Outdoors Notes: Fly-fishers casting for a good cause

Fly-fishers of all skill levels are invited to join a group of expert instructors April 29 for clinic that benefits Washington breast-cancer survivors.

The clinic hosted by Northwest Casting for Recovery, a non-profit organization, is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tolt-McDonald Park in Carnation.

Nationally certified volunteer instructors will teach casting courses on a variety of techniques, including beginning fly casting, control and presentation and double haul. Spey casting is added for the first time. Private instruction is available.

Experts at the clinic include George Cook, a Sage Rods representative, and guide and outfitter for Isaak Ranch; Jimmy LeMert, a certified master fly-casting instructor and owner of Patrick's Fly Shop in Seattle; Don Simonson, a certified master fly-casting instructor; John Reid, a certified master fly-casting instructor; and Tony and Marilyn Vitale, master fly-casting instructors and owners of KCS Flycasting School in Sammamish.

Also on hand will be certified fly-casting instructors Kipp Keener, Aaron Culley, Brian Chou and Len Zickler. Aaron Riemer, owner of River Run Anglers in Carnation is the spey casting instructor.

Attend one morning or afternoon session for $50, or both for $75 with lunch included. Private lessons are also available from $100 to $125. Space is limited. Details: 425-868-7593 or e-mail Marilyn Vitale at marilynvitale@verizon.net.

All proceeds support a fly-fishing retreat for Washington breast-cancer survivors Oct. 13-15 at Freestone Inn in Mazama. Those interested in the retreat must sign up by Aug 4.

At no cost, breast cancer survivors will learn the fundamentals of fly-fishing at the retreat. Any woman who has experienced breast cancer is eligible to attend the retreat, with medical clearance from her physician. Details: 206-948-4352 or e-mail Joanne Elston at joanfish@aol.com. You can also visit the Casting for Recovery Web site at www.castingforrecovery.org.

Notes

• A free seminar titled Life Below Rosa: Smallies on the Lower Yakima is 1 p.m.-2 p.m. April 22 at Orvis, 911 Bellevue Way N.E. Author Dave Williams will discuss fly fishing for smallmouth bass. Details: 425-452-9138.

• The C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation is hosting the "Fishing Kids" event 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 22 at Green Lake by the Bathhouse Theater, 7630 E. Green Lake Drive N. in Seattle. Cost is $5, and children will receive a T-shirt, rod and reel, and possibly a fish to catch. Details: 425-251-3202 or 206-684-4075 or www.castforkids.org.

• The Sky Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Lavro Boats are hosting a free kid's trout fishing event 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 30 at Lake Tye on Fryelands Blvd. in Monroe. Open for children 12-and-under. There will also be an adult derby from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and costs $10. Details: 360-794-6378 or 360-794-5525.

• The recreational spot shrimp fishery in the Discovery and Port Angeles shrimp districts will not open as scheduled on May 6, due to extremely low abundance in the preseason test-fisheries.

Marine Area 6, outside of Port Angeles Shrimp District [east of a line from the eastern tip of Ediz Hook to the ITT-Rayonier dock] will open daily beginning May 6 at 7 a.m. Details: http://wdfw.wa.gov.

• The Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society presents a free discussion titled "Where the Whales Are," 7 p.m. April 19 at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N. in Seattle. Donna Hauser will discuss summer distribution patterns of southern resident killer whales in Puget Sound. Details: 206-734-4737 or www.acspugetsound.org.

• The Seattle Poggie Fishing Club is offering salmon fishing classes Thursday evenings, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. May 4-June 1, at the Ballard N.W. Senior Center, 5429 32nd N.W. Cost is $60, and $30 for each added family member. Proceeds benefit sending kids to summer camp. Details: 206-364-6361 or www.seattlepoggies.com.

• The Washington Trails Association is looking for volunteer trail-maintenance help April 18-21 at the Vashon Island Forest Trails. Work consists of brushing, tread work, drainage, turnpikes and one short re-route. The group will meet at 8 a.m. at Lincoln Park in West Seattle before boarding the ferry. Details: 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org.

• John Hansen, with Outdoor Emporium in Seattle, is conducting a halibut and bottomfishing seminar at the Eastside Puget Sound Anglers meeting, at 7 p.m. on April 19 at North Bellevue Community Center, 4063 148th Ave. N.E. Details: 425-562-9180.

• The SeaDoc Society is sponsoring a free Pacific Northwest fish and invertebrate identification class April 29 in Olympia and June 10 in Seattle. Details: www.seadocsociety.org.

