Hunting & Fishing Report: Contemplative Snowmen and the Impossible Task of Creating Permanence

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The wonderful thing about snow in western Washington is the way it always feels so unexpected. A bolt from the blue. A momentary lapse of logic. A slow motion aside from the routine accompanied by a dash of magic.

Or at the very least, a two-hour delay to school on a mid-year, midweek morning.

The cotton soft snow falls slow and hypnotic, accumulating in interlocking layers that temporarily conceal the grime of the city. Then, a surge of snowflakes rush sideways, fast forward and swirl in magnificent cyclone flurries. They land soft, quiet, like feathers on pillows, and send a kind of hush all over the white noise of the world.

It turns out you never notice how loud it all is until you’ve heard it all go quiet.

Area rivers, regularly rushing with runoff from rainfall that flattens the early fairybell flowers, now slow and roll like honey down the edge of a cold glass jar. Chimneys puff like porch-swing pipe tobacco and imbue the frosted air with the soothing scent of warm sap and cedar.

Frozen hands in soggy mittens pack snow furiously to make a strong base. Attention to detail is key. Everything is as important as you make it. Footprints zig and zag across the yard, pushing a growing white rolling rock like Sisyphus on a snow day from hell.

The creator stops for a moment, steps back to see his work, and takes note of a skinny side unbecoming of a proper snowman. Consumed with the pursuit of creative perfection, the artist continues working with fastidious concentration; one roll forward. Two over. Two forward. Two over. Then reverse. Then repeat.

Eventually contented, the creator pushes the base to the most prominent place — a flat spot by the road. With the bottom settled in position the belly ball is wrestled into place directly on top. It sags a little to the left, but to a discerning eye it is obvious that the improper posture is actually an inspired dramatic slouch.

With the body all situated, the third and smallest ball is delicately put in place. Its most evocative side facing the road with all of its implied character and life-experience. The snow forms like Voltron, and this ball just happens to be the head.

Rushing in for a warm-up round of cocoa the snow-crafter raids the closets and the pantry to find all of the essentials a real snowman needs: a perfect plaid scarf, a floppy fisherman’s hat, a dusty corncob pipe, a crooked carrot nose, and a set of quick-start barbecue charcoal briquettes for advanced optics. Looking around, two twin sticks with spindly twig fingers volunteer themselves from the bare base of the maple tree. Naturally, they make a convincing pair of arms.

Once final assembly is finished, like crystalline potato head, the snowman maker steps back to admire the work. It is perfect in the frumpy and asymmetrical fashion that all real snowmen are. The artist nods his head in approval. The snowman appears to nod back. Or maybe it was just the snow settling. The snowman maker believes it is his best work and he walks away happy he has created something for the world to see.

Within a few days attentions will shift and hardly anyone will look at the snowman anymore. Some will avert their eyes. It makes them sad to see his once plump body slumping and thinning, but the artist never looks away. He revels in the transformation of his creation and feels the pain of finishing a good book when its head tumbles away. The soggy scarf, and hat, and pipe, and coal and carrot lie scattered in a graveside memorial.

In the death of a snowman the creator recognizes his own mortality and the impermanence of life and all human efforts, and he finds comfort. The fact that all our snowmen will eventually melt away is beside the point. It only matters that we played in the snow while we had the chance. 

FISHIN’

Like the snow silenced countryside the fishing scene has been eerily quiet over the last week.

‘It’s all silent around here,” said Jerry Barr, rod and reel purveyor at Sunbirds in Chehalis. ‘It seems like everything’s just kind of stopped. It’s kind of weird.”

The Chehalis River has enjoyed the respite from the rains and the big freeze has slowed its feeder creeks to a trickle, but still, the salmon fishing has been ice cold. Those anglers that have braved the weather have returned mostly empty handed and it will likely take another rush of water to put the remaining winter steelhead back on the move.

Some Chehalis River tributaries have been getting some pressure, but both effort and bite are down substantially from the beginning of the month.

“There’s still people going up to the Skookumchuck, but not that many,” confirmed Barr in between snow shovel and sled sales.

Even out on the Willapa, where the fish have continued to bite a little bit better through the cold snap, anglers are still having a hard time filling out their catch cards.

“Nothing but wilds coming out of there,” lamented Barr. “They’ve had to release everything they’ve caught.”

Angler who are anxious to move on to the spring Chinook fishery will have to head to the lower Columbia River. Salmon fishing is currently open from the I-5 Bridge in Vancouver out to the mouth. The first springers have already been caught on the mainstem and they are starting to show up in area tributaries as well. The daily limit is two adult fish. Beginning March 1 anglers will be limited to one hatchery Chinook per day.

