The Vancouver Wildlife League will hold its monthly members meeting on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at the WDFW Region 5 office in Ridgefield. Kassina Lee, the new Region 5 director, will be the guest speaker.
A raffle will be held for a salmon rod and reel, and a steelhead rod and reel. Raffle tickets will be available at the meeting.
Chinook restrictions start in Oregon’s Northwest Zone
Fall Chinook fishing is restricted effective Thursday for coastal rivers in Oregon’s Northwest Zone. Restrictions will be in place from the Necanicum River in the north, south to the Siuslaw River.
These coastal rivers in the Northwest Zone will be closed to fall Chinook fishing upstream of upper tidewater boundaries. The bag limit for fall Chinook in these systems is also reduced to one adult Chinook per day and a limit of 3 through the remainder of the season.
Chinook fishing remains open in bays and most lower tidewater areas, where there will still be some fish available for both bank and boat anglers. The closures also do not apply in lower Columbia River portions of the Northwest Zone.
Northwest Zone rivers also remain open to fishing for other species including hatchery steelhead.
For a list of the rivers and their deadlines, check the ODFW website.
Clatsop County clamming remains closed until March
The popular razor clam season on Clatsop County beaches in Oregon will remain closed until March 1.
Extension of the annual conservation closure only applies to Clatsop County beaches, and prohibits all harvest of razor clams (both recreational and commercial) along the 18-mile stretch of beach from Tillamook Head (Seaside) to the mouth of the Columbia River.
The closure is in place to protect undersize clams and provide better clamming opportunities on Clatsop beaches next year. ODFW’s annual stock assessment survey for razor clams earlier this year found that most clams were too small to be harvested by commercial clammers or desired by recreational clammers. The population was dominated by small clams with shell lengths between 2-3 inches.
Typically, razor clamming reopens Oct. 1 each year after an annual July 14-Sept. 30 conservation closure. Check the latest regulations at ODFW’s Clamming and Crabbing Report, https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/crabbing-clamming-report/marine-zone.
Trail restrictions in place at Whipple Creek
Beginning Thursday, dirt trails will be open only to foot traffic at Whipple Creek Regional Park in Ridgefield.
Equestrians and mountain bikers can continue to use the park’s gravel trails year-round.
This is the second year the county has restricted access on the park’s dirt trails, which can be muddy due to poor drainage, clay soils and steep slopes.
Clark County Parks will post signs at main park entrances explaining the seasonal closures and displaying a map of the park’s gravel and dirt, or primitive, trails.
Signs also will be posted at each dirt trail entrance reminding users the trail is open only to hikers and runners during wet weather.
The county’s decision last year to restrict trail access during wet weather yielded positive results. Volunteers did not need to do as much maintenance, and the recreational experience was improved for all trails users since there was less mud.
Weather and trail conditions will determine when Clark County opens the park’s dirt rails to all users in the spring. Following restrictions during the previous rainy season, the park’s dirt trails were opened to all users in mid-May of this year.
For more information, contact Bill Bjerke, parks manager, Public Works, 360.397.2285 ext. 1656, bill.bjerke@clark.wa.gov.
WDFW invites the public to attend open house events
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled six open house events this fall to give the new director an opportunity to discuss the agency’s long-term plans to conserve fish and wildlife and promote outdoor recreation throughout the state.
“These meetings will allow me to introduce you to my values and approach and I’m eager to hear what’s important to you,” said Kelly Susewind of the WDFW.
The Ridgefield open house will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the WDFW Region 5 Office.
Cowlitz County Sheriff offers boater education
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division will begin hosting an Adventures in Boating certification course. Classes are open to any individual who needs to obtain a Washington State Boaters Education Card. The next available class will be held on Nov. 10. The class will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cowlitz County Search and Rescue Building, 1800 Western Lane in Kelso. Cost for the class is free.
To register, contact Deputy Jordan Spencer via email at spencerj@co.cowlitz.wa.us . This one-day class will certify you to operate a vessel in the state. Registrations fill up fast.
Reminder: All vessel operators age 59 and younger must have a Washington Boaters Education Card to operate a vessel in Washington. For additional information and resources, check out www.boatered.org.
