Hunting & Fishing Report: Catching Cabin Fever and Daydreaming of Biodomes

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It’s easy to see how it happens — cabin fever, that is. From inside the confines of home all the trappings of spring are apparent. There’s sometimes sunshine and green grass grows. Song birds chirp on tree limbs, but still, all the best reasons to get outside and brave the winter elements have seemingly come and gone.

And anyhow, there’s still a prevailing nip to the air that always gets lost in translation when looking longingly out of weeping window panes.

Up on the mountains the peak powder is likely past its prime. Down on the rivers the steelhead runs are sporadic. Out in the field general hunting seasons have turned to memory and we are now entering the traditional clam digging lull that bridges evening winter digs and morning spring openers.

With all of those favorite Pacific Northwest winter pastimes currently in flux it’s no wonder many folks are finding it easier and easier to simply stay home and hope for brighter days to come. Even if all you want to do is get out of the house and watch somebody else do something physical, the sports calendar shows that the options these days are mostly limited to the stuffy confines of gymnasiums, the steamy parameters of public pools, and the stale beer scented and dim-lit ambiance of a local bowling alley. Heck, for those whippersnappers who compete on the soft mat and the hardwood the ultimate accomplishment is to earn one’s way to the cold confines of the vaunted domes of Tacoma and Yakima.

It seems all the world is programmed to stay inside in these first months of the new year, but those that still hoist their britches and head for the great out of doors are rarely left disappointed. After all, for a powderhead a day spent in shaky snow is better than a day in no snow at all. And, as the saying goes, a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work. Similarly, an ill-timed adventure into nature that winds up washed out by winter weather is no loss at all. Rather, it is a reason to laugh in the face of the black wind and an easy excuse to warm by the fire while sipping smooth whiskey.

Soon enough it will be spring, when we’ll be forced to wade through puddles on baseball diamonds and watch 100-meter dashes run into gale force winds. We’ll get up early for washed out clam digs and sit soaked on the river bank waiting for slippery spring Chinook salmon that rarely bite while we daydream of a biodome big enough to fit it all inside.

That’s the thing about catching cabin fever, it eventually drives you right back out into the cold.

FISHIN

The weather has been cooperating with anglers lately but the bite still remains hit and miss on area rivers. A dry spell that began last week helped to clear up the turbidity in most channels but even with the increased visibility it’s impossible to see fish that simply aren’t there.

One river that hasn’t seen much change in its color recently is the Chehalis. However, multiple tributaries to Washington’s second largest watershed have been churning out plenty of happy anglers. Multiple sources note that both the Wynoochee and Satsop rivers have been fishing well recently and winter steelhead have made it all the way up and past the Twin Cities, as well as the oft-overlooked Willapa system.

“I just got a report from a guy on the Willapa and he’s doing real good out there for steelhead, and the Skookumchuck is also on fire right now,” said Jerry Barr, reel talk professional at Sunbirds in Chehalis.

Elsewhere though, including the Cowlitz River and its once famous winter steelhead fishery, the results haven’t been anything to write home about.

“It’s still pretty slow. The water is still high. We’ve been running about 14,000 for a few days but they are picking up a few more of the late winter run steelhead now though, so there’s been a few more people out on the river now,” said Karen Glaser at the Barrier Dam Campground. “But most of the guys are waiting on the fish to come in bigger numbers.”

Glaser noted that bank anglers have been catching a few steelhead near the barrier dam but the boats have been much more active near Blue Creek. Barr, who hit the Cowlitz River on Saturday with a friend, reported around 20 boats near the trout hatchery but he didn’t see a fish hit the deck all day. Stats from the Cowlitz salmon hatchery separator last week confirmed the dearth of returning fish During five days of operation crews recovered nine coho adults, 14 winter steelhead and three cutty trout.

While forecasts are in for this year’s smelt run on the Lower Columbia River fishery managers have yet to make a decision on any recreational dipping opportunities on Cowlitz. However, early indicators are not looking favorable for fans of the tiny fish as this year’s run is expected to be the lowest in recent years, and roughly half of last year’s run that produced next to nothing for sport dippers. The final decision will be guided by commercial harvests on the lower river later this month. If those boats average 250 pounds per delivery fishery managers “may consider opening a recreational fishery.”

The spring Chinook fishery on the Lower Columbia River is currently open from the I-5 Bridge downstream with a daily limit of two hatchery adult Chinook per day. A decision on the future of the season beyond March, when the fish begin to show up in greater numbers, will be made on Feb. 21 during a meeting between Washington and Oregon fishery managers. Last week the WDFW sampled two bank anglers in the Vancouver area with no catch.

“Now is a good time to dust off your gear, order your bait, prepare your boat, and maybe do a little prospecting,” said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist, in a prospect report.

Anglers who like to put in at the Port of Kalama should note that a major renovation project is getting underway at the marina this month. That work will affect use of the facility, including the boat launch. Port officials expect the boat launch and fuel dock to be closed from mid-april through the end of May. Updates are available online at portofkalama.com.

