Other sports

Salmon fishing derbies have always been a big draw around the state, and those in the Puget Sound region date back to the 1930s.

That tradition continues with the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby, which ends Monday and is the second of 14 events in the Northwest Salmon Derby Series, which kicked off earlier this month with the Roche Harbor Salmon Classic.

"It surprises me on how the derby series continues to grow," said Tony Floor, the derby series coordinator and director of fishing affairs for the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) in Seattle.

Many refer to the 1930s and '40s as the glory days of salmon fishing in Puget Sound, where salmon were abundant.

One of the longest-running salmon derbies is the Tengu Club Winter Blackmouth Derby on Elliott Bay, which dates to 1946.

In the 1990s, salmon returns to Puget Sound bottomed out, and the derbies took a hit.

Hatchery production of salmon began to increase dramatically around 2000. As a result, more fisheries were targeting those healthy runs of fish and seasons became more liberal.

In February 2004, the NMTA debuted the derby series with six events. It has since grown to 14 to 16 events annually.

The derbies are increasing, Floor says, in a time when the concern to protect wild chinook is greater than ever. Every derby within the yearlong event is designed to target healthy, hatchery-produced salmon stocks.

Floor says last year the NMTA hosted 16 derbies and drew more than 7,000 anglers, and the series is expected to lure as many as 10,000 this season.

The Everett Coho Derby claims to be the largest on the West Coast, and it draws about 2,500 anglers every September. The Edmonds Coho Derby in September and the Anacortes Salmon Derby in March usually host about 1,000 anglers each. The other derbies draw 300 to 600 anglers.

The grand prize is a raffle drawing for a $55,000 21-foot River Hawk boat with a 150-horsepower Mercury four-stroke motor, fully loaded with electronics and downriggers. The boat will be given away on Sept. 23 at the Everett Derby.

Anglers in each derby get a raffle ticket with one ticket issued per derby, and are eligible with or without a fish caught.

New this season is the "Mercury Marine Salmon Derby Challenge," where at each of the 14 derbies cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers if their boat is equipped primarily by Mercury engines that are from 2008 or newer.

Remaining derby schedule: Everett Blackmouth Derby, March 17; Anacortes Salmon Derby, March 31-April 1; Bellingham Salmon Derby, July 13-15; South King County Puget Sound Anglers Salmon Derby in Des Moines, Aug. 4; Gig Harbor Puget Sound Anglers Salmon Derby, Aug. 11; South Sound Salmon Derby, Aug. 18; Vashon Island Salmon Derby, Aug. 25; Willapa Bay Salmon Derby, Sept. 1; Edmonds Coho Derby, Sept. 8; Everett Coho Derby, Sept. 22-23; Bayside Marine Salmon Derby in Everett, Nov. 3-4; and Resurrection Salmon Derby in Friday Harbor, Dec. 7-8. Details: www.northwestsalmonderbyseries.com.

Notes

• The Vertfest, a celebration of backcountry culture, is Sunday at Alpental at The Summit at Snoqualmie. The El Presidente Freestyle Camp is Sunday at Summit Central, is open for intermediate or better snowboarders ages 8 and older. For details, visit www.summitatsnoqualmie.com.

• The Washington Outdoor Women is offering a workshop "Introduction To Waterfowling" on March 24 for women 18 and older at a private hunt club near Monroe. Learn to set decoys by hand or boat, calling, waterfowl ID, using a retriever in the field, shotgun patterning and clay targets. Cost is $90, and includes meals and equipment. For details, call 253-380-8966, 425-455-1986 or 360-445-3633 or visit www.washingtonoutdoorwomen.org.

• The Washington Fly Fishing Club meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Seattle Tennis Club. Club member Preston Singletary will give a lecture on aquatic entomology. To attend the meeting contact the club at the website. Details: www.wffc.com.

• Mount Rainier National Park offers daily snowshoe walks on weekends through March 25. The walks are offered at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up at the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center information desk at Paradise beginning one hour before the start time.

Snowshoe walks cover approximately 1.5 miles, and last up to two hours. Snowshoes are provided, but visitors may use their own. A donation of $4 per person is requested. Participants must be at least 8 years old and should wear sturdy boots and dress in layers. Organized groups of 13 to 25 can reserve a snowshoe walk in advance. Group snowshoe walks begin at 10:30 a.m. For details, call 360-569-6575 or www.visitrainier.com.

• Washington Sea Grant and the Port of Seattle Fishermen's Terminal are hosting a Boat Engine Troubleshooting and Maintenance Workshop 6:30-9 p.m. March 6-8 at the Nordby Building at Fishermen's Terminal in Seattle for commercial fishermen and recreational boaters. Learn to troubleshoot problems in the fuel, lubrication, electrical, cooling, exhaust and drive systems of diesel and gas inboards, stern drives and outboards (two-cycle and four-stroke). Cost is $150. Details: 206-543-1225.

• Fly-fishing authors/instructors Skip Morris and Rick Hafele are offering a two-day workshop 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 25-26 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Issaquah, which is sponsored by the Creekside Angling Company fly shop in Issaquah.

Learn about the insects that move fish, how to imitate those insects with the right fly, learn from a fly-tying master on how to tie some of his favorite patterns, techniques for fishing a fly effectively, how to read the water, and more. Cost is $145 for both days, $80 for one day, and discounts offered for fly club members. Class size limited and preregistration required. Details: http://hookednow.com/events.

• The Washington Sea Grant and Port of Seattle Fishermen's Terminal are sponsoring a Coast Guard-approved First Aid at Sea course for commercial fishermen and recreational boaters 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Fishermen's Terminal in Seattle. Topics include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, patient assessment, hypothermia, cold-water near-drowning, shock, trauma, burns, fractures, choking, immobilization techniques, first-aid kits and more. Cost is $80. Space is limited, and preregistration is advised. Details: 206-543-1225.

• The Northshore Trout Unlimited meeting is the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center, 18560 1st Ave. NE in Shoreline. Details: http://northshoretu.blogspot.com.

• Mount St. Helens climbing permits are on sale. Cost is $22. Permits are required year-round to climb above 4,800 feet. Details: 360-891-5007 or www.mshinstitute.org.

• The Issaquah Alps Trails Club holds weekly hikes and meets in downtown Issaquah. Details: www.issaquahalps.org.

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

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

• The Western Bass Club meets every third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kennydale Hall in Renton. Details: www.westernbassclub.comor www.nickbarrfishing.com.

• The new nonprofit Cascade Musky Association is looking for members. Cost is $25 or $35 for a couple/family membership. Details: www.cascademuskyassociation.com or www.wafish.com.

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