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Page B-2 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016
ON THE WATER
A~dtdttentive
oorsmen
women have
probably noticed a bit of
a change in the air over
the past week or
two. Trees are
getting early
buds, an ever-
changing line-
up of waterfowl
is appearing
on our lakes
and bays, and
warmer days By JASON L.
have been ROLFE
poking through
the clouds here
and there.
While it would perhaps
be a bit optimistic
to label this the
"beginning" of spring, it
is certainly safe to say
that winter's end is on
the way.
Before that happens,
though, this is a
great time of year to
take advantage of
opportunities for a
fresh meal of hatchery
steelhead or razor clams.
HATCHERY
STEELHEAD
ON THE
LOWER
CHEHALIS
RIVER AND
TRIBUTARIES
Recent rains
have left
anglers with
few truly ideal
fishing days in
the month of
February. It's been a
particularly wet winter,
which gives us high river
flows and low water
clarity--two factors that
tend to make steelhead
less likely to take a lure
or bait.
During these high-
water events, a
technique commonly
referred to as "plunking"
is often effective. This
technique involves
casting bait such as
cured salmon eggs or
sand shrimp with a
heavy weight attached
to keep the offering
stationary in stronger
currents. In high water,
steelhead will often be
on the move, and casting
this rig into deeper,
slower moving pools or
into the soft spots along
gravel bars can be a
great way to pick up a
fish or two for the dinner
table.
Of course, with a few
days of stable weather
the river can drop back
down into shape rather
quickly. This is the time
to break out the fly rods,
centerpin rods or float
fishing rigs. Drifting a
see BOUNTY, page B-6
A typical, overcast day
on a
Northwest steelhead river.
Journal photo by Jason Rolfe
ON THE TRAIL
If you can coax your
memory back to last
Saturday, perhaps
you will recall the sun- ing from previous rain,
shine in the morning, and the early day warm-
the branch tips glisten- ing as though audition-
for the week of February 25 through March 3,2016
ALLYN I Case Inlet
25 1:01am 1.7 26 1:36am 2.6 21 2:12am 3.6 28 2:51am 4.7
rhu7:22am 14.7 Fri7:50am 14.5 Sat8:21arn 14.2 Sun8:54am 13.8
1:45pm 3.5 2:20pm 3.1 2:58prn 2.7 3:41pm 2.4
7:21pm 12.6 8:06pro 12.3 8:56pm 11.9 9:52pm 11.6
29 3:33am 5.9 1 4:25am 6.9 2 12:19am 11.33 1:49am 11.1
Mon 9:31pm 13.2 Tue 10:14am 12.7 Wed 5:36am 1.7Thu7:09am 8.1
4:28pm 2.2 5:22pm 2.0 11:05pm 12.2 12:06pm 11.9
10:58pm 11.3 6:22pm 1.7 7:23pm 1.3
SHELTON I Oakland Bay
25 2:07am 1.4 26 2:42am 2.2 21 3:18am 3.1 28 357am 4.1
Thu8:00am 14.7 Fri8:28am 14.5 Sat8:59am 14.2 Sun9:32prn 13.8
2:51pm 3.0 3:26pm 2.6 4:04pm 23 4:47pm 2.1
7:59pm 12.6 8:44pm 12.3 9:34pm 11.9 10:30pm 11.6
29 4:39am 5.0 1 5:31am 5.92 12:57am 11.33 2:27am 11.7
Mon lO:09am 13.2 Tue10:52am 12.7 Wed 6:42am 6.6Thu8:15am 6.9
5:34pm 1.9 6:28pm 1.711:43pm 12.2 12:44pm 11.9
11:36pm 11.3 7:28pm 1.5 8:29pm 1.1
:UNION] Hood Canal
25 6:37am 12.226 12:35am 2.627 1:12am 3.7 28 1:50am 4.8
Thu 12:42pm 3.8 Fn 7:04am 11.8Sat7:28am 11.4 Sun7:48am 11.0
6:28pm 10.2 1:21pm 3.6 2:02pro 3.4 2:46pm 3.2
7:14pm 9.8 8:07pro 9.5 9:lOpm 9.2
29 2:34am 5.8 1 3:30am 6.82 4:43am 7.43 1:01am9.8
M0,8:lOam 10.6 Tue8:39am 10.3Wed9:20am 10.0 Thu6:02am 7.6
3:35pm 3,0 4:30pm 2.7 5:28pm 2.2 10:19pm9.8
10:27pm 9,1 11:50pm 9.3 6:25pm.1.6
THE SUN and THE MOON
25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3
Sunrise/:01am6:59am6:57am 6:55am6:53pm6:51am6:49am6:48am
Sunset 5:51pm5:53pm5:54pm 5:56pm5:57pm5:59pm6.~Opm6:02pm
Moonrise 9:01pm10:.06pm 11:05pm 12:04am 1:02am1:58am2:52pm
Moonset 8:18am8:44am9:11am 9:41am10:13am 1051am11"34am 12:24am
Full moon February 22
TdallnSxnmk~ comtesyNOkA I ~lOatacourtesyUS. Ni~lObsmatoq
ing for spring.
