He shuffled along in his own off kilter time, the wind ruffling the sparse silver strands of hair that still swept across his head. His shoes drug on the cobbled brick and his right leg seemed to linger behind him a little longer than it should.
All around him leaves whirled and fluttered on a steel breeze that made the rapidly balding treetops sway. The trunks groaned under the weight of life, and so did he, but only for a moment. Then it was back to whistling through his teeth, spitting and grinning as the city blocks rolled on by.
In his right hand he held a on old oak cane carved by the hands of a friend who’d long since left this ethereal plane. Articulate veins of design curved and arched along the shaft like jungle vines toward the heavens. Beneath his clenched arthritic fist hid the bufflehead handle, all long-billed, glass eyed, and complete with a finger slots between the intricate tuft of feathers atop the fowl crown.
As he made his way through the city he kept tabs on the trees that had grown so familiar under his watch. He worried if that one wonky willow branch would finally have to go? And if it did, where would the try-hard family of scrub jays that called it home wind up following their eviction by chainsaw? He wondered how many nuts those scurrying resident squirrels had packed away in the hollow of the stately maple by the library and he pondered the prolific mummy cocoons of canopy caterpillars that still clung to the cadaver finger limbs of idling cherry blossom trees.
He watched a pair of racoons gallivanting in and out of China Creek as it criss-crossed through town and always kept his good eye out for any hard headed salmon hellbent on not going with the flow. He’d seen one of those kings once, long ago, but he hadn’t yet lost hope that he’d someday see those runs return.
Pausing his shuffle by a street lamp he propped himself up against the pole and pulled out a whale’s bone pipe that had been handed down to him by a cherished elder who had shown him how to listen and told him how to see. He packed the charred cavity, struck a match, and inhaled sweet smoke that accumulated around his head like a loopy lenticular cloud atop a crooked mountain crater.
Just then a swarm of business men in suits turned the corner at a right angle and began to stream by his side. Some did not see him at all, like some boring bolder along the shore. Others smelled his familiar aroma, like dry pavement in a rainstorm, or fresh tilled earth beneath an autumn sun and snuck furtive glances but went out of their way not to look him in the eye.
The man could hear some of the suits, a group of overgrown boys all the way at the back, as they sneered at his mismatched boots and his gunny sack pants. They wondered out loud if the disheveled man had ever done anything as important in his whole life. As they approached though, they grew quiet and rolled on by like a raft of cowardly sea lions afraid of their own shadow.
Heading the other direction was a towheaded little girl holding the hand of her mother who was busy swiping away on her phone. Carrying a bulging backpack full of books she moved with a distinct and determined hobble. As she picked her way through the unrelenting flow of entitled men in black she looked up at the curious man and with her oversized eyes asked the most important question – “Are you alright?”
“Good day, my dear,” he replied with a genuine glance. “And, yes. There’s nothing quite like taking a brisk walk in the first days of fall.”
As they girl reached the street corner with her distracted mother she looked back over her shoulder to catch one more glimpse of the man but he was gone. All that remained of her fleeting friend was scattered leaves and smoke on the wind. It was a lesson she never forgot.
FISHIN’
With the lower Columbia River closed to all salmon and steelhead fishing, and a lingering king closure on the Cowlitz River system, it’s as good a time as any to hit the Chehalis River in search of some big fish.
Of course, some know-it-all types will tell you that it’s too early still and the river needs to rise at least another foot. But then again, I’ve never heard of anyone catching a fish by refusing to go fishing.
The mainstem of the Chehalis River opened to adult salmon retention on Monday and plenty of anxious anglers are already plying those waters and trying their luck. Salmon fishing is also open on the Satsop, Black and Wynoochee rivers. Earlier this week the ‘Nooch was running at about 228 cubic feet per second above Black Creek and at about 220 cubic feet per second at Grisdale. Anglers on the Chehalis and its tributaries may keep two adult salmon as part of their six-fish daily limit. However, all Chinook and wild coho must be released.
A plan to delay the start to salmon fishing in tributaries to Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2.1) has been walked back by the WDFW. Previously the WDFW stated its intention to keep numerous Willapa Bay tributaries, along with the bay itself, shuttered to salmon fishing beyond the previously scheduled opening day of Oct. 1. Now though, Bear, Middle Nemah, North Nemah, South Nemah, North Willapa, and South Fork Willapa rivers along with Fork and Smith creeks are once again open to salmon angling. The daily limit will be six salmon, two of which may be adult salmon, but no more than one may be a wild coho. All chinook must be released.
