SPRING INTO SUMMER ADVENTURE.
Ron Adams | Verle's Pro-staff Contributor Goodbye winter and a big hello to spring and summer! The trees are blooming and budding, new life is springing up all around – I don't know about you, but I am certainly feeling the outdoors calling. Last year at this time we were all confined to our own homes protecting ourselves from an unseen enemy, filling our hearts and minds with uncertainty which severely restricted our ability to exercise our great passion for outdoor activities. Not this year! Although things aren't quite back to normal it does seem we are getting the upper hand and I want more than ever to get out and enjoy the area around the Hood Canal that many of you and I call home. The wooded trails, beaches and lakes are calling to me with a roar like never before and I fully intend to answer. There is nothing like taking a day hike up one of the many trails in the Olympics and seeing new life springing up whether it be flora or one of the many woodland creatures you may come across. Rhododendrons blooming, deer, elk, eagles and more await to be viewed and appreciated by anyone willing to enter their beautiful environment. I suggest you prepare not only for the inspiring sights you will see but also for the environment you enter. Dress accordingly, bring good maps, reliable fire starter, snacks and always bring a compass just in case you get a little off course. Verles Sporting Goods in Shelton can provide you with all of your safety gear from Green Trail Maps, fire starters and navigation gear to give you confidence and safety in your outdoor endeavor.
Harvesting Shellfish I also love going to our wonderful beaches not only for their beauty but to harvest the varieties of clams and oysters that can be had by anyone. You do need a shellfish/ seaweed license from the Washington State Department of Wildlife but these are easily obtainable at Verles for a nominal fee. Collect Littlenecks, Manilas and Butter clams along with oysters at many of the public beaches that dot the Hood Canal and South Sound. And yes you guessed it, Verles offer clam rakes, clam shovels, Dexter Russell oyster knives, gloves and clam bags. Razor clams found on the coast are also open for digs on the state beaches at certain times of the year and we have the gear for that too. Check out the clam guns from Willapa Marine and Murff's Claminator. Lake Fishing There is also excellent fishing in practically all of the public lakes that surround this piece of paradise in which we live and play. The WDFW does a great job of planting and stocking the lakes with trout several times a year and many of them exceed five pounds! All you need is a current fresh water fishing license, a rod and reel and a dozen of Verles' famous worms and you are set for a great family experience of bringing home delicious hard fighting trout that are as fun to catch as they are to eat.
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Verles has everything you may need for this as well. We carry rods from Okuma, Shakespeare, Lamiglas, Tica and more as well as reels to match whatever fishing or size of fish you may be targeting. Our walls are lined with lures and the store is filled with different attractants and our staff has the knowledge to make you look like a pro. Salt Water Fishing Fishing for salmon on the Hood Canal and South Sound is also a great thing to do and we have the gear that works and the knowledge to show you how to use it as well. Verles staff is very avid when it comes to the outdoors and we want to help you make the very best of it for you and your family. We encourage the whole family to participate in the cherished moments in the outdoors you and your family will remember for a lifetime. One way we do this is every year we run our own fishing contest. There is no entry fee, there are prize categories for both youth and adults and it is a great way to inspire the whole family to participate and win. My name is Ron and I work for Verles as part of the outdoor prostaff employed there. I personally invite you to come in and check us out. We will give you the best service and advice we possibly can and strive to make your outdoor activities the best they can be. Verle's is a family run business, established in 1948, located just south of Shelton on Highway 101.
