Outdoors notebook | Chinook run faltering on upriver Columbia

The ballyhooed strong return of upriver Columbia River spring chinook — that produced off-the-chart sport fishing in the lower river last month — isn't quite living up to expectations at this point.

"It is possible the run could be late, but as of right now it is confusing with big daily [fish] counts [at Bonneville Dam] followed by small counts," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "It is like a moving target, and still too hard to pinpoint it down."

The Oregon, Washington and tribal fishery managers met this past Monday, and reported the run is late timed and has not reached 50-percent passage yet.

The group felt that the updated run size of 200,000 upriver fish was somewhere near the middle of projections, and fish counts at Bonneville need to stabilize in order to get a more definitive estimate.

The preseason forecast was 269,300 upriver fish, and would be the third largest return since 1977.

Through Wednesday, the total count at Bonneville was 74,228 adult spring chinook.

The Lower Columbia closed to sport fishing on April 20, and anglers kept 20,040 hatchery spring chinook and 392 steelhead, and released 3,132 and 62 from 102,972 angler trips.

The nontribal commercial fisheries caught 5,938 spring chinook and released 1,626.

The tribal take depends on how large the return is, so if it stays at 200,000 fish they can catch about 18,000.

Hymer pointed out that Oregon Fish and Wildlife are making plans that could affect fishing in the Willamette River.

"[Today] may be the last day to fish in the Lower Willamette for salmon, but the upper [Willamette] and the Clackamas River will remain open,' Hymer said. "This kind of unpredictability in the run really throws a wrench in things, and doesn't just affect Upper Columbia fish, but it is happening all across the board at the moment."

Fishery managers met Friday and will meet again tomorrow.

Paradise Inn reopens

The landmark Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park will reopen this Friday after an extensive two-year, $22.5-million renovation project.

Park visitors are invited to a 3 p.m. ribbon cutting ceremony. There will also be tours 1 p.m.-4 p.m. for those interested in learning more about the renovation work completed.

Renovation began in May 2006 to correct structural problems, including the building's timber frame construction which was deformed from years of heavy snow loads.

Other repairs were made to the stone fireplaces, stone wall and the stone rubble foundation. Workers also replaced failing mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection system components, plus it is now accessible to those in wheelchairs.

The Paradise Inn was constructed in 1916 and is a National Historic Landmark. The building has a dining room and lobby, rooms for up to 118 guests, and a gift shop and cafe. Details: www.guestservices.com.

Nations largest regatta series sets sail

The longest-running, largest sailboat racing regatta series in the United States, the Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design Regatta debuts on Puget Sound May 16-18.

More than 1,000 sailors and 200 boats from the United States and beyond are expected to compete. The regatta hosted by the Seattle Yacht Club and the Corinthian Yacht Club.

The regatta attracts competitors from Olympic and pro sailors to local day sailors racng in their first regatta.

The overall winner in Seattle will be invited to participate in the 2008 Regatta Championships in the British Virgin Islands in November. The Seattle Regatta is the fourth stop of the nine-event series. Details: www.sailingworld.com.

Washington team wins bass competition

Washington team captain Chris Lambert of Olympia, Wash., won The Bass Federation 2008 Western Divisional Championship on Lake Havasu on April 11, with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 41 pounds, 15 ounces. The win earned him a $500 Wal-Mart gift card.

"My wife was the one who really sacrificed to make this whole thing happen," Lambert said. "We came down as a family and rented a house for six days, so I was able to get out there and do the prefishing that I needed to do."

Lambert had a dead fish, but still opened the tournament in second place on the first day of the competition with five bass weighing 15-04. He added another five bass weighing 16-06 on day two to capture his lead. He then caught five bass weighing 10-05 on the final day to seal the win.

The top-finishing angler from each 12-person state team, including Lambert, will advance to the 2009 TBF National Championship.

The No. 2 competitor from each state team will advance to the National Championship as a co-angler, including David Kromm of Kennewick, who placed second with a 15 bass limit weighing 39 pound, 10 ounces.

Washington was the top-finishing team in this week's divisional, taking home the traveling cup, and $3,600 cash award for catching in 156 bass, weighing 353 pounds, 5 ounces over the three-day competition.

