WTF are we supposed to believe? Are there very few fish in the Satsop or "lots?" I don't think anyone has any idea what's really going on out there. It seems to me like everyone's just running with whatever story fits their agenda. It's typical, but as I sit here, watching the no defense Seahawks give up yards like it's going out of style, I can't help but get more pissed off that I can't be out fishing right now. Meanwhile, more fish for gillnets. That's fair, equitable management, right?

I think all we KNOW is that WDFW and it's commercial stakeholders will go to any length to provide more opportunity for gillnets. That appears to be what happened here. WDFW hasn't answered any of my inquiries, so I'm left to trust my own impulses, and that's what they tell me. If I'm mistaken, someone at WDFW had better speak up, lest I assume the worst and act accordingly. I promise to be the biggest pain in WDFW's collective a$$ EVER if I don't start getting some honest answers. At this point, with all my fishing shut down, I have nothing better to do....

To clear up the closure thing. It is about Chinook numbers I was told not Coho. Couple the movement and both tribal and commercial catches Coho are either at numbers forecasted or possibly greater. Their catches were smaller than projected due to the MOB movement. The QIN came in on the very backside of the movement as they were up already be it not far just lower end the tribs and from Fuller to South Monte. ( think rain movement minus rain) Always in the past as soon a the Chum move they bring Coho right with them I see no reason to doubt that this will happen as usual.

No Chinook retention in tribs, and minimal encounters, especially since there aren't any around. Sounds like a poor reason to close the upstream coho fishery while fishing continues where the kings actually are. Okay, so shut down for conservation again is the message we're to believe? I mean, it does look like the kings are in bad shape, so I'm happy to do my part there, but it just makes keeping the lower river open that much more questionable....

If I was king for a day-I would not allow eggs on any river not open for Chinook retention until 15 Nov. I know it would be unpopular but too many are targeting chinook even though we can't keep.

Agree. Even October 15 would all but eliminate rec impact on chinook and put the conservation burden where it belongs: on the ocean and gillnet fisheries that harvest the lion's share.

...and I owe the Seahawks defense a tip of the hat; the alternative to fishing was much more enjoyable than expected today. Now I just need something to do on Saturdays, and my threat to WDFW (minute though it may have been) will be fully neutralized.

One exception: the jack fishery on the lower mainstem Aug. 1-Sep. 15. I hear that fishery is rather egg-dependent, and it probably doesn't impact many adult kings. But yeah... no bait in tribs until at least Oct. 15 and no bait in the mainstem Sep. 16-Oct. 15 might help save some king impacts without sacrificing much opportunity.

Frankly, however, it's completely absurd that the stock in-river recs CAN'T harvest (and impact the least) is the one that limits our fishing. If kings need to be saved, they should be trimmed from the open ocean quota first. Wouldn't take that many to make a big difference down here. Oh, well. Preachin' to the choir....

CONCUR!

WDFW allowing the violation of GH Policy by letting gillnets go in for 5 days is an absolute departmental failure and we should be calling for someone's job. Enough is enough.

For those who want to say something.

James.Losee@dfw.wa.gov Region 6
Mike.Scharpf@dfw.wa.gov Region 6
COMMISSION@dfw.wa.gov
Director Susewind (director@dfw.wa.gov)

Think I'll apply the "Thumper Rule".

Floated the Satsop from Decker Creek to West Fork takeout in my kayak on Sat. Logs across river in 3 separate locations: below decker creek just above S curves, car body hole where WDFW constructed engineered log jams, and a blockage where mainstem meets the west fork. I won't be floating the upper if WDFW ever opens the river. No shortage of fish. Most of the A run likely be at the hatchery/above Schafer by the time we get a chance.

Look what happened on the Skagit. 9/1 coho opener and guide boats full of clients raking the water side drifting egg clusters and hammering on fall chinook, resulting in a subsequent closure.

No bait in non-chinook retention waters in Sept/Oct makes too much sense...

The rain headed our way starting Friday looks to be a half inch or less per day depending what part of the Chehalis Basin you live in. Olympic side is looking at a max accumulation of 4.5 inches over 10 days. Upper Chehalis is 2.5 range. Unless in the mix we get a 2 inch dumper day things should not blow out. From the 22nd to 28th at Porter the river will go from 300 cfs plus to 1029 cfs which sounds like a lot but is not just nice rise. Satsop will go from 165 cfs to to around 700 cfs during same time period.

Keep in mind that the upper Chehalis water takes a couple of days to reach tidewater so that water crest should arrive around the 30th. Water temperatures in tidewater are dropping and boat said 59.9 once this morning.

Conditions should be great next week...if it gets opened.

Let’s see if they can pivot on opening as fast they can on closing a river. I’d love to be absolutely shocked. Will probably be the 27th at the earliest. They probably have some arbitrary flow they want the rivers at. Like 500cfs for the satsop.

Probably will just wait until November 1st. I’ll gladly eat my words if they make a move before.

Whoah! Post #8! Welcome to the conversation!

Email sent.

The WAC that contained the dates for the State fisheries was filed on July 2. Would the State have known what the QIN fishing schedule was then in order to comply with GH policy?

yes