NED HICKSON , SPORTS EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3523 ❘
SPORTS @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ NOVEMBER 23, 2016 ❘
SECTION B
Siuslaw News
Sports & Recreation
P REPARING
S PORTS
Calendar
Winter sports
openers:
Nov. 30
• SHS GIRLS BB
HOSTS
C RESWELL
6 P . M .
On the
Bite
TO
SEEK AND
‘S PEAK W HALE ’
A
FISHING REPORT FOR
THE LOCAL REGION
www.dfw.state.or.us/RR
MID COAST LAKES:
• SHS BOYS BB
HOSTS
Rainbow trout stocking
is complete along the mid
coast. Holdover trout will
be available in most lakes.
Fishing for the various
warm water fish species
will slow as water tempera-
tures cool. There are
numerous lakes in the
Florence area that can pro-
vide good opportunity.
C RESWELL
7:30 P . M .
Dec. 1
• SHS WRESTLING
HOSTS
R EEDSPORT
6 P . M .
Dec. 9
SIUSLAW RIVER:
• MHS GIRLS BB
AT
F ALLS C ITY
5:30 P . M .
• MHS BOYS BB
AT
F ALLS C ITY
7 P . M .
T IDE T ABLE
Entrance Siuslaw River
High Tide
Low Tide
Nov. 23
8:33am/ 6.3
8:50pm/ 5.1
2:02am/ 1.2
3:12pm/ 1.7
Nov. 24
9:18am / 6.5
9:54pm/ 5.1
2:57am / 1.5
4:04pm/ 1.2
Nov. 25
9:57am/ 6.7
10:48pm/ 5.3
3:46am/ 1.8
4:48pm/ 0.8
Nov. 26
10:32am / 6.8
11:34pm / 5.5
4:30am / 2.0
5:27pm / 0.4
Nov. 27
11:05am / 6.9 5:11am / 2.1
6:02pm / 0.1
Nov. 28
12:16am / 5.6 5:48am / 2.3
11:37am/ 7.0 6:37pm/ -0.1
Nov. 29
12:55am / 5.7 6:24am / 2.4
12:09pm/ 7.0 7:11pm/ -0.2
541-997-3441
www.thesiuslawnews.com
Chinook
The Siuslaw River and
bay is open for Chinook
salmon. Fishing is slow.
Fish are throughout the bay
and river. Trolling herring
in the lower bay is an
effective technique. Eggs
and bobber can be produc-
tive in the upper bay and
river as the season pro-
gresses.
ALSEA RIVER: Chinook
The Alsea River and bay
is open for Chinook
salmon. Fishing is slow.
Fish are throughout the bay
and river. Eggs and bobber
can be productive in the
OPRD COURTESY PHOTO
The tail of a migrating gray whale appears off the coast near Cape Perpetua last December.
Annual winter gray whale migration will draw thousands to the coast.
W
hen the holiday
season draws to a
close this
December, whale
watching on the Oregon coast
will just be getting started. This
year’s Winter Whale Watching
Week will take place Dec. 27
through 31, during one of the
best times of the year to spot
gray whales off the stormy
Oregon coastal shores.
Approximately 18,000 whales
will travel 12,000 miles south to
Mexico, where they will give
birth to their calves.
To help visitors make the most
of the annual migration, there
will be nearly 40 volunteers at
prime viewing points along the
Oregon Coast to help visitors
spot the mighty mammals.
“Whale Watching Spoken
Here” signs will identify the volun-
teers, who will point out special
behaviors, such as spy hopping,
breaching and spouting, as well as
discuss whale feeding, courtship and
migration patterns.
To prepare for the twice-annual
event, the Oregon Parks and
Recreation Department (OPRD) is
seeking whale lovers to participate in
its annual Whale Watching Spoken
Here program.
The program places trained volun-
teers at 24 whale-watching sites along
the coast during “watch” weeks.
Volunteers who complete the one-
V ISIT O REGON
148 Maple St.
Florence, OR
97439
WEEKLY
U of O student Job Chen
(left) and his wife, Manchi
Chor, spent Chen’s 29th
birthday whalewatching.
every few years to learn the
latest gray whale research
results.