On the mainstem Columbia River salmon and steelhead fishing is still prohibited from Buoy 10 up to Pasco until further notice. Fishing was closed due to a meager run of upriver Chinook salmon. Preseason estimates projected 205.000 adult fish to return, which would have been down 25 percent from 2017 and a full 53 percent less than the 10-year average. The news got worse in early September when the run was downgraded to a projection of just 130,000 adult upriver kings which prompted the closure.
While plenty of coho are believed to be in the system federal regulations will not allow fishing for any salmonid species unless there is no danger of hooking upriver Chinook. It was under that caveat that Deep River was reopened last week.
Up the Cowlitz River anglers still have opportunities to catch and keep hatchery steelhead and coho, even while Chinook remain off limits. The river was closed to Chinook harvest from the mouth to the barrier dam on Sept. 22 until further notice in order to protect a poor return of kings. That closure extends to all lower river tributaries except for the Toutle River. However, beginning Oct. 6, both the Toutle and North Fork Toutle rivers, which were previously exempt from the king closure, will also be off limits for catching kings.
Last week on the Cowlitz River, the WDFW found a fair turnout of anglers between Salkum and Longview. Below the I-5 Bridge that creel sample found 25 bank rods with nine coho jacks in the box and one jack released, along with 33 rods on 14 boats that kept eight coho, 25 jacks, and one steelhead. Those boats also released 15 Chinook, one jack, three coho, six jacks, and one steelhead. Above the I-5 Bridge, primarily near the barrier dam, the WDFW contacted 41 bank rods with 12 Chinook and one steelhead released, along with 13 boat rods in five boats with one keeper steelhead and three Chinook released. On Monday river conditions below Mayfield Dam were recorded with 3,540 cubic feet per second of flow, 14 feet of visibility and a temperature just below 55 degrees.
At the Cowlitz River salmon hatchery separator last week employees retrieved 986 coho adults, 2,251 coho jacks, 375 fall Chinook adults, 89 fall Chinook jacks, 86 cutthroat trout, 42 summer-run steelhead adults and seven spring Chinook adults. In an ongoing effort to replenish stocks above the dams last week fishery workers upcycled 107 coho adults, 174 coho jacks and two spring Chinook adults into the Cispus River near Randle, as well as 120 coho adults, 68 coho jacks, and two spring Chinook adults at the Franklin Bridge release site in Packwood. Crews also released 389 coho adults, 1,251 coho jacks, 86 fall Chinook adults, 34 fall Chinook jacks, and six cutthroat trout into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton, and they released 210 coho adults, 640 coho jacks, five cutthroat trout and three spring Chinook adults into Lake Scanewa in Randle.
A press release from the WDFW noted that, “Anglers should also be aware that signs marking the area that is closed to fishing around the fish release site at Gust Backstrom Park on the Tilton River have been moved to expand the no-fishing area to 300 feet from 100 feet. This change is designed to give salmon released now and later in the season a better chance to recover under low, warm-water conditions and to help maintain an orderly fishery at the park. Anglers can harvest hatchery salmon outside the posted closed waters.” There is also a 400 foot boundary line at the barrier dam.
The Kalama and Lewis River received an extra dose of attention last week from anglers pushed off the mainstem Columbia. The Kalama was mostly quiet with ten bank anglers reporting no catch while five rods on two boats managed to pull four steelhead and release another. The Lewis River had an especially nice turnout with 69 bank anglers keeping one Chinook jack, two coho and one coho jack. Those anglers also released five kings, three coho, and one coho jack. At the same time, 15 boats with 39 rods kept four Chinook while releasing another 19 kings, nine Chinook jacks, one coho and one coho jack.
Out on salted waters there are several parts of the Salish Sea that are open to salmon fishing. Those marine areas of Puget Sound currently open include areas 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) and 13 (South Sound) which both have a two salmon daily limit. However, all wild Chinook must be released in both areas and wild coho must be released in Marine Area 13. Additionally, the bottomfish season is set to expire on Oct. 30 off of Ilwaco (Marine Area 1), Westport (Marine Area 2), La Push (Marine Area 3), and Neah Bay (Marine Area 4) west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line.
Trout are still finding their way onto baited hooks this time of year as well as we approach the traditional end of lake fishing season. Many waters will close on Oct. 31 but there are still thousands of stocked trout and other pan fry fish lurking in area waters. At Mayfield Lake the daily limit is ten hatchery trout at least eight inches long. Anglers are also still having some success for tiger muskies at Mayfield and Merwin before the water cools off. Riffe Lake is also a popular destination in the fall as smallmouth bass take over the scene from those chasing landlocked silvers. Goose Lake may be a bit of a drive but it’s a pretty drive and there are lots of fish. That lake, within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, was stocked with more than 1,000 coastal cutthroat at the end of September and the fishing should stay hot until snow blocks the access road. There should be fewer mosquitoes than summertime, too!
