The pitcher motions toward the catcher and then gathers himself. He breathes through his eyelids and lets his lips hang loose. Salt soaked sweat courses through the channels of his forehead and coagulates on his brow before sinking into the brim of his cap.
He exhales, nostrils snorting like thundering clydesdales and mouth billowing like a tornado through a wind sock, and pauses in a moment of intense concentration. In his mind it is October and a World Series hangs in the balance. Flashbulbs pop in the stands while babyfaced fans in replica jerseys too expensive to justify cheer on with priceless naïveté.
As his body contorts and sinew pulls tendons into place a catcher crouches in the mud waiting for the pitch to arrive. Under his pigeon toed feet freshly thawed grass is mangled and mushed until it turns to mud. Somewhere, not too far away, a song bird sings in the afternoon sun as a spun rawhide sphere rips through moist springtime air. It smacks the cold leather of the mitt like a high dive back flop.
The pitcher finishes with a flourish and grunts with approval as he tugs his jersey back into place and impatiently awaits the catchers’ return toss. He knows there is more work to be done and worries when time will run out.
The archer pulls back his bow and closes his eyes for a moment that feels dark and bottomless like a confession. He strains to control his breathing and to calm the frenetic trembling in his hands. A whipping cross wind fills his ears and teases his hair about like plastic bags at the landfill while making his eyes burn dry around the edges.
He closes his eyes in order to visualize his shot. His muscles quick twitch in imperceptible synapses as the movie plays out in his mind. Eyes opening in a flash he picks the drop dead center of the bullseye and imagines the precise point of impact that will begin to rip away as his arrow plunges deep into his target.
Across a sleepy pasture, where ducks and geese commingle in the seasonal swales backfilled with cowpaddy puddles, a haystack sits out in the open. Mold spores waft off of the one round bale leftover and forgotten from last year’s harvest. Deer and elk like to munch the grass in the fall and winter, but they are nowhere to be seen today. And it wouldn't matter if they were hanging around anyhow, because there’s a time for every season but March isn’t time for hunting big game.
As the archer releases his breath his calloused fingers slip from the quill and the bow string snaps in reverberating contortions. The arrow flies straight dead center for the bullseye that the archer first hung by hand before making believe in his mind's eye. Beaded raindrops explode from the edge of the faded paper target as the arrow sails clean through.
In that moment the quarry of his wildest waking dreams absorbs the impact and prepares to draw its final breath. The bail, though, stays still and the archer reaches for another arrow from his quiver and begins the entire process anew. He wonders if he’ll be prepared to take his shot when a trophy bull finally presents itself or will he be slow on the draw and quick to panic.
Plucking off another shot it he only way he knows to put his fears at ease.
Out on a placid pond a fly fishermen stands still in the shadows along the muddy bank where dragonflies couple up on lily pads and ducks cavort in the shallows. The trees bend and bow in unison as winds whip up from the river just around the bend.
Out on those garbage strewn shores bait slinging anglers tell each other lies as they refine the tone of their particular death rattle with a pull from another extra long lung dart. They elbow one another for space along the bank and exchange turse words and insults when they inevitably wind up working to unweave the cats’ cradle of crisscrossed lures and leaders. Newcomers are seldom welcome and the fly caster wants no part of that fraternity anyhow.
Instead, he’d rather stand in solitude and silently commune with the water and the wind and the trees as he works to perfect the particular whip of his hickory handled rod. The angler’s turle knot holds true as he works a hypnotic whiplash with the flick of his wrist. A parabola of careening fishing line sings the music that the conductor's baton seems to orchestrate out of the ether.
He knows that the lake is still too cold for the fish to be too hungry but he also knows the alpine lakes where the lunkers he longs for are still all frozen over. He waded into the water knowing full well that the odds were against his favor but he promise of time on alone on the water was too much to turn down.
