A bit of Jeopardy-worthy trivia leads this week\u2019s outdoor notes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take chinook salmon for $1,000 Alex (or Ken).\u201d<\/p>\n
The question: \u201cWhy will Oregon anglers be grateful for California rice growers in a year or two?\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019 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. <\/p>\n
(Hmm…what about Oregon cranberry bogs?)<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take Shark Tank for the win Ken (or Alex).\u201d<\/p>\n
The question: \u201cWhy should you think twice about wading in the surf at Rockaway or swimming in Tillamook Bay right now?\u201d<\/p>\n
An answer: Because it\u2019s winter and the water is too cold? Surf\u2019s up?<\/p>\n
No, but those are both certainly possible even if you\u2019ve been mowing your lawn lately in Oregon\u2019s false spring.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 yes, possibly inside the jaws as far as Garibaldi.<\/p>\n
The shark wasn\u2019t seen, just tracked by its homing device.<\/p>\n
Researchers said it was the farthest north yet for one of their tagged fish.<\/p>\n
Read the details by The Oregonian\/OregonLive\u2019s Samantha Swindler here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking of stocking: As announced earlier, winter trout stocking has begun.<\/p>\n Both Henry Hagg Lake and St. Louis Ponds (No. 3, usually) are scheduled for sometime in the coming week.<\/p>\n Hagg Lake is now open year-round.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t linger.<\/p>\n Maps to each location and a full schedule for the Willamette Valley is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n And speaking of salmon: Besides multiple outdoor shows on tap, it\u2019s also salmon-season-setting season.<\/p>\n Spring and summer chinook seasons will be set by Oregon and Washington on Feb. 19 in Clackamas.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n That will be followed Feb. 27 by a first-blush look at summer and fall salmon seasons.<\/p>\n Coho are getting a bit of a boost with early rumors of far more in the forecast than for the same period in 2025.<\/p>\n However, while some of the rumors seem well-grounded, it\u2019s still simply speculation.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t set any vacation dates until final decisions are made in early April.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Pacific Northwest Sportsmen\u2019s Show opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Parking charged by Metro is $15 per vehicle or come on the TriMet Max yellow line.<\/p>\n See show details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n That will be followed by the Saltwater Sportfishing Show Feb. 21-22 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds.<\/p>\n The show is tailored specifically to all kinds of saltwater fishing and offers numerous seminars, give-aways, raffles, demonstrations and more.<\/p>\n Admission prices are about the same as the Portland event (different sponsors though) and parking is a bit cheaper.<\/p>\n