HUNTIN’
If you have a hunter in your family I hope you said your goodbyes because they might not be coming home for awhile. That’s because we are smack dab in the middle of most hunting seasons with big game, birds and small critters all finding themselves in the crosshairs.
Muzzle stuffers will be keeping their peepers peeled for deer through Oct. 7 and then the next week the state’s most popular hunt, the modern rifle deer opener, will begin its run from Oct. 14-31. WDFW prospect reports note that odds are particularly promising in GMUs 621, 627, and 633. Additionally, GMU 636 has shown good deer density in lower elevations and GMU 651 keeps hunters happy so long as they can obtain a permit from Green Diamond Resources. Locally, some of the best hunting in the state occurs in GMUs 530 (Ryderwood), 501 (Lincoln), 520 (Winston) and 550 (Coweeman). Hunters headed to the Klickitat Wildlife Area should note that the modern rifle hunt for black tails will overlap with tree thinning in the Soda Springs unit.
Saturday marks the opening of the early muzzleloader season for elk. That hunt will run through Oct. 12 and will run concurrently with deer openings in many areas. Some local GMUs that had general muzzleloader seasons added last year include 505 (Mossyrock), 506 (Willapa Hills), 510 (Stormking), 516 (Packwood), 520 (Winston), 550 (Coweeman) and a section of 524 (Margaret). In Thurston and Pierce counties hunters have been having success in recent years by traveling through Mount Rainier National Park to follow the Carbon River beyond the Clearwater Wilderness Area. According to a WDFW prospect report, “Lands east of the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort (outside ski boundaries once ski season officially opens) offer good opportunity for high-elevation, rugged elk hunting with plenty of robust elk.” The Skookumchuck area (GMU 667) also has a few nice elk in between the Skookumchuck Wildlife Area and the old Centralia Coal Mine.
Hunters are well aware that elk in our region have become widely afflicted with a debilitating hoof disease. That malody first popped up in the herds of southwest Washington before spreading north, and finally making its way east of the Cascade Mountains near Trout Lake. In order to help stop the spread of the disease, hunters are required to leave the lower leg portion of any harvested animal at the kill site in GMUs 507, 418, 437, 454, 501-564, 633, 636 and 642-699.
Bear hunting will continue through Nov. 15 but the best odds will be had in the next few weeks while the changing weather sets them to scrambling for more food. Meanwhile, cougar seasons will continue through at least the end of the year in all open areas.
Hunters targeting ducks, coots, and snipe will be allowed to bag birds from Oct. 13-31, before resuming again from Nov. 3 though Jan. 27. Goose hunting will also begin on Oct. 13, including Grays Harbor and Pacific counties where goose hunting is allowed on Saturday, Sundays and Wednesdays until Oct. 28. Dusky geese are not legal for harvest in those counties.
Canada geese and hinterland ducks are just now starting to show up in substantial numbers to southwest Washington but some native birds are still biding their time in the Columbia, Chehalis, and Willapa river watersheds. A WDFW survey shows that the Canada goose population is up by 17 percent over last year while numbers for local mallards are up by 74 percent. In Thurston County the best waterfowl hunting is near Puget Sound, particularly near the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.
Upland game bird seasons are also on the wing. Seasons for pheasant, quail, bobwhite, forest grouse all began in late September. Forest grouse will be open through Dec. 31, while quail hunts will ramble on through Nov. 30. Pheasant hunts are specific to designated release locations and the general season will continue through Nov. 30. In District 11 (Thurston and Pierce counties) the WDFW will release around 2,000 pheasants at the Skookumchuck Wildlife Area and just under 4,000 pheasants at Scatter Creek Wildlife Area. A full 4,000 pheasants will be released at Joint base Lewis-McChord where hunts are dictated by military exercises and operations. Lincoln Creek also has a popular release site uphill from Galvin.
Small game hunts are also underway for bobcats, fox, racoon, rabbits, and hares. Not to mention crows. As always, the sun never sets on coyote season, and by the macabre grace of legislation roadkill salvage nearly always legal in Washington. The only exceptions are for deer are in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties in order to protect endangered populations of Columbia white tails.
KILLIN’
The WDFW has stated its intention to kill a cougar that’s been spotted numerous times in the Butler Acres area of Kelso over the last several weeks.
