Reality is all around us, even when we elect not to see.
Fields are all shorn short and barns are full of hay and one by one they disappear. Piglets grow up and go off to the fair, win blue ribbons and head to market.
Only memories made on Ferris-Wheels remain.
White cherry snow cones melt away like glaciers and the fickle promise of endless summers. Rivers recede and scrubby shorelines reveal what was hidden just beneath the surface.
So many jaded yesterdays wish they could recapture the potential of tomorrow.
The spongy soft edges of daylight continue to shrink imperceptibly. Increasingly tardy mornings and premature evenings are cleaved by a blood orange moon escorted by Venus across a tar paper sky.
Only veteran skygazers know when it is Sirius.
Dusty footed children cartwheel between towering corn stalks and grow Grade-A farmers tans. Fast lettuce bolts and cabbage patch kids sit cross legged as orange orbs plump on the vine.
In two more moons, it will be harvest time.
School children oversleep in a hopeless attempt to stop the calendar. Parents leave them to slumber in exchange for a slice of silence. They all pretend not to know it won’t last as big alarm clocks loom.
Teachers make lesson plans and pick apples.
Yellow jacket dens proliferate beneath the pasture and buzz backyard barbecues for T-bones and baked beans. Honeybees move maniacally from flower to flower to store up sweet nectar while bears bumble from bush to bush and gobble bulbous berries.
The sandman beckons for all from stage left.
As another summer sun sets a solitary man stands silhouetted by the riverside. Looking downstream he clutches sand tightly in his hand so as to never let it go. Water rushes by and the pile at his feet grows.
He can feel his empty hand but is comforted by the fact that if he never looks down, he’ll really never know.
FISHIN’
The arrival of August has untethered a fleet of eager anglers on the lower Columbia River who are hoping to land a summer hog between Buoy 10 and Bonneville dam. That section of the river had been open to steelhead fishing but closed to salmon retention during July.
So far the returns on salmon have been best near Astoria. However, it is probably wise to temper expectations for those summer kings. The preseason forecast calls for a run of 375,510 fall Chinook on the mighty river this year, which would represent roughly 80 percent of last year’s return and only about 50 percent of the ten year average. That disappointing projection has led state fish officials to implement additional restrictions to the popular fishery this year.
“We all enjoyed the heydays of a million-plus fall chinook from 2013-15, but the cycle has clearly turned,” said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist, in a press release. “This year we tried to put together the best fishing seasons we could, based on the current outlook.”
The daily limit will now allow one adult salmon, either Chinook or coho, or one hatchery steelhead in the lower Columbia. Beginning on Aug. 24, anglers trying their luck between Buoy 10 and the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line will be allowed to keep two hatchery coho or one hatchery coho and a steelhead each day. Chinook retention will close in that area the same day. Additionally, the North Jetty will remain closed to public access through October due to an ongoing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project.
Currently the river is running at about 72 degrees and the first coho was counted at Bonneville Dam on July 25. Hymer noted that most tributaries to the Columbia River will offer larger daily limits for anglers looking to stock the freezer. He pointed out that the Kalama River is one of several regional rivers with hatchery programs for fall Chinook that features a daily limit of three adult salmonids.
Using WDFW data from last week, we’ll take a peak at some of those area tributaries. On the Elochoman, 13 bank anglers reported no catch, while 10 bank anglers on the North Fork Lewis River showed one steelhead on a stringer. The Cowlitz River was busier, though. There was no action downriver but 34 bank rods above the I-5 Bridge kept seven steelhead and 125 rods on 49 boats kept 77 steelhead in the same area of the river. River temperature has been hovering around 55 degrees with about 14 feet of visibility. On Monday, river flow just below Mayfield Dam was reported at about 3,080 feet per second. By Wednesday, that flow had dropped to just 2,430 cubic feet per second.
According to Tacoma Power, there were 222 summer steelhead recovered at the Cowlitz River salmon hatchery separator last week, along with 76 spring Chinook adults, two jacks, four mini-jacks, one fall Chinook, and two cutthroat trout. Crews subsequently released five springers adults into the Cispus River near Randle, along with 39 spring Chinook adults, two jacks and one cutthroat trout in Packwood. Additionally, one fall Chinook and one cutthroat trout were released into the Tilton River in Morton. Crews also recycled 75 summer steelhead back down river to the I-5 Bridge boat launch. That release brought the summer recycle total to 466 steelhead since June 15.
Hymer had several suggestions for anglers looking to improve their odds for Columbia River summer salmon. First, he says it’s best to target deepwater between 40 and 60 feet down by using weighted wobblers since Chinook tend to steer toward the cooler water in summer. He recommended using herring and spinners for coho at Buoy 10, but noted that bait and lures are best on tributaries. Hymer added that anglers on boats should be sure to take advantage of vessel limits that allow all anglers to keep gear in the water until the cumulative limit for everyone aboard been reached.
