In a thread some days ago, I proposed that the use of boats on all rivers be restricted to transportation only. I incorrectly thought that this was a tool used as fishery management on a few rivers. Fact is, I was wrong. After doing some searches as suggested by Cowlitz Fisherman and then making a few phone calls to WDFW I found that as the rulings are now, this could never happen. I still think it's a great idea, even if only on the Olympic Peninsula....... I am curious as to what other board members think.

I spend a lot of time pulling plugs. I think it would be a bad idea. We also like to free drift as we go down the river.

I believe more westside rivers should adopt some of the philosophies that the Peninsula rivers have excluding tribal habits.
It's much more enjoyable to float one of the upper sections of lets say the Skagit or Sky when there isn't a sled going by you every few minutes. You can count on that serenity every time on the coastal rivers except when they are netting, and that's only the last few miles of the system.
There is a place for sleds in the lower bigger portions of the rivers. Certain water heights should have restictions for sleds and during spawning times. I don't know how many times I've seen sleds fly over redds in the late spring and fall.
I'm not against haveing thse boats in the rivers it's that with the dwindling numbers of fish and less spawning grounds we should take the initiative to lesson the impact on them.

I am with Gutz

I am with auntie M on this one

I'll third her statement

Leaky Boot

Glad to see that you did your home work!!


Cowlitzfisherman

I like the idea of limiting boats on rivers. It would do the following:

Save lives and injuries, help erosion at the ramps, limit speeding trailers in tow, stop boaters from drinking and boating and deficating in the water, stop oil sheens and fuel sheens on the water, stop littering the river from wrecked debris, stop littering the whole river with anchors, weights, corkies, and line all over the river, control noise pollution from sleds, stop fights at the ramps, save fish by lessing the need for hydroelectric power used by aluminum manufacturers and save trees and help limit VOC emissions, etc.

I would like to see bank only fishing on the upper portions of the rivers and leave the lower portions open to boats. This is the way it is on my favorite rivers. The boaters have the advantage on most OP rivers and there is limited bank access. Last time I went in a boat there were too many boats. I'd rather fish from the bank. Its good excercise too for your legs and heart. I'm looking forward to summerun fishing because I'm sick and tired of all the boaters during the winter season. They make it hard for people to catch fish from the bank.

And don't forget the people that drag their anchors through the gravel and the redds. You know the ones that want to "boondogle without having to row", and the bankies that do this.....the other guys that do that....

Too bad you just can't outlaw stupidity and rudeness. That would make it a lot simpler.

Remember, passing laws just makes for bigger government and less money for the fish and fewer dollars for those we criticize for not being able to enforce the laws we already have.

Also, some river systems have permit system on them. You must apply for and "draw" a permit to fish and/or float the river. That will certainly control crowds, but it will also impact your