A bit of Jeopardy-worthy trivia leads this week’s outdoor notes.
“I’ll take chinook salmon for $1,000 Alex (or Ken).”
The question: “Why will Oregon anglers be grateful for California rice growers in a year or two?”
The answer: Because selected rice fields in the Sacramento Valley just received nearly two million chinook smolts in a project designed to double the fields’ benefits by providing a nutrient-rich nursery before their release into the Sacramento River. Flooded rice paddies offer untold acres of aquatic invertebrates amid all those young plants.
(Hmm…what about Oregon cranberry bogs?)
“I’ll take Shark Tank for the win Ken (or Alex).”
The question: “Why should you think twice about wading in the surf at Rockaway or swimming in Tillamook Bay right now?”
An answer: Because it’s winter and the water is too cold? Surf’s up?
No, but those are both certainly possible even if you’ve been mowing your lawn lately in Oregon’s false spring.
We have a winner: Because while reports of great white sharks are nothing new off our coast, California researchers tagging and tracking the movements of great whites recently reported a tag report from near Tillamook Bay – yes, possibly inside the jaws as far as Garibaldi.
The shark wasn’t seen, just tracked by its homing device.
Researchers said it was the farthest north yet for one of their tagged fish.
Read the details by The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Samantha Swindler here.
Speaking of stocking: As announced earlier, winter trout stocking has begun.
Both Henry Hagg Lake and St. Louis Ponds (No. 3, usually) are scheduled for sometime in the coming week.
Hagg Lake is now open year-round.
The Marion County Parks Department says the automatic gate to St. Louis Ponds opens each morning at 6 a.m., but closes at 7 p.m., so don’t linger.
Maps to each location and a full schedule for the Willamette Valley is available here.
And speaking of salmon: Besides multiple outdoor shows on tap, it’s also salmon-season-setting season.
Spring and summer chinook seasons will be set by Oregon and Washington on Feb. 19 in Clackamas.
It’s unlikely there will be much change from last year, although an anticipated downturn in Willamette springers has already cause Oregon to say there will be no two-rod option for salmon this year in the river.
That will be followed Feb. 27 by a first-blush look at summer and fall salmon seasons.
Coho are getting a bit of a boost with early rumors of far more in the forecast than for the same period in 2025.
However, while some of the rumors seem well-grounded, it’s still simply speculation.
Don’t set any vacation dates until final decisions are made in early April.
About those shows: If you want to get to Washington on Interstate 5 at mid-morning Wednesday, you may want to detour to I-205 to avoid the perennial jam at the Portland Expo Center.
The Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Admission is $20 for adults 18 and older, free for holders of Oregon (only) pioneer licenses and anyone 17 and younger and $12 for active or retired military, military veterans, police, fire and first responders.
Parking charged by Metro is $15 per vehicle or come on the TriMet Max yellow line.
That will be followed by the Saltwater Sportfishing Show Feb. 21-22 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds.
The show is tailored specifically to all kinds of saltwater fishing and offers numerous seminars, give-aways, raffles, demonstrations and more.
Admission prices are about the same as the Portland event (different sponsors though) and parking is a bit cheaper.
Finally, those in the Bend/Sisters/Redmond-Madras triangle can attend the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center, March 5-8.