6/18/2024

I tuned to another "dog and pony show", thinking I might get to ask a question or two, nope the general public was "shut out", just got to listen to more WDFW current philosophy on why a dozen NT gill netters needed more time to net, if the QIN netting schedule was 4 days a week, SO THEY COULD GET A BIGGER SHARE OF THE FISH.

Nothing said about the increase in sport fishers numbers up river, needing a fair share of fish, so that those that pay the vast amount of $$$$$ get a chance to catch a fish.... back to the "old days", forget about "buy back", also WDFW seems to forget about 90% of the fish caught in Willapa are gill net caught.

Its past time to have the only gillnet fishing in the Chehalis/Humptulips, Tribal. We don't need to have the Chehalis tribe, the QIN, and a handful of NT gill netting, a diminishing resource.

It should be crystal clear to all that sportfishing is never a concern for our managers. They are so busy kissing commercial asses that they can't see us down by the other bottom feeders. I am so close to never buying a license here again and just start fishing for Washington fish in Alaska like I used to. Pathetic

I just don't get why if they open it for any netting, also open it for recs? All of the harbor!
Not these stupid exclusive zones? If it's nettable, it's hook & linable and C&R able. Open up the south channel all fall to give us a chance? We can't make that much of impact to prevent such. Or am I wrong?

QIN only! get the NT's out for good

If you notice, there's going to be a new governor next year. We need to get off our asses and make sure we get the right one elected. It takes money and campaigning. Do you think another Democrat will change anything?

Semi Bird doen't stand a chance in this state. Dave Reichert would have had a chance if the GOP would have endorsed him. Splitting the GOP vote just hands it over to the Democrats again. The GOP needs to pull their head out of their ass, put there party platform aside, and endorse an electable moderate candidate. They have one in Reichert.

RNG,

I absolutely agree with your assessment of the GOP. My hope is for Reichert because he is electable in King County from past history (Sheriff, Congress). I got to meet him two weeks ago and passed on a paper outlining some fishery issues, plus commenting on how the Commission has morphed into an anti organization to sportsmen (and women). He listened. Bird is a yahoo. Reichert CAN be elected. He just needs to get thru the primary. Salmon anglers in our state continue to fail to grasp what could be. If all of us would donate twenty bucks to a pro fishing organization, we could have control of our fishing fate. But we don't. Lobbyists make a difference, and donations mean a lot. We could do all of that. It takes money.

Reichert was potentially electable until he was taped saying he can't say he's voting for Trump because that would be the kiss of death to his campaign in western WA. Well, the tape has been leaked, so I expect his W WA campaign is all but dead. Further, I heard him on an interview week before last. He is Mr. Bland with no action plan. Oh, he's all about public safety, taxes, and a few other hot political topices, but he had not one single action item he could share with the public. Perfect politician, not gonna' say something that might offend a voter. OTOH, Mark Mullet, a D, was interviewed the day before Reichert, and appears to be the definition of a moderate. Not that I agree with everything he said, but it looks like he opposes the extremism elements of both the Ds and Rs. I'd like to see him on the ballot in Nov. Problem is that he has 1/5 the $$ that Furgie has, so it will be an uphill battle. Imagine bringing a moderate view to WDFW, acknowledging that the 20th century is over, and most commercial fisheries have gone the way of the doo doo bird.

Salmo,

I disagree with you, but that's okay. We'll see how it all turns out. I agree with you that Mullet is a moderate but the Dems have been the party that's ruined much of what is valuable to me: Public safety, rampant drug use, high taxes, fishing, etc. I'll keep in touch with the Reichert campaign.

I have a question; does anyone know why the Regional Fish Program Director Mr. Lossee is not running the GH Policy review? We had two Region 6 Bios make a rather disjointed presentation to the commission then it was mostly the cabal in the concrete palace in Olympia. My impression is that I doubt the Commission will get the information from staff to even start to understand Grays Harbor. Couple that with Mr. Addicks apparent belief that the WDFW expert staff should have full say and public be damned which appears to be the general view under Director Kelly Susewind. Add in net the crap out of everything Fish Program Director Kelly Cunningham I don’t see anything good coming from this process. Certainly not like 10 years ago with Steve Thiesfeld running Region 6 Fish program. Damn I miss that guy he was a straight shooter ….. one of the good guys.

I'm not sure there's anyone in a position to help our cause that is at all interested in doing so, least of all any governor, past, present, or future. Sport fishing generates a lot of revenue, but those who participate comprise less than 10% of the state population. That's not enough voters to matter to any elected officials.

The F&W Commission and WDFW Director are the only ones who COULD help, but they are only getting increasingly beholden to commercial interests. Not much hope for getting a fair share for in-river recs in sight from where I'm sitting.

I am not sure beholden is the correct word but uninformed might be better. I have not been around the Commission much the last 10 years but this I know, the Fish Committee does not appear to have the knowledge fish of issues that existed with Larry Carpenter and other Commissioners. The reform principles in WDFW from the 90s have run out of gas and these guys are a blast from the past.

I thought we could use a little humor!

