Outdoors
Notebook: Lake Wash. sockeye fishery possible if budget is OK'd

By Mark Yuasa
Seattle Times staff reporter

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive

The predicted sockeye-salmon return this summer to Lake Washington could be large enough to support a sport fishery, but some key issues need to be addressed before anyone can wet a line.

State Fish and Wildlife indicated there isn't any money to manage a summer sport-sockeye fishery under its $277.8 million budget for 2003-05.

However, Gov. Gary Locke stepped in to approve including a supplemental budget request for the $120,000 needed for the popular Lake Washington sockeye fishery.

Now the request is in the hands of the Legislature, which still has to act on it and include the money in the budget bill that eventually comes back to the governor for his signature.

Interested citizens who wish to affect the outcome should contact their legislators.

The legislative session ends March 11, and the budget bills must be produced by March 5.

"Some say the fishery this summer could be worth more than $10 million to the region and state," said Frank Urabeck, a representative for Washington Council of Trout Unlimited.

The daily sockeye counts begin June 12 at the Ballard Locks' fish-viewing window, and the run usually peaks by the Fourth of July.

"We've settled on a preseason forecast and it will go over the 350,000 sockeye-spawning escapement goal," said Mike Mahovlich, a Muckleshoot tribal biologist. "But these are just paper fish (computer-driven forecasts) and we base our information on in-season data."

"When (this year's adult sockeye) left the lake as juvenile smolts, they didn't face many problems, we had a good 3-year-old fish survival, and jack returns last year were good," Mahovlich said.
 
"The general forecasts over the next four to five years look good, and we ended up with a fairly good run last year, which was on a low-year run cycle," Mahovlich said.

The public is invited to voice opinions on the sockeye fishery during a series of meetings to set salmon seasons. The meetings begin at 9:30 a.m. March 1 at the General Administration Building, 11th and Columbia St. in Olympia.

Local joins world jr. ski team

Colby Granstrom of Stevens Pass Ski Area was selected to this year's U.S. Trofeco Topolino Team.

The team of six racers (three boys and three girls) will compete against more than 40 nations at the world races held in Pinzolo, Italy on Friday and Saturday as part of the U.S. Ski Team's development program.

Notes

• Winter ecology and wildlife-tracking tours with skis or snowshoes in the Methow Valley are highlights of free guided trips on weekends and holidays through this month. Details: 509-996-4036 or www.mvsta.com.

• The Hot Plug Blackmouth Derby is Saturday at the Stanwood Eagles in Stanwood. Cost is $50. First place wins 45 percent of the total cash entry fee with cash prizes for second through fifth place, plus several other prizes. Fishing is open in Marine Catch Areas 8-1 and 8-2. Details: 360-387-5638.

• The Harbor Resorts Stomp Games are Saturday through Feb. 16 and Feb. 21-22 at the Stevens Pass Ski Area. The event is a freestyle-and snowboard-event series open to amateurs and professionals, and includes cash and prizes in Boarder X, Skier X and Slopestyle competitions. Details: 206-812-4510 or www.stevenspass.com.

• The Puget Sound Anglers of Lake Washington meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 S.E. 24th on Mercer Island (next to Luther Burbank Park). Seattle Public Utilities' Dwayne Paige will present a program on salmon passage at the Cedar River's Landsburg Dam, and will discuss the new fish ladder for sockeye, coho and chinook salmon. The public is invited. Details: 425-823-0704.

• Next Sunday, Mount Hood Meadows Ski Area in Oregon hosts nextXsnow, part of a national search for the best 9-to-13-year-old skiers and snowboarders, presented by Sports Illustrated for Kids. Winners from across the nation will compete in national finals in Colorado in April.

The top three in each category (12 total) will be featured on the Mount Hood Meadows Web site, where the public can cast votes. The public's vote will make up 25 percent of the overall scoring, and all 12 will be invited to the Jamaican Jam session Feb. 22, where the overall winner will be announced. The winner will advance to the finals in Keystone, Colo. Details: 503-287-5438 or www.skihood.com.

