As expected, the Hoh River and the South Fork Hoh River on the Olympic Peninsula will close to all sport fishing April 3 to protect wild steelhead, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced this afternoon. The runs this year have not been as strong as they typically are.

The closure will take place at 12:01 a.m. on April 3 and the rivers will not re-open through the remainder of the season. The Olympic National Park also will close portions of the two rivers that lie within the park’s boundary.

The closure is needed to meet the wild steelhead spawning escapement goal of 2,400 fish, said Bill Freymond, the state’s regional fish manager.

Fishing on the Hoh and South Fork Hoh rivers had been scheduled through April 15.
Other rivers regulated by the department on the Olympic Peninsula will remain open as listed in the 2007-08 Fishing in Washington pamphlet.

Click here to read the state’s fishing regulations.

Click here for information on other fishing opportunities within Olympic National Park.

If you want to sign up for the American Lung Association's Climb for Clean Air, it's time to do so.

Here's a note I received today from Paul Payton of the ALA:

There is still time to join this year's team and secure a spot on a climb up Mount Rainier in July. Here are some activities that are open to the public.

- Tuesday, April 1st @ 6:30 p.m. - come to Seattle REI and get those fabulous fundraising tips, get a review of equipment needs and planned lowland hikes in April, as well as hearing why your fundraising does count.

- Sunday, April 6th @ 8:45 a.m. - Tiger Mountain

- Saturday, April 19th at 8:45 a.m. - Mount Si

For more information about this year's Climb for Clean Air - http://www.cleanairadventures.org/climb_for_clean_air

Here is a look at how the laws related to carrying firearms read for the National Park Service and the state of Washington.

Supporters of a push to change the park regulations want the rules to be consistent with the state where the park is located.

Click here to read today's story about the debate on carrying guns at Mount Rainier National Park.

The rules
Code of Federal Regulations
TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY CHAPTER I--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Sec. 2.4 Weapons, traps and nets.
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and parts 7 (special regulations) and 13 (Alaska regulations), the following are
prohibited:
(i) Possessing a weapon, trap or net
(ii) Carrying a weapon, trap or net
(iii) Using a weapon, trap or net
(3) Traps, nets and unloaded weapons may be possessed within a temporary lodging or mechanical mode of conveyance when such implements are rendered temporarily inoperable or are packed, cased or stored in a manner that will prevent their ready use.

Washington State Constitution
Article 1 Section 24
RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.