Closing of Fairbanks Outfitters is an end of an outdoors era

YAKIMA, Wash. — It’s the experience, not the inventory, that has brought fishermen through the front door of Gary Fairbanks’ store for the last 28 years. Alas, it hasn’t been bringing enough of them often enough. That’s why, in a few short weeks, that front door will be locked up for good. Or, at least, [...]

Phillips: Camping time nears, bringing back memories of youth

YAKIMA, Wash. — With Memorial weekend looming just ahead, many of us start thinking about doing some camping. And to me, camping isn’t camping unless you do so in a tent. I’ve owned a few different tents over the years. I’ve had some small tents and big tents, cheap tents and expensive tents. None has [...]

5/22/12 Outdoors What’s Happening

Audubon to focus on sage grouse habitat A look at state and federal efforts to protect greater sage grouse and the shrub-steppe habitat upon which it depends will be the featured presentation at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Yakima Valley Audubon Society. The free event is open to the public and begins at 7 p.m. [...]

It’s official: Lower Yakima opens today

YAKIMA, Wash. — Regional fishery officials hoping to open the lower portion of the Yakima River to fishing for hatchery spring chinook either Tuesday or today got their wish when the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today’s opening. Starting this morning (Wednesday, May 16), the lower river is now open for salmon fishing  [...]

Spring chinook season a go on Yakima River

The spring chinook run has finally begun in earnest, and the Yakima River is finally opening up — though later than hoped for and, in light of the balmy weather, later than angers would have liked. The fishery’s opening will be staggered similar to last year, with the lower portion of the Yakima River, from [...]

Phillips: Opportunities are many for area fishermen

From walleye to trout and kokanee to salmon, the fishing opportunities in our region are really starting to break open. For anglers who like to diversify and take advantage of all the good fishing we have this time of year, it’s tough to decide just where to go. Walleye anglers should continue to find some [...]

5/15/12 Outdoors What’s Happening

State Parks’ future up for public input What do you love about the state park system, and what would you like to see changed? Future management of Washington State Parks will be the subject of a series of nine public meetings, with the first one the most convenient for locals to attend — 7 p.m. [...]

The fish are coming! The fish are coming!

YAKIMA, Wash. — OK, so maybe it had a better ring to it — though, hey, British and fish DO rhyme — and carried a bit more urgency when Paul Revere made his midnight ride.  But for anglers waiting not-so-patiently for the slowest and latest spring salmon run on record to get serious, that time [...]

Birders celebrate our migratory friends

YAKIMA, Wash. — Birdwatchers, or birders as they more often to refer to themselves, don’t need special days or events to enjoy observing, chronicling or listing the birds that cross their paths. It’s an every-day thing. This Saturday, though, it will be pretty much an all-day thing at the Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge. Or, at [...]

State still waiting on Yakima springers

YAKIMA, Wash. — Monday passed as both a milestone and a millstone for John Easterbrooks and others anxiously awaiting this year’s anticipated run of hatchery spring chinook through the lower and middle stretches of the Yakima River. Monday was May 7, which was the date in 2011 the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife opened [...]

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