Out and About: Snake salmon season to be open 24/7

OUTFISH – The focus on fishing in the Snake River will sharpen next Sunday when anglers in Washington and Idaho stretches will be able to key in on a strong run of fall chinook salmon as well as steelhead.

While fishing for chinooks is closed at night in other areas of Washington, state rules on the Snake River will allow anglers to fish for salmon 24 hours a day, said John Whalen, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department regional fisheries manager.

Because of the strong run, the daily catch limit will include three adult hatchery chinook, plus six hatchery jack chinook less than 24 inches long.

Of the 434,600 upriver bright chinook salmon projected to enter the Columbia River this year, 31,600 are protected wild fall chinook bound for the Snake River.

Anglers in Washington must release steelhead and salmon with intact adipose fins without taking them out of the water.

More than 11,100 steelhead had moved up the Snake and over Lower Granite Dam by Friday at a rate of 109-166 fish a day last week.

Fall chinook numbers picked up with counts of more than 160 a day and a season total of more than 400 with thousands more to come.

Repairs scheduled at Heller Bar boat ramp

OUTFIX – Washington Fish and Wildlife Department officials are trying to get the permits to repair the eroded ramp for the Snake River boat launch at Heller Bar before the Labor Day weekend.

“With steelhead season going and salmon fishing coming up, we want anglers and boaters to know the ramp may be temporarily out of service during the repairs,” said Madonna Luers, department spokeswoman.

Details of the repairs and schedule should be available on Monday or Tuesday, she said.

More hunting seasons opening in September

OUTSHOOT – Several more hunting seasons will open in Eastern Washington next Sunday, including mourning dove and forest grouse.

Black bear seasons in the northeast corner of the state will open to join seasons in several portions of the East Side already underway.

Early archery seasons for deer will open in much of the region next Sunday followed by early archery elk hunts on Sept. 3.

Climbers organize Q’emiln Park cleanup

OUTDO – The annual Adopt-A-Crag cleanup at the climbing rocks in Post Falls’ Q’emiln Park is set for 8 a.m.-noon on Sept. 7, organized by the North Idaho College Outdoor Pursuits.

Volunteers helping with trash removal, invasive weed control and trail maintenance will be eligible for free food and giveaways after the cleanup. Sign up: (208) 769-7809.

• Spokane River Cleanup is Sept. 28. Info: rei.com/spokane.

September packed with area cycling events

OUTPEDAL – September is jam-packed with cycling events, including some of the best of the season, such as the  Great Northwest Fall Tour next Sunday out of Newport,  SpokeFest in Spokane on Sept. 8, the  Kootenai River Ride Sept. 14 out of Bonners Ferry,  ValleyFest rides on Sept. 22 and the  Coeur de Fondo on Sept. 28.

See details on these events and a total of 21 other organized rides in the region through October in The Spokesman-Review’s  2013 Northwest Bicycling Events Expanded List at spokesman.com/outdoors.