State Fish and Wildlife Department shellfish manager Norm Lemberg at the La Conner office has announced a recreational and non-Indian commercial crab fishing closure in three shellfish management areas.
Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2, roughly from Possession Point north to Deception Pass and inside Whidbey Island, will close Friday at 4 p.m. until further notice. Marine Area 7, from Deception Pass north to the Canadian border, including the San Juan Islands, will close Tuesday at 4 p.m., also until further notice.
Lemberg said the closures are an allocation function, to allow tribal commercial fishers to catch up with the non-Indian harvest. He does not anticipate re-opening Area 7 until some time next spring. Areas 8-1 and/or 8-2, however, could reopen in December for a short period prior to the January molt.
EVENTS, REGULATIONS
Duck hunt: The “duck taxi” service for waterfowl hunters on Potholes Reservoir is on tap again this fall and winter, ferrying hunters daily from MarDon Resort to sand dune islands and other choice spots on the reservoir. Unguided, “drop-off” hunts include the boat ride, a blind, and decoys, for $125 per person, two-person minimum. Fully guided hunts go for $175 per person, three-person minimum. Call 1-800-416-2736.
Boat show: The 2001 Lake Union Boats Afloat Show comes to Seattle Jan. 12-21, at Chandler’s Cove, billed as the largest floating boat show on the West coast. The lakefront location in the heart of Seattle, according to Jane Love of the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association, allows brokers and dealers to display many of their largest sail and power boats. Show hours will be 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends. Boarding passes are $10 for single day pass, or $20 for multi-day pass. A free shuttle service will connect the Lake Union site with the indoor displays at the Seattle Boat Show, located in the Stadium Exhibition Center just north of Safeco Field. For more information call Love at 206-748-0012, or visit www.boatsafloatshow.com.
Turkey shoot: The Granite Falls Sportsmen’s Club, one of the oldest such groups in the area, hosts its 68th annual fall turkey shoot Nov. 19, at its range near Granite Falls, from 10 a.m. to dusk, public invited. Food and beverages will be available all day. Awards will include turkeys and/or bacon to all game winners – trap, five-stand, splatterboard, bingo, and others. Guaranteed prizes are available. To reach the range, drive through Granite Falls on the Mountain Loop Highway, past the high school, around the bend, and then right on Gun Club Road. Call Mike Elke, 425-355-2913 or Kelly Brown, 360-435-4010.
Razor clams: Remaining recreational razor clam openings this fall and winter, afternoon tides only, are as follows: Today through Nov. 16, Kalaloch only; Nov. 24-25, all beaches; Dec. 8-9, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Kalaloch only; Dec. 10-12, Kalaloch only; Dec. 13, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Kalaloch only; Dec. 14, Kalaloch only.
Puyallup sportsmen’s show: The 2001 Washington Sportsmen’s Show is set for Jan. 24-28 at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup, 1-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 1-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults, free for children under six, and $5 for juniors 6-16. Discount coupons good for $3 off adult admission will be available at participating Western Washington AM/PM stores. Call 503-246-8291, or visit www.oloughlintradeshows.com. Heading this year’s long list of featured experts is Ray Scott – known among bass anglers around the country as “Mr. Bass.” The Alabama native founded the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and transformed bass fishing forever. He will be talking bass and autographing copies of his biography, “Bass Boss,” on Jan. 26-27.
CLASSES, CLINICS
Hunter ed: Successful completion of a certified hunter safety class is required in order to obtain a first Washington State hunting license for those of a certain age, or for those planning on hunting as a non-resident in any of several other states. For information on upcoming classes, call certified instructors Dick Abbey, at 206-542-2792 (leave a message if no answer), or Jim Elliott at 425-353-2211, after 5 p.m.
????Steelhead clinic: The Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club presents its annual free steelhead clinic Nov.18, 8:30 a.m. to noon, at Floral Hall, Forest Park, Everett. The event will deal with everything needed to fish steelhead in local rivers, along with fly fishing techniques and tackle. Local expert Jim Brauch will cover basic gear; Don Smith of The Fly Smith will present fly fishing for steelhead and salmon; Gordon Gracey of Fishing Northwest on fishing the Forks-area rivers; and Dave Mullins of Mullins Guide Service, basic steelheading techniques. There will also be a comprehensive range of hands-on tables, featuring hook tying, slinky making, rod building, jig fishing, float fishing, and other good stuff. Families welcome Call 425-257-8300 for more information.
River fishing: Sam Ingram, Arlington resident and river guide, will be the guest speaker at the Nov. 21 meeting of the Sky Valley Chapter, Trout Unlimited. Time is 7 p.m. and place is the Snohomish County PUD building in Monroe, 120 E. Fremont Street. Ingram will be giving tips on chasing late chum and early winter steelhead in local rivers, and will be available to answer questions.
