options range from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, which can be purchased on WDFW’s website (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov) and from license vendors around the state.
Fishing class
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim will be teaching a two-part class on steelhead and river fishing starting this coming Tuesday.
The class is set for 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will continue the next Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the same time.
“I will also teach float fishing for steelhead,” he said.
Call 360-683-1950 to register or for more information.
Kids fishing fundraiser
The Puget Sound Anglers-North Olympic Peninsula Chapter’s fundraiser is set for today.
The event, which provides funding for the Olympic Peninsula Kids Fishing Program in Sequim, will be at Guy Cole Convention Center at Carrie Blake Park in Sequim.
Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. with a free spaghetti dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. (Donations will be accepted.)
A silent auction will be held throughout the night, and a live auction begins after dinner.
Live auction items include fishing trips with Peninsula river guides for salmon and steelhead, and charter boat trips for salmon, halibut and bottomfish in the ocean and Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The Olympic Peninsula Kids Fishing Program includes Kids Fishing Day, which is set for May 19 at the Sequim water reclamation pond.
The pond is stocked with 1,500 trout, some of which weigh as much as five pounds.
For more information on the events, contact Herb Prins at 360-582-0836.
Great bird count
This is the weekend for the great bird count.
All it takes is 15 minutes of time to contribute to the Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual survey of birds sighted throughout North America.
From today though Monday, birders of all levels of experience are invited to count the number of birds they see in a 15-minute period and enter their tally, by species, online at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc.
Participants can conduct their count in their own backyards, in a neighborhood park or anywhere they choose.
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 Sports Department, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362; phone, 360-417-3525; fax, 360-417-3521; email sports@
peninsuladailynews.com.
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The outdoors column appears on Thursdays and Fridays.