The first of three training
sessions is set for Saturday,
Dec. 3, at the Hatfield Marine
Science Center in Newport.
Training will be delivered by
Dr. Bruce Mate, an expert on
whales and director of the
Oregon State University
Marine Mammal Institute.
Additional volunteer training
is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2017,
at the Oregon Institute of
Marine Biology in Charleston,
NED HICKSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
and also Feb. 11, 2017, at the
day training can select a whale-watch- Warrenton Community Center in
ing site, where they will be stationed
Warrenton.
to assist visitors in spotting gray
For whale seekers simply wanting
whales and maintain a count of
an up-close and personal view,
whales spotted.
Dockside Charters in Depoe Bay will
In addition to the winter whale
offer daily whale watching excursions
migration in December, grey whales
starting in mid-December.
will make a return trip in the spring,
Just 8 miles south of Lincoln City,
March 25 through 31, 2017.
Depoe Bay is considered the “Whale
New this year, volunteers can regis- Watching Capital of the Oregon
ter for the training online at www.
Coast” and is also home to the
whalespoken.wordpress.com, as well
Oregon State Parks Whale Watching
as select a watch site.
Center.
The training is required for new
“We offer 90-minute whale
volunteers, and returning volunteers
are encouraged to repeat the course
See WHALES 3B
STATE PARKS FOR FREE THIS
Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department (OPRD) invites the public
to visit state parks for free on Nov. 25.
For the second successive year, the
department will waive day-use parking
fees at the 26 state parks the charge
them.
“We invite you to join a new tradi-
tion: Green Friday,” said OPRD direc-
tor Lisa Sumption. “Why not skip the
mall, and instead come out to play
with your family and friends at your
favorite state park?”
To help celebrate, the noprofit
Oregon State Parks Foundation is
hosting special events at L.L Stub
Stewart State Park, Tryon Creek State
Natural Area, Champoeg State
Heritage Area and Silver Falls State
Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hot drinks and snacks will be avail-
able, and visitors will be able to
deposit entry forms for drawings to
win prizes from Columbia Sportswear,
Keen Footwear, REI and Leatherman
Tools.
Entry forms are obtained by regis-
tering at www.oregon stateparksfoun-
dation.org.
Completed forms must be brought
See
FISHING 4B
OSAA to use
three-person
officiating
for basketball
F RIDAY
to one of the four participating parks
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day.
KINK-FM radio will host a special
promotional appearance by music
director Jared from noon to 2 p.m. at
Champoeg.
Parking is free year-round at almost
all state parks; the waiver applies to
the 26 parks that charge $5 daily for
parking. The waiver applies from open
to close on Nov. 25, except at Shore
Acres State Park, where it expires at 3
p.m. for the Holiday Lights event that
runs Thanksgiving through New
Year’s Eve.
The OSAA Executive
Board has approved the use
of three-person officiating
crews for the 6A, 5A and 4A
basketball playoffs beginning
in 2017.
The expansion takes effect
with this season’s early round
playoff games at high school
sites, as well as the quarterfi-
nals through the state cham-
pionship games at final and
neutral sites.
Schools and leagues in all
classifications will continue
to have the option of using
three or two-person crews
during the regular season,
provided the local officials
associations are able to cover
the games.
This option was allowed,
for the first time, during the
2015-16 season with nine of
38 leagues choosing to use
three-person crews.
“Cooperation between the
17 local associations and
OSAA member schools and
leagues made the first year a
positive one and we are excit-
ed to move forward,” said
Cindy Simmons, OSAA
See
OSAA 3B
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Thank you for your business and support over the past year.
I feel grateful to live and work in a tight knit caring community.
If you have real estate needs, please come see me.
I would love to help match you to your perfect home or help you sell yours.
Lynnette Wikstrom
Broker
Cell: 541.999.0786
Have a safe and happy holiday.
lynnette@cbcoast.com
100 Hwy. 101, Florence, OR • 541.997.7777
“We’re next to the Bridge.”
COAST REAL ESTATE