Burke Lake tournament scheduled for tomorrow

We would have brought this to your attention in early February, but just learned about it ourselves. The 2012 Quincy Valley Trout Derby is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning at sunrise and continue until 1 p.m.

The cost is $21.50 for adults and $11.50 for youth. On-site registration is scheduled to begin Friday afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday beginning at 6 a.m.

There will be prizes for tagged fish, heaviest fish, total fish weight, plus there will be a bunch of raffle prizes. The top prize is a $2,000 tagged fish, followed by a $1,000 tagged fish.

This should be a fun event for the entire family, with a chance to take home some interesting prizes.

One caution: If you are going to use bait, remember the first five fish you catch makes a limit, no matter if you release those fish or not. However, if you fish with lures or flies, you can catch and release all day long.

We understand some citations were given last year because people continued to fish after reaching the limit of five fish. These anglers were trying to catch larger or tagged fish, but using bait and doing so after five fish is a violation.

Rufus Woods Lake

This lake is the Columbia River behind Chief Joseph Dam. Reports reaching this desk have the fishing slowing recently. The triploid rainbows being caught are reported to be in the 1- to 3-pound range.

The limit is two trout per day and if using bait, the first two fish caught need to be counted as the limit. Using lures and flies are different and the angler is allowed to catch and release all day long.

Hunting

Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their name in a drawing for a 2012 multiple-season permit, which can greatly increase their opportunities for success in the field.

In mid-April, Fish and Wildlife will randomly draw names for 8,500 multiple-season deer permits and 1,000 multiple-season elk permits.

Winners of the drawing will be eligible to purchase a special tag allowing them to participate in archery, muzzleloader and modern-firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk in 2012.

Winners who purchase the multiple-season elk tag by Aug. 31 can participate in general elk-hunting season in both eastern and western Washington. They also may apply for special permits to hunt deer or elk, regardless of weapon type.

The permit application is $6 for residents and $100 for nonresidents. A 2012 hunting license is not required to submit an application, but winners of the drawing must purchase one before they can purchase a multiple-season tag.

Wildlife viewing

The first sandhill cranes are expected to fly into the Columbia Basin any day now.

Around 35,000 lesser sandhill cranes migrate through the Pacific Flyway and many of these birds travel through the Basin during their spring and fall migrations, according to Fish and Wildlife. These cranes winter in the southern portion of California's Central Valley and pass through on their way to nesting sites in the Matanuska River Valley and Bristol Bay areas of south-central Alaska.

The greatest concentration of cranes arrives in March and can be found in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge marsh units, Frenchmen Reserve, Potholes Reservoir, Scootney Reservoir, and Winchester Reserve. Good numbers of the big birds are usually in the area through mid-April.

Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting agenda

Last week we featured the Friday, March 9 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting agenda. Today we present the Saturday, March 10 Moses Lake meeting agenda.

8 a.m. Proposed Water Transfer, the Commission will consider a proposal for the transfer of Future Interest in Water Rights in Okanogan County; Proposed transfer of Future Interest in Water Rights in Okanogan County

Staff Report: Dennis Beich, Regional Director, Region 2.

Public input on this item only.

8:15 Commission's Position Statement "Wolves in Washington" a briefing.

The Commissioners will discuss a draft wolf position statement.

9:15 Commission Work Session, Commission staff and Assistant Attorney General Office Staff will present information and members will discuss various aspects of serving on the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Staff Report: Bill Frymire, Assistant Attorney General.

9:50 Break

10:05 Open public input, The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting.

During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that are not on the agenda for decision action.

10:35 Commission Committee Reports, the Commissioners will discuss recent activities of the various Commission committees.

10:55 Summary Commission Requests, the Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published. Delegation of Authority; Performance Agreement, Commission Role and Strategic Planning

12 Adjourn.