While rigging up in the lot to fish the Lyre ran into a guy showing off a really nice hen chromer about 8 pounds.....nice fish! Only one problem....very very very faint shadow of tiger stripes and developing very small canines on the end of the lower jaw. Doggy! Probably came in that morning fresh from the salt. Rivers closed to taking these fish. Be aware that this river gets what I feel is a very unique late winter run of these fish that should be protected. I've caught some that didn't even have a hint of tiger stripes clear thru January. Learn to identify your fish...please!

Gooose

Good call Gooose ... I was thinking the very same thing a couple of days back when we caught some chrome silvers ... many inexperienced (or even experienced) anglers may have trouble telling them apart.

Check your charts and be sure of what you have!

Thanks Bob. First thing that got me was it had an adipose fin...which started Gooose's juices flowing...followed quickly by cold rage when the guy not only kept what he thought was a wild steelie in a closed to wild steelie harvest river but didn't even know what he'd actually killed!
I'm still so pissed I'm thinking of calling in sick and taking a day of peace fishing below the cabin...won't be a sign of civilization....no bankies...no drift boats....nothing but the water.

Sorry for the rant.

Gooose

You know, people who can't tell what kinda fish they keep should either quit fishin or go to fish identification 101!!!
About a month ago i ran into some guys that were purposely snagging fish and keeping them. But they did know that they were keeping kings and the kings are closed in the river.
An ODFW checker came down and they asked her " Is this a COHO or a King. Well she call OSP and they came down... The three of them got $299 stupidity awards.

You know, I feel same way. You don't know how to tell a fish from another fish then you should quit. My word, they're so easy to tell. Hmmmm, chums fresh from the salt and no bars showing, all chrome. What's the one thing that would really distinguish from a steelie??? NO SPOTS!!!!!!!! Sheesh. I think that before you get a license you should have to be able to ID the species of fish.

AuntyM,
I'd think the qualifycations were just breathing because everyone of them down here are idiots.
Keith

In case anyone needs some help in IDing fish, here's a good start...

http://swr.ucsd.edu/fmd/identify.htm

We need more game wardens out there writing tickets!!!
As far as a class goes .I think it would be almost impossible to get that many people schooled.It would take all year..Anyone know how many liecences are sold in this state in a year?I bet its mind boggling!!!
If this river was closed to wild steelhead retention and this person kept the fish thinking it was just that ,then no matter what he was keepin the fish..
Either he can,t read the game laws or he just didnt give a [Bleeeeep!]!!
My guess is that he would have kept the fish no matter what!!!

I'd be in favor of such a class. I had to take a test to hunt geese in Grays Harbor county (dusky canada goose issue). You have to take a class, if born after 1972, just to go hunting in Washington.

The testing process seems almost necessary especially considering all of the "endangered" runs out there. Maybe testing limited to only salmon and steelhead, or testing required to fish on a particular river with a sensitive fishery.

This would certainly help with fish ID. I can't begin to tell you how many people I taught how to ID pnks this year up at Sekiu. I talked with at least 50 people who weren't sure what a silver or pink looked like, and because they didn't want to get a ticket, they didn't keep anything with an adipose fin.

A pain, yes. Achievable, yes.

Andy

Gooose, I can't identify a fish, but I'll still outfish you!

FJ...out.

FJ you should know better even if we haven't met? I gave up trying to outfish anyone years ago.....my own abilities and the fish are my only challenges when fishing these days. Plus I figure I'm at least half way thru fishing my life and I'm in no hurry to limit out. But if you ever want come and take a turn at fishing Gooose's chosen waters...well take a turn... I'll kick back and watch. Maybe I'll learn something new..or we both will. Sorry if I'm coming off a little sheatty...just a little down lately.

Gooose

Gooose and crew, where as a mandatory fishing course sounds like a good idea, has it ever occured to any of you that most of the people keeping these protected fish know full well what they are doing and just dont care? I was fishing on a local river last winter, just hitting one fish after another, and releasing them (they were all natives) when I happened upon two guys packing five BIG native Steelhead back to their rigs. I informed them that those were native fish and that the river was closed to taking Nates..... The response I got was to mind my own F*cking business. Suffice it to say, they didn't care what they were doing.

LittleZoZo good to hear from you. Been watching it for years ...especially the oldtimer burlapbag/packboard crew on the Nooksack and Skagit when I lived up that way. You know that there's around $500 million per year being spent on salmonid restoration....give me 10% of that per year for dedicated enforcement and I'll guarantee that problem will go the way of the dinosaurs. Thought almost cheers me up.

Gooose

I know this isnt a river story but it pertains to all fish-----this last spring i ran into a few boats that were takin lingcod of of there beds ----sad but true----i think a fish id class would be great----sheet when i was hunting off of horse back was some of the scariest ---have 7 30-06 and higher lookin at ya when you break a ridge ---damn i didnt know if the horse was goin to **** first or i

my two cents
you guys are great
Will

stlhdr1, If you think the fish checkers are idiots, then you should ride along with a fish checker. Then you would see you some truly-real idiots.
Paul

I can't read anymore of these discussion board conversations without commenting. Many of you may consider yourselves sportsmen but you're as guilty as the "idiots" you chastise. Instead of spending a little time educating some of these "idiots" you snub your nose and ask, "Where are the wardens?" If it were left to you, only you and a few of your good buds would be allowed to fish here in WA. The selfishness that is shown on these discussion boards appalls me. You expect WA citizens to protect and pay for your right to enjoy the natural resources, but you really don't want anyone else around, do you? You had better check some of your attitude before it is too late. If we as true "sportsmen" don't take the time and make an effort to teach these "idiots" how to properly fish, the WDFW will continue to restrict fishing to the point that ordinary citizens will no longer bother to participate. And when it gets to that point, who is going to protect fishermen's rights? If you really want to protect the resource and your right to fish, you had better start thinking about these "idiots" as potential allies.

Chreeist! I'll have to think deeply about replying to the last post. Sounds like a lurker to me. I'm off line til tomorow 6 pm ....please give us some more wisdom dude...you dissing the idea of real enforcement of the rule? Please oh please expand on your sheat?

Gooose

Gooose, thanks I still haven't figured out when it's OK to throw a little sarcastic humor in around here. I happen to be a 37 year old man and have no intention of outdoing anyone. My fish identifying skills are also up to snuff..........

FJ...out.

Another note to people who aren't quite sure, apparently, the Sky has a late run of coho. While fishing for steelies last weekend, we managed to catch 5 "gray" coho. They weren't chrome, but they weren't red yet either.

Fish Jesus I believe I owe you an apology. I think we both know where the others coming from and we're both a bit sarcastic. Sorry for being an arsehole to you....no excuses. Hope I'm still your "favorite turd?" BTW I wouldn't mind getting together for a day of steelies...was serious about the learning bit. I'm gonna be migrating further westward after the 1st of the year.

As for the other guy...WhiteDog says just "Bark You" and "forget him."

Gooose