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<< Previous   of   Next >> Kristi O'Harran / The Herald  (click to enlarge) John Hjort (left) and Walter Thompson, members of Edmonds Laebugten Salmon Chapter, will replace signs at Willow Creek Hatchery in Edmonds. The hatchery is on Willow Creek, but signs have misidentified it as Deer Creek for many years.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, May 19, 2008 Call it what you will, hatchery helps fish By Kristi O'Harran Herald Columnist Let's get crystal clear about this: It's always been Willow Creek, but for awhile it was called Deer Creek, but it's back to being Willow Creek. Even though it was always Willow Creek. No matter what the name is, take your kids there May 31 and June 1 for a whale of a good time. Only it's not whales, it's trout. I'd better start from the top. Edmonds Laebugten (lah-boot-n) Salmon Chapter of Trout Unlimited takes care of a fish hatchery on Willow Creek at 95 Pine St. in Edmonds, south of the Edmonds Ferry Dock. It's back in the trees, hardly noticeable except for the sign, which for years read "Deer Creek Hatchery." John Hjort, 70, who lives in Edmonds, is a past president of the wonderful group. He said a bunch of volunteer recreational salmon fishermen work to help keep fish biting. "We raise salmon," Hjort said. "We raise awareness." Since 1979, the group has sponsored a coho net pen under the Edmonds fishing pier where they raise 30,000 coho each year. At the hatchery, built in 1985, they get their fish eggs from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. They raise about 100,000 salmon each year. Those salmon are released into Scriber Creek, Swamp Creek, North Creek, Boeing Creek and the Lake Washington watershed. It costs the group more than $4,500 each year to maintain the serene hatchery that includes a public park with picnic tables, under beautiful trees. They happily accept donations at Edmonds Laebugten Chapter No. 101 of Trout Unlimited, P.O. Box 278, Edmonds, WA 98020. The 21st annual Edmonds Rotary Waterfront Festival runs from May 30 to June 1. You can drop by the hatchery May 31 and June 1 to let kids do a little trout fishing. Members of the salmon chapter will be there with poles, bait and great advice. They stock two ponds with trout so every kid will snag a fish. They will even clean it for you, or toss it back in. Go fishing, and leave a donation, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Enjoy free coffee, popcorn, juice and cookies. Tour the hatchery and see the baby fish. To review, let's be crystal clear about Willow and Deer Creek. Hatchery manager Walter Thompson, 64, who lives in Edmonds, said it's always been Willow Creek, but somewhere along the line it was labeled Deer Creek, which runs just a good cast away from Willow. He knew it was Willow Creek all along, he said, but didn't want to make waves. A couple of years ago, someone at Fish and Wildlife scratched their heads in bewilderment. The Willow and Deer situation was brought to the surface when the Laebugten group applied to do a stream restoration project. You know how the state wants things shipshape, so it's back to Willow. See new hatchery signs on your way to the ferry or during the free trout event. Fishermen don't care if you still want to call it Deer Creek. Just show up, drop a line, enjoy giggly kids, and leave a nice donation for all their hard work. Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com. She is on vacation and will return May 28.

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