The Southwest Washington Anglers, a family-oriented fishing club, will hold its monthly members meeting on March 19 at Pied Piper Pizza in Vancouver. The meeting will start at 7 p.m.
The club always holds its meeting on the third Thursday of every month.
Families and children are always welcome and the club is looking for new members.
Visitors can also learn about the Angler’s Passport program, which is a new fundraising effort started by the club.
For more information, check the club’s website.
Sturgeon retention closes in John Day Pool
Recreational sturgeon retention has been closed in the John Day Pool as of March 11. The states moved to close the fishery because harvest data showed that fishermen have caught the allowable harvest of 105 keeper-sized sturgeon.
Both the Bonneville and The Dalles pool were are also closed earlier to sturgeon retention after their quotas were reached.
The closure stretches from the John Day Dam to the McNary Dam, and includes all the tributaries.
Catch and release fishing continues to be allowed in all three reservoir pools, except in areas classified as spawning sanctuaries. Check the regulations for the definitions of the sanctuary area closures.
WDFW seeks public input on ocean salmon seasons
Fisheries managers have proposed three options for salmon fisheries off the coast of Washington.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) released the options on Monday, and they reflect concern about the very low projection for returning coho salmon.
The three options offered are:
Option 1: 30,000 Chinook and 29,400 marked coho. This option includes an early season Chinook fishery from June 14 through June 28 in all ocean areas, followed by a Chinook and marked coho fishery from June 29 through Sept. 30.
Option 2: 22,125 Chinook and 22,500 marked coho. This option opens Chinook and coho fishing in all ocean areas from June 27 through Sept. 13.
Option 3: All ocean areas closed to salmon fishing.
The final decisions on ocean salmon seasons will be made during the PFMC’s April 1 meeting in Vancouver.
The public may attend several meetings to voice their opinions regarding the options, or they may comment online at the WDFW website.
The meeting schedules are listed on the webpage.
Flyfishers offer beginners fly-fishing school
The Clark-Skamania Flyfishers will hold their annual beginners fly-fishing class on Saturday, April 18 at the Camas Meadows Golf Club in Camas.
The class costs $50, which includes lunch, beverages, and a beginner’s fly-fishing handbook. The class will start at 9 a.m.
Instruction will cover basic equipment, fly casting, knots, match the hatch and flies, places to fish, fishing techniques, water safety and the importance of wild fish in streams.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own flyrod and reel for casting instruction. For those without gear, it will be provided.
For more information, contact Don Starkin at 509-637-4405, 360-608-5916 or dstarkin@msn.com.
