Bacon crackles and smokes and curls at the edges of the cast iron while hours old piglets cuddle contently by the woodstove.
The crash of an axe sends sliver-toothed termites and redheaded lava ants spilling out on the chopping block and a gobble headed turkey volunteers for cleanup duty.
A scalped deer’s head rests uneasily where it’s been rolled down the old river trail. In the dead of winter’s night, both poachers and coyotes prowl.
With the flip of a pitchfork a mothballed owl emerges from the musty duff of a haystack. An old friend gone to dust. Now nobody flies overhead and the mice all run free.
Green grass turned on by sunshine glistens until it is again slicked flat by gleeful sheets of rain. Bulging earthworms rise with the water table and writhe to the surface where they’re gobbled by ducks.
Six months from hay season with blue chip pork stocks growing better than Bitcoin afternoon thoughts drift to tending gardens gnomes and trimming fruit trees. To buying laying hens and honeybees.
Possibilities always appear endless in the extended preamble to spring fever. Last year’s shortcomings waft away and the cold touch of disappointment has yet to chill any of the New Year’s best intentions.
But those daydreams quickly evaporate in a panic. Worn down by the weight of expectations a jilted farmer, a spurned angler, and a thwarted hunter all cast a wary eye toward the future in a doomed effort to head off whatever misfortune may lay in store.
The warmth of the hearth satiates his fears for a moment but rest does not come easy. Like those three pigs in a blanket by the breakfast table he finds it impossible to pin down the specific dangers, but he can sure smell ‘em cooking.
FISHIN’
“All the rivers are chocolate right now,” said Jerry Barr at the Sunbirds sporting goods desk as soon as he was pestered by a reporter for piscatorial prospects on Wednesday.
His observation was right on the money and served to sum up the goopy status of area salmon fisheries. Ever the optimist though, Barr typically backs up the bad news with some promising prospects from one of the local lakes or ponds.
That wasn’t the case this time around as Barr reported that even the rainbow bite had cooled off in recent weeks.
“I guess all those big fish they planted down in South County pond got all caught up,” reasoned Barr, who added that Borst Park Pond also hasn’t been fishing well for at least several weeks and recent efforts at Swofford Pond have gone unrewarded as well.
However, recent stocking efforts by the WDFW in ponds from Onalaska to Woodland should have those prospects on the rise like a soggy worm on a bobber. On Jan. 8 Old Mill Pond, also known as Carlisle Lake, was planted with 100 five-pound rainbows. The next day Horseshoe Lake was planted with 115 of those same five-pound trout in addition to 2,400 fingerling rainbows to keep them company. Since Jan. 3 Kress Lake has been planted with 130 ten pound unsalted steelhead who were buffered with 2,000 fingerling rainbows. Finally, Longview’s crown jewel, Lake Sacajawea was planted with 30 ten-pound trout and 66 five-pound trout on Jan. 10.
Speaking of small fish, the WDFW released the outlook for returning smelt on the Cowlitz River this winter. That run reached a recent peak of 16.6 million pounds in 2014 but plummeted to a recent nadir of just 1.6 million pounds last year. That number represents less than half of the next nearest low return and fish managers are expecting an even smaller run this year due to what scientists have deemed as deteriorating ocean conditions.
Each year since 2014 the WDFW has allowed eight opening for commercial fishing for smelt in the lower Columbia River. Recreational opportunities have been more hit and miss with only two meaningful days of dipping between 2014-15 despite a total of seven openings. Both last year and the year before there were one day dips allowed on the Cowlitz River but no notable quantity of smelt were harvested despite significant turnout. The WDFW has made no comment on the odds of a recreational opening this year, but I’m not holding my breath.
While the smelt outlook is looking withered on the Cowlitz River the current salmon season is similarly depressed. Sampling by the WDFW last week revealed just five bank rods downstream of the I-5 Bridge with no reported catch. Upstream 19 bank anglers and one boat rod were skunked as well.
“The Cowlitz is dead, dead, dead,” said Barr, who typically likes to try his luck near the barrier dam and Blue Creek.
Looking at early hatchery steelhead returns on other tributaries to the lower Columbia River, the WDFW described the numbers as “kind of a mixed bag from the same time last year.”
The Grays River hasn’t had a steelhead show up yet after getting 30 back last year. The Kalama River has seen a boost from 190 steelies in 2017 to 246 this year but the Lewis River has fallen off from 1,084 steelhead last winter to just 251 this year. Most promising is the Elochoman River which has jumped from just 36 winter steelhead last year to 581 so far this winter.
With that increase in returning fish the Elochoman River has been one of the hottest steelhead fisheries in the region over the past month. According to Shane McEneny, a WDFW fish hatchery specialist, that uptick in returns can be attributed to a change in practices at the hatchery.
“This year’s return is coming back from a plant of only 65,000 smolts but is the first year since before 2009 that the fish were reared with predator netting and fencing. Numbers of returning adults have been phenomenal as we are close to 600 trapped for the season with anticipations of reaching 1,000,” explained McEneny in a fish report. “We are surplussing and recycling adults which we haven’t done for years and the fishing pressure has been enormous with a lot of happy fisherman. Next winter’s return will come back from a plant of almost double the smolts.”
Closer to the Twin Cities the Chehalis River was teeming with steelhead recently but another round of rain has thrown a wrench in the gears.
“The water’s been high everywhere. Before the rains the Chehalis was producing really well by Porter. And then on the Skookumchuck I heard they’re starting to get a smattering of them in there,” said Barr.
Until the upper river settles down again the best odds may be out toward the coast on the shorter tributaries in Grays Harbor.
“The Wynoochee is starting to do good and the Humptulips is red hot, but there’s a lot of people going out there... A lot of people out there,” said Barr.