• The Pioneer Kiwanis Club of Mason County is hosting the Spencer Lake Fishing Derby on April 29. Cost is $7.50 for adults, and $5 for children. Details: 360-426-2505.

• The Port Angeles Halibut Derby, part of the Northwest Salmon Derby Series, is May 27-28 at the Port Angeles yacht Club. Cost is $30. Largest fish is worth $5,000. Derby tickets are available at Swain's Outdoor in Sequim and Port Townsend, and Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood. Details: 360-457-4260 or www.portangeles.org.

• The West Point Light Station in Discovery Park will be open to the public April 29, May 6, 20 and 27, and June 10.

This is the first time the West Point Light Station has been open to the public in 15 years. The lighthouse building itself and one of the other buildings on site will be open. Discovery Park staff will be available from noon to 4 p.m. to answer questions. Details: 206-386-9110 or e-mail Anne Bentley at anne.bentley@seattle.gov.

• World-class whitewater kayaker and Olympian Eric Jackson and his family will be special guests of the Family Kayaking Clinic and Barbecue 7 p.m. April 30 at Magnuson Park on Lake Washington.

Emily Jackson, a 16-year old whitewater phenom, will give a presentation about her Kayakers For Cause Project, which helps build schools for kids in Uganda. Details: 206-940-6269 or e-mail Bill Walker at bill@seattleraftandkayak.com.

• The Seattle Audubon and Washington Butterfly Association are hosting a introductory class titled: "Butterflies of Puget Sound Region," 7 p.m.-9 p.m. May 18 and 25, and June 1 at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St. in Seattle. A field trip is also scheduled for May 20.

Learn where to find and identify 30 of the most common butterfly species. Space is limited to 20 participants. Cost is $60 SAS or WBA members or $75 non-members; and classes only are $40 members and $55 non-members. Details: 206-523-4483 or 206-364-4935 or www.naba.org/Chapters/nabaws.

• The Skamokawa Paddle Center is offering a special Mother's Day Kayak Tour is 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 14 in the Lower Gorge of the Columbia River near the peak of wildflower season.

Basic kayaking skills will be taught in Birnie Slough at Puget Island. Cost is $60 on Mother's Day only, and anyone that accompanies a mother is $70. The tour includes lunch, and beginning kayakers are welcome in double kayaks.

Andrew Emlen and Mark Whitaker, the lead guides for the tour, are both well versed in the human and natural history of the Lower Columbia River. Details: 360-795-8300 or www.skamokawakayak.com.

• The Seattle Parks and Recreation is offering a kayaking program for people with disabilities 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 21 and Sept. 17 at the Green Lake Small Craft Center, 5900 West Green Lake Way North. The kayaking event is co-sponsored with Wilderness Inquiry. For details e-mail Mara Lynaugh at maralynaugh@comcast.net.

• Outdoor Odysseys in Friday Harbor is offering a limited number of women-only sea kayaking tours in the San Juan Islands from June through September. Choose from two types of sea kayaking tours, both led by women guides — a three-day camping tour or a three-day bed & breakfast tour. Cost is $475 for camping tour and $749 for B&B tour. Details: 206-361-0717 or www.outdoorodysseys.com.

• The Wild Turkey Daze will be held in April and May in Colville. Events include a 5K turkey trot; golf tournament; turkey calling clinic; weigh-in for largest turkey; turkey shoot at Colville Gun Club; turkey drawing and photo contests; turkey bowling; owl prowl at Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge; turkey bingo; and turkey scavenger hunt. Details: 509-684-5973 or www.colville.com.

• Angling Unlimited fishing lodge in Sitka, Alaska, is offering a "Women's Gone Fishing Package," on May 16-21.

The four day/five night saltwater fishing trip provides lessons on gourmet seafood preparation by chef Linda Libby. The package includes lodging, transfers, fishing equipment and licenses. Cost is $1,545 per person. Details: 800-297-3380 or www.AnglingUnlimited.com.

• Photographers are asked to submit their pictures in the Discovery Park Calendar Photo Contest. All photographs for the contest must be taken at Discovery Park or Kiwanis Ravine. The deadline is May 20. Photographers may submit up to three pictures either slide or digital image. Cost is $10. Details: 206-733-9434.

• The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust has started trail-maintenance projects and isare looking for volunteers. Work is needed for trails on Tiger Mountain, Squak Mountain, Rattlesnake Mountain, Mount Si, and in the South and Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Basins.

Volunteers are needed on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through June 24. Details: 206-812-0122 or www.mtsgreenway.org.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com