It was 51 degrees by
11 a.m. when I turned
right at the "T" junction
6 miles up the Hamma
Hamma Road (FS 25)
and drove past the
crowded trailhead for
Lena Lake.
Less than a mile
further, I crossed the
bridge at Lena Creek.
A pair of sweet, clean
campsites straddle the
bridge and then shortly
afterwards the road goes
from paved to unpaved
better desc~bed as
carpet-bombed
with potholes
large enough to
hold fish.
Set your
odometer at
the bridge and
after 1.6 miles
of humps and
bumps you will
see a small
wooden sign on
the left for Bea-
ver Pond Trail.
This
Non-Members Welcome
AT THE RANGE Memberships Available
February 25, Thorsdey 6:00 P.M. Wmcbester Sporting Rifle Marksmauship program.
22 lr spor6ng rifle cousse of lire. This is a self-paced awards based program, ftm and
rewarding for all ages and skill levels. Coaching usually available, please bring firearm
in a bag or box, no firearms outside their bag or box outside the building. $6.00 members
$8.00 non-members.
February 26, Friday 6:00 P.M. Bullseye .221r Pistol Target Shooting
You will be firing 10 mends on each of 6 targets from 50 feet with one hand. This
discipline is excellent skill building for beginners and advanced shooters alike. $3.00 for
members and $5.00 for non-members. This program nms a little over an hour.
February 2%28. 9:00 A.M.-.6:00 P.M. NRA Personal ~fion Outside the Home A two
full day course, NRA Certified Training consular will teach students advanced defensive
shooting skills, how to respond to a violent confmntatien, and strategies for safety outside
the home. Specific WA state firearms defense laws are taught by an attorney. This course
will include Level 1 & 2, Advanced shooting skills required via education or demousWated
by a pre-enurse qualification course of fire. Cost is $185.00 which includes lunch both
days. Seats available at press time.
Marda 1, Ttw, sday 5:30 P.M. PPC Match This is a revolver friendly match, shooting two
targets in varying courses of fire and at different distances for score. Equipment is a .38
special, 9mm and/or larger pistol. This discipline requires drawing from a holster. Full
equipment fist is on the club website. Members shoot for $6.00, non-members $8.00, and
juniors shoot fora $1 wben accompanied by a parent or gtmrdian.
March 2, Wednesday 7:00 P2d Membership Business meeting will be held at the PUD 3
building at 2621 E Johus Prairie Road.
March 3, Thursday 6:00 P.M. Steel Shoot Steel targets are shot for score. 105 rounds, .38
special or 9ram or larger required. Show up early, 5:30 and help set up. Very popular and
rewarding activity. $6.00 for members, $8.00 for non-members and juniors shoot for $1.00
when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
COMING SOON:
April 2, Satorday 10:00A.M:-4:OOP.M. NRAFtrst Steps PistolClass, introduction
to pistol shooting. Firearm handling and safety is taught which will provide a soSd
foundation for skill building. What to consider when buying a firearm and ammunition
is also discussed. F, xceUent for tbe beginner or as a safety refreshor for any skill level.
Cost is $50.00, which does include ~ and amino. Students under 18 must be
accompanied by a parent or g.ardian.
DID YOU KNOW." The MCSA indoor range is open the second Sattaday of each month
from 10:00 A.M. to 2.'00 P.M. to the public. The fee is $12.00 which includes 1 target,
morn available for 25 per tmget. Two persous may share a lane, ore sheoting at a time.
All oqganized events are also open to the public, membership not needed to participate.
MASON COUNTY
SPORTSMAN' S ASSOCIATION
W. 521 Business Park Rd., Shelton
Message Phone 427-1102 ~
www~asoncountysa.com
By MARK
WOYTOWICH
Park carefully on the
road shoulder here; it's
quite the tumble
to the river below.
For years I've
assumed this trail
was short and in-
significant, pass-
ing it by for the
drama of Hamma
Hamma Falls fur-
ther up the road.
But from my
first footfall on the
narrow, winding
path, I gained a
deep appreciation for the
mini-rainforest so boldly
represented in what
amounts to a 1.3-mile
easy roundtrip hike.
To my great surprise,
the Beaver Pond Trail
has some of the deepest,
richest nonstop moss
beds of any public land
in this portion of the
Olympics. If you love the
spongy moss fairways of
Ranger Hole, then you
will love the shag-carpet
dips and turns as this
trail peels away from the
road and descends, in
undulating stages, about
200 feet to the edge of a
pond.
The moss does not
simply cover the ground.
It also climbs, covers
and drapes most every
tree you see, adding
creepy muscle mass to
the long, narrow arms
of vine maples, some so
large and commanding
that the trail tunnels
below them.
The trail circum-
scribes a rock here,
crosses a streamlet
there, and opens to vis-
tas of singular boulders
see BEAVER, page B-6