8-11 What’s Happening

Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery ends

The über-popular sockeye fishery at Lake Wenatchee will end this evening, one hour after sunset, having lasted only one week since its Aug. 5 opening.

The intense angling pressure since the opening has resulted in an estimated 2,040 sockeye being taken from the lake, where fisheries managers require about 27,000 sockeye to meet escapement goals and ensure the lake’s sockeye population for the future.

Although about 30,000 sockeye are believed to be headed toward the lake, managers believe high water temperatures in the river system has resulted in high mortality — “both substantial and unexpected,” according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — within the run.

Through last weekend, barely more than 15,000 fish had actually made it through Tumwater Dum, the last place they are counted before reaching the lake.

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Two-pole option starts on Saturday

Beginning this Saturday, sport anglers will have the option of using a second pole — for a price — while fishing on most of the state’s lakes under a new law.

The two-pole endorsement option will cost anglers an additional $20 fee ($5 for resident seniors) on top of the regular fishing license, plus a surcharge and transaction fee. Revenue from the new fees are to go to the state’s hatchery fish production program.

Anglers can pick up that second-pole endorsement starting Thursday either online from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/) or from license dealers. A list of the approximately 145 excluded lakes is available online (http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/twopole/), but here are some excluded lakes that should be of interest to local anglers:

• Yakima County — Bumping, Clear, Leech, Mud, Myron and Rimrock lakes, plus Sarg Hubbard and Yakima Sportsmen’s Park ponds.

• Kittitas County — Easton, Kachess and Keechelus lakes, plus Naneum Pond.

• Skamania County — Drano Lake and Swift Reservoir.

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Habitat expert will speak at CCA meeting

Perry Harvester, the regional habitat program manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, will discuss this year’s coho salmon forecast and what the future looks like on the Yakima River when the Yakima Valley chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Carpenters Hall in Yakima (507 S. 3rd Street).

Harvester is also expected to discuss the recent spring chinook runs, with a focus on why actual run size has lately come in lower than forecasts. Also on the agenda will be a preliminary discussion on the CCA’s second annual fundraising banquet, set for Sept. 19 at the Old Furniture Warehouse in Zillah.

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Hunters education class set next week

A hunter education class, state-mandated for all new hunters, will run Monday through Saturday next week (Aug. 17-22).

Registration must be done in advance at the Selah Civic Center (with $5 payable at sign-up), as there will be no day-of-class registration. Space is limited. Classes will run 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a full day Saturday.

For more information, call Nick at 509-930-7537.

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BIRD ALERT

A residential yard near 51st and Englewood in Yakima has had some interesting new visitors, including a western scrub jay — a bird whose numbers appear to be increasing in the Yakima area — plus an immature calliope hummingbird, a Eurasian collared dove and a red-breasted nuthatch.

Increasing reports of the latter may be a sign that migration has started. Other early migrants noted this week near Wapato included a bright male Wilson’s warbler and an orange-crowned warbler, joined by several warbling vireos. Other birds of note included both black-chinned and rufous hummingbirds, western kingbird, cedar waxwing, black-headed grosbeak and Bullock’s oriole.

A birding afternoon at the Pleasant Valley campground on Chinook Pass turned up a mixed bag of birds, including close views of a pair of red crossbills, a bird readily identified by its distinctive bill that crosses at the tip. Other birds of note were a pileated woodpecker, spotted sandpipers and Vaux’s swift.

There are still 26 nestlings along the Vredenburgh Bluebird Trail that are within a week of fledging, and 25 western bluebirds fledged over the past week — bringing the year’s total fledged numbers to 479 western bluebird, 74 mountain bluebird, and two white-breasted nuthatch.

Please call your bird sightings into the Yakima Valley Audubon phone line at 248-1963

— Kerry L. Turley

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AROUND AND ABOUT

HUCKLEBERRIES: It’s getting to be huckleberry season again, and the way you know that is that the Gifford Pinchot National Forest — where so many of the best huckleberry fields are — began selling commercial picking permits on Tuesday. If you’re picking for personal use — that is, three gallons or less for the season — you don’t need a permit. If you’re going for more pies than that, you’ll need a commercial permit ($40 for 14 days, or $75 for a season).

WASCO SALMON/STEELIE TOURNEY: Wasco, Ore.’s third annual Salmon/Steelhead Tournament will be Aug. 22, with 5-8:30 a.m. check-in at Heritage Landing at the mouth of the Deschutes. Fishing will be in the Celilo pool between The Dalles and John Day dams, not in the Deschutes. There will be prizes, raffles and a silent auction. Cost is $15 adults, $5 for kids under 16. Oregon licenses/tags are required. Info: Bill or Carol at 541-442-5079 or wlmack@yahoo.com.

CHELAN CHINOOK: The Lake Chelan fishery on land-locked summer chinook salmon (minimum catch 15 inches, daily limit one) will be extended until further notice.

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ON THE CALENDAR

TODAY: The Cascadian Tuesday hikers will head up Emerald Ridge at Mount Rainier. The Tuesday group meets at 7:30 a.m. at the 40th Avenue Bi-Mart parking lot and carpool from there, usually breaking into faster and slower groups. Next week: Goat Lake loop.

WEDNESDAY: Yakima Valley Audubon will host an evening trip to check out the fall migration of shorebirds making a pit stop at Wenas Lake, focusing on identification of this approachable but challenging group of birds. Meet trip leader Denny (call in advance at 509-453-2500) at the 40th Avenue Bi-Mart parking lot at 5 p.m. or at the Wenas Lake parking lot at 5:30.

WEDNESDAY: The Mount Adams Cycling Club begins its weekly 25-mile Naches loop ride at 6 p.m from the Fred Meyer parking lot (near Key Bank).

THURSDAY: The Cascadians’ Pokies will hike to Union Creek Falls off Highway 410. For meeting time and place, call Mary Belzer at 509-966-7921.

SATURDAY: Yakima Valley Audubon plans a 3- to 4-mile hike (with substantial elevation gain) to Burroughs Mountain at Mount Rainier, with possible sightings of the gray-crowned rosy-finch, American pipit and maybe even a white-tailed ptarmigan. Meet trip leader Denny (call in advance at 509-453-2500) at the 40th Avenue
Bi-Mart parking lot at 7 a.m.