M-M-M-M. Fresh trout dipped in whipped eggs and corn meal and fried in an iron skillet for breakfast.

Other locations Walks: Theler Wetland trails, through swamps, estuary, tidelands in Belfair. Jarrell Cove State Park, 20-minute loop circles the woods. Northeast Harstine Island, trail descends from the end of Yates Road to a state Department of Natural Resources beach with eagles nesting nearby. Twanoh State Park, trail leads up a salmon stream, a spur off it switchbacks up a steep hill with some views of Hood Canal. Huff 'n' Puff Trail, several loops up to two miles through woods across road from Shelton High School. Goldsborough Creek Restoration Project, just west of Shelton off Hulbert Road.

Longer hikes: Washington State Department of Natural Resources trails on the Tahuya Peninsula: Tahuya River, Overland, Wooten Lake and Mission Creek, maps available by calling 360-825-1631 or on-line at www.dnr.wa.gov and follow recreation link. You'll be sharing the trails with horses and off-road vehicles on DNR land.

HUNTING

There is hunting for deer, elk, bear and grouse in various seasons from late summer to fall. Check sporting-goods stores or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Web site at wdfw.wa.gov/huntcorn.htm for license details and regulations.

FISHING

More than two dozen lakes beckon fishers pursuing trout and other species. Salmon and steelhead in local rivers and streams have their own seasons, as do salmon and other species in the county's saltwater bodies. Regulations for different fish and locations vary greatly, so a rule book should be consulted. Details available at the state's Web site at wdfw.wa.gov/fish/prospects/licen sing.htm .

Lowland lakes, several stocked with trout, include Aldrich, Cady, Clara, Haven, Howell, Maggie, Robbins, Tee, Tiger, Twin, Wildberry and Wooten on the Tahuya Peninsula; Benson, Devereaux, Limerick, Mason, Phillips, Spencer and Trail's End in North and Central Mason County; Isabella, Island, Lost, Nahwatzel and Stump in South and West Mason County; and Cushman, Kokanee, Melbourne, Price and Rose in Northwest Mason County.

SHELLFISHING

You can dig clams and pick oysters at certain public beaches in Mason County with a license and by following regulations. Nine beaches on Hood Canal, half a dozen on Puget Sound and four more in marine state parks on Puget Sound are mentioned in the Visitor's Guide as well as on the state's Web site, wdfw.wa.gov/fishcorn.htm .

The beaches include one at Potlatch State Park; a half mile of tidelands north of Hoodsport; a strip north of Lilliwaup; tidelands at Eagle Creek; a DNR beach at Rendsland Creek near Bald Point; a small area near the mouth of Dewatto Bay as well as three stretches north of Dewatto, all boat-in only; DNR Beach 20 on Stretch Island (boat in); a few places on Harstine Island (boat in); tidelands near Bayshore; and boat-in only beaches at Stretch Point on Case Inlet and McMicken and Hope islands.

SALTWATER BOATING

Access to Puget Sound is available at launches near the Shelton Yacht Club on Oakland Bay; at Shorecrest County Park on Hammersley Inlet; at Arcadia Point on Totten Inlet; at Jarrell Cove State Park, on Pickering Passage; at Allyn and Grapeview on Case Inlet; on the North Shore of Hood Canal about a mile west of Belfair State Park and at Menard's Landing County Park in Tahuya; on the South Shore of Hood Canal at Twanoh State Park and near the Union Country Market as well as at the Union Boat Launch next to Hood Canal Marina (no parking); and on the West Shore of Hood Canal at Potlatch State Park, the Hood Canal Hydro Park at Potlatch and Triton Cove. There are also various private marinas in the county.

Septic pumpout stations can be found at Twanoh State Park, Shelton Yacht Club, Triton Cove State Park, Port of Allyn, Jarrell's Cove Marina and Jarrell Cove State Park.

The majority of the lakes mentioned above under "Fishing" have launch sites to put a boat in for freshwater floating.

All this water also makes the county a haven for kayakers. There is a new kayak park on Case Inlet in Allyn as well as a Mason County Kayak Club reachable at 427-1862 or www.masoncountykayakclub.org on the Web.

SWIMMING

For saltwater swimming, try Belfair State Park on the North Shore of Hood Canal, Twanoh State Park on the South Shore, Jarrell Cove State Park on Harstine Island or Potlatch State Park on Hood Canal. You could go for a dip at many of the boat launch areas at various lakes. There's also indoor swimming at the Shelton High School Pool ($3 adults, $2 students, $1.50 seniors/handicapped, kids under 7 free with paying adult) and at the Shelton Athletic Club. Lap swims at the SHS Pool during the school year are held from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and noon to 1 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Open swims are held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Saturdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Call the SHS Pool at 426-4240 for rental information for private parties.

BICYCLING

Mountain-bike enthusiasts will find a number of places to pedal through the forest. The Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail has a nine-mile track for beginners. The Overland Kamenga Canyon has an 11-mile loop for advanced skills that climbs 600 feet in the Tahuya State Forest. The state forest has several other trails for all skill levels.

The county fairgrounds has a BMX track in the main arena that hosts sanctioned events.

For regular cycling, the county has about 700 miles of roads including state highways, not all of which would be considered safe because of relatively narrow shoulders. For those who can keep up with the peloton, there are occasional bike races, including a popular Tahuya-Seabeck-Tahuya competition in April. Check www.nwracereport.com .

OFF-ROAD VEHICLES

The Tahuya Peninsula, with its 22,000-acre Washington Department of Natural Resources multi-use area, is the best spot for ORV trails. Maps are available from the DNR at 360-825-1631. Timber harvesting this year is going to affect access to 4x4 trails through October, so call that phone number or find www.dnr.wa .gov on the Web and click on "Publications and Data, Trail Map/ Brochure Series - Recreation/Public Use." The Olympic National Forest has tons of forest roads, but vehicles must be street-legal, which isn't a requirement on designated DNR ORV trails.

GOLFING

The county has five courses for a total of 72 holes: Alderbrook, in Union, 18 holes, 6,037 yards, par 72. Bay-shore, just north of Shelton, nine holes, 2,946 yards, par 36. LakeLand Village, in Allyn, 27 holes, 2,551-yard par-35 Generation I, 2,952-yard par-36 Generation II and 3,134-yard par-36 Generation III. Lake Cushman, west of Hoodsport, nine holes, 2,951 yards, par 36. Lake Limerick, northwest of Shelton, nine holes, 2,948 yards, par 36. More information about their various characters is available in the Visitor's Guide .

RECREATIONAL SPORTS

Various leagues for young and old, from soccer and basketball to baseball and softball to bowling and shuffleboard, are offered by youth sports organizations, the city's parks and recreation department and private businesses. Half a dozen softball tournaments for adult teams fill the summer. There's an annual tennis tournament sponsored by the city and numerous exercise classes during the year through the city. There are occasional fun runs from two miles to seven miles, on Forest Festival and OysterFest Saturdays. The Mason County Fair offers a horseshoe tournament. Horse lovers can join local riding clubs, sharpshooters have the Shelton Rifle and Pistol Club for target practice, and there's a karate school in town. Hood Canal offers some of the finest scuba diving around. Keep an eye on The Journal's sports section for news about leagues and special events.

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