• The South King County Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at 1826 S. 240th St., at Green Acres (Zenith Place Hall). Guest speakers are Ward Norden, who will discuss salmon predictions. Dennis Clark will present a slide show on the Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed. Details: www.geocities.com/skcanglers.

• The Puget Sound Anglers' SnoKing Chapter meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Edmonds Yacht Club. Dave Vedder, outdoor writer, will speak on river fishing with floats. For details: groups.msn.com/psasnoking.

• The Sekiu Winter Salmon Derby is Saturday and next Sunday, with a third-day bonus derby Feb. 16. Weigh-in is at Olson's Resort. Cost is $20, and includes a hat and a hot-dog lunch. First place is $1,000; second $500; third $300; fourth $200, and fifth $100 — plus $100 for the largest sea bass. Details: 360-963-2311 or 963-2334 or www.sekiu.com.

• The Discovery Bay Salmon Derby is Saturday through Feb. 16. All proceeds go to District No. 5 Volunteer Fire Department. Cost is $30. First-place prize is $3,000; second $1,500; third $750; fourth $500, and fifth $300 — plus additional cash and merchandise prizes. For details: www.discovernwfishing.com.

• The Methow Valley Sports Trail Association Snowshoe Festival is Saturday at Chewuch Inn in Winthrop. Highlights include 1K, 5K and 10K snowshoe races ($15 entry fee) at 9 a.m.; free demo sponsored by Atlas Snowshoes at noon; and an evening snowshoe tour at Sun Mountain at 7 p.m. Details: 509-996-3287 or www.mvsta.com.

• The Grand Coulee Bald Eagle Festival is Saturday and next Sunday. Details: www.grandcouleedam.org.

• The Kongsberger Stampede is 11 a.m. Feb. 22, at the Cabin Creek Sno-Park Area on Snoqualmie Pass. Race distances are15K (Freestyle technique), 5K (Freestyle), and junior and citizen race, plus a 2.5K children's race. Details: 425-673-4800 or email Susie Main at susie@nordicsaga.com.

• The Murray's Geoduck Salmon Derby is March 6-7 in Brinnon. Cost is $5 per angler. Biggest fish on Saturday wins $100, and the largest overall fish wins $500, plus more than 100 donated prizes. Details: 360-796-4430.

• The Hog Loppet Citizen's Cross Country Ski Trek is Feb. 21. The course is 21 miles and runs from the top of Mission Ridge Ski Area to Blewett Pass. Details: 509-663-3723.

• Mountain climbers John Roskelley and Jim Wickwire will talk about their Mount Everest adventures Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at the St. Joseph's Church Social Hall at East Aloha Street and 19th Avenue East on Capitol Hill. Cost is $30 per person, and all proceeds benefit the Catholic Community Services Children's Programs. Details: 206-325-8836.

• A free slide show on the Grand Canyon with author Tom Martin is 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at the HUB Auditorium on the University of Washington campus.

Martin is author of "Day Hikes from the River: A Guide to 100 Hikes from Camps on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park." He will feature hikes and river running in Grand Canyon, and give the latest news on the controversial Colorado River Management Plan and how it affects boating access. Details: 425-402-0226 or www.rrfw.org.

• The Washington Trails Association is looking for volunteers to help repair trails damaged by fall and winter storms. Currently the group is working on the Mount Si trail restoration project. Details: 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org.

• The Green River Gobblers Chapter of the Nation Wild Turkey Federation fund raising banquet Saturday is 5:30 p.m. March 20 at the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn. Details: 253-833-4052 or email alan@poeengineering.com.

• The Stevens Pass Ski Area, Redhook Ale Brewery and Gray Line of Seattle are offering transportation, with food and drink, every Wednesday night through March 7 from Seattle to Stevens Pass.