Junior Bassmasters divisional contest

The elite Junior Bassmasters of Washington battled it out April 19-20 to earn the right to move on in a new system to the B.A.S.S. Divisional competition to be held on Lake Coeur d' Alene on May 17.

In the 15-to-18-year-old division after the first day of competition there was a 2.7 pound differential between the top two anglers.

Joey Nania (age 17) of Liberty Lake, the three-time Washington State Champion and 2005 Junior Bassmaster Champion, had a five-fish limit of smallmouth bass for 19.21 pounds leading Nik Autrey (age 15) of Port Angeles who weighed-in five smallmouth bass of 16.38 pounds.

On the final day Autry caught two largemouth bass totaling 9.06 pounds, but Nania culled his limit five times in the last hour of competition to take the day's weight from 8 pounds up to 18.65 giving him the win by 12 pounds for the weekend. Third place went to Jake Cook of the Tri-Cities with 12.72 pounds on two days of mixed species.

In the 11-to-14-year-old division day one was a little tougher, but Kiana Clark (age 13) of Richland caught two smallmouth bass weighing 6.02 pounds leading Dakota Kentner (age 13) of Grand Coulee who caught one 4.13 pound smallmouth. On day two Clark got on a good smallmouth bite with an hour to go in the tourney, and bagged three bass weighing 9.58 pounds while Kentner held on to second with his original fish catch.

Juniors anglers in the competiton were from the Inland Empire Bass Club of Spokane; Columbia Basin Bass Club of Richland; and the Fire Creek Bassmasters of Lacey.

The tournament was sponsored by the Federation Nation of Washington, Inc. a member of B.A.S.S. and Bassmasters National Federation Nation. Boaters were volunteers and paired at random with non-related adults. Details: www.bassfedwa.homestead.com.

Notes

• The Renton Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 6:15 p.m. May 14 at the Kennydale Memorial Hall, 2424 N.E. 27th St. in Renton. John Keizer of FishFrontiers.com will discuss how and where to catch albacore tuna off the coast this summer. Details: 206-218-9759 or www.rentonpsa.com.

• Fly-angler and author John Gierach is hosting a presentation on his new book titled Fool's Paradise 7 p.m. May 14 at Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E. in Lake Forest Park, and 6 p.m. May 15 at Elliott Bay Books, 101 So. Main St. in Seattle. Gierach is the author of 16 books about fly-fishing. Details: 206-624-6600 (Elliott Bay Books) and 206-366-3333 (Third Place Books).

• The Sno-King Coastal Conservation Association is hosting a fundraising banquet 5:30 p.m. May 20 at the Everett Events Center. Cost is $75 per person and includes membership. Details: http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii311/ryleyf/CCA_brochure.jpg.

• The U.S. Bureau of Land Management staff in Spokane is hosting a bird-watching field trip May 17 at the BLM office, 1103 North Fancher Road in Spokane. Groups will then car-pool to several locations in Spokane and Lincoln counties to geta close-up view of Brewer's and vesper sparrows, sage thrashers, rails, waterfowl and more. Preregister for this trip. Details: 509-536-1281 or email nwilliam@blm.gov.

• The Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest is May 16-18, and includes professionally guided field trips for all ages and abilities. Other activities include programs on geology, wildflowers and the arts. Details: www.leavenworthspringbirdfest.com.

• The free Youth Outdoor Adventure Expo is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 17 at the Benton County Fairgrounds. Instruction and demonstrations include bird identification, bird-of-prey demonstrations, bat box construction, boating, casting, catch-and-release fishing, compass reading, fish identification, fish scale reading, fish tracking, firearm safety, fly tying, outdoor survival, poaching control and wildlife enforcement tools, and shrub-steppe wildlife studies. Details: 509-628-1166.

• The Icicle Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting a Family Fishing Derby 6 a.m.-3 p.m. May 31 at the Cove Resort on Fish Lake in Chelan County. The local chapter will also have a breakfast and lunch for participants. Details: 509-763-3130 or 509-548- 7662.