When it’s time to go home he keeps on casting, even after moving down the bank a ways and promising to no one in particular that he was leaving for use. Although the fish continued to prove shy he found it impossible to walk away from the hypnotizing ripples of the slow rolling glass pond. In his sleep he sees giant trout below the surface of snow rimmed lakes and wonders why he can never seem to land his fly right where the fish want to bite. He worries that if he doesn’t practice now he may miss every lunker to ever come his way.
Fear is what drives an artist to practice his craft in a pursuit of perfection. A fear of missing the moment. A fear of regret and ineptitude. A fear of failure in front of cheering or jeering crowds. A fear of failure in front of ourselves, knowing that we will never move on and forget.
To an artist every pitch, or shot, or cast is as essential as the next. Repetition and preparation are the only insurance against self-loathing later. They are never truly finished, they simply run out of time to get better.
FISHIN’
No matter how slim the chance, the thought of landing a winter steelhead continues to entice a fair turnout of anglers to try their luck on the Chehalis River system. Conditions are not perfect, but not terrible, with water on the rise just a bit this week.
“Right now people are still catching some steelhead. I haven’t talked to anybody on the mainstem but usually this time of year there is some productivity on the upper river. But, typically the action is up on the Satsop or Wynoochee,” noted a longtime outfitter for the Dennis Company in Grays Harbor. We call him Long Leader Lloyd at the FishRap command center.
“Usually the guys aim for about a 1,000 cubic feet per second on the river flows. The clearer it is the more finesse you have to use. The murkier it is the more luck you need. That’s fishing,” said L.L. Lloyd. “Typically you just have to get out there and fish, fish, fish because steelhead are one of those mythical creatures that a lot of people have seen but very few people have ever caught.”
On Wednesday river flow on the Wynoochee above Black Creek was reported at 780 cfps, while flow at Grisdale was down around 268 cfps.
Lloyd noted that only a few weeks remain in the winter steelhead fishery and soon bass will take over as the fish du jour on the Chehalis. In the meantime, he suggested anglers looking to give their hooks some work should head out to the coast to participate in the bottomfish fishery that opened up last Saturday. That fishery has been expanded this year and should remain open through the second week of October.
On the lower Columbia River the very first spring Chinook of the year has been counted making its way beyond Bonneville Dam. That sighting occurred on Monday. According to the recent ten-year average there are typically 24 spring kings beyond Bonneville by March 11.
Salmon and steelhead fishing is currently open for bank and boat anglers from Warrior Rock to Beacon Rock, while bank anglers can continue up to the deadline below Bonneville. Below Warrior Rock is closed to all salmon, steelhead and shad fishing until further notice. During creel sampling efforts by the WDFW last weekend a total of 55 salmon boats were counted between Warrior Rock and Beacon Rock with 28 bank rods between Warrior Rock and the Bonneville deadline. However, none of those anglers had any catch to show.
Sturgeon fishing is catch and release from Buoy 10 to Bonneville but some harvest options remain in the dam pools. Both Bonneville and the John Day pools are open for white sturgeon retention until their catch quotas are met. Last week seven bank anglers had no catch at Bonneville but 14 rods on five boats kept three legal sturgeon while releasing 51 fish for being too small. At John Day 15 bank anglers had no catch and six boat rods were also skunked.
Walleye are also finding their way onto hooks in the dam pools. Last week the WDFW sampled six rods on three boats at Bonneville with 20 walleye to show. In the John Day Pool 23 rods on 11 boats kept 26 walleye and released three more.
Anglers on the various tributaries to the lower Columbia had a bit more success last week, but that’s not saying much. Four bank anglers on the Grays River, 32 bank anglers on the Kalama River, five bank anglers on the Lewis River, and two bank angles on the East Fork Lewis River were all skunked. However, two bank anglers on the Elochoman were at least able to catch and release one steelhead while three rods on one boat also hooked and released one steelhead.
