Out & About: Washington raising stakes for drunk boating

OUTFINE – Boaters could be sunk if caught drunk under new boating laws signed Thursday by Gov. Jay Inslee.

The legislation allows officers to require breath or blood tests when they suspect a boating-under- the-influence case. The infraction is upgraded to a gross misdemeanor; top fine is $5,000 and a year in jail.

The law changes go into effect on July 28.

REI project boosts Little Spokane trail

OUTDO – The Spokane REI store is trying to round up a crew of several hundred volunteers for a brief but massive effort to reroute a portion of a popular Little Spokane River trail off private land.

In cooperation with Riverside State Park, the store’s annual family-friendly Service Day project is set for 9 a.m.-noon on June 1, National Trails Day.

Helpers will redirect the Valley Trail downstream from Indian Painted Rocks onto state park land.

Individuals should preregister at the REI website, rei.com/spokane.

Larger groups contact Carol Christensen at the store, 328-9900.

Mountain bikers gear for 24 Hours

OUTMUD – The annual 24 Hours Round the Clock mountain bike race is gearing up for another extravaganza of solo and team efforts supported by a huge campout with friends and fellow dirtbaggers May 25-26 at Riverside State Park.

The Seven Mile airstrip area fills on the eve of the race with hundreds of bikes along with tents, RVs, trailers and cyclists from around the country. The event begins with a La Mans start at noon Saturday. Riders complete as many 15-mile dirt-trail laps as possible in 24 hours. Info: roundandround.com.

Walleye Derby set for Two Rivers

OUTFISH – A new Walleye Derby is scheduled June 1-2 on Lake Roosevelt based out of Two Rivers RV Park and Marina.

Entry tickets, $100 per two-person team, can be purchased at the marina or in Spokane at White Elephant Stores and Tobler Marina.

The payout is 80 percent of entries, including cash for two big fish a day and the top four teams overall, said organizer Danny Kieffer.

The annual Two Rivers Trout Derby is Sept. 7-8.

Info: (509) 722-4029.

Angler nailed for getting two limits

OUTLAW – Veteran Washington Fish and Wildlife police often develop a nose for sniffing out greedy anglers.

For example, officer Dave Spurbeck was impressed to see an angler quickly catch his limit at the north end of West Medical Lake on the opening weekend of the season. But on a hunch, he didn’t approach the angler for the normal check. Instead he jotted down the angler’s vehicle license plate number.

Just 20 minutes later, the vehicle drove into the access area at the south end of the lake. The angler had changed clothes, including his hat and shoes.

Spurbeck moved to a concealed area to watch the angler, and sure enough, the man began fishing and caught a second daily limit.

Good fishing, bad luck, big fine, not to mention the $300 worth of fishing gear the officer seized.