Month: November 2014

In the muddy, murky Wishkah River, hundreds of coho salmon work their way upriver, exhausted from years of swimming the Pacific Ocean. Many of these salmon return to a hatchery that, for the last 7 years, has been operated by the Grays Harbor Poggies. Reaching the Mayr Brothers Hatchery at Buzzard Creek, the salmon encounter something they haven’t seen before: the hands of volunteers of the Poggie Club, capturing them and collecting hundreds of thousands of eggs to help ensure a healthy salmon run in the future.  Read more here http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2014/10/05/grays-harbor-poggie-club/

I’m in my car driving west on highway 12. It’s earlier than I’d like it to be, but the coffee in my Thermos keeps me caffeinated and awake. It’s these early morning drives that make me wish I were a local.

As I pass by the “Welcome to Aberdeen” sign my stomach jumps a little. I’m getting close, but I’m not there just yet. I wait until I’ve crossed over South Bay before letting myself get too excited. That’s when I know I’m nearly there.

Passing by Brady’s Oysters and other familiar shops and landmarks I finally make my way to the main drag. To my right stand inviting looking hotels and bed and breakfasts, to my left are several charming oceanside neighborhoods. As I drive deeper into town I pass by the Surf Shop and Steepwater (two local surf shops where you can buy or rent boards and wetsuits), a few of my favorite restaurants, and the popular and busy Westport Marina where fishermen, tourists and locals alike gather simultaneously for both work and play.

Eager to get to the beach, any stops I make in town will have to wait until later. I make my left for Westhaven State Park and notice a grin sneak onto my face. I’ve made it to Westport. I’ve made it to the surf.

All of Washington’s coastal towns offer beautiful beaches and opportunities for adventure.  Read more here http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2014/10/07/surf-westport/

On June 10, 2014, the Railroad Camp building at the Polson Museum in Hoquaim filled with smoke. Pouring out the doors and even the cupolas at the top of the cedar flanked structure, the smoke wasn’t from a destructive fire to the historic building; instead the smoke was from the first gasps of life of an engine that hadn’t been started in over thirty years. As the haze cleared in the building, the sights and sounds of a 1933 Linn Halftrack were seen and heard in Hoquaim for the first time in over a generation.

For six months, Larry Wyrick and Lee Thomasson of Grays Harbor worked to rebuild a piece of logging history. Each Tuesday, the two would get together in the Railroad Camp building at Polson Museum, systematically cleaning and rebuilding the engine to one of the logging industry’s more iconic machines.  Read more here http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2014/10/07/polson-museum-exhibit/

Nestled just off the bridge as you enter Hoquiam, the Six Rivers Gallery is a local gem. This cozy, inviting gallery is run by the Harbor Art Guild, a group of Grays Harbor-area artists who came together in 2008. The gallery is located in the small house on Sixth Street behind Levee Lumber (it was formerly a stained glass gallery). Upon entering, a world of art awaits you. You’ll find beautiful works by Harbor Art Guild members as well as a first-class gift shop.

I stopped by the gallery to learn more about the Harbor Art Guild and what they do in the community. Walking in the door on a clear autumn day, I was warmly greeted by Mary Lou Gregory. Gregory is a watercolor artist and a founding member of the guild. She also currently serves as a Board member, helps schedule the gallery, and maintains the group’s website. You might recognize Gregory’s name: She is also a retired teacher and librarian. She served as a math teacher at Hoquiam High School, then a librarian at the high school, Grays Harbor College, and the Timberland Regional Library before retiring. Helping run the Harbor Art Guild (which is made up entirely of volunteers) is a labor of love for Gregory.  Read more here http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2014/11/02/six-rivers-gallery-and-the-grays-harbor-art-guild/

Most of the country knows about Grays Harbor because of Kurt Cobain, or possibly the older generations will remember the logging industry that helped build the nation. However, fewer and fewer people seem to be aware just how amazing the fishing is in our neck of the woods. From world-class ocean fishing out of Westport, to incredibly scenic stocked lakes and the salmon-filled rivers in-between, Grays Harbor County is an angler’s dream. Whether you are new to fishing or you have been catching them all your life, Grays Harbor offers the most unique and successful fishing opportunities in the state, if not the entire country.

River fishing opportunities abound in Grays Harbor. Photo Credit Douglas Scott.

Finding the right location to go fishing in Grays Harbor can be daunting. Fishing isn’t just as easy as grabbing a pole and casting a hook into the water. One needs to find the right gear and  know where to go. Luckily, there is almost no wrong choice in fishing Grays Harbor, but there are some definite favorites, which you’ll find listed below. Another great resource is Hooks and Horns, an excellent outdoors magazine published in Montesano. With a large amount of fishing information, as well as gear, I recommend checking them out for everything to do with hunting and fishing in the Northwest.  Read more here http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2014/10/24/best-places-fish-grays-harbor/