Some still believe in Santa.

"The broodstock fish on the Duc don't seem to have caused a crash there, at least based on WDFW's graphs. Why is that?"

I thought that very same thing. Those Schneider Creek Fish didn't seem to have any effect on the wild run at all. They were the very earliest component of the wild run but none the less.

I think the boat fishing closure is a travesty that could have been avoided long ago. For years the non-Indian share haaaas been considerably below a 50% limit of "harvestable" steelhead. Prescriptive measures and suggestions we brought up at meeting after meeting. Most involved adding more restriction to anglers, and most restrictive measures on bait, lures and seasons have been applied Anglers can't even remove a steelhead from the water. No more taking wild steelhead, which was recommended long ago, but failed to be put into regulation for far too long.

The suggestion that should have been implemented years ago is that the Boldt Decision should have been fairly implemented to let the tribes have their 50%, but that the anglers be required wild fish release to be put on the gravel. As it is, the tribes take our 50%, plus more than that that is under-reported. We wouldn't be in the situation we are now, if that would have been implemented years ago.

Maybe the rules are all wrong and you should keep or release the first one you catch and be done for the day. Recorded on a punch card with however many are to be kept/released per year and adjusted to the native harvest to equal 50%.

How can I be a social media all-star if I can only post a picture of myself with only ONE steelhead per day?

People don’t have the self control for that. Also, if you drive across the state to fish a spot and get into a fish the first five minutes then you are done for the day? Seems arbitrary to me. Some rivers can sustain a bit more pressure. It’s good to recognize your own limits. For me, hooking a couple of fish is good enough in most instances. Sometimes just one is enough. I have no need to rack up substantial numbers to brag about online or to others. If hooking a few fish isn’t fulfilling for you and you have a need to catch as many wild steelhead as you possibly can, then you are a part of the problem.

Ah T3 not everyplace. In Grays Harbor the Nation does have a larger impact on wild Steelhead and it limits their season. Rec on the other hand take more Steelhead as we do C&R on wild. So % wise in GH Rec take more winter Steelhead. Then as we have Summerrun Rec harvest the balance is even more tilted to non treaty fishers. Then the Chehalis Tribal catch ( they are non treaty ) is also added to the states share.

Run reconstruction for a example year is 2016 and it was QIN 2165 and NT 9142. 10 yr average is QIN 664 and NT 6081. The five year average is QIN 885 and NT 6177. These numbers do not include the Chehalis Tribe and they average 1200 to a 1000 a year.

Sometimes things are not what they seem to be.

"Back in the day" WDG required that every steelhead be punched. The limit was 2 per day, whether released or killed. It also included kelts. You C&R a kelt and that was supposed to be punched. This "each fish counts to your limit" applied to all species. I think the trout limit was 6, and when you had brought 6 to hand you were done.

New Zealand is noticing a problem with C&R on Brown Trout in some rivers. The fish are sore mouthed to the point that they are thin from not eating. One suggestion was that the limit be X fish per day, regardless of kept or released.

"How can I be a social media all-star if I can only post a picture of myself with only ONE steelhead per day?

People don’t have the self control for that. "


This is a huge problem. I lambasted a guide yesterday for blowing up spots. They justified ot as their right. No accoutsbility.

A large portion of people go through it, even I did in my younger years exploiting fisheries and helping people become better fisherman. It's self recognition or the recognition of a job well done.. People thrive for it, but you get burnt a few times and selfishness kicks in...

Keith

It's called EGO. It's never good lol.

Chambers early winter stock smolts were released most years into the Nisqually River from 1966 up to 1982, and Skamania summer stock smolts were released in most years from 1977 up to 1994. Chambers Creek releases averaged 19,200 fish/yr (Range 0 - 35,400) and Skamania releases averaged 23,400 fish/yr (Range 0 - 47,600).

There was an egg taking station that operated during the early 1900's but not much information is available about that operation. It probably doesn't really matter.

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-128

"A large portion of people go through it, even I did in my younger years exploiting fisheries and helping people become better fisherman. It's self recognition or the recognition of a job well done.. People thrive for it, but you get burnt a few times and selfishness kicks in... rofl"


Truer words have never been spoken!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately before there wasn't the platform like today.
Today sucks.
Technology sucks.
Give me a Shimano 201SG on direct drive.




All you flatbrimmers need to start pulling out.

I never understood the need to brag about the amount of fish caught in a day online. I guess that's why I've never posted a picture here either. To me, catching a fast limit of steelhead was a good thing, as that then allowed me to go do something else. Go get a limit of dungies (remember when the Sound was only closed to crabbing from April to June?) or then shoot a limit of mallards. Even go shoot trap or he11 maybe even mow the lawn.

With the age of the digital camera there became a disconnect within some of the population, as they needed to feel validated by "proving" they could catch a fish or 2 (or alot). The ability to then easily share these images with the WWW allowed some of these folks to continually share their exploits on our local rivers. Hey, I like looking at fish pictures too but after you've caught a few, most of them are pretty much the same, IMO. That logic didn't jive with mine though (and how I was raised); when I have a good thing going, the last thing I want is to encourage more people to wear out the places I'm utilizing?! Different strokes I guess....

Been here on the other computer all afternoon.

"I hope you’re all in the meeting right now."

The definition of insanity applies here.

Perhaps it will be different this time?

I watched the presentation and learned some things. Turned it off early in disgust after the Patagonia boy shared his opinion. On the front end of the line no less.

12/11/2020

2 of us watched the whole presentation, because I have a "smart TV", I'm able to project my computer image to my 65" TV.

More than 500 people signed in to speak, 2 minute limit. I never counted but if 50 people spoke that would be a lot.

People who never got to speak were asked to email their comments in.....

My take away: Starting Monday, 12/14/2020, there will be NO FISHING out of a boat.

I can't even think how the fishing will be on say "the Wynoochee"........10 drift boats pulled up on a gravel bar, to be able to fish from shore.....with 10 others that were "walk in"....... might be a real cluster xuck,,,,,,,

Ditto. I had a chance to speak but my mic was bungled up, so lost my spot in line, so submitted in writing instead.

I think they're in a tough spot, and I'm encouraged that they're trying to up their game in communication, even though this round of emergency reg's was a little ham-handed.

I'm on board with what they're doing too. I think they could tailor it a little better by basin, and maybe prosecute a little whack and stack on the hatchery fish, but reducing wild encounters by their constituents is the one thing they can control in-season. Ocean conditions and treaty fisheries not so much. I'd rather have a heavily restricted fishery than no opportunity at all, and there's equally strong conservation rationale to just shut it all down. We might have gotten off easy this year,

fb

I got a new perspective from this meeting. In the quilleute there’s roughly 3,300 fish above escapement and the Indians are entitled to half of that so will they really take half, or less, or more? Our half will be spread out through c&r, they are assuming we’ll take 1,600 fish by c&r & if so that is insane! If 1,600 fish get killed by c&r that’s a complete waste of fish. II’ve released quite a few steelies and by my count I can only guess I killed one, the rest I wouldn’t be surprised if they lived. If the numbers that I have correlate with all c&r fisherman I think the natives are jacking us into believing we’re killing fish by c&r & taking our share too. As for the other rivers not meeting escapement or coming in a couple over they should just be shut down till they resemble the quilleute model.