I read with interest in todays seattle p.i. the game departments catch numbers for the bogachiel,quilleute,sol duc, and hoh.These checks were from thurs. thru sun,this past weekend.According to the numbers,more people are keeping wild fish than releasing them.Be it that it is legal,i am still curoius why there is no uproar from you folks about this.The idea of opening the chehalis system had most of you in an uproar.Public flogging type stuff.Are you trying to save us locals from ourselves.I say we save these peninsula rivers also.LEts close them to native fishing to.

You're right fishinalot, it's an outrage, but this has been hashed out recently ... these numbers are not indictitive of the actual percentage released vs. killed because of the checkpoint placement.

Look for smala's thread titled 'confused" to learn a little more

Reports look to be about 50-50 from reports from kill areas ... very rarely are C&R areas (about half the watersheds) every sampled so keep that in mind when looking at numbers.

Well, I hate to say this but.............most of the trash that fish out there do so beacause we let them keep native fish. I here this alot out there too, "well we drove all this way, I gotta take something home." See Fishalot, people who bonk natives (not indians) have very low IQ's, they don't understand the concept of C&R. To think two or three years down the line is WAY out of these peoples leage. Or people have this to say "well............If I don't kill it the indians will attitude", as if killing more fish makes future runs stronger. What gets me most about the Forks area rivers, are the guides, no not you Bob. Fishing is their future, yet they continue to bonk hundreds of fish per season. Idiots I tell you............ Bob what percent of guides do you think bonk native steelhead in forks? I'll say 90-80% bonk fish if clients can legally do so.

I don't want to rehash things since this was already discussed. BUT it is the clients who want the fish and as long as there is a market for it there will be guides who will cater. Simple econ

I for one love to fish the coastal rivers.
Do I bonk wild steelhead? hell no!

I have to say that the guides are the major bonkers of wild fish on the solduc, most boats on the river are guides, its 80-90% guides.
They are very sucessful, and do their job well.
I do what I do, release.
They do what they do, bonk.
Wonder why I dont go with guides?

The guides in Montana can't believe this mentality of WA guides.
Its a different culture in Forks WA ( Bob Ball is not like the other guides, thanks for that)
" minor vent by the Dr."

Isnt it more fun to have the fish fight


and be able to fight again.

WELL DONE, FishDoc!

Not all guides are like that. I have guided for a long time and have never alowed bonking nates, even if it is legal.
I have never had a shortage of clients because of it. I am kind of a low key guy, I feel no need to show off.
So please don't lump me in with that trash. I feel that most "real" full time guides that make there sole living from guiding feel the same way. Or at least I would hope so.

I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular, so don't take it like that . And I too have done plenty of fishing on the west end, all the bonking and low hole guys is what drove me away. The are also some great guides in forks with morals and an eye for the future too. I just think the bad outway the good in that neck of the woods. But I thank the Forks area rivers for that, it has lead me to greener pastures.

Unfortunately B Gray, not the case out here ... only two of us require release regardless of regs. All others bonk ... I hope to them I don't one day have to say "I told you so!"

Wow ... pretty strong statement calling everyone "trash". I am surprized no one has jumped on that. I just noticed it.

I have fished with a guide who lets you keep fish if you want. If you tell him you want to release, he will not even bring a net. So it is the client who decides not the guide.

Also since it is a legal business, if all the guides decide to release fish, due to demand (by clients) there will be new guides to provide the service. This YOU can NOT change and it has to do with economics.

I want to make a clarification. I am not taking away anything from Bob and the other guide(s) who release fish. It is a great idea and they have the best intentions. If you want a native release you need to:

1- Educate people as to why it is necessary. VERY important.
2- Make it a law.
3- Enforce it.

In that order. Any other method will NOT work. Calling guides or people who legally keep a fish "trash" or ... will only divides us.

Until you can agree as sportsmen to release all wild fish on your rivers and make that the law... You have no hope of lobbie to eliminate gill nets in said rivers. As long as killing wild steelhead is O.K, the manner in which they are killed will not matter.. Its will only be the total kill and escapement that will be looked at. If your willing to take none.. they probably would not be able to take "half" + or + a lot

Man, I just can't seem to help myself on this issue.. I get caught every time.. Its like a mag wiggle wart right in my face

Amen B-Run!!! We will NEVER see even a reduction in the netting until sporties take the initiative! Something for some out there to chew on!

b-money PETA is looking for new people.

Yup! PETA wants to do away with the meat-eating "trash" with the "very low IQ's" that have been supporting farms.

Maybe if they recruit steelnerves-darin he can just pop a cap on them and solve the whole problem.

Yea! Let me at um!

PETA?

Its not a "bunny/tree hugger" sentiment at work here, folks!

I advocate wild release for the simple fact that we need more fish living to spawn. Hell yes, I would choose to eat some if the world were a perfect place and there were plenty to go around. But that just ain't the sitchewashun here-abouts! And I'm hardly a new fisher (fact is I just bought a compewter). Seen it happen with my own eyes. Been releasing since the 80's. Wild fish provide more for us in the water alive than dead in the back of a pickup.

C&R regs have only been passed after wild populations have basically crashed! I would hate to see what the would have been like today if all steelhead fishermen had continued to harvest wild steelhead.

"I'll trade you a hamburger today for two hamburgers tomorrow"!


GS

B-Money part of PETA now thats some funny stuff right there :p

Tight lines

Kevin

Bob
If I ever get the chance to book a trip out there I will book it with you because of your mandatory c&r policy. Could not agree with you more, can't believe more guides don't mandate that.

Plus you have a cool web site.

Thanks LT ... We appreciate hearing that! Actually, a number of folks tell us that and it more than makes up for the trips we turn away each year when we inform prosepective guests of our policy

Remember the River Gods usually treat the best those that try to take care of them!

God people please wake up, look at how the canadian steelhead fishing improved when they went to no retention of wild fish on all there waters years ago. We could have world class fishing right here if we did not bonk nates.
I do not bonk em and I do not allow my clients to either. Just the way I am , I would rather not fish then kill nates. Also BK a member of PETA, that cracks me up, he is the guy who kept the kids organized on a deer drive that put the deer about 15 feet in front of me for an easy shot. Nice try though, he is just concerned about our wild fish like a number of you are.
Also C&R means no fish cleaning for the guides.
Peace Superfly

Hey, Joe,

Check the classifieds...I put a reply to your post about AllStar demos...

Thanks!

Todd.