Outdoors
Notebook: Anglers are asked not to trespass

By Mark Yuasa
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Salmon anglers planning a trip to Hoodsport in Hood Canal will need to watch where they step.

The Hoodsport Hatchery terminal fishery area is a highly popular fishing ground for a huge run of chum salmon that returns now through next month.

State Fish and Wildlife, which operates the facility and allows anglers to fish from the shore on department property near the hatchery outfall, say some anglers are treading on private property.

"Our neighbors to the north are getting pretty upset waking up to the sight of a bunch of anglers wading around on their beach," said Ron Warren, a state Fish and Wildlife regional fisheries manager. "If this keeps up, it could ultimately threaten the future of this popular fishery."

The boundary between the state Fish and Wildlife hatchery facility and the nearby property is clearly marked by a buoy line running out into the canal. Signs on the hatchery grounds warn against trespassing, although one atop a piling near the buoy line was knocked down last week.

"We're working to get that sign back up," Warren said. "We're trying to be a good neighbor, but people aren't making it easy."

Thanksgiving traditionally marks the peak of the chum-salmon run to the hatchery, which is already attracting hordes of anglers everyday, fishing from both shore or on boats.

"Property rights are not an issue for anglers fishing from boats, but they do apply to those fishing from the shoreline," Warren said. "If bank fishers fail to respect property rights, landowners may ultimately decide to take actions that affect individual anglers and the fishery itself."

State records fall

Three Washington anglers have set state sport-fishing records, including two brand-new ones.

On July 8, Andrew Kneipp of Bremerton was fishing at Sekiu when he landed a 6.05-pound sockeye salmon. Because sockeye are planktonic feeders, they are uncommon to catch in saltwater, and a record had never been claimed. Kneipp's sockeye hit a trolled herring with beads.

On Sept. 25, Tom Duttrey of Sequim caught a 3.7-pound jackmackerel on an artificial squid, fishing at Sekiu. Jackmackerel are a fairly common catch in Washington waters, especially during El Niño years, when warm-water currents pull these fish into the Strait. A record had never been applied for this fish.

Also Sept. 25, John E. Moore of Mount Vernon reclaimed his record for a tiger trout, a brown trout-brook trout hybrid, with a 1.89-pound fish caught in an unnamed lake in Okanogan County.

Moore caught the record fish on a spinner. He had previously held the record until July of this year, when Robert Mattila of Bothell caught a slightly bigger tiger trout.

Notes

• The Puget Sound Anglers of Lake Washington meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Guest speaker Sharon Kramis, chef, author, food consultant and columnist, will demonstrate how to prepare your catch. There will also be a discussion of the organization's Lake Washington coho-enhancement program, which releases hundreds of thousands of coho fry to the lake every year. Details: 425-823-0704.

• A free program on "Cycling Sicily" by adventure cyclist Tyler Folsom with the Seattle Bicycle Club is 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Mercer Island VFW Hall, 1836 72nd Ave. S.E. on Mercer Island (next to the Roanoke Inn). Details: 206-217-7556 or www.seattlebicycle.com.

• The Lynnwood Parks Department is hosting eagle-watching outings at 10 a.m. Dec. 7 and 13 to the Skagit River. Each winter hundreds of bald eagles congregate in the area to feed on spawning salmon. Rafting trip includes a hot meal. Cost is $75 residents and $80 non-residents. Details: 425-771-4030.

• The East Jefferson County Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers has started a statewide petition drive to heighten the awareness of unfair crab quota allocation that is jeopardizing the sport crab season in Puget Sound, Hood Canal and the San Juan Islands.

Thousands of crabbers participate every year, but receive less than 16 percent of the total state harvest. Details: 360-379-3922 or e-mail Gary Hulsey at garyhulsey@aol.com.

• The North Cascades Institute, in cooperation with the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, is looking for volunteers to participate in the annual Eagle Watcher program.

Volunteers answer questions and provide information to people who visit the Upper Skagit River to watch bald eagles from December through February. Volunteers must attend 12 hours of training and work 16 to 20 hours at stations along the Skagit River.

Training dates are Wednesday in Sedro-Woolley, and Saturday and Nov. 22 in Rockport. Details: 360-856-5700, Ext. 209, or e-mail nci@ncascades.org or visit the institute's Web site at www.ncascades.org.

• The Puget Sound Anglers South King County Chapter meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Zenith Hall, 1826 S. 240th St. near Highline Community College. Details: 253-833-1440 or www.geocities.com/skcanglers/ .

• After years of operation, the Wind River Information Station in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest will close after Nov. 15. Visitor services will now be switched to the Mount Adams Ranger District through the Mount Adams Ranger Station in Trout Lake. Details: 509-395-3400 or www.fs.fed.us/gpnf.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers Club and REI are holding a free fly-tying class the first Monday of each month, 6:30-9 p.m. at the downtown Seattle REI store, Yale Avenue and John Street. Details: www.northwestflyanglers.org or 206-935-0934.

• The Tengu Blackmouth Derby in Elliott Bay is scheduled today, Nov. 16, 23 and 30; Dec. 21 and 28; and Jan. 4, 11 and 18. Cost is $12 per angler, and $6 for kids under age 12. Start time is daybreak until 11 a.m. at Seacrest Boathouse in West Seattle. Tickets are available at Seacrest Boathouse and Linc's Tackle Shop in Seattle. Details: 206-324-7600.

• A huge run of chum salmon is expected this autumn in southern Puget Sound, and the Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail in southern Mason County will be open every weekend next month 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The creek offers great views of spawning chum salmon along a half-mile trail, and is ADA accessible. Details: 360-427-9436 or 800-527-9436.

• The Bob Hall Ski & Snowboard School is accepting lesson registration for the upcoming winter season. Details: 360-468-3765 or write to Bob Hall, 14241 N.E. Woodinville-Duvall Road, P.O. Box 150, Woodinville, WA. 98072 or e-mail bobhallski@rockisland.com.

• The state Fish and Wildlife Department seeks public comment on a recently drafted document intended to offer guidance for those developing salmon recovery plans or strategies.

Comments will be considered in development of a final version of the document to be released Nov. 21. The Salmon Recovery Plan Guidance Document can be viewed at www.wa.gov/wdfw/recovery.htm . Send e-mail feedback to albjwa@dfw.wa.gov.

• The Northwest Mountain School and North Cascades Mountain Guides will offer a Level 1 avalanche course Dec. 20-21 and Jan. 10-11 at Stevens Pass. Included is one day of classroom instruction and beacon practice, and a full day of training in the backcountry. Cost: $160 per person. Details: 509-548-5823 or www.mountainschool.com.

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

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