First fishing opener only 11 days away

Many Columbia Basin waters are open all year long. However, others have a structured season. The first fishing opener is March 1, just 11 days away.

Local lakes opening on March 1 include: Burke, Upper Caliche, Cascade, Cliff, Crystal, Cup, Dusty, Lenore, Lenice, Martha, Merry, Nunnally, Quincy, Rainbow and Spring Lakes.

Success on the March 1 opener always depends upon the weather, with ice on the lakes sometimes. Don’t suspect this problem will exist this year.

Spring bear hunt applications

Hunters may now purchase and submit applications for a 2016 spring black bear hunting permit, applicable to specific areas of western and eastern Washington. Hunters must purchase and submit an application to Fish and Wildlife by midnight Feb. 29 to be eligible for a permit.

A drawing will be held in mid-March for 345 permits in western Washington and 509 permits for hunts east of the Cascade Range. Permit winners will receive notification in the mail no later than March 31.

To apply for a permit, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2016 hunting license that includes bear as a species option. Hunting licenses, bear transport tags and bear permit applications may be purchased: Online at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/, by phone at (866) 246-9453 or at any license vendor in the state.

Spring turkey

We haven’t seen the 2016 spring turkey hunting pamphlet yet, but if the season holds true to past years, it will range from April 15 through May 31.

Big Game Hunting Pamphlet contest

Fish and Wildlife is accepting photos for the 2016 Big Game Hunting Pamphlet Cover Photo Contest. This year’s theme is “Finding Inner Strength,” a tribute to hunters with disabilities, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

This will be a great opportunity to celebrate thousands of Washington hunters, and their hunting companions, who overcome unique challenges every year to find success in the field.

Submit your photos showing these accomplishments, along with a short paragraph describing the scene, and you could be selected to be on the 2016 Big Game Hunting Pamphlet cover.

Interesting, Fish and Wildlife did not put a deadline on the submission of the photos.

Razor clam dig underway at Long Beach

There are Columbia Basin residents who enjoy digging razor clams. Now you can enjoy a month-long dig. Read on.

Razor clam diggers can look forward to more than a month of razor clam digging opportunities at Long Beach. Fish and Wildlife approved the dig, which is ongoing, through March 10, at Long Beach after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat. All other beaches remain closed to recreational razor clam digging.

The department approved this extended opening due to the abundance of clams available at Long Beach.