SIX RULES TO REMEMBER IN LIFE:
1. Money can't buy happiness - but it's far more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle.

2. Forgive your enemy - but remember the SOB’s name.

3. If you help someone when they're in trouble - they will remember you when they're in trouble again.

4. Alcohol does not solve any problems - but then, neither does milk.

5. Many people are alive today only because it's illegal to shoot them.

6. No matter how rich you are, no matter how generous you are, no matter how good you look, the number of people who attend your funeral will depend on the weather at the cemetery, if there's an open bar at the wake, or if there’s a free meal after the funeral.


BONUS RULES:
1. Condoms do not guarantee safe sex! A friend of mine was wearing one when he was shot by the woman's husband.

2. I think all politicians should wear uniforms. You know, like NASCAR drivers, so we can identify all their corporate sponsors.

3. Also, all politicians should serve only two terms -- one in office and one in prison.

This is a public service announcement.

Amen! You might add another:

They only read the plan at your court martial.

Read the Plan? I seem to remember that all they were for was to have. You could point to it and say we have one. Never need to use it, though.

I found this to be an interesting read.



Understanding the Fish Cop Employment Security Act
Pat Neal


The Daily World

It was another tough week in the news. The 2024-25 Washington state fishing regulations came out.

We’ve been waiting for them since April 1. That’s when we’re supposed to buy our new fishing licenses, on April Fools’ Day.

So, it just makes sense the new fishing licenses are printed with disappearing ink.

In fact, all of our licenses, tags, punch cards and permits that you have to buy to fish and hunt in Washington are liable to become blank pieces of useless paper shortly after you buy them if they are exposed to sun or moisture. Which should not be a problem, as long as you don’t venture outdoors in pursuit of your chosen activity.

If you do, be assured the ticket you get for violating our fishing laws will be filled out with permanent ink.

That’s why it is so important to understand our fishing regulations, collectively known as the Fish Cop Employment Security Act, because if you don’t, they can always write you up for something.

If you cannot understand the fishing laws, you may require an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, you probably cannot afford to go fishing.

I have spent years trying to translate our fishing laws into English. The latest research suggests our fishing laws are a form of code that can change at any time, for any reason, when you least expect.

For example, “angling,” on page 20 of the regulations, is defined as “fishing for personal use not sale or barter.”

What does that mean? If we are fishing to barter fish for beer, we don’t need a fishing license?

That could make Washington the salmon capital of the world, again.

Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but fishing while intoxicated isn’t against the law in Washington.

Yet.

Reading the regulations, we discover, according to WDFW definitions, a grayling is a trout.

A brook trout is not a trout.

There is a Stationary Gear Rule in Washington. Defined, on page 23, as “The line, weight, lure, or bait must be moving (not stationary) while in the water.” Making it illegal to get your fishing gear snagged up on the bottom of a lake, stream or river?

Getting snagged up while fishing can lead to an expensive loss of gear.

I think, at the end of the day, we can all agree that it is a good thing the enlightened lawgivers at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have finally made getting snagged up on the bottom of the lake, stream or river illegal. That will save a lot of money on lost tackle.

In addition to not getting snagged up, it is important to know where and when you can fish.

The Hoh River, a stream a little over 50 miles long, is divided into eight different zones, each with its own seasons, bag limits and gear restrictions.

In addition, it’s illegal to keep a hatchery salmon, as identified by a clipped adipose fin, in the Hoh River throughout the summer months.

On other waters, we are only allowed to keep salmon with a clipped adipose fin.

If it was only that simple. Unfortunately, Washington state doesn’t clip all the adipose fins off the all fish produced at their fish hatcheries.

Anglers are invariably required to release unclipped hatchery fish.

There could be many reasons for this, besides gross mismanagement and systemic corruption.

When unclipped hatchery fish return to the fish hatcheries, they can be sold for cat food. Unclipped hatchery fish represent a vibrant new revenue stream to our fisheries managers.

Who says April Fools’ Day can’t last all year?



Pat Neal is a Hoh River fishing and rafting guide and “wilderness gossip columnist.” He can be reached at 360-683-9867 or by email via patnealproductions@ gmail.com.

Greg Haw, a retired WDFW Enforcement Officer, has written 3 books on his experiences. The last one goes the the sport fish pamphlet pointing out problems such as Pat brings up. It's pretty bad when you put out regulations that are difficult or impossible to actually enforce. The books make interesting reading.

What always has amazed me is the fact that the vast majority of staff thinks they got things on the right track. As bad as things are in the world of fish and fishing they do not see anything wrong. One in particular around R6 enforcement has to have the worse case of Wyatt Earp syndrome around!

Problem is, we don't what track they consider "right". I remember Phil, when asked why the NI anglers did not get a C&R season last two weeks in April when there was allocation remaining. Phil's response was that "we got the seasons we wanted". No definitely inion of who we was as it certainly wasn't the anglers. So, they may/are operating in world with different goals and objectives.

Okay we got a onshore push this afternoon and cooled right down. I don't mind hot weather that much but 97 nah I can do without it! 68 on the deck much better evening temperature!