• The Three Rivers Marine and Tackle Big Tent Spring Sale is 9 a.m. May 29-31. Check out big discounts on fishing and boating gear. The store is located at 24300 Woodinville-Snohomish Road. Details: 425-415-1575 or www.3riversmarine.comCQ.

• The Washington Steelhead Coalition is hosting the Steelhead Summit Alliance May 31 in Seattle. The summit is a gathering of concerned groups, anglers and citizens to discuss the latest issues facing steelhead. Details: 206-669-6263 or email heritagesea@aol.com.

The group also holds monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month 7 p.m. at Three Rivers Marine and Tackle in Woodinville. Details: www.ccapnw.org.

• Come check out a fish that has outlived the prehistoric dinosaurs 1 p.m.-4 p.m. May 31-June 1 at the free Sturgeon Festival at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way in Vancouver.

There will be environmental activities for all ages including interactive children learning stations, live animal presentations, fish anatomy lessons, water safety demonstrations, puppet shows, story tellers, and other events related to the Columbia River ecosystem. Details: 360-906-6741 or 360-487-7111.

• This month is Bike to Work Month and is sponsored by the Cascade Bicycle Club to promote cycling as a healthy, economical, practical and eco-friendly form of transportation.

The Starbucks Bike to Work Day is 6 a.m.-9 a.m. May 16, where bicycle commuters can stop at one of 42 commute stations located throughout King, Snohomish and Kitsap counties to receive a free water bottle, maps, snacks, commuting information, and have bikes checked by bike shop sponsors. From 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. the Starbucks Bike to Work Day Rally will be held at Seattle City Hall with music, speakers, and free Starbucks coffee.

Bike to School Day is also on May 16 where elementary school students will record trips on a paper tracking sheet, and high school students will participate in an online commute challenge.

During the entire month will be the Group Health Commute Challenge where teams of riders will compete to see who can bike the most. The ride is open to anyone who commits to ride five times or more during the month. Prizes will be awarded to winning teams and individuals.

For details on all these events, go to www.cbcef.org/btw/cc.html or www.cascade.org or call 206-522-3222.

• The Washington Sea Grant is offering a Marine Electrical Wiring Workshop for commercial fishermen and recreational boaters 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. May 14-15 at the Fishermen's Terminal Nordby Building in Seattle.

Topics covered include American Boat and Yacht Council standards for safest wiring, wire size selection, circuit breaker and fuse ratings, cable routing and labeling, shore power circuits, battery charging circuits, corrosion protection circuits, engine instrument systems and troubleshooting. Cost is $80, and preregistration is advised. Details: 206-543-1225.

• The North Cascades National Park Visitor Center, near the town of Newhalem, is open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The center features exhibits, theater presentations, and is staffed by park rangers and volunteers. The center has access to the scenic Sterling Munro Overlook and a network of easy hiking trails such as the 1/3 mile Rock Shelter Trail and the 1.8 mile River Loop Trail.

The Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount is currently open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and opens daily beginning May 18. The center offers trip planning information and is the main location for backcountry users to obtain permits required for all overnight stays. Details: www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/hiking.htm">www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/hiking.htm. Reservations for campgrounds can be made at www.recreation.gov.

• Outdoor Emporium, 1701 4th Ave. South in Seattle is having a sale on a wide variety of fishing and hunting gear May 21-25. Details: 206-624-6550.

• The Bellevue/Issaquah Chapter of Trout Unlimited meeting is 7 p.m. May 14 at the Issaquah Brew House, 35 Sunset Way in Issaquah. The group will discuss a kokanee fry trap in progress on Lewis Creek. Dan Lemaich from Creekside Angling will discuss catching smallmouth bass on a fly. Details: www.tu-bi.org.

• The Magnuson Park boat launch at 7400 Sand Point Way N.E. in Seattle is currently closed for renovation and will re-open May 15.

Work includes replacing the existing boat ramps with new underwater planks, rebuilds the piers, and adds an extension float on the northern pier for improved ADA access.

Alternative ramps to use for larger boats are the Atlantic City Boat Ramp on the south end of Lake Washington and smaller boats could use Sunnyside Boat Ramp on the ship canal. Details: www.seattle.gov/parks/magnuson/boating.htm.