Anglers on the Cowlitz River had the best luck of anyone in the area last week. On the lower stretches of the river 60 bank rods kept one steelhead while five boat rods were skunked. Upstream of the I-5 Bridge 17 bank rods released three steelhead while 106 rods on 31 boats kept 22 steelhead and released four more. Last week at the Cowlitz salmon hatchery separator just two winter-run steelhead were recovered and they were both retained for broodstock operations. River flow below Mayfield Dam on Wednesday was reported at about 5,040 cfps. Water visibility was reported at ten feet with a temperature of 41 degrees.
As reel springtime approaches the WDFW is beginning to amp up their hatchery trout stocking operations. Most notably, on March 7 South Lewis county Park Pond in Toledo was stocked with 2,000 rainbow trout weighing less than a half pound each.
HUNTIN’
It’s all over. With the end of goose season in Area 2 on March 9 the last of the big game, game bird, and waterfowl general season hunts have run their course.
What’s more, on March 15 bobcats, fox, raccoons, snowshoe hares and cottontail rabbits will all be removed from the fair fodder list. However, most cougar hunts remain open but hunters should be sure to check with the WDFW before heading out. That extra effort has been recommended since the New Year when cougar areas became subject to restrictions based on cumulative harvest numbers from the fall and winter season. In areas where the take remains below the quota hunting will continue through April 30.
Trapping seasons for beaver, badger, weasel, marten, mink, muskrat and river otter will continue through the end of March. And, of course, coyotes find themselves in the crosshairs all year round.
Because liberty shall not be tread upon in the Evergreen State, roadkill salvage is also legal in Washington with the use of an emergency permit provided by the WDFW. Permits are available online and must be obtained within 24-hours of any deer or elk salvage. Permits can be found at wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/game_salvaging/application.html.
Looking forward, general spring turkey hunts are set to begin on April 15.
Additionally, any hunters who wish to obtain a multiple-season hunting tag for next fall and winter have through the end of March to submit their applications. Successful entries will be entered into a drawing for a limited supply of multiple-season tags. Those drawings will be used to award 8,500 extended tags for deer and 1,000 bonus tags for elk.
Those hunters who are selected will be able to purchase a special tag that would allow them to hunt during archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm general seasons for their allotted animal.
"With the multiple season tag, hunters have the opportunity to extend their seasons this fall," explained Anis Aoude, WDFW game division manager, in a press release. "Winners do not need to choose one hunting method over another, so they have more options and flexibility."
Additional information can be found on the WDFW website or by calling 360-902-2464.
CLAMMIN’
A new set of razor clam digs have been approved by the WDFW for this weekend. Those digs, which were approved following a round of marine toxin testing, will coincide with the annual Ocean Shores Razor Clam and Seafood Festival.
“This is a weekend opening that should not be missed,” said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, in a press release. “The event features live music, clamming tutorials, clam chowder contests, clam-themed art and cooking demos, and of course, some of the best food you can get with a clam gun or shovel.”
Those upcoming digs are scheduled for the following dates, beaches, and tides:
· March 16, Saturday, 3:43 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Twin Harbors, and Copalis
· March 17, Sunday, 4:43 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks
No digging will be allowed on any beach prior to noon.
In a conversation with the FishRap command center Ayres continued to hype the shellfish festival in Grays Harbor.
“We’ll be there. We always have a display and I’ll be there part of the time,” said Ayres.
He noted that WDFW staff will conduct a razor clam digging tutorial at the festival each day that will be followed by a presentation on shellfish management. The digging class is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
However, Ayres also noted a bit of uncertainty that began to rise with the tide on Wednesday.
“We are watching closely this issue that’s occurring in Oregon where they opened the beaches on March 1st and now they are closed due to domoic acid. Now we are seeing some additional indication in our plankton samples. It’s not high enough like we usually see before we have to close any beaches but it’s enough that we’ve got to keep our eye on it,” explained Ayres .”We’re crossing our fingers and hoping we can get through this baby without any hiccups.”
