A series of meetings to discuss salmon runs and fishing seasons will begin Feb. 28 with the release of salmon forecasts for the state.

The meetings, part of the North of Falcon process, will conclude April 1-6 when the Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Seattle to adopts ocean fisheries regulations and state-tribal fishing plans.

At the Feb. 28 meeting, staffers from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will release Puget Sound, coastal Washington and Columbia River salmon forecasts. They also will discuss fishery management objectives and 2012 recreational fishing opportunities.

That meeting will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in …

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The state is pulling the plug on a hatchery steelhead program at Snider Creek next year to establish a wild steelhead management zone in the Sol Duc River.

After next spring, no hatchery steelhead will be released into the Sol Duc River, said the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Snider Creek is a tributary to the Sol Duc River near Forks.

The Sol Duc will be the first wild steelhead management zone formally established in the state under the department’s statewide steelhead management plan, said Ron Warren, regional fish program manager.

Wild management zones, also known as wild …

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Lake Tapps angler Brian Dennis brought home the $4,000 second prize in the ninth annual 2012 Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational. Dennis was the leader after the first day with his 16.2-pound chinook salmon.

The winner was Jason King of Bellingham whose 16.6-pound fish topped the field of 293 anglers to earn the $10,000 first-place prize.

Dennis was tied for second place with David Hodges of Friday Harbor.

Rounding out the top five were Dale Nelson of Bellingham (16.1 pounds, $2,000) and Derek Floyd of Camano Island (14.2 pounds, $1,000).

Another local angler was among the winners. Christian Thomas was …

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UPDATED 3:12 P.M.

The first chinook of the season have passed through Bonneville Dam.

According to staffers with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, an adult chinook went through the video/viewing area just before 2 p.m. on Jan. 25. Seconds later a jack chinook swam past the window.

That is one day earlier than the first chinook came through in 2011.

The debate among Fish and Wildlife staffers is whether the fish are fall chinook or springers. Both fish were unclipped and bright, and both had white chins, but a number of people believe they are not …

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I took a few hours this afternoon to walk around the 2012 edition of the Washington Sportsmen’s Show.

Here are four things that caught my attention as I wandered among outfitter booths, demonstration tanks and manufacturer displays.

Get involved: Even as you look for a deal on a hunt or fishing rod, you can help out. A number of groups are on hand that do good work and could use your financial support. Among them is Outdoors For All, a group that takes special needs children on hunting trips. In their second year, the group is taking five kids on …

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While the 2012 smelt forecast for the Columbia River and its tributaries is favorable, both recreational and commercial fisheries are expected to remain closed this year,
The 2012 run is forecasted to improve from 2011, but is still expected to be at a low level, said Joe Hymer, state fish biologist. He said this year’s run could possibly be better than the past couple of years but will still weaker than the brief rebound years of 2001-2003.

On May 17, 2010, Columbia River smelt, also known as eulachon, were federally-listed as threatened under the Endangered Species …

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The first razor clam dig of the year will proceed as scheduled on Friday and Jan. 21 at four ocean beaches.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife approved the evening dig at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches after marine toxin tests showed that the clams on those beaches are safe to eat.

No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon.

The evening low tide Friday will be at 4:28 p.m. (-0.5 feet) and on Jan. 21 it will be at 5:17 p.m. (-0.8 feet).

Diggers should hit the beach one to two hours before …

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Fishing for steelhead and other game fish will close early in several river systems in Puget Sound and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca to protect wild steelhead. The early closures will affect the Puyallup, Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish and Snohomish systems, along with several streams along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced earlier today.

Most river systems will close Feb. 1. However, the Puyallup River system will close Jan. 16, and some waters near state fish hatcheries are scheduled to close Feb. 16.

The Puyallup closure involves the White River …

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