Washington

Quotable “It was a bad year, but it wasn’t as much of a disaster as it was made out to be.” — Wayne Marion, RMEF Western Washington director, after a final count on the St. Helens Wildlife Area turned up only 63 dead elk.In the Oct. 5, 2006 issueFISHING Smallmouth record on hold * Hoh River salmon * Quillayute salmon * River Trends * Humptulips salmon * Columbia tributaries (Cowlitz, Toutle, Kalama, North Fork Lewis, Garys, Elochoman, Drano Lake, Washougal, White Salmon, Klickitat) * McNary steelhead * Everett Coho Derby results * Columbia keeper sturgeon * Klickitat salmon, steelhead * Westport derby winner * Ilwaco derby winner * Saltwater Trends * Commencement Bay coho * McNary Dam walleye * North Basin walleye * Mid-Columbia smallies * Eastside smallmouth * Mayfield musky tournament * Central trout lakes * Lyon’s Ferry birds * Photos from the Field: AlaskaHUNTING Fire update * Waterfowl preview * South Basin waterfowl * North Basin waterfowl * Ebey Island ducks * Lincoln Creek ducks * Yakima Valley pheasant * Cougar hunts * Chelan County quail, chukar * Lyon’s Ferry birdsEVERYTIME Statewide Trends * Editor’s Picks * Outdoor Lineup * Trophy Tale * Astro Tables * In the Bullseye * Photo Contest Winners * Where To Go on the Web * Where To Go * Outdoor Outlet * Gearing Up * Pro Guides

This Issue’s Featured Article

THOUGH ALL OF Chelan County only produced 40 percent of the Mt. Spokane GMU’s buck take last year, hunters are finding improved hunting there. That includes late hunters like Garrett Grubbs of East Wenatchee, who bagged this 8×7 (counting eyeguards) in the Swakane on a permit. It went 241?2 inches wide, 21 tall and grosses around 190 nontypical. (Realtree/Lowrance Photo Contest entry) Creek scheduled to open Centralia — One of Washington’s oldest and most established hunting clubs – the Lincoln Creek Hunting Club (360-736-6609) just west of Centralia, which started back in the early 1960s – will be open for the 2006-07 season. Club owner Frank “Corky” Smith passed away last December, but Lorraine Smith says the club will operate this season as usual, with the exception of pheasant hunting.”We won’t have pheasants or dog training this year,” Mrs. Smith says. “But we will have our duck club open, business as usual. And one of our neighbors will probably have the pheasant hunting.”Top club: Lincoln Creek is a venerable hunting institution in the state. Situated in the bottomlands of Lincoln Creek (which feeds into the Chehalis River), the land floods under heavy fall rains to produce standing pasture water and ponds. The waterscape attracts mallards, pintails, teal, limited numbers of geese and lots of widgeon when storms blow the birds in from the coast.Hunting is done from fixed box blinds. The local grange hall serves as the club’s lodge building, where hot coffee, soups and chili are served to members after hunting. The club hunts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Shooting hours are from legal start time to noon on each hunt day.Shooting is by season-long membership only ($1,750 for the season). Hunting usually starts as soon as the rains hit in earnest, which is typically around early to mid-November.— Dusty Routh