• The Mount Rainier National Park Education Program is offering two middle-school teacher workshops this summer.

The Living with a Volcano in Your Backyard — Mount Rainier workshop is July 22-25, and is designed for middle school teachers who teach about volcanoes, volcanic process, product, and hazards. Teachers will receive copies of the curriculum and additional resources to use with their students, and earn three quarter credits or 31-35 clock hours.

The Curriculum Review Workshop for Mount Rainier-Mount Fuji Sister Mountain is Aug. 7-8. Teachers can provide feedback on the draft materials developed to date for this international interdisciplinary middle school curriculum project. Teachers will receive copies of the draft materials to pilot test with your students for further feedback, and earn one quarter credit or 12 clock hours.

Advanced registration is required, and the deadline is July 1. Details: 360-569-6039 or email anne_doherty@nps.gov or www.nps.gov/mora/forteachers/professionaldevelopment.htm.

• Due to a lack of funds Mount Rainier National Park could be faced with selling land to developers inside the park's borders.

Mount Rainier National Park is one of 55 national parks with vital land now on the public market. Mount Rainier itself has 800 acres within its boundaries for sale at an estimated cost of $4.5-million.

To try and stop development inside park boundaries and enable the Park Service to purchase these so-called "in-holdings" from willing sellers, the National Parks Conservation Association is encouraging Congress to provide the Park Service with at least $100 million this year from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Plus, additional funding in the years leading up to the Park Service's centennial in 2016. Details: www.npca.org/landforsale.

• The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a series of public meetings to gather comments on the Winter Recreation strategic plan.

Meeting dates are: April 21, 7 p.m., at the Seattle REI Store, 222 Yale Avenue; April 23, 7 p.m., at Fairhaven Middle School, 110 Park Ridge Road in Bellingham; and April 24, 7 9 p.m., at the Clark Public Utilities Electric Center, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way in Vancouver. To view a draft of the plan go to: www.parks.wa.gov/winter/strategy.asp. Details: 360-586-6600.

• The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group sponsors a local environmental fair May 7 at Belfair State Park that hosts about 800 to 900 students, chaperones and teachers, and are looking for volunteers to serve in a variety of supporting roles. Details: 360-275-3575 or email chris@hcseg.org.

• The North Cascades National Park Visitor Center near Newhalem (State Route 20) has reopened, and will remain open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through May 4. Starting May 5, the Visitor Center will be open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Visitor Center was closed last month due to a break in the main water line that shut down all its water resources, and repairs were further delayed by heavy snowfall. The visitor center offers educational exhibits and theater programs, and day hikers can explore the network of snow-covered short trails. Scenic drivers are invited to head east from the center to view 14 miles of the park's mountain scenery to where State Route 20 remains closed for the winter at milepost 134. Details: 360-854-7200 or www.nps.gov/noca.

• The Summit for Salmon climb of Mount Rainier is Aug. 22-25, and Save Our Wild Salmon is looking for participants that raises funds to help protect and restore healthy, sustainable wild salmon in the Columbia and Snake river basins. Experienced guides from Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. will lead the group. Details: 206-286-4455 or www.wildsalmon.org.

• The National Alpine Ski Camp is offering a summer snow camp for children and young adults of all ages at Mount Hood in Oregon.

The camp offers six- and ten-day sessions in the summer for children of all ages. There is also a masters program for those over age 20. Race training is the foundation for the camps, with an emphasis on free skiing and free skiing drills. Designated for intermediate and advanced skiers, campers must have basic ski skills to attend.

Ski training is conducted in the morning, followed by windsurfing, rock climbing, rafting, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and go-cart racing in the afternoon. Details: 800-453-6272 or www.skicamp.com.

• The Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall holds numerous outdoors events, including a monthly "Tracking Club," that meets in Sultan on the third Saturday of each month now through May from 9 a.m. to noon.

The program is open to naturalists, hunters and people curious about learning to identify, follow and understand stories written in tracks left by animals on the Skykomish River shoreline. Details: 425-788-1301 or www.wildernessawareness.org.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th S.W. in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com