WHILE THE INITIAL deluge of the fall deposits much-needed rainfall, sidelined anglers have plenty of time to come up with comments on management of the state’s salmon and steelhead fishing guide industry in advance of a meeting in Forks on Wednesday.
In response to legislative direction, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife is evaluating whether the current approach to managing the guide industry ensures the conservation of wild steelhead and salmon while providing a high quality angling experience for both guided and non-guided anglers.
The Legislature instructed Fish and Wildlife to hold public meetings on the North Olympic Peninsula and in the Klickitat River area.
At these meetings, Fish and Wildlife will discuss current management and take suggestions for potential regulatory changes for the fishing guide industry.
The meeting in Forks will be held at the Rainforest Arts Center, 35 N. Forks Ave., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
I’d imagine Fish and Wildlife staffers will hear from many of the guides who spoke at the Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting held in Port Angeles in early September.
At that meeting, Forks fishing guide Jim Kerr, a member of the Olympic Peninsula Guides Association, likened the feeding frenzy of winter-run steelheaders on the West End to “a pizza party” where everyone in the world is invited “to have a slice.”
He also mentioned an inevitable consequences of concentrating so much angling pressure in one area: catching and releasing the same fish over and over again — leading to higher fish mortality.
Fish and Wildlife also is working with an outside contractor to develop and conduct a survey to capture feedback from those who cannot attend a meeting in person.
Anglers meeting
Bob Kratzer of the Forks-based Angler’s Guide Service is the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the North Olympic Peninsula chapter of Puget Sound Anglers.
The group will meet tonight at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., in Sequim.
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. for viewing the raffle prizes and fish stories. A short club business meeting begins at 7 p.m. and includes fishing reports from members.
Kratzer will share his best techniques on twitching for salmon.
Refreshments will be served and a raffle for fishing gear will be held. A special membership drawing (for those present) also will be held.
The public is welcome to attend.
Geology in action
Dave Parks, a geologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, will lead a Rock Walk at the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge near Sequim on Saturday, October 28.
The program will begin at 11 a.m. and is expected to last 90 minutes to two hours. The required Refuge entrance fee is waived for this program.
Parks will discuss the geologic history and coastal evolution of Dungeness Spit and examine the stratigraphy of the coastal bluffs west of the base of the Spit. Parks will also discuss recent research on the rates of coastal bluff erosion in the Dungeness drift cell.
The walk will begin at the upper overlook at the top of the Dungeness Spit trail. Participants should dress for the weather.
For more, phone 360-457-8451 ext. 25 or email david_falzetti@fws.gov.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
