GARNET WILSON

Erlenmeyer, Slate find walleye, take home a dozen

Michael Slate sent in a report about a successful fishing trip with Tim Erlenmeyer recently. The pair found a group of walleye near Goat Island and fished bottom bouncers and walleye spinners. Could this be a worm harness?

Perch, Deep top opener lakes

Fish and Wildlife Fish Biologist Chad Jackson offered the following results report of the lowland lake opener last Saturday. Read on.

Lowland lakes opener is tomorrow

This is it, the big fishing opener. Years ago, before there were three fishing openers, the April opener was the largest outdoor sporting event in the spring. Perhaps it still is. It certainly is the largest fishing event of the year.

Work party scheduled for tomorrow

Volunteering not only makes the person involved feel good, but it helps the organization sponsoring the project as well. We have a project taking place tomorrow. Yes this is short notice, but those interested should simply show up at the work site by following the directions below or trying to call Rich Finger. Cell coverage is spotty at the work site, so a phone call may not be possible. Read on.

Spring turkey season begins Monday

The youth turkey season is over. Beginning Monday, adults will have a chance to take two birds. Read on.

Crane Festival held in Othello this weekend

The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival marks 16 years of existence this year. Wow, congrats to all who work on this educational event.

Wolf sightings abound, some close to home

They are getting closer. Mike Garneau of the Warden area sent word of a wolf sighting south of Wenatchee. Apparently a rancher found a dead pregnant cow with wolf tracks and signs of a wolf feeding on the carcass.

Volunteers needed for springtime work

Nesting boxes need servicing and the shore of Moses Lake too. Volunteers provide the labor to accomplish much work in the Columbia Basin. There is always room for one more volunteer, so if you are inclined to help, read on.

March 1 opener report continued

Space restrictions restricted us from reporting all of the March 1 opener report we had available. Today we continue with the report.

Anglers catch near limits on season opener

The March 1 opener is history and anglers from all across the state enjoyed the first weekend of the season. In addition, the Quincy Trout Fishing Derby was held last Saturday. The results of the derby were not available at the time of this writing.

Quincy trout derby tomorrow

The third annual trout derby is scheduled to take place on Burke Lake tomorrow. The lake will be stocked with around 100 trout in the 14- to 18-inch range, plus 35 fish weighing 6 to 7 pounds.

First fishing opener one week from today

Three years ago, my wife, Garnet, and I were camping at Martha Lake. We arrived on Feb. 28, the day before the traditional March 1 opener and backed the travel trailer to the end of the long, narrow spit jutting into the lake.

Father and son team scores on ducks

Christmas Eve 2012 was a good day for Peter Steffens and his father, Dr. Thomas Steffens. The father and son team brought home five ducks after an outing with Ecternkamp's Guide Service, 766-6791, on Potholes Reservoir.

Steelhead season on Wenatchee River opens

The Wenatchee and Icicle rivers are open to steelhead fishing today, Feb. 8. Plus the Wenatchee River will open today to fishing for whitefish.

Spring-like temperatures again teasing

Again we are being teased. The temperature, as this is being written, is standing at 40 degrees and this is at 4:40 p.m. It is as if a light switch had been flipped. The forecast for the next 10 days calls for lows in the high 30s and highs in the low 40s. This is much more acceptable to late-winter and early-spring fishing.

Illness hampers last week of hunting

The plan for this week in January was to hunt geese every day and shoot a few ducks if they were located, but, alas, the plan was not even commenced. Last Sunday a cold seemed to be hammering away at my body. Tuesday was my worst day. The cough improved on Wednesday, but an achy feeling, along with an upset stomach, fatigue and a lack of appetite settled in. I have the flu. I don't want to hunt anything or go out the front door for any reason.

Another reminder: Hunter reports due soon

Hunter reports due by Jan. 31 at the latest and by Jan. 10 to be entered into a special hunt opportunity.

Grouse, crow seasons end Monday

The last day of the grouse and crow seasons is Monday. I realize there aren't many forest grouse around here, but some of our hunters pursue them.

Gloyd Seeps provides hunting opportunities

Another productive hunting spot near Moses Lake is near the pioneer town of Gloyd. Take Stratford Road north out of Moses Lake to Road 12. Take a left on Road 12 and you should be headed west. Drive past the Block 40 Clubhouse and other houses. Eventually the paved road will turn to gravel, but continue due west. Road 12 makes a turn to the right or north, but before turning park in one of the two parking lots near this spot. There are some trees to the southwest of these parking lots. I have shot a fair share of pheasants around those trees and in the brush of the area. Drive northwest on Road 12 when back in the vehicle. At the end of the road is a barrier and parking lot. From here walk north and west to Magpie Lake, a long and narrow lake which is capable of hiding ducks along the shoreline.

Hunting sand dunes can be productive

A favorite spot to hunt from high school until the present is the sand dune area south of I-90 across from the old Moses Lake State Park. Cross over the overpass and park in a safe spot alongside the road.