The ski shuttle will pick up passengers at 3:45 p.m. at the Harrison Circle (the cul-de-sac just north of Experience Music Project) at Seattle Center. The bus will then stop to pick up passengers at 4:15 p.m. at Redhook Ale Brewery in Woodinville, where riders will be able to place food and drink orders for the trip to Stevens Pass, departing about 5 p.m. The shuttle will leave Stevens Pass en route to Woodinville and Seattle at approximately 10 p.m.

Cost is $29 for round-trip transportation for Stevens Pass season-pass holders and Harbor Advantage card holders, or $50 if an adult lift ticket is required. Reservations are required: 800-426-7532, 206-626-5208 or www.graylineofseattle.com.

• The SKIFORALL Spree is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 13 at the Summit at Snoqualmie ski area. The Sturtevant's Ski Shop and representatives from Atomic, Boeri, Head, Marker, K2, Rossignol, Volkl, Volant, Dynastar and Salomon will be on hand to demonstrate products. Red Robin provides lunch, with unlimited racing sponsored by City League. Also included: breakfast, T-shirt, after-ski party and an all-day lift ticket. Cost is $79, in the form of a donation. Details: 425-462-0978 or www.skiforall.org.

• Seattle Poggie Club offers salmon-fishing classes on Thursdays at 7 p.m. from March 11 through April 8 at the Northwest Senior Center, 5429 32nd Ave N.W. in Ballard. The course provides lectures, detailed instruction, and techniques on mooching, jigging, downriggers, gear, knots, tides and currents, bait cutting and lures and best fishing locations. Cost is $60 per person, $30 for each additional family member. Details: 206-364-6361 or 206-527-9118 or www.seattlepoggies.com.

• The Lake Washington Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is hosting

a super fund banquet and auction March 7 at the Embassy Suites in Eastgate. Details: 206-542-5556 or lakewashnwtf.tripod.com.

• The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is hosting a Sammamish Stewardship work day, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 13 along Issaquah Creek near the Issaquah Costco. Volunteers can participate in a variety of restoration activities including mulching, planting, and removing invasive weeds to improve the water quality in the Sammamish Basin. Details: 206-382-5565 or www.mtsgreenway.org.

• The Port Angeles Salmon Club Halibut Derby is May 29-30 at the West Port Angeles Boat Haven launch ramp adjacent to the Port Angeles Yacht Club. Up to $20,000 in cash prizes headed by a $5,000 first prize and 30 prizes in all. Cost is $30 per angler. Details: 360-452-2357 or www.swainsinc.com.

• The Olympic Peninsula Coast Beach Clean is April 24, and volunteers are needed to remove debris from 120 miles of Olympic Peninsula coastal beaches between Ocean Shores and Hobuck Beach on the Makah Reservation.

To learn more volunteers may attend a meeting at 7 p.m. March 31 at the Dungeness River Audubon Center in Sequim, or at REI's Seattle store at 7 p.m. April 1. Details: 206-364-2689 or Jan Klippert at jpklippert@aol.com.

• The Washington Butterfly Association meets the first Wednesday of each month 7 p.m., at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St. in Seattle. The association is dedicated to the enjoyment, conservation and understanding of butterflies and their ecology through education and scientific understanding. Details: 206-633-2313 or www.naba.org/chapters/nabaws.

• The Washington Ski Touring Club offers trips, classes and volunteer opportunities for cross-country, telemark and backcountry skiers. Meetings are the first Thursday of each month, starting with a 6:30 p.m. orientation, at Seattle's REI store. Details: 206-525-4451 or www.wstc.org.

• The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is offering a four-day Adventure Salmon Day Camp July 12-15 for youth in grades 4-5 on Hood Canal. Cost is $125, including food, transportation and supplies.

The camp aims to build an appreciation of wild salmon's role in the ecosystem. Activities include snorkeling, underwater photography, canoeing and campfire gatherings.

The group also offers an Adventure Salmon Overnight Camp for youth grades 6-9 on Aug. 16-19. Cost is $275 per person, and includes food, transportation and all camp supply amenities, except sleeping bag. Details: 360-275-3575 or www.hcseg.com.

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

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company