Field Reports: Teen lands record humpy

A 15.4-pound pink salmon has been verified as a Washington record. It’s also a potential world record.

Arlington angler Adam Stewart, 19, landed the humpy Oct. 11 using spinning gear on the lower Stillaguamish River. The fish was 31 inches long, with a girth of 24.75 inches, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department officials confirmed.

The previous state record was a 14.86-pound pink salmon – the current IGFA world record – caught in the Skykomish River in 2001. An 11.56-pound humpy caught in 2001 is the state’s record for saltwater.

Pink salmon, are the smallest (generally 3-5 pounds) and most abundant of the five Pacific salmon species. Most pinks return to Washington waters in odd-numbered years,

Rich Landers

NORDIC SKIING

Ski clubs meet

Kettle Range Ski Club, which pioneered much of the backcountry skiing activity in northeastern Washington, is reviving itself with a potluck barbecue, informal ski swap and entertainment on Friday, starting 5:30 p.m. at the Parish Hall in Republic.

Nils Larsen, free-heel guru and club original will present several films, including “Skiing in the Shadow of Genghis Khan: Timeless Skiers of the Altai” and “Sinners and Scrapple.” Info: (509) 435-1270.

Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club will hold its season-opener meeting Tuesday, 7 p.m., at the Fernan Ranger Station, 2502 E. Sherman Ave. Info: (208) 762-1246.

Rich Landers

WILDERNESS

Dunes access debated

A bill that could help open public access to Juniper Dunes Wilderness near Pasco cleared the U.S. House by a 377-0 vote last week and is on its way to the Senate.

The bill would allow the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to sell 622 acres within the Wells Hydroelectric Project area to Douglas PUD, which operates the dam. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Pasco, introduced the measure this year with a provision that proceeds from the sale must be used to expand access to BLM land in Washington.

Staff and wire reports