FISHING -- Despite a cold start, anglers warmed up to the idea of catching tons of trout on Saturday, the opening day of Washington's lowland trout fishing season. Top producing lakes in Spokane County were Fishtrap (4.3 fish per angler) followed by Williams (despite wind…
CRITTERS -- While winter -- and winter-like spring weather -- is an inconvenience to many people, it's the ultimate test for wildlife. Deer can deal with a tough winter. However, too many tough winters in a row and put a local deer population into a…
GOOD DOG -- Visitors who have chosen Fridays to visit the Olympia office of state Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, usually get a few "pointers" from a pro who has a good nose for what's going on. Schoesler's front man is Ruger, a young vizsla pointer.…
OUTDOOR SPORTS -- Silver Mountain Resort reports 16 inches of fresh snow overnight as crew prepare for Silver Saturday No. 3 -- the third Saturday of skiing after the other resorts in the region closed -- and the 7th annual Leadman Triathlon. Lift tickets on…
MOUNTAIN BIKING -- Fat tire bike riders are gearing up for the annual Mountain Biking Skills Clinic -- for novice and experienced riders -- organized by the Spokane Mountaineers. The event is June 11 and 12 on a special skills course to be set up…
FISHING -- Saturday is opening day of the Washington lowland lakes fishing season, which means trout for dinner this weekend! Jeff Mayor of the Tacoma News-Tribune offered these five tips from his experiences with opening day: Pack your patience. If someone is struggling to get…
FLY FISHING -- "Punxsutawney Phil is a fuzzy little liar, at least here in Montana: Early spring? Yeah right," says Eric Adams of Montana Fly fishing Guides in Livingston. "Anglers here are getting twitchy for some warmer weather. We've had an unusually cool spring and…
YOUTH FISHING -- A trailer full of fishing gear for kids to borrow and use at a nearby trout pond will debut this week at three locations on the Idaho Panhandle. The Idaho Fish and Game Department's “Take Me Fishing” trailer is scheduled to be…
WINTER-LIKE SPRING TRAVEL -- Kevin Davis of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest Avalanche Center woke to an inch of new snow at Sandpoint. He kicked into gear this morning to revise his "spring" avalanche advisory even though his reporting season ended two weeks ago. "We…
FISHING -- Even if you're wrapped up by Bloomsday or some other diversion this weekend, at least check out Alan Liere's weekly report to see what you'll be missing in the great outdoor world of hunting and fishing.
Watch the full episode. See more Nature. FISHERIES -- In addition to the spring chinook fishing seasons underway, Columbia and Snake river salmon are the focus of three other notable events: On Sunday, national PBS Nature series will broadcast Salmon: Running the Gauntlet. Better yet,…
HUNTIG-FISHING -- Virgil Moore, newly appointed director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, is planning to attend a Sportsmen’s Breakfast meeting in Lewiston on Tuesday to discuss wildlife issues and answer questions. The meeting will be held at the Clearwater Regional office, 3316…
FISHING -- Starting Sunday, the use of lead fishing tackle will be restricted in northern Washington at 13 lakes frequented by nesting common loons. After a year of discussion and public meetings, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to prohibit the use of lead…
ENVIRONMENT -- Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, R-Wash., is co-sponsoring a bill in Congress that would protect fishing and hunting gear from environmental lawsuits, according to a report in Northwest Sportsman Magazine. Washington's 5th District Congresswoman is among 37 representatives cosponsoring "The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting…
HUNTING -- The unusually cold, wet weather and seemingly endless season of new snowfall just off the valley floors has affected bears, turkeys and the sportsmen who hunt the spring seasons. Following are obervations posted this afternoon by Jim Hayden, a hunter and Idaho Fish…
BIG-GAME HUNTING -- Idaho's application period for 2011 moose, sheep and goat hunting seasons ends in two days. To help make your choice, click here for last year's controlled hunt drawing odds. Change the year to 2010. The go to the online application site. (Click…
UPLAND BIRDS -- Sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse have been released at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area in Washington's Lincoln County this spring, continuing years of efforts to restore the once plentiful prairie grouse. Read on for details.
FLY FISHING -- Lance Kaufmann, owner of Kaufmann's Streamborn fly fishing shops in Tigard, Ore., and Seattle, plans to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection for his 42-year-old fly fishing outfitter next week, according to the a report in The Oregonian. The shuttering of the…
RIVERS -- Both of the controversial boat docks in the Coyote Rocks development in the Spokane Valley have been damaged this spring by the Spokane River's spring runoff waters. A lot of people said the docks shouldn't be allowed to be built there. Now the…
WILDLIFE RESEARCH -- The proof is in the poop for central Washington deer researchers studying the nutritional preferences of deer. GPS units, compasses and tape measures in hand, a group of eight mostly volunteer scientists surveyed sagebrush and windblown wheat grass on the hills far…
RIVER RUNNING -- Rafters on Montana's Smith River might have been getting as much use out of their snowshoes as they have out of their fishing rods this week, as the photo above indicates. People can't predict the weather when they draw permits during the…
HUNTING -- With spring turkey hunting seasons in full swing around the Inland Northwest, it's worth pausing a moment to hear out Larry Case, a Virginia conservation officer for three decades as well as an addicted turkey hunter, has see it all over the years,…
NATIONAL PARKS -- A storm dumping 9 inches of snow on Oregon's western mountains Tuesday brought the total snowfall at Crater Lake National Park to 615 inches, with more expected before the end of the season. The normal amount of snowfall through April 26 is…
NATIONAL PARKS -- Early visitors to Yellowstone National Park should bring their snowshoes. Park Spokesman Al Nash said crews are encountering the deepest snow they've seen in 13 years on the park's roads, with the snow on Sylvan Pass 22 feet deep, with some drifts…
WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT -- The Colville Tribe's ongoing snit with Washington Fish and Wildlife police has become more formal and more troubling in the past month. The Tribe has been telling the state Fish and Wildlife Department officers for at least a year that they couldn't…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.