Ayres noted that the last few digging days, which came back around the beginning of March, proved plentiful for most everyone who got their hands sandy. He said diggers at Twin Harbors averaged about 12 clams per person during those digs while during a one day dig at Long Beach diggers averaged a baker’s dozen. He said that the clams at Long Beach were mostly new recruits who hadn’t reached their full potential.
“Everybody’s moving north for bigger clams. Most were just under four inches,” noted Ayres. “It was the classic recipe for wastage where you’ve got a bunch of small clams and then you’ve got a big clam and for some reason people are more than willing to toss those smaller guys and let them go to the seagulls.”
Ayres lamented that he’s personally pulled as many as 22 discarded clams out of an old hole that people had wantonly wasted in favor of a more hulking haul.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Ayres, who pointed out that high grading is illegal in Washington. Clam diggers are allowed 15 clams per day but must keep the first 15 they find regardless of size or condition.
He noted that due to the smaller size and other stresses on a young population of clams at Long Beach there will only be two more days of digging there this spring. Those digs are set to coincide with the Long Beach razor clam festival on April 20.
Last month a press release from the WDFW indicated that additional dates could be added to a prospective clam dig schedule. However, Ayres says that those possibilities have been given the kibosh by the powers that be.
“We’ve talked about it internally and there was no traction to add any additional days,” he explained.
Additional information on the festival in Ocean Shores can be found online at www.osrazorclamfestival.org.
CLIMBIN’
A limited supply of the exceedingly popular permits for climbing Mount Saint Helens will go on sale beginning March 18.
Those permits are necessary for all high elevation climbs between April 1 and October 31 in order to limit the number of climbers to around 100 people per dray. The permits are sold on a first-come-first-serve basis and typically sell out within a matter of days, if not sooner.
Permits cost $15 per person with a $6 fee per permit reservation. Climbing groups are limited to 12 people per group.
A press release from the U.S. Forest Service noted that this year the names of all climbers in the group will be required when making the purchase. Climbers will also be required to carry identification with them that matches the reservation. Permit holders will be allowed to change the identity of members of their group up until two weeks before the clmibimb date.
“Climbing to the summit of Mount St. Helens is a unique way for people to experience and appreciate the beauty of this amazing landscape,” said Mount St. Helens Monument Ranger Rebecca Hoffman, in the press release.
Permits can be obtained online at Recreation.gov. Additional information can be found online at fs.usda.gov/goto/climbingmsh.
SNOWIN’
Powderheads continue to be spoiled up on the mountain as winter storms keep on piling up the white stuff even as true spring lurks in the valleys below.
On Wednesday morning temperatures at White Pass were recorded at 19 degrees at the summit and 25 degrees at the base. About 10 new inches of snow had fallen over night and a full foot of new powder had accumulated over the past 24 hours. That snowfall brought the snowpack up to 110 inches near the summit and 84 inches down below.
White Pass is still open for daily operation until further notice. Currently the Ribeye run and Progression Park are both open. The Nordic area is open Thursday through Sunday each week and the tubing area is open on weekends.
Snow riders can still hitch a lift up to the slopes via the White Pass Shuttle which is currently operating seven days a week. The shuttle picks up riders in Olympia at 6:30 a.m., and at the Grand Mound Park and Ride off of Tenino-Grand Mound Road at 6:50 a.m. The shuttle arrives at the Safeway parking lot in Centralia at 7 a.m., with the flag pole as the designated pick up spot, and then stops at the Chehalis park-and-ride on West Main Street at 7:10 a.m. The final stop is at Packwood around 8:30 a.m.
The shuttle typically arrives at White Pass at 9 a.m. and leaves a 3:30 p.m. A round trip ticket costs $40, or $95 with the addition of a lift ticket. To find out additional information or to confirm pick up times call 360-970-9619.