There are also a growing number of angling options along the coast and in the Chehalis Basin. Portions of the Chehalis, Naselle, Willapa, and North Nemah rivers all opened to salmon fishing on Aug. 1. On the Chehalis River, anglers are now allowed to keep up to six salmon per day, although adults must be released. Steelhead have been enticing anglers on the Humptulips and Wynoochee rivers already this summer but results will likely continue to be disappointing until the rains return. On Wednesday, flows on the Wynoochee River were reported at about 183 cubic feet per second above Black Creek, and 209 cubic feet per second at Grisdale.
On the Naselle, North Nemah, and Willapa rivers anglers are allowed up to six salmon per day. Of those six fish, four may be adult salmon and one may be a wild coho, but all wild Chinook must be released. The Nisqually River is another option for salmon angling. The daily limit there is six salmon, of which two may be adults. All chum, coho, and wild Chinook must be released and night closures are subject to night closures and Sunday closures. Flows on the Nisqually below LaGrande Dam were reported at 1,150 cubic feet per second on Wednesday.
While summer flows still hamper some salmon fisheries and other runs threaten to offer diminishing returns, the odds of landing a lunker trout in area lakes continues to remain high. Hatchery trout stocking efforts have been particularly concentrated at Mayfield Lake and Merwin Reservoir. To wit – Last week 2,960 rainbow trout were released at Mayfield. Those fish joined 2,960 catchable size rainbows that were planted on July 19, and another load of 3,380 rainbows on July 12. Tiger muskies have also been predictably active lately at Mayfield and the WDFW reports that, “kayakers who get a big one on their line are having a ball getting towed around in the water.”
A prospect report from the WDFW added that Council, Takhlakh, and Goose Lakes are all still putting trout on the line. Additionally, Mineral Lake was planted with 3,126 little brown trout on July 19 and Chambers Lake was stocked with 1,000 little brown trout on July 18. Riffe Lake and Yale Reservoir have also been fishing well for coho, and kokanee, respectively.
Warmwater fish opportunities are also popping off in backwaters and ponds around the area. In Southwest Washington the best options for panfish include Swofford Pond, Silver Lake, Lake Sacajawea and Kress Lake. Bass are also biting at South Lewis County Park Pond, Carlisle Lake and Riffe Lake, while channel cats have been hitting hard at Swofford Pond.
August also marks the beginning of the prime ocean fishing season. Currently marine areas 1 (Ilwaco), 3 (La Push), and 4 (Neah Bay) are open daily, while Marine Area 2 (Westport) is open Sunday through Thursday each week. As of the end of July anglers were averaging about one salmon per trip off of Ilwaco and Neah Bay, while anglers at La Push were bringing in about 0.7 salmon per trip, and anglers off of Westport were averaging half a salmon each. The daily limit off of Ilwaco and Westport is two salmon, of which one may be a Chinook. Anglers in marine areas 3 and 4 can keep two salmon per day without restriction on Chinook. Wild coho must be released in all areas.
Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor are also open to salmon fishing in August. In Willapa Harbor, anglers can keep up to three adult salmon per day as part of the six salmon limit. Only one of those adults may be a coho and all wild Chinook must be released. Grays Harbor will be open west of the Buoy 13 line through Aug. 13. That area has a daily limit of two salmon, of which one may be a Chinook. Again, all wild coho must be released, and the east Grays Harbor fishery will remain closed until Oct. 1.
Stretches of South Puget Sound will even begin to fill up with salmon anglers this month. Anglers in Marine Area 11 (Tacoma/Vashon Island) are now able to fish from either a boat or from shore seven days per week. Previously those waters were closed to salmon fishing Tuesdays through Thursdays, but the WDFW has determined that enough fish remain to allow for expanded opportunity. Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) also opened on Aug. 1 and salmon fishing is allowed year-round in Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound).
HUNTIN’
Wednesday marked the long anticipated reopening of hunting season as black bears became fair game in the Coastal and Puget Sound zones, as well as in the East Cascades. On Aug. 15, the South Cascades will also open up to bear hunting.
Unfortunately, some closures of private timberlands and state managed lands will likely stimey early efforts to stalk bears in the berry patch. Those closures have been implemented under the guise of fire safety and will presumably be lifted once tinder dry conditions get damp.
Hunters who travel to GMUs 418 and 426 in the North Cascades Zone could possibly encounter protected grizzly bears. The WDFW is reminding hunters that correct identification is required by law and this is the first year that hunters are required to complete an online bear identification program in order to hunt bears in those northern units and other eastern Washington areas. Hunters are allowed to kill two bears during the general season, of which only one may be from eastern Washington. As always, hunters are encouraged to avoid shooting sows with cubs.
Only the most die-hard of hunters will take to beating the brush during the dog days of August solely to track down black bears. Other hunters will use these next few weeks to scout for deer, elk and other species that will have hunts open up in September.
