STEELHEAD FISHING -- It's not even a trickle yet coming up over Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River -- just a couple a day -- but this year's steelhead run continues to pick up steam into the Columbia. Late for sure, but they're coming.
FISHING -- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has decided against extending the float-fishing season on Rock Creek east of Missoula. Rock Creek closes to fishing from boats beginning July 1, but this year FWP considered a three-week float fishing extension because unusually high river flows…
HUNTING -- Public opinion on gray wolves remains sharply split as Montana and Idaho prepare to resume hunts for the predators after Congress removed their endangered species protections. Montana wildlife commissioners meet July 14 to adopt a quota of 220 wolves to be killed during…
EXTREME KAYAKING -- Oregon's Multnomah County sheriff’s office says it took 14 emergency responders more than an hour to rescue a kayaker injured Sunday at the base of Bridal Veil Falls, according to an Associated Press report. Robert McKenzie,19, of Eugene suffered a back injury…
SALMON FISHING -- Washington's coastal hatchery chinook salmon season kicked into high gear last week with good fishing reports coming in from Puget Sound to Ilwaco. Read on for the update by Mark Yuasa of the Seattle Times.
PADDLING – The Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club is kicking off its annual series of paddling clinics, with something for every level of boater. Sea kayaking, July 13 evening indoor class followed by July 16-17 session at Medical Lake, for beginners as well as seasoned…
SOUT HILL BLUFF TRAILS -- Hikers and bikers can learn the theory and application of effective trail building and trail maintenance in a free clinic TONIGHT on the South Hill. Mike Brixey, who's trained with the International Mountain Bike Association, will make the presentation starting…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Peek-a-boo in the dew. Spring is full of discoveries for people who roam wide-eyed outdoors. Watch your step! And no, I didn't pick the youngster up even though its mother was nowhere in site. This is nature's way. For details, here' my…
HIKING -- The snow clogging the high country isn't stopping hikers wearing boots and gaiters from trekking into some "cool" places. Bob Clark of Missoula joined friends on Saturday for a hike into Heart Lake, a backcountry destination in the Great Burn area. The popular…
FISHERIES -- Purse and beach seines are being deployed in the lower Columbia River in the first test of alternative commercial fishing gear on summer chinook salmon, the Columbia Basin Bulletin reports. Oregon and Washington fisheries researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of alternatives to the…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.