According to Jeff Wickersham, captain of WDFW police for Region 5, the drop dead decision boils down to a public safety concern. He noted that while there have been no reports of injuries to people, pets, or livestock the cougar would be difficult to track down in the wild, so if it shows up again, it’s a goner.
Law enforcement used a dog to track the cougar in surrounding woodlands earlier this week but came up empty. That tracking technique is explicitly illegal for hunters.
CLAMMIN’
The first razor clam digs of the season are just a week away now, so long as marine toxin tests come back with a passing grade in coming days.
Last month the WDFW announced a tentative list of razor clam digs that are set to begin in the second week of October. Those fall/winter digs are set to continue intermittently through the end of the year, including a popular New Year’s Eve dig. As always, final approval for the digs will be dependent upon results of marine toxin testing usually conducted about one week before the actual digging dates.
Proposed razor clam digs through the end of October are listed below, along with evening low tides and beaches:
· Oct. 11, Thursday, 8:58 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
· Oct. 12, Friday, 9:41 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis
· Oct. 13, Saturday, 10:26 p.m.; +0.1 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
· Oct. 25, Thursday, 7:55 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis
· Oct. 26, Friday, 8:36 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
· Oct. 27, Saturday, 9:19 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis
Clam diggers will notice a lack of opportunity at Long Beach in the early going. That’s because clam populations have not rebounded yet from a wave of low salinity that killed many of the beaches clam recruits. The WDFW noted that clam populations are stable or booming on other coastal beaches in Washington.
CRABBIN’
Crabbers will be able to hit Puget Sound soon for another round of shell cracking in Puget Sound.
Beginning Oct. 6, crab fishing will be allowed in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay, east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 7 (San Juan Islands), 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardiner), and 9 (Admiralty Inlet), except for waters south of a line from Olele Point to Foulweather Bluff. Those waters will stay open to continuously through the end of the year.
Sport crabbers are out of luck this year in marine areas 10 (Seattle Bremerton), 11 (Vashon Island), 12 (Hood Canal), 13 (South Puget Sound), and the remainder of Marine Area 9.
In open areas crabbers are allowed to keep up to five Dungeness crab per day so long as they are males in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6 ¼ inches. The daily limit also includes six red rock crab of either six per day so long as they measure at least five inches across.
BURNIN’
As fall descends upon the entirety of the state the WDFW has eased fire restrictions in eastern Washington. That action will be a relief to hunters, anglers and adventurers of all stripes who intended to enjoy their time out of doors on the far side of the Cascades.
"This change reflects an easing of fire danger in eastern Washington, but we still urge campers and anyone else heading outdoors this fall to be extremely cautious with campfires and any other activity that could spark a wildfire," said Cynthia Wilkerson, WDFW Lands Division manager, in a press release.
While rules on state lands were taken care of in one fell swoop there are still various regulations in place for local municipalities. For instance, there is a full campfire ban on all WDFW wildlife areas in Benton, Franklin, Yakima, and Kittitas counties until Oct. 15. A similar campfire ban is in place at the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Grant and Adams counties through Oct. 31.
Locally, Grays Harbor County acted to remove its ban on slash pile and debris burning on Tuesday but officials from Lewis County declined to return numerous phone calls seeking information about the status of their burn ban. For now, only small recreational campfires are allowed.
BIRDIN’
As northern birds begin to make their way to more temperate locals to the south a flock of bluegrass musicians are set to celebrate their arrival.
From Oct. 5-7, the Birdfest and Bluegrass Festival will take place in Ridgefield. That event is sponsored by the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and refuge staff.
In the Vancouver Lowlands sandhill cranes have been swooping in since Sept. 14 and sometimes several hundred of the big birds can be seen at once. The occasional great egret and white pelican will also make a pit stop before crossing the Columbia River.
This will be the 19th year that bluegrassers have come together to call in the birds. Avian events include bird watching tours, nature photography courses, a bird sign language workshop and a whole lot of pickin’. Additional information can be found online at https://ridgefieldfriends.org/birdfest-bluegrass/.
SPAWNIN’
A stream of chum salmon are headed for their headwaters in and around Thurston County which means spectators will have the opportunity to watch the fish on their final approach.
Later this month the salmon run at Kennedy Creek Natural Area Preserve will hit full tilt with salmon making whoopie in the redds. Due to the preponderance of expired fish in the area there are also swarms of hungry shorebirds to gawk over. That area is located on Totten Inlet off U.S. Highway 101 north of Olympia.
The Deschutes River is another place to catch a glimpse of returning salmon on their last legs. The best place to sneak a peek is at the 15-acres Tumwater Falls Park near the old Olympia Brewery.
