More razor clam digs scheduled

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, January 11, 2006

The New Year’s weekend razor clam dig on the coast was somewhat less than a total success, because of stormy conditions and heavy surf, and diggers averaged just six to seven clams per day. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife shellfish biologist Dan Ayres in Montesano said that was well below the 13-plus average tallied on previous digs this winter.

Partly because of the relatively low harvest, the department has scheduled a dig at four beaches – Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Kalaloch – on Jan. 27-29, and another, on all five beaches, Feb. 24-26.

Tides for the January dig are as follows: minus 0.3 feet at 5 p.m. Jan. 27; minus 0.7 at 5:49 p.m. Jan. 28; and minus 1 foot at 6:34 p.m. Jan. 29.

Ayres said there are a couple of tips razor clam hunters might remember the next time the surf is high and “shows” are hard to spot.

“The first,” he said, “is to pound the sand hard and often. Under high surf conditions, the clams won’t be persuaded to pull in their siphons as easily, and you have to strike the sand closer to where they are, and with more force. Secondly, a good lantern is critical to spotting less-obvious shows. Some people argue for headlamps, but I maintain that a good lantern, throwing a lot of light, is far superior.”

Blackmouth: Gary Krein of All Star Charters said he was able to get on the water Sunday, and had an excellent day along the Whidbey Island side of Saratoga Passage, trolling between Sandy Point (Langley) and Fox’s Spit (East Point). That slot tends to be a little better protected from south winds, Krein said.

His party boated six legal fish on 10 hookups, under windy conditions and in murky water, pulling glow-green flashers followed by 42 inches of leader and a frog racer Coyote spoon, right on bottom in 90 to 140 feet of water.

“Just as an experiment, I tried 60 inches of leader on one rod for a while,” he said, “but it definitely fished less well.”

Neither has a red flasher produced as well as green for him so far this winter, he said.

The run between Langley and Fox’s Spit is deeply scalloped, so you can’t set your downrigger at a convenient depth and simply head up the shoreline. To catch fish consistently, Krein said, you have to watch your sounder closely and follow your chosen depth in and out.

Krein said if he was forced to the wall to name a “best part” of that trolling path, it would be either the center, equi-distant from the two ends, or the north portion, closer to Fox’s Spit.

State checks at the Port of Everett ramp also showed improved fishing for those able to get out. Eight boats checked on Sunday had six legal blackmouth.

And, the first spring chinook of the year returned to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery last week, according to state biologist Joe Hymer in Vancouver.

Boat show closes early: The Seahawks’ playoff game against the Washington Redskins on Saturday afternoon will force the Seattle Boat Show to close at 6 p.m. on Friday. Normally a 10-day event, the 59th annual show will be shortened to eight days this year, but I doubt even avid boaters can be too upset about this particular situation.

Lake Stevens ‘bows: The big triploid rainbow planted last year by the Cooperative Trout Enhancement Program have fully acclimated to Lake Stevens and are being caught by both bank and boat anglers, according to Greg Rockenbach at Greg’s Custom Fishing Rods in Lake Stevens (425-335-1391). He has weighed fish to 51/2 pounds, and has heard of trout up to 7 pounds being taken.

The fish are relatively shallow this time of year, and well spread around the lake. Rockenbach said pier anglers are using a bobber, 6 feet of leader, and a worm, while trollers are pulling Dick Nite spoons, Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of worm, or a bead-head woolly bugger or similar wet fly.

Waterfowl: If you’re a duck or goose hunter and haven’t been on the Skagit delta this winter, scattergun in hand, you’re missing one of the best seasons in years. Plenty of water, plenty of wind, plenty of ducks, plenty of snow geese. Talk to Anthon or another of the experts at Holiday Market Sports in Burlington, 360-757-4361, or e-mail holidaysportshop@yahoo.com.

Hunting season meetings: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is soliciting public comments on various options for the 2006-08 hunting seasons, and will hold a series of seven public meetings throughout the state to gather information. To view or comment on the proposed hunting alternatives, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/. To receive copies of the alternatives by mail, call 360-902-2515, or write to: Hunting Season Comments, Wildlife Program, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia WA 98501. Comments on the alternatives may be mailed to the same address.

Comments may also be submitted in writing at the public meetings, the closest of which to this area will be held 7-9 p.m., Jan. 20, at the Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Avenue North, in Edmonds.

Puyallup Sportsmen’s Show: The Puyallup Sportsmen’s Show is scheduled for Jan. 25-29 this year – for those who can’t wait for much the same format a lot closer to home, in late February in Monroe. The show will camp at the newly completed Puyallup Fair and Events Center, in Puyallup.

Show hours are noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday (Jan. 25-27), 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. Parking is free.

Admission is $9 for adults, $5 for juniors 6-16, and free for children under six accompanied by an adult. Discount coupons, valid for $2 off adult admission will be available at participating Western Washington KeyBank and Les Schwab locations, and online at www.sportshow.net/puyallup.