It’s not often we get a substantial midwinter opportunity for trout around here, so the news that the state Fish and Wildlife Department planted Flowing Lake with 5,000 hatchery rainbows was both pleasant and surprising.
The fish average about a foot in length, state biologist Justin Spinelli said, and are practically begging for a boat ride.
One of the reasons Flowing was chosen for the plant, Spinelli said, is that it provides good fishing opportunities for both boat and bank anglers. It lies in the “Three Lakes” group north of Monroe, with a state access site on the south end of the lake and a county park on the north shore ($7 day-use fee).
Parking for vehicles and boat trailers is limited, and a valid Department of Fish Wildlife Vehicle Access Pass (free with purchase of a fishing license) or a state Discover Pass must be displayed in vehicles parked at the access site. For more information on the Discover Pass, visit the Department of Fish Wildlife website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/discoverpass.
Prize-winning smoked salmon
The Sno-King Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers held one of its more popular events at its Dec. 12 meeting — the annual smoked salmon contest — and club president Ron Garner said a field of 11 quality entries made choosing a winner a difficult but tasty task.
Top smoker was Jason Bushman, with a smoked sockeye entry; second went to Ted Measor with his teriyaki smoked salmon; and third to Scott Kobelin and his smoked salmon dip. Bushman’s recipe is as follows:
2 to 21/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon ginger powder
1 tablespoon pepper and lemon pepper
Pinch of Johnny’s seasoning salt
You can either dry-rub or wet-brine the fish, Bushman said, but the product turns out about the same either way. To wet-cure, use two cups of water and let brine for about eight hours, then let it dry for two hours and put it in the smoker.
“I tried alder chips for this competition,” Bushman said. “I have a propane smoker and I set it on the lowest flame possible, where it usually takes about 3 hours or so.”
Garner thanked the club for presenting him with a Traeger Smoker in honor of all the hours he’s put in on behalf of the club’s work preserving and enhancing recreational fishing opportunity in the north Sound.
The club meets the second Thursday of each month, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Edmonds Senior Center (220 Railroad Ave., two buildings south of the ferry landing). For more information on club activities, call Garner at 206-730-0469.
The Jan. 9 meeting features John Keizer, expert local angler and factory rep, with a presentation on the latest in fishing electronics.
Winter blackmouth
The Port Angeles area and the San Juan Islands remain the winter blackmouth hot spots. State creel checks recently showed 18 anglers with 12 chinook at the Port Angeles public ramp on Ediz Hook, and 16 anglers with eight fish at the Washington Park ramp in Anacortes.
Kevin John at Holiday Sports in Burlington said Tide Point and Eagle Bluff have been putting out fish in the islands, along with Lopez Flats.
“There are lots of small fish to weed through, but some better ones, too,” he said.
John recommends small bait in helmets, or 3-inch Kingfisher spoons in Irish cream, Irish Flag or white lightning color patterns.
Local waters, Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2, have been only fair recently, according to All Star Charters owner/skipper Gary Krein in Everett. Most of he fish have been coming from the stretch of Whidbey Island shoreline between Columbia Beach and the Bait Box, near Possession Point. Hat Island has been slow, and there hasn’t been much bait showing on the “racetrack,” Krein said, and reports from Elger Bay and northward haven’t been particularly encouraging.
The best fishing in the local area, Krein says, has been the north end of Marine Area 10, including the Kingston area and the Edmonds oil docks. Most of the fish are just legal, but with a scattering to 8 or 9 pounds.
Green squids or 31/2-inch green/white Kingfisher Lite spoons are good gear choices, Krein said, 38 to 42 inches behind a Gibbs flasher.
Razor clams
The popular New Year’s razor clam dig on coastal beaches has been cleared by state health officials, and following are the days, beaches and minus tides:
Sunday, minus 0.2 feet at 4:05 p.m., at all beaches except Kalaloch; Monday, minus 0.9 feet at 4:55 p.m., at all beaches except Kalaloch; Tuesday, minus 1.4 feet at 5:42 p.m., at all beaches except Kalaloch; Wednesday, minus 1.7 feet at 6:29 p.m., at Twin Harbors, Long Beach and Mocrocks; Jan. 2, minus 1.7 feet at 7:15 p.m., at Twin Harbors, Long Beach and Mocrocks; Jan. 3, minus 1.4 feet at 8 p.m., at Twin Harbors, Long Beach and Mocrocks; Jan. 4, minus 0.9 feet at 8:45 p.m., at all beaches except Kalaloch; and Jan. 5, minus 0.2 feet at 9:31 p.m., at Twin Harbors only.
“Digging razor clams on New Year’s Day is a holiday tradition for a lot of Northwest families,” state shellfish manager Dan Ayres said. “Fortunately, the tides allowed us to keep that tradition alive this year.”
Tentative razor clam digs have been scheduled for Jan. 15-18, Jan. 28-Feb. 2, and Feb. 26-28.
All digging will be on evening tides.
Crabbing closes
Puget Sound marine areas still open for recreational winter-season crabbing close at 5 p.m. Tuesday, after which all sport crabbers have until Feb. 1 to report their winter catches. Failure to submit a winter catch report results in a $10 fine levied against the purchase of a 2014 crab endorsement.
“By submitting their catch data, crabbers play an important role in managing the Puget Sound crab fishery,” said Rich Childers, the state’s shellfish policy lead. “We need to hear from everyone who was issued a winter catch card, including those who didn’t keep any crab.”
Send catch record cards to WDFW CRC Unit, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 98501. The online reporting system will be available Jan. 1-Feb. 1 at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wdfw/puget_sound_crab_catch.html.
For more outdoors news, read Wayne Kruse’s blog at www.heraldnet.com/huntingandfishing.
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