Anglers have also reported having some success on the Willapa River proper near the hatchery and the rock crusher. Those anglers will likely be keen to attend a workshop on Jan. 23 in Raymond where the the WDFW will be on hand to hear comments on Willapa Bay salmon management.
The WDFW has stated an intention to bring recreational and commercial fishery goals into alignment with the state’s Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy. That policy was approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in 2015 and gives recreational fisheries priority in Willapa Bay in regards to Chinook harvest while commercial fisheries are designated as priority for coho runs. Regulations currently require both recreational and commercial fisheries to release any wild Chinook in order to help meet conservation objectives.
“The commission makes the policy, but we also want to hear from those directly involved in these fisheries,” said Annette Hoffmann, regional WDFW fish manager, in a press release.
The workshop is scheduled to take place from 6-8 p.m. at the Raymond Elks Club, 326 Third Street.
Hoffman said that fishery managers will relay comments received at the workshop to the Fish and Wildlife Commission during a public meeting on Feb. 9-10 in Olympia.
HUNTIN’
Waterfowl hunters continue to beat the soggy trail as they rack their brains and their shotguns while the final days of the season draw near.
“The duck hunters are still coming in here looking for duck stuff, decoys and stuff even though the season’s almost over,” said Jerry Barr in between gun sales at Sunbirds. “That’s a good thing too, because we’re almost all out of decoys.”
Most duck and goose seasons will continue through Jan. 28, except for Goose Management Area 2 which closed on Jan. 14. However, Area 2 is set to reopen from Feb. 10 through March 10 for an extended season. In the meantime, a 10-day brant hunting season in Pacific County will continue for three more days on Jan. 18, 20 and 21.
Willapa and Grays harbors continue to provide excellent prospects for waterfowl and flooded farm fields along the Chehalis River and its tributaries are chalk full of water birds biding their time and looking for an easy meal this time of year. The old Centralia Mine is another favorite area for bird hunters and Thurston County draws bird hunters from all over to the mudflats around the bays of Olympia.
Cougar hunting will continue in most units through April 30, although hunters should be sure to check for closures in units with harvest guidelines. Additionally, hunts for snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbits, bobcat, fox and raccoon will all continue through March 15. Seasonally fleeting snow is especially helpful in the pursuit of cougar, bobcat, fox and hares. But of course, coyotes are always fair game.
Here in the dead of winter it’s important to keep an eye toward spring as hunters who hope to bag a spring black bear have through the end of February to apply for a permit. Wrapping up the 2017 season, hunters who purchased a tag or permit last year have through Jan. 31 to report their hunting results. Reports are required for each special permit and every elk, deer, bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and turkey tag purchased, even if no animal was taken. Failure to report will result in a $10 penalty the next time a hunter tries to purchase a license. Hunting reports may be filed by phone at 877-945-3492 or at wdfw.wa.gov.
The WDFW is currently considering changes to hunting season regulations through 2020 and asking the public to provide comment on particular proposals. However, those proposals will not be available for review until Jan. 24 and comments must be submitted no later than Valentine’s Day.
In a press release Anis Aoude, a WDFW game manager, noted that the proposals are based off of objectives and strategies laid out in the 2015-21 Game Management Plan.
“We appreciate the input we’ve received over the past months and encourage everyone interested in the 2018-20 hunting seasons to review and comment on the proposed rules before final action is taken,” said Aoude in the release.
Written comments must be submitted online. Visit the WDFW’s website, at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/, beginning Jan. 24 to review and comment on the proposals.
The policy making Fish and Wildlife Commission will also accept public comment in person during their March 16-17 meetings at the Red Lion Hotel in Wenatchee. Final action is expected to be taken in April. The 2015-21 Game Management Plan is available for review online at wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01676/.
CLAMMIN’
Clam hounds with a hankering for another round of fresh succulent bivalves will have to cool their heels in the surf a bit longer before they get official word on their next opportunity.
As per custom, the WDFW still needs to conduct marine toxin tests in order to approve the upcoming set of digs that were proposed back in December. Those proposed razor clam digging dates, times, tides and beaches include:
• Jan. 28, Sunday, 4:06 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Mocrocks
• Jan. 29, Monday, 4:59 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Copalis
• Jan. 30, Tuesday, 5:47 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Jan. 31, Wednesday, 6:33 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Feb. 1, Thursday, 7:17 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Feb. 2, Friday, 8:00 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Feb. 3, Saturday, 8:42 p.m.; -0.4; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
State law allows each digger to keep up to 15 clams so long as they keep the first 15 they dig. Diggers age 15 and up are required to have a license and all diggers must carry their own clams in their own container. Best digging results are typically had about one or two hours prior to low tide.
REGULATIN’
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will make a final decision on proposed changes intended to simplify recreational fishing rules in the state. The commission is also slated to be briefed on a proposed management plan for Puget Sound Chinook salmon, in addition to addressing numerous other outstanding outdoors proposals and studies.
The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, 8:30 a.m. on Friday and 7 a.m. on Saturday for an executive session with the public portion beginning at 9 a.m. A complete agenda is available online at wdfw.wa.gov/commission/.
According to a press release, “WDFW has proposed assigning most lakes, ponds and reservoirs to one of six standard seasons rather than setting custom season dates for each water body. Also, the department has proposed allowing separate daily limits for trout and steelhead rather than one combined limit.”
The Commission is also slated to consider a recommendation from wildlife managers to continue to classify the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse as threatened, the possible acquisition of lands in Whatcom and Ferry counties, and rule changes regarding compensation for livestock owners who have animals killed or injured by wolves.
A complete list of proposed rules, listed by geographical area, is available for review online at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/.
The meeting will take place at the WDFW Region 5 Office, Room 102, located at 5525 S. 11th St., Ridgefield.