There was no effort observed for steelhead in the John Day or Bonneville pools last week but sturgeon anglers did have success at Bonneville where they averaged a legal size fish per every 3.6 boat rods. As of Jan. 28 nearly half of the 325 fish guideline had been harvested and as a result all sturegon must be released until further notice. However, anglers can keep targeting walleye at Bonneville, where last week five fish were caught per rod. At John Day boat anglers caught just a few legal size fish and bank anglers had even worse luck. Sturgeon retention ends there after Sunday. Last week anglers averaged just more than two walley per rod.

Closer to home there are plenty of opportunities for smaller fish like rainbow trout and panfish.

“Borst (Park Pond) is doing pretty darn good still,” said Barr, who noted one fellow who reportedly caught a 23-inch rainbow early this week by casting little lure spoons.

“Mill Pond is doing good too but that closes at the end of this month,” added Barr of Onalaska’s favorite industrial backwater.

Barr says that Mayfield Lake still producing a fair amount of fish near the hatchery, but most everything else is slow out in East Lewis County. “People who have fished Swofford’s Pond, they’re not catching anything and of course Riffe Lake, the water is so low that nobody is really fishing it,” he explained.

A prospect report from the WDFW noted that Lake Sacajawea has been putting some nice panfish on the table for anglers, and Silver Lake has been producing a lot of yellow perch east of the WDFW boat launch.

HUNTIN

Bird hunters have been twiddling their thumbs for a week now but beginning Saturday they will have another window from which to shoot waterfowl. That opening will happen in Area 2 with an extended season scheduled from Feb. 10 through March 10.

Hunters are also allowed to take cougars in most units through April 30, although hunters should be sure to check for closures in units with harvest guidelines. Snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbits, bobcat, fox and raccoon will all continue to be hunted through the Ides of March, and of course, coyotes are always fair game.

Time is running out to provide public comment on a set of proposed hunting regulation changes. Those proposals cover rules through the 2020 hunting seasons and the WDFW is accepting written comments through Feb. 14 in order to help guide the final decision making process.

The policy making Fish and Wildlife Commission will also accept public comment in person at their March 16-17 meetings at the Red Lion Hotel in Wenatchee and final action is expected to be taken in April. The complete 2015-21 Game Management Plan is available for review online at wa.gov/publications/01676/. Written comments must be submitted online. Visit the WDFW’s website, at wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/, in order to review and comment on the proposals.

Master Hunters have only one week left to submit their applications for the upcoming season.

“To qualify for the program, applicants must demonstrate a high level of skill and be committed to lawful and ethical hunting practices,” said David Whipple, WDFW hunter education division manager, in a press release.

On Feb. 15, the day applications are due, the WDFW will host a meeting at Lower Columbia College in Longview in order to disperse new information to current master hunters and educate prospective applicants. That meeting will take place from 6-8 p.m. at 1600 Maple St.

Additional information is available online at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/masterhunter/.

Hunters who have their sights sets on bagging a spring black bear have until the end of the month to submit their applications for a special hunt permit. Those hunts will occur in designated units of western and eastern Washington.

Hunters who successfully submit their applications will be entered into a drawing in mid-March for one of 272 permits in western Washington and 509 permits for hunts east of the Cascade Range. Winners will be notified by the end of March and applicants can check drawing results early by going online to ishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/.



In order to apply hunters must first purchase a special permit application and a 2018 hunting license that includes a black bear species option. Hunters are also required to identify their hunt area of choice. Licenses, tags and permits can be purchased online, by phone at 866-246-9453, or at an in-store vendor. Applications can also be submitted online, or by calling 877-945-3492.

In a press release the WDFW noted that prospective bear hunters should be aware that private timberland owners in some areas have taken to limiting access or charging fees for access. They advise not to apply for the hunts unless you can secure access in advance.

Anyone interested in hunting the Kapowsin Tree Farm should contact the tree farm before submitting an application to determine which areas are open. Hunters selected for the Kapowsin Tree Farm hunt must purchase an access permit from Hancock Forest Management. Additional information can be found online at hancockrecreationnw.com/.

Bear hunts can be conducted with any legal weapon that can also be used for big game seasons, but the use of bait and dogs are not allowed.

CLAMMIN

A set of coastal clam digs that ended last weekend proved fatal for a pair of Washington women.

A 61-year old Toledo woman, identified by The Daily News as Sharon K. Leseman, was one of the women who fell victim to a sneaker wave during the evening dig. Leseman, who had been digging clams with her husband, was reported missing at 9:01 p.m. on Friday near Warrenton Cannery Road in North Cove near Tokeland.

“Rescue personnel from several agencies were immediately dispatched to the scene and began searching the area,” according to a news release from the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office.

Just minutes before the Toledo woman was reported missing, a 70-year-old Ocean Park woman, who was also clamming with her spouse, was reported lost in the surf at Oysterville Beach on the Long Beach peninsula. A U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter and ground crews searched for her, but were initially unsuccessful. The Daily News identified that woman as Jerilynn K. Reinke.

“These incidents serve as a tragic reminder that one must always be vigilant of the powerful surf and waves that are often present on our ocean beaches,” the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a statement. “Always stay close to other clammers, bring a flashlight or lantern, a waterproof cell phone and never turn your back on the surf as ‘sneaker waves’ can appear at any time.”

There are currently no razor clam digging opportunities proposed for Washington’s beaches. Late last year Ayres cautioned that winter digging opportunities at Long Beach could be coming to an end due to elevated effort and a low clam population.

Last week he said it was too early to make a call on any additional winter clam digs but promised that word should come shortly after data from the latest clam digs can be compiled and reviewed.

“It’s too early to know what we might be (able to) offer down the road on any beach...but we do want to save clams so we can get to some spring morning tides, and they really don’t kick in this year until April,” wrote Ayres in an email to The Chronicle.

SNOWIN

Up at White Pass Ski Area the big gains of mid January have already begun to melt away. Those losses started late last week when snow levels jumped all the way past 8,000 feet after dropping down to about 1,200 feet the week before.

On Wednesday the slopes received no new snow, which left a base of 42 inches and 88 inches at the summit. Morning temperatures were ranging between 32-34 degrees but crews have been working hard to keep the remaining snow in decent shape.

“The crew is currently buffing out the hill in seamless corduroy so you can carve the day away beginning at 8:45,” read the White Pass snow report on Wednesday.

White Pass Ski Area is open daily from 8:45 until 4 p.m. with night skiing on Saturdays until 9 p.m. The ski area is operating their surface lifts, Great White, Couloir, Basin and Far East. Both snowboard parks are also open and tubing areas are open on weekends and holidays.

For the second year running South Sound Adventures are offering daily shuttle service to White Pass. The cost for most riders is $95 for a round trip and a lift ticket, or $40 for just the ride itself. From Packwood the cost is just $20 for a roundtrip.

The first pickup is at 6:30 a.m. at the Martin Way park and ride before moving on to the park and ride at Tenino Grand Mound Road at 6:50 a.m. Passengers are picked up at the Centralia Safeway at 7 a.m. and at the Chehalis park and ride off of Interstate 5 at 7:10 a.m. Various stops are then made in Packwood, and the shuttle strives to arrive at White Pass Ski Area right around 9 a.m. Return service leaves the lodge at 3:30 p.m.

Shuttle service is also available to Crystal Mountain as well as bike-and-beer tours around Olympia that are offered by request only. Additional information about South Sound Adventures can be found online at southsoundadventures.com/. Questions can be propositioned by phone at 360-970-9619 or by email at whitepassshuttle@gmail.com.

BIRDIN

The 21st annual Great Backyard Bird Count will be on the wing next week. That communal bird tallying effort is slated to take place from Feb. 16-19.

The survey enlists the help of veteran and novice bird watchers alike so long as they can keep tabs on whatever birds they can see, from any location, for at least 15 minutes. Reports can then be made online where they are uploaded into a national database.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. The survey is the world’s first online citizen science project to collect data on wild birds, display results online nearly instantaneously, and create an annual report on the distribution and abundance of birds.

COMMENTIN

The WDFW is soliciting feedback from the public on a series of recommendations to keep the pygmy rabbit and grizzly bear on the state’s endangered species list, and to downlist the sea otter from endangered to threatened.

Periodic reviews are conducted by the WDFW in order to determine the best statues for species in the state and the public can comment on the listing recommendations through May 9, 2018. The draft reviews on the sea otter, pygmy rabbit, and grizzly bear are available online at wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/endangered/status_review.

WDFW staff are tentatively scheduled to go over the reviews and recommendations with the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at its June 2018 meeting. The commission is a governor appointed panel charged with setting WDFW policy.

Meeting dates and times can be found online at wdfw.wa.gov/commission.

The fur trade is blamed for the elimination of sea otter from Washington in the early 20th century. Otters were reintroduced in Washington beginning in 1969 and were listed as an endangered species in 1981. While the species has not fully recovered the population has grown to the point that beginning in 2017 it exceeded the population criteria for downlisting. However, the WDFW still believes that otters are threatened by disease, toxins, the effects of climate change, and the possibility of a catastrophic event — such as a large oil spill — along Washington’s coast.

The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is listed as endangered on both the state and federal level. Loss of healthy shrub-steppe habitat is blamed for a long-term decline in population that bottomed out in 2001 with only one down population remaining in the state in the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area in Douglas County. A breeding program has helped those numbers to rebound somewhat but disease hampers captive and semi-wild populations while predation is the largest cause of mortality in the wild. Due to these challenges pygmy rabbits still have a relatively small population and an extremely limited distribution.

Grizzly bears once ranged across most of the Cascade Mountain Range and Eastern Washington but aggressive hunting and loss of habitat nearly eliminated them from Washington. A few grizzlies currently live in the Selkirk Range in the northeast corner of the state, where the population is classified as endangered by the state. Federally the population is considered threatened.

There are currently forty-four species of fish and wildlife listed for protection by the state of Washington.

Submit written comments on the reviews and recommendations via email to TandEpubliccom@dfw.wa.gov, or by mail to Hannah Anderson, WDFW, P.O. Box 43141, Olympia, WA 98504-3200.