Out & About
Fly fishers take on steelhead
Lewiston fly-tier Leroy Hyatt and Spokane fishing guide Sean Visintainer will present a free program about steelheading on the Clearwater and Grande Ronde rivers Wednesday, 7 p.m., at St. Francis School, 1104 W. Heroy, sponsored by the Spokane Fly Fishers.
A fly-tying demonstration will precede the meeting.
Woodpeckers, owls on film
OUTSTANDING – Learn how the 41 species of owls and woodpeckers in North America impact their environment in an extraordinary visual program Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the Magic Lantern Theater, 25 W. Main St.
The speaker: Paul Bannick, Seattle nature photographer, naturalist and author, who has written and photographed the book, “The Owl and the Woodpecker.”
Spokane birders who saw the program at a regional Audubon convention were so enthused they booked Bannick to bring it to Spokane.
“The most experienced birders have learned a lot from Paul’s presentation,” said Hans Krauss, local Audubon president. “Paul’s book by the same name is a masterpiece that has gotten rave reviews. It is based on thousands of hours in the field observing and photographing these fascinating birds.”
Admission is free but seating limited.
Environment focus of festival
What: The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival.
When: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
Where: North Idaho College, Edminister Student Union Building.
Who: Sponsored by Idaho Rivers United.
Details: Topics include bioengineering, water issues, wilderness preservation, and more, plus paddling, climbing and trekking.
Info: www.idahoriers.org; donation requested.
Shad ban advised for sturgeon bait
OUTFISH – Shad would no longer be legal for use as bait when fishing for sturgeon under proposed changes in Washington fishing rules.
Sturgeon congregate in the Columbia River just downstream of the dams in late spring. Many of these fish are broodstock sturgeon moving in to spawn.
While sea lions have learned to target these adult fish, which appear to be in decline, guides and anglers have learned to use whole shad as bait in targeting oversize sturgeon in a catch-and-release fishery.
But large sturgeon inhale whole shad and often get the hook so far down the throat it cannot be removed. Surveys indicate up to 40 percent of the oversize sturgeon carcasses have hooks in the gut.