At our WSC board meeting last night we received a report that the state is considering a week long wild steelhead kill fishery on the Chehalis system [ including major tribs.] as their numbers indicate there will be some "extra" fish above escapement. After the harvest the system would close, no c-n-r.

That's too bad, I fish the chehalis river system a lot. I'd just like to see the river stay to wild release. From what I've seen this year, I can't imagine them being over escapement. Keep me posted if you hear this is for sure. I'll try to go out and sore mouth as many as possible and make sure the natives stay where they are supposed to, in the water.

Chromeslayer

Jerry Garcia,

So, who can we write to voice our concerns regarding this proposed scenerio? I'm guessing we are talking about "all" the tributaries to the Chehalis system, ie. the Wynoochee, Satsop, Skoomchuck -etc....? Need to act fast, Darin

Well, I guess that would be a great way to keep a supressed run down....kill the nates. WDFG never fails to amaze me

The decision would be made at the Region 6 office in Montesano. Bob Gibbons is the biologist floating the idea. I hear he's not good at reading his e-mails. The regional directors name is Sue Patnude, office phone 360 249-4628, fax number is 360 664-0689. I heard the fishery could be the end of March.

What the F are they thinking?

Folks interested in making their opinions known on this proposed fishery ought to do it right away, as the decision will likely be made in the next couple of weeks.

This one week kill fishery will come at the expense of a one month WSR fishery. Not a CNR fishery, but one where wild fish are released and hatchery fish are still legal to harvest.

I can't really understand the option to have a one week kill fishery.

KILL FISHERY

Forecast of 105 wild fish harvested, along with any incidental hatchery fish, which should account for a lot of fish, too, as all those tribs have late returning hatchery fish. Likely the hatchery harvest would far outweigh the amount of wild fish harvested.

Fishing lasts seven days, then that's it until June.

WILD STEELHEAD RELEASE FISHERY

No directed wild fish harvest, which protects the runs in all those tributaries, where a few fish could make the difference between making escapement in a few years or not.

Hatchery fish are still available to harvest...and will likely outnumber the wild fish encountered anyway, not to mention have an additional three weeks to put fish in the freezer, plus the added bonus of getting them out of the system so they don't spawn with the wild fish.

A month of fishing, rather than a week. More opportunity, more $$ in the local economies, less gas spent to drive out to the coast or up to the Skagit/Sauk to fish, and less pressure on those other open rivers, too, by spreading out the fishing pressure more.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, a feeling that WDFW is both creating opportunity and making an effort to not do it at the expense of wild fish. Lack of trust and integrity is a huge problem for WDFW right now, and this is a way to establish some of both.

That's my take on it, anyway...

Fish on...

Todd.

Darin,

Knock yourself out...I hope that lots of us make use of our voices to let the powers that be know that we're not happy with stuff like this.

Fish on...

Todd.

so let me get this straight..the washington fish and game want to set a kill fishery for wild steelhead instead of letting those fish live and spawn thus granting alot more steelhead to reproduce and have alot more fish in the system in say 2-4 years? they want to jus keep enough going to "sustain" the runs which by the way arent really that good anyways?? f'n rocket science..........

WDFW never seems to amaze me! Why they are thinking of proposing this is beyond me. Jerry, you seem to know quite a bit more than anyone else on this subject so I will direct my questions towards you. Does this include the entire chehalis system from the lets say 101 in Aberdeen to the high bridge on the Weyerhauser 1000 line? That is alot of water to open up for a kill fishery on wild steelhead. I bet the guys that help broodstock the Satsop every year are just thrilled with this news. If I could get some more information on everything it would make calling or emailing the people at the Monte office a litte bit easier.
If we put together a meeting on the subject do you think other sport fisherman will show? I for one am willing to do anything to get the state to reverse their decision. Let us know what's up and I will be more than happy to help. Until then keep the lines tight and release all nates.

Additional information:

WDFW
4800 Devenshire Road
Montesano, WA 98563

You can also find info, email addresses etc. from the WDFW main web page

A meeting is a great idea.
Good Fishing, Darin

Okay well I called the Devonshire office and talked to Sue. The information she gave me was this; There is a proposal for a 2 or 3 day kill fishery of wild steelhead on the Chehalis system and it's tribs. If the proposal does indeed happen it will happen at the end of March she said. She gave me Bill Cambell's number 249-1203, she said he was the guy that I needed to talk to. I called and left a msg on this guys machine. She said it is still being proposed but that things are looking promising for the fishery. Promising my @$$! Darin, I can get a huge auditorium to host a meeting in free of charge. If you guys want to do this, I can see if maybe some of the guys from the department would like to attend the meeting. Lets keep the ball rolling. Let me know what more I can do.

From what I have heard it is gonna become a forgone opertunity issue, So the State would rather give the opertunity to you, Know that being said if you continue to release the fish (Natives) then know damage done. But the other inities will not get your share. Opertunity does not have to = Harvest let your beliefs be your guide. I do not agree with giving up the late hatchery fish but if it happens in late March and the nets won't get our share and we can have a high percentage of nate release during this period then it is all good with me. matt

From what I have heard it is gonna become a forgone opertunity issue, So the State would rather give the opertunity to you, Know that being said if you continue to release the fish (Natives) then know damage done. But the other inities will not get your share. Opertunity does not have to = Harvest let your beliefs be your guide. I do not agree with giving up the late hatchery fish but if it happens in late March and the nets won't get our share and we can have a high percentage of nate release during this period then it is all good with me. matt

Sounds like they're doing this to justify a tribal net fishery for nates

I don't know how the WDFW has figured that there is a surplus of wild steelhead. I fish the Chehalis system almost exclusively after the new year, every year. It's close to home and I have private access to a lot of areas. From what I've seen and heard so far is that the wild and hatchery return is poor at best. It was much better last year and could have warranted a wild "bonking" session. I'm not in favor of one, but I think the system could have handled it.

Here's something to think about though. If the Indians were halted for "bonking week" and couldn't net, would this change anybody's mind? I know that will never happen, but....

Hey everybody,
Remember this fishery a few years down the road when the offspring of these fish are returning and watch for the DFW to rule emergency closures for the entire chehalis system. Would'nt that be a joke!

Can we fire the entire WDFW and hire some intelligent people to replace them? Or even some people that aren't that smart, but have SOME common sense?

The system is being netted 5-6 days a week as we speak, So they don't have to justify a native net schedule. Thay are all ready killing them. And they want more, They want your allotment. By opening it to you it will save the fish you are allotted to spawn if we a concerned fisher people will continue to release the nates as we continually preach.

I'm sick of this kind of stupidity...... when am I issued my half of net control????