FISHING -- More than $900 in prizes is waiting for anglers who catch the biggest fish and luck out in the raffles at the 2013 Sprague Lake Trout Derby on June 8. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids under 17. No fishing…
CYCLING -- Jeremiah Alexander tends to his dirt-trail rash during the 24 Hours Round the Clock mountain bike race, which concludes today at noon at Riverside State Park. The event for solo and team cyclists is one of th biggest camping parties of the year,…
UPDATED May 24, 2013 WILDLIFE WATCHING -- While most snowy owls that migrated to the lower 48 states during winter are well on their way back to their arctic breeding grounds, at least one is still hanging out in Eastern Washington. Last week, a snowy…
PARKS -- Most of the trails are open for hiking and biking at Mount Spokane State Park. If that's not enough incentive, the photo of a Calypso orchid above indicates the wildflower are providing additional attractions. "These little blooms seem to have been out for…
NATIONAL PARKS -- Now through the next couple of weeks or so will be prime time for bicyclists to explore portions of Glacier Park's Going to the Sun Highway. While plowing is underway from both sides toward Logan Pass, motorized traffic is prohibited but bicycles…
FORESTS -- A trail closure notice just issued by the Colville National Forest is a reminder that roads, trails and campgrounds are subject to the whims of nature, even on a holiday weekend. Call ahead to forest offices to check on any last-minute closures that…
SHOOTING -- The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today dismissed a lawsuit brought by environmental groups seeking to force the Environmental Protection Agency to ban ammunition containing lead components. The National Shooting Sports Foundation filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in…
RIVERS — The level of Lake Roosevelt rose to an elevation of nearly 1,271 feet today and lake levels are expected to continue rising up to a foot a day over the next week into the 1,277 range by May 31. Holiday weekend campers should…
FISHING -- Anglers should feel confident that the spring chinook season will remain open on the Clarkston designated area of the Snake River in Washington through the Memorial Day weekend, according to Glen Mendel, Fish and Wildlife's southeast Washington fisheries biologist. Regarding yesterday's update on…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will speak at the annual Ducks Unlimited convention this week during a visit to Portland in her first West Coast trip since she was sworn in last month. Today Jewell and Portland Mayor Charlie Hales are set to…
FISHING -- The fine art of fibbing is in a fisherman's DNA. But when $50,000 is involved, even anglers have to bite the bullet at one annual fishing contest in the East. The New Hampshire Union Leader reports anglers in the Winni Derby will have…
UPDATED May 24, 2013 WILDLIFE WATCHING -- While most snowy owls that migrated to the lower 48 states during winter are well on their way back to their arctic breeding grounds, at least one is still hanging out in Eastern Washington. Last week, a snowy…
FISHING -- Anglers harvested 21 chinook in Washington's Snake River fishery area at Clarkston last week. That leaves about 30 fish in the allocation for the Snake River. Washington Fish and Wildlife officials are considering whether to continue the Clarkston fishery through this next weekend…
FISHING -- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fish managers will present information and take public input on proposed Tucannon River steelhead management changes at a May 29 meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. at Dayton Elementary School (Park Street and 2nd Street) in Dayton. New…
Outside magazine online is asking readers to vote for the nation's "best active town," and Spokane is one of the 10 candidates for the distinction. The cover photo for the Spokane listing features cyclists on the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River, which is a…
FISHING -- Here's an update to with more and clearer details regarding my earlier post on Idaho's decision to close fishing for adult spring chinook salmon in the Clearwater River. This was just released from Idaho Fish and Game's Lewiston office. Tuesday, May 21, the…
FISHING -- The sport fishery for hatchery spring chinook salmon and hatchery steelhead will reopen Saturday (May 25) on the lower Columbia River as fish mangers get a better bead on the run and more fish become available in the season quota. The fishery is…
FISHING -- Good conditions and a surge of fish into Idaho's Clearwater River provided excellent fishing for spring chinook over the weekend, as predicted. But the turnout was so heavy and the fishing was so good, anglers virtually caught their entire meager allotment of this…
RIVERS – The best time to float the Priest River comes and goes, but the next couple of weeks will be worth checking out. At its extremes – up to 10,500 cubic feet per second and down to 165 cfs – the river is basically…
PREDATORS -- Gov. Jay Inslee today signed legislation that will provide state wildlife managers more resources to prevent wolf-livestock conflict and expand criteria for compensation to livestock owners for wolf-related losses. Senate Bill 5193, requested by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and…
PUBLIC LANDS -- The South Sherman Road (FSR 2020000) has suffered an impassible washout on the west or upper end of the road, the Colville National Forest reports today. The temporary closure will be from milepost 11.65 to milepost 11.85 (just off of U.S. Highway…
TRAILS -- The Route of The Hiawatha rail-trail near Lookout Pass is set to open for the 2013 summer season on Saturday (May 25). The 15-mile route for mountain biking or hiking follows the abandoned Milwaukee Railroad grade between the old town site of Taft,…
HUNTING -- Wednesday (May 22) is the deadline to apply for Washington's special big-game hunting permits for deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep, and turkey seasons. Apply online. Permit winners will be selected through a random drawing in late June. Update your email and…
PREDATORS -- Federal wildlife officials are postponing a much-anticipated decision on whether to lift protections for gray wolves across the Lower 48 states. In a court filing Monday in Billings, Mont., government attorneys say "a recent unexpected delay" is indefinitely holding up action on the…
SHOOTING -- This court case -- stemming in part from secondary deaths to creatures such as California condors that die after ingesting lead bullet fragments from wounded game -- is worth watching. Local note: The Loon Lake Loon Association is among the plaintiffs. The association…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.