Where was the public input on this new reg? After running the gauntlet of Quinault nets and wild fish bonkin' on the lower Quinault...

Fishing Rule Change
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, Washington 98501-1091
Internet Address: [url=HTTP://www.wa.gov/wdfw][url=HTTP://www.wa.gov/wdfw][url=HTTP://www.wa.gov/wdfw]HTTP://www.wa.gov/wdfw[/url][/url][/url]

March 17, 2003

Upper Quinault River winter steelhead season extended

Action: The winter steelhead season on the upper Quinault River will be extended through April 15,2003.

Effective date: April 1 through April 15, 2003.

Species affected: Steelhead.

Location: Upper Quinault River, from the mouth at upper end of Quinault Lake upstream to National Park boundary.

Reason for action: The 2002/2003 upper Quinault River wild winter steelhead run size is forecast to return well above escapement needs. The fishing season is being extended to allow increased fishing opportunity on returning wild steelhead.

Other Information: Minimum size and daily limit rules remain the same. No more than one wild steelhead may be retained per day. No more than five wild steelhead may be retained statewide per year within the annual limit of 30. Marked hatchery-origin (adipose or ventral-fin clipped anda healed scar in the location of the missing fin) steelhead may also be harvested. This extended season only applies from the National Park boundary downstream. Fishing is closed within the National Park.

Information contact: Bill Campbell or Kirt Hughes, fish biologists, (360) 249-4628.

Sad ... wasn't it closed early last year??? If it can't produce consistently, why aren't regs more stringent??

The Olimpic National Park wants to change to C&R for all wid Steelhead. The problem is that the Tribes will claim that the Sportsman can't take there share so they are going to take more. Another problem is there is not a set escapement #. Tribes want a much lower # that what the state wants. The head of the Olimpic National Park has steped down and I don't think a new one has been named yet. They are making changes for the next year right now.

Bill Laitner, a 30-year veteran of the National Park Service and a former chief of interpretation at North Cascades National Park, has been named superintendent of Olympic National Park.

Laitner, currently superintendent at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border, expects to move to the Olympic Peninsula in May. His appointment was announced Monday.