IT SPEAKS TO the nature of our natural North Olympic Peninsula splendor that anglers from far and wide will come here to cast for wild steelhead.
When I spoke Thursday with Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim, he had just wrapped up licensing a group of fishermen from Montana whose next stop was a weekend on the West End rivers.
Menkal had good news for them, as the late-season wild steelhead fishery has been going strong the past few weeks.
“I’ve been hearing some neat stories out west on the steelhead rivers,” Menkal said.
“Some really big fish are being taken out west, some in the range of 20-plus pounds.”
Menkal added that the Bogachiel has been the best bet, but the Sol Duc and both the upper and lower stretches of the Hoh have offered up fish.
Creel reports back that up, with 86 wild steelhead landed by 73 anglers on the Bogachiel.
The Sol Duc saw 48 wild steelhead brought in by 44 anglers.
One fish per angler was the average on the upper Hoh, with 78 anglers catching 78 wild steelhead.
Totals weren’t as high on the lower stretch of the river, where 56 fish were caught by 80 anglers.
This past weekend did see wild steelhead being kept in higher numbers: five were kept on both the Bogachiel and Sol Duc rivers.
Remember, when fishing for these chromers that pictures last forever but wild stocks won’t, so catch and release these fish, if possible.
The steelhead season wraps Wednesday on the Hoh, Clearwater and Quinault rivers.
Anglers have until Thursday, April 30, to fish for steelhead on the Bogachiel, Calawah, Dickey, Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers.
Blackmouth closing
Anglers have had to be persistent in their efforts at catching blackmouth this season.
Chinook weren’t found in great abundance in some of the normal spots, so anglers had to get curious and get out on the water frequently to bring a catch home.
The winter chinook fishery closes today in Marine Areas 5 (Sekiu) and 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), and ends Wednesday in Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet).
“You really had to work for them,” Menkal said.
“Certain days were magical and others were duds.
“I’d say overall, it was an average year but not a hot year in any fashion.”
Recent reports from members of the Puget Sound Anglers show fishing being caught in the 8- to 11-pound range, on mid-size Coho Killer spoons, with the most action occurring at Freshwater Bay.
Another report said the conditions were “white hot” near Partridge Bank in Area 9 near Whidbey Island.
Lake Leland planted
Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist who lives in Quilcene, let me know Lake Leland has been stocked with its annual spring plant of rainbow trout.
The lake received 6,000 small rainbow trout from the Eells Springs Hatchery near Shelton.
Lake Leland also was stocked with 154 larger cutthroat trout in January.
“Time to break out the Power Bait or troll a little red spoon just below the surface,” Norden said.
Intro to sea kayaking
This year’s Port Angeles Kayak and Film Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, and has an on-water class just for kids.
Introduction to Sea Kayaking is offered from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, with a focus on providing youth a positive introduction to this activity.
Kids will be taught the essentials, such as how to how to dress properly for kayaking, equipment needed, paddle strokes and basic rescue techniques.
This class is for ages 11 to 18.
All the necessary equipment is provided.
The course fee is $10 per person. The class is limited to eight participants.
The Port Angeles Kayak and Film Festival is based at Hollywood Beach, with a pre-registration and film screening at BarHop Brewing on the evening of April 17, and the main film festival at Peninsula College on April 18.
The event’s keynote presentation will feature the premiere of “Message in a Bottle,” a documentary chronicling the 150-mile journey of the Hyas yiem, a kayak constructed out of discarded single-use plastic bottles (2-liter soda bottles).
The trip was made to help raise awareness about the proliferation of single-use plastics and the effect they have on our marine environment.
Ken Campbell, a member of the Tacoma-based Ikkatsu Project, which made the film, will speak.
The Port Angeles Kayak and Film Festival is an annual event put on by area kayak and outdoor retailers Adventures Through Kayaking, Sound Bikes & Kayaks and Olympic Raft & Kayak.
To register your child for this class and for more information about the event, visit www.portangeleskayakandfilm.com or call Adventures Through Kayaking at 360-417-3015.
Halibut seminar
Brian’s Sporting Goods and More will host a halibut seminar with expert angler John Beath on Friday, May 1.
The free seminar will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the store, 609 W. Washington St., No. 21.
“John will present lots of new halibut fishing techniques, so this seminar is good for both new and experienced halibut fishermen,” Menkal said.
Beath lives in Carlsborg. His presentation will focus on where to go in waters near Sequim and Port Angeles, and out to Sekiu.
Menkal said Beath also will touch on Area 9.
A big turnout of 142 people attended the seminar last year, so arrive early and bring your own chair.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.