“This is a good time to locate game animals and get the lay of the land, particularly if you’re planning to hunt a new area,” said Mick Cope, WDFW deputy assistant wildlife director, in a press release. “But it can get hot out there in August, so it’s important to stay hydrated and be aware of fire danger.”
Deer hunters have until until 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 13 to submit their application for a special deer hunt in the Charles and Mary Elder unit. That 6,000 acre unit is located within the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in northeastern Okanogan County near Oroville. The 18 access and harvest permits for the special hunt will be divided up evenly between bowhunters, muzzleloader toters, and hunters using modern weapons. Those hunts will take place within GMU 204 during the general seasons, which are set for Sept. 1-28 for bowmen, Sept. 29 through Oct. 7 for musketmen, and Oct. 13-23 for riflemen.
Of course, any licensed hunter who encounters a coyote has the option to bag it since state law leaves the devil dogs in the crosshairs all year long.
RESTRICTIN’
This week Sierra Pacific Industries moved to close off access to its private forestlands in Lewis, Cowlitz, and Clark counties due to escalating fire danger in the region. A press release from Sierra Pacific cited the prevailing warm and dry weather of summertime as rationale for the closures.
According to Lisa Perry from Sierra Pacific, late summer closures of company timberland have become commonplace this decade. She noted that previous closures have been implemented as early as the beginning of June and as late as the end of August.
“We’ve had to do this every year for at least the last four or five years. It’s a little bit different timing every year,” said Perry, who noted that the timing of last year’s closure was similar to this summer. “Definitely we are seeing drier conditions earlier, I know that. I can’t tell you if it’s extra precaution or not, but with all of the wildfires around the region it certainly could be.”
The Sierra Pacific press release noted that other private timber companies have instituted similar preventative measures in the name of fire safety. The company did not provide a timetable for an estimated reopening of their timberlands but Perry expressed hope that conditions could change within a month or so.
“We pride ourselves on being open access, free of charge,” said Perry. “It’s all recreational and we definitely see an increase during hunting season. Hopefully we’ll get a good rainfall in September, which usually happens, and we’ll be able to reopen.’
With bear hunting season having opened on Wednesday, Perry noted that hunters who are clamoring to get back in the woods can obtain up to date access information by phone on the company’s “Hunters Hotline” at 360-623-1299.
TWITCHIN’
While sunburns are still free at the beach, early birds are already beginning to move south along the coast. Tens of thousands of sandpipers, yellowlegs, dowitchers and other species have reportedly begun staging along the coast as they make their way from their Arctic breeding grounds to warmer regions nearer to the equator.
According to a WDFW report, “Clouds of shorebirds, especially sandpipers, can now be seen from Ilwaco to Ocean Shores.”
The WDFW added that, “Unlike their spring migration, shorebirds’ flight south is a disorderly affair. Adults often leave the Arctic before their chicks are fledged and join flocks departing at different times. They also travel at a more leisurely pace, departing anytime from July to October. Rare birds, such as off-course Asian shorebirds, are far more likely to join the others in their southward flight than on their trip north.”
SPAWNIN’
Chinook salmon will begin to return to the Deschutes River near Olympia this month and onlookers will again crowd public spaces to catch a glimpse. The Fifth Avenue Bridge in downtown Olympia is one perch that allows spectators to witness thousands of fish as they prepare to enter Capitol Lake and up to the fish ladders that lead to the Tumwater Falls Hatchery. That run typically takes place in August and September.
In the fall, similar viewing opportunities will be available at the Kennedy Creek nature trail in between Olympia and Shelton.
TALKIN’
To begin each week through Aug. 20, the Olympia-Thurston County Stream Team will host “Marine Creature Mondays” at the Boston Harbor Marina. Scuba divers will collect specimens and biologists will take the opportunity to speak about the various marine creatures and their habitat during the twice daily sessions, offered at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
A summer lecture series will also be offered during August at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. The weekly programs, offered on Wednesdays, will include programs such as “Washington’s Humble Bumbles” and “Life’s a Beach: Snowy Plovers and what it really means to be a beach-nesting bird.” Doors open at 6 p.m. and lectures begin at 7 p.m.
WALKIN’
Informational guided walks will continue to be offered at the Olympic National park this summer. Park Rangers will lead visitors along educational pathways at locations including Hurricane Ridge, Kalaloch Beach, Hoh Rainforest, and Staircase. Times vary by location so visitors should check with each site ahead of time. Schedules can also be found online at www.nps.gov/olym/learn/news/newspaper.htm.
Rangers are also offering educational programs at Mount Rainier National Park. Those informative saunters are available from Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise (White River Campground) and Longmire (Cougar Rock). A list of times, dates and locations for the summer walk-and-learns can be seen online at www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/publications.htm.
