Outdoors notebook: Seahawks' run leaves boat show at the dock

The dates of next month's Seattle Boat Show, the largest on the West Coast, remain unclear due to the Seattle Seahawks' playoff schedule.

"There are a lot of ifs as far as to when the boat show will occur," said John Thorburn, the communications director for the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA), producers of the Seattle Boat Show.

The original dates of the Seattle Boat Show and Lake Union Boats Afloat Show are Jan. 13-22. But if the Seahawks — who have already won the NFC West division title — finish the regular season with the best or second-best record in the NFC, then the boat show would be Jan. 6-14.

The Seahawks (10-2) currently have the best record in the conference and have clinched a playoff spot.

"This is great for the city of Seattle, and we're supporting them [the Seahawks] in every way," said NMTA president Michael Campbell. "Moving the show presents a few logistical challenges, but we'll make it work."

The Seattle Boat Show has been held at the Qwest Field Event Center since it opened in 2000. The Seahawks have priority at Qwest Field and its adjoining event center.

When the playoff scenario becomes more clear, boat show organizers will determine when the show will open.

"As soon as we know how the Seahawks will finish the regular season, we'll let our exhibitors, partners and attendees know when the doors will open," said George Harris, NMTA boat show director. "We're scheduled to have our biggest and best boat show ever in 2006, and one way or the other we will."

Columbia sturgeon fishing plan finalized

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a three-year management policy for Columbia River sturgeon fishing.

The annual catch quota of white sturgeon by Washington's non-tribal sport and commercial fisheries will be 40,000 fish, the same level in effect since 1997.

Catch allocation formulas will remain the same, leaving 80 percent of the catch for Washington and Oregon sport fisheries and 20 percent for commercial fisheries.

Sixty percent of the sport catch will be given to anglers fishing downstream from the Wauna power line near Cathlamet.

There'll be a new sturgeon spawning sanctuary, extending from McNary Dam to the Highway 82 Bridge. Beginning next year, sturgeon fishing will be closed from May 1 to July 31 to protect large, breeding sturgeon.

"Current data indicates that the white sturgeon population in the lower Columbia River is healthy and stable," said Ron Ozment, chairman of the Washington commission. "We are determined to keep it that way, while also working to increase the abundance of white sturgeon upriver from Bonneville Dam."

Notes

• The Puget Sound Anglers of Lake Washington meeting, holiday party and Fisher of the Year Awards presentation is 7 p.m. Thursday at 4007 W. Mercer Way on Mercer Island. Details: 425-823-0704.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers various classes through the year that are open to the public. The public is also invited to club meetings held 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 Washington Fly Fishing Club's eight-week fly-tying class begins Jan. 5 and meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Mercer Island Covenant Church. Details: 206-932-4925 or 206-542-4623.

• Mountain Madness and a free avalanche awareness and ski safari lecture and slideshow are at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Jan. 13 at Second Ascent, 5209 Ballard Ave. N.W. in Seattle. Details: 206-545-8810 or 800-328-5925.

• The East Lake Washington Audubon Society is hosting a birding field trip from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 26. Meet before 9 a.m. at the north end of the Newport Hills Park-N-Ride (I-405 off Exit 9). Cost is $2 per person. Details: 425-746-6351 or www.elwas.org.

• The Washington Alpine Club is offering Wednesday night telemark ski classes from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in January and February at Summit Central at the Summit at Snoqualmie. Cost is $120 for six sessions. Details: 206-244-7410 or www.washingtonalpineclub.org.

• The SeaDoc Society is hosting a free salmon lecture at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Camp Orkila's Larry Norman Lodge, 484 Camp Orkila Road in Eastsound on Orcas Island. Russel Barsh, director of the Center for the Study of Coast Salish Environments, Samish Indian Nation, will discuss salmon reef netting off the shores of Orcas Island. A pizza dinner will be provided. Details: 206-281-9987.

• The Lake Washington Audubon Christmas Bird Count starts at 8 a.m. Saturday at Marymoor Park near Redmond. Totals taken from the count will be included in Central America counts to track migrant birds. Those who prefer to do counts at home or on their own must count for at least two hours, then call in the total by 5 p.m. Jan. 3. A dinner will follow at 6 p.m. at the Northlake Unitarian Church. Cost is $5. Details: 425-827-2478.

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