The forecasted return for upriver spring Chinook on the Columbia River is 166,700 fish, which is just below the ten year average. Additionally, the Cowlitz River is projected to return 5,1510 springers, while the Kalama and Lewis rivers are expected to have returns of 1,450, and 3,700 spring Chinook, respectively.

So far though, nothing is shaking on the Cowlitz after the winter steelhead run, which the WDFW has ceased to stock, failed to provide much fodder.

“People have been going out the Cowlitz and exploring but it’s not really producing,” said Barr, who plans to wait until about the second week of March before trying his luck by Blue Creek again.

In the meantime, the odds are getting worse for smelt dippers hoping to take home a few nets full of tiny fish from the Cowlitz this year. Returns from early efforts on the lower Columbia River mainstem indicated that few smelt were around. Indicators like seals, sea lions, and gulls have also failed to provide leads to any major swells of smelt. The return is expected to come in at only about 1.5 million pounds, or less than half of last year’s run. A run of that size would represent the lowest return in at least five years. Fishery managers have said that commercial boats would need to bring back a haul of at least 250 pounds per trip this month in order to even consider opening a sport smelt dip. Currently, all Washington waterways are closed to fishing for Columbia River eulachon smelt.

Anglers looking to mix things up a bit until the spring salmon run arrives might consider heading to the coast for a bit of rock fish bonking. The coastal sport rock fishery off of Ilwaco, Westport and La Push are set to open March 10 through Oct. 20 for bottom fish, including lingcod. Neah Bay will open for bottomfish, except lingcod, on March 10, with lingcod added to the fishery on April 16.

Last year the coastal sport fishery for black rockfish was limited to 632,726 pounds of black rockfish. However, a spike in the canary rockfish population allowed fishery managers to expand to limit off of Ilwaco and Westport to one fish per day for the first time in a decade and a half. That limit remains in place this year as part of the seven rockfish daily limit. Anglers are required to keep all lingcod regardless of size.

Otherwise, not even the local lake scene has been busy recently. No deliveries have been made and there are very few footprints in the snow leading to the water's edge. In any case, lowland lake fishing is set to close at the end of February, so opportunities are running out rapidly.

As the habitually optimistic Barr pointed out on Wednesday, ‘It’s pretty dismal on the fishing scene right now.”

HUNTIN’

Waterfowl hunters have about two weeks left to add to their bird count in Area 2. That extended season opened on Feb. 10 and is set to close on March 10. Otherwise, all the regular seasons have run out and most of what’s left to do is paperwork and offseason preparations.

Hunters with aspirations of assisting in the expiration of a black bear this spring must apply for their special hunt permit before the end of the month. Those permits will grant access to designated units on both sides of the state. Applications submitted with all of the required information, and on time, 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 can expect to be notified by the end of March.

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 hunters not to apply unless they can secure access in advance. 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 prohibited.

Then again, late winter snow sure is helpful tracking critters in the woods, so hunters with a hankering to get out of the house do have some options for legal game. Cougars hunts will continue in most units through April 30, although hunters should check for closures in units with harvest limits before heading out in search of big paw prints. In the thicket, snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbits, bobcat, fox and raccoon must all remain vigilant until the Ides of March, and of course, Nimrod’s sun never sets on coyote season.

SHOOTIN’

Proposed changes to the popular Wenas target shooting area will be up for discussion during a public meeting scheduled for March 6 in Selah. The WDFW will be on hand in order to meet with the Wenas Wildlife Area Target Shooting Advisory Committee about recommendations to reduce fire risks and other use conflicts at the 115,000 acre recreation area.



Last December the advisory committee submitted a report to the WDFW that included 17 recommendations for changes. Those changes will be summarized and a draft implementation timeline will be presented during the meeting.

The Wenas Wildlife Area is located in Yakima and Kittitas counties between Yakima and Ellensburg. The WDFW has noted that increased use in recent years has led to public safety issues at the site. A press release noted that, “The 17 advisory committee members represent diverse recreational and conservation interests, including affected landowners, hunters, target shooters, horseback riders, mountain-bike riders, hikers, wildlife watchers, bird-dog trainers, and users of motorized vehicles.”

The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Selah Civic Center, 216 1st St, Selah, from 6-8:30 p.m. There will be time designated for public comment.

CLAMMIN’

No word yet from the WDFW on a set of proposed clam digs that were announced last week.

Those razor clam tides are tentatively set on four of Washington’s coastal beaches beginning March 2. Final approval of those digs at Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mockrocks and Copalis is dependant upon marine toxin testing that will be conducted about a week and a half before the digging dates.

Those tides, if approved, will be divided between night and day digs, with diggers who hit the beach in March likely still needing to bring along a lantern. Typically digging is not allowed before noon during evening digs and all digging must be completed by noon during morning digs. However, because two of the dates in April have low tides around noon that rule will be waived on those days.

The proposed razor clam digs, along with low tides and beaches, are listed below:

• March 2, Friday, 6:54 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Mocrocks

• March 3, Saturday, 7:34 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Mocrocks

• March 16, Friday, 7:03 p.m.; +0.2 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks

• March 17, Saturday, 7:36 p.m.; +0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

• April 19, Thursday, 9:46 a.m.; -0.9 feet; Mocrocks

• April 20, Friday, 10:37 a.m.; -0.7 feet; Mocrocks

• April 21, Saturday, 11:34 a.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks (digging hours will be extended to 1 p.m.)

• April 22, Sunday, 12:38 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks (digging hours will be extended to 2 p.m.)

Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, says that the additional digging dates will be considered later this spring if adequate clam populations remain available for harvest. Earlier this year he hinted that Long Beach may be the first beach to reach its limit and be shut down until next fall.

State law allows diggers to take 15 razor clams per day but they are required to keep the first 15 they dig regardless of size or condition. Additionally, each digger must keep their clams in a personal container. Diggers age 15 and older must have a license.

SNOWIN’

What’s been a good amount of snow in the lowlands has been great for the hinterlands in East Lewis County, as well as the crowning Cascade peaks to the north and south. Even Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula has been getting blasted with powder instead of its regular deluge of primordial rain.

The White Pass Ski Area received four inches of new snow overnight coming into Wednesday and a similar, if not larger accumulation was expected to fall overnight and into Thursday morning. Making things even more plush on the mountaintop is the fact that the forecast calls for another half foot of powder to stack up on the mountain before the end of Friday.

Single digit overnight temperatures made for prime conditions at White Pass on Wednesday. Maverick the Avalanche Dog’s snow report noted that it was, “so light and dry you'll (feel) like you're floating today. Be sure to bring plenty of layers and a buff or other face protection is a good idea when it's cold. The cords are perfect and the steeps are fun.”

With the four new inches Wednesday morning the total base at White Pass stood at 68 inches with 120 inches at the summit. Temperatures at the start of the day were just four degrees at the summit and ten degrees at the base.

COMMENTIN’

The public is being afforded the opportunity to contribute input to the 2018 salmon season-setting process and rule simplification effort set to begin on Feb. 27. Fishery managers have arranged an assortment of opportunities for the public to share their opinions, including meetings and online tools.

The process will officially begin next week at the annual salmon forecast conference in Olympia where the WDFW will present initial salmon return forecasts compiled by state and tribal biologists. That meeting is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave. S.E., Olympia.

That meeting is one of twenty scheduled at locations around the state. A complete list can be found online at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/. Meetings scheduled in the local area over the next month include:

Feb. 26: Willapa Bay — Grays Harbor Salmon Forecasts and Fishing Opportunities; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 N. Main St., Montesano

Feb. 27: 2018 Salmon Forecasts and Fishing Opportunities; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia

March 19: Columbia River Fisheries Discussion; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Room 102A of Region 5 Headquarters, 5525 S. 11th St., Ridgefield.

Grays Harbor Fisheries Advisory Group (Public meeting); 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Large Conference room, Region 6 Headquarters, 48 Devonshire Rd, Montesano.

March 22: Willapa Bay Fisheries Advisory Group (Public meeting); 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Large Conference room, Region 6 Headquarters, 48 Devonshire Road, Montesano.

March 26: Public Hearing on Ocean Salmon Management Options; 7 p.m.; Chateau Westport Beach Room, 710 W. Hancock, Westport.

“It’s really important for us to hear what the public has to say about salmon fisheries,” said Ron Warren, head of the WDFW fish program, in a press release. “I encourage people to get involved and share their ideas on fishing opportunities and ways we can simplify the rules for anglers.”

The WDFW is also looking for input on how to simplify salmon fishing regulation as part of their ongoing effort to make a mess of rules more comprehensible and congruous.

In addition to public meetings comments can be submitted online at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/, during a plenary session tentatively set for April, and via conference call during the final days of negotiations with fish managers. Those additional avenues for public comment were provided under the recommendation of the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The PFMC is expected to adopt final ocean fishing seasons and harvest levels at its April 6-11 meeting in Portland.