Seminars offer plenty of free info

Published 11:41 pm Saturday, January 19, 2008

Recreational fishing has always been a major component of the Northwest lifestyle. Research by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates it still is, but the process of learning how to get started in any given fishery is no longer as simple as it was 20 or 30 years ago.

That information all came down through the family at one time, but with increasing mobility and disconnected families, a newcomer to the piscatorial ranks must usually search for a different channel. Books, TV shows and the Internet are all useful sources of how-to information. Even better is joining a local fishing club or hiring a guide for the day to show you how to, say, catch steelhead on the Skykomish.

One of the very best ways to learn the basics, or to expand to additional opportunities, is to attend some of the fishing seminars presented every year at this area’s outdoor-oriented shows.

“Seminars are replacing information that was once passed along from dads, uncles and grandfathers,” said TJ Nelson, avid angler, fishing talk show host, and Lake Stevens resident. “You can spend a couple hundred dollars at formal clinics or classes, or you can get much of the same material free, with the price of admission, at these show seminars. They’re really a hell of a bargain.”

Nelson was referring to the upcoming Seattle Boat Show and its expanded seminar schedule of some 230 different presentations during the event’s 10-day run. Approximately 60 of these free seminars are specifically for fishermen (see the accompanying schedule), presented by some of the top experts in the state.

Here’s a quick look at a few of the seminar presenters scheduled for the boat show, and a little more about what they plan to discuss:

Kayak fishing, with Allen Sansano:

Kayak angling has been increasing in popularity across the country, said Seattle engineer Allen Sansano, but oddly lagging in the Pacific Northwest. That’s starting to change, he said, and his online club, northwestkayakanglers.com, is helping spread the news.

“Anything you can catch in your bay boat I can catch in my kayak, with the exception of tuna, which are usually too long a paddle,” said Sansano, sponsored by Ocean Kayaks of Ferndale.

He fishes salmon, lingcod and halibut in saltwater (much of it in Alaska and British Columbia), and for trout, perch and other species in freshwater.

He said a kayak is a lot faster than a pontoon craft or a belly boat, and is more stable than a canoe. It’s great exercise, is very green, and a whole lot cheaper than a standard saltwater-capable fishing boat.

“An entry-level kayak would run about $800 new, and require maybe $200 or $300 of additional equipment,” he said.

There’s also the much more personal involvement in your sport, he said. “It’s just you, by yourself, and when you catch a decent fish or add a new species, there’s a terrific sense of self accomplishment.”

Bass basics, with Bonnie Ward:

Our own bassin’ gal, Bonnie Ward of Snohomish, is a nationally known professional angler, winner of the Women’s Bassmasters Tour in 2006, angler of the year in 2006, and a sixth-place finisher on last year’s tour of five major tournaments. Her presentation will concentrate on beginning techniques and entry-level tackle, and on smallmouth — widely recognized as Washington’s premier bass fishery.

If you want tips on fishing, say, Big Lake, or Clear Lake, or Lake Whatcom, be prepared to ask — Ward does not intend to cover specific lakes, but will respond to questions.

Ocean and strait for halibut, with Ron Garner:

The president of Sno-King Chapter, Puget Sound Anglers, and an avid halibut fisherman, Monroe resident Garner will tell you what you need to know to successfully catch halibut off the coast and in the Strait of Juan de Fuca — Sekiu, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, the eastern Strait banks such as Partridge, and others. He caught lings to 50 pounds and halibut to 65 pounds last year, and took a 90-pound halibut two years ago off the southwest corner of the “C-Shaped Closure” between La Push and Neah Bay.

Advice for halibut anglers: Tip 1: Don’t waste time in an unproductive spot. Move, if you’re not hitting fish. Tip 2: With the barbless hook reg in place, use bait rather than artificial lures, and let ‘em eat it.

The Marine Area 9 selective chinook fishery will be explained in detail by presenter Gary Krein of All Star Charters in Everett. The unique new fishery opened on Jan. 16, and Krein will have facts and figures on the “golden triangle” of Possession Bar, Point No Point, and Double Bluff. Plugs and spoons, tides, depths, currents, the ratio of fin-clipped fish, and a whole lot more.

“The last time we were allowed to keep two Chinook in Area 9 was at least 10 or 15 years ago,” Krein said.

Local salmon anglers won’t want to miss this one.

Riggers and jiggers, two separate presentations by TJ Nelson. His “Dirty Downrigger Tricks” is for those who already know the basics of ‘rigger trolling for salmon, and wish to graduate to a higher level. “This will be aggressive downrigger fishing; a lot more than just ‘set ‘em and sit,’” Nelson said. “You’ll learn how to play your ‘riggers like a piano.”

Don’t miss his coverage of the new sounder/downrigger interface techniques.

His “Jigging 101” presentation is a systematic approach to fishing jigs for salmon, a technique he says is very effective under certain conditions, and badly under utilized.

“Everyone can do it,” he said. “Jigging is simple. All you need is a small boat, a rod and a jig. It’s also a lot more fun, because it’s truly hands-on involvement in the sport.”

Jigging is limited, however, to certain conditions, and Nelson tells you what and when. “Keep a jig rod set up in your boat, because many jigging opportunities are very transient,” he said.

B.C. saltwater hot spots, with Tom Nelson:

The “other” Tom Nelson, Hood Canal resident, ex-charter owner, and one of the movers behind Salmon University, Nelson will outline the best times of year to hit B.C., and for what species. He’ll tell you what you’ll need these days to cross the border, and how to get Canadian licenses, most of which are available online.

He’ll cover Port Hardy on the north tip of Vancouver Island, Nootka Sound, Barkley Sound, and Sooke, among others, as well as salmon fishing in the Fraser River and its lower tributaries.

“The Fraser has the largest run of returning salmon on the West Coast, and frankly I’m surprised that more Americans don’t fish it,” Nelson said. “Tributaries such as the Harrison and Vedder are easy to get to and easy to learn, and offer some great fishing for Chinook, coho and other species.”