Steelhead, whitefish closed on select rivers

Steelhead fisheries on the upper Columbia River closed one hour after sunset on Dec. 1 from Wells Dam to the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster and on the Wenatchee, Icicle, Entiat, and Methow rivers.

Turkey hunting continues

Hey folks, this is a super hunt for beginning hunters. The hunt area is expanded this year from years past. Take advantage of the opportunity.

Consider a Discover Pass as a holiday gift

The Discover Pass was a controversial idea in the beginning, to say the least. Prospective buyers stayed away in droves. After the pass was allowed to be used on two vehicles, the idea was more readily accepted.

Shrub planting party to take place this weekend

Tree planting this weekend; volunteers needed

Methow steelheading good, according to Redwine

The Redwines, Tera and Virgil, enjoy fishing the Methow River. They fished the river last weekend with good success, catching at least one fish. Virgil was fishing about six miles from the mouth of the Columbia River, using a six-weight fly fishing rod. He was using a strike indicator with a pink and purple jig and a pink egg underneath.

Opening weekend reported to be good

Sometimes it is difficult to retrieve information from Fish and Wildlife. Sometimes it is not their fault.

Tomorrow: big day for area hunters

Three most important words are safety, safety and safety

Oct. 13, 2012 is a big day for Columbia Basin hunters. The modern firearm general deer season opens in most of the state. Also the duck, coot, snipe and Canada goose seasons open.

Hunting season will not close for fires

A check of the weather website shows no rain is forecast for the next week or so. This is good news for hay farmers with alfalfa on the ground, but hunters want rain.

Fish and Wildlife kills offending wolves

Fish and Wildlife said they would take action when necessary. Action has been taken, but was it timely? Read on.

Youth hunts on tap this weekend

The time is nigh. The youth hunts, for several species of birds, takes place this weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Read on.

Hunting word of day: Canada geese the target

Interesting point about reading the Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons pamphlet; a hunter has to wonder if all of the wording is correct. Take for example the dates of the first September Canada goose hunt since 2008.

Plenty of hunting seasons underway

Archery deer and elk seasons begin

Tomorrow, Sept. 1, is a big day in the hunting world, as several hunting seasons are set to open. Dennis note: I want to go after doves close to home, but a grouse hunt or two during September is warranted. As I have mentioned before, would be great to combine a fishing and hunting trip during September, as the fishing season on many waters stay open through Sept. 30.

Archery deer and elk seasons about to begin

A week from tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 1, is a banner day for hunting in Washington State. Several hunting seasons begin on the date.

Mourning dove and forest grouse season to open in two weeks

Waterfowl seasons set for 2012

The Fish and Wildlife commission has set the 2012 waterfowl hunting seasons during a public meeting on Aug. 3 and 4 in Olympia.

Salmon fishing and bear hunting season begins

We have a couple salmon fishing seasons opening tomorrow and the bear hunting season started Wednesday, Aug. 1, in several Game Management Units. Read on.

Public input sought about proposed lake treatment

Fish and Wildlife is set to rehabilitate three lakes in eastern Washington with rotenone. The lakes are Fish Lake in Spokane County, Little Beaver Lake in Okanogan County and Burke Lake in Grant County. The treatments are proposed for this fall to remove species ranging from brown bullhead to northern pike.

Sisters live up to their billing

Sisters on the Fly tour tomorrow

Release of some salmon required on upper Columbia

The release of all chinook and sockeye with external floy tags and/or with one or more holes, round, approximately 1/4 inch diameter, punched in the caudal (tail) fin is mandatory from July 1 through Oct. 15.

Sisters on the Fly coming to fairgrounds

We had the privilege of touring a few of these trailers when they were camping at Steamboat Rock State Park a few weeks ago. We will also stop by to see the trailers at this event. We can't imagine anyone would be disappointed. See you there.

Special hunt drawing results available

The much-anticipated news for hunters who submitted applications for 2012 special-hunt permits is at hand. The results of this year's hunt permit drawing is now available on the Fish and Wildlife website.

Fishing Kids day is tomorrow

This is the perfect weekend for family fun. First attend the Fishing Kids event at Cascade Park. The cost is $5, but this is a minimal amount for the benefits received by the participants ages 5 through 14. Each angler will be entitled to a two-fish limit, a photo with their catch and they will be allowed to keep their rod and reel, which is donated by Zebco.

Tentative goose banding project scheduled

Alfalfa needed for pygmy rabbit project

The following was received from James A Chandler, Wildlife Volunteer Program Manager for Fish and Wildlife:

Special hunt permit applications deadline is midnight

The deadline is midnight tonight and the options are plenty. Special hunt permit applications are pursued as a chance to take a special animal or take part in a special hunt.

Lowland Lakes Fishing Season opener results continued

Last week we didn't have room to finish the summary of the opening day results, presented by Biologist Chad Jackson. Read on for the rest of the information.

Lowland fishing season opener shows promise

Each year Fish and Wildlife published a forecast of what anglers should find in area lakes. After the opening day, they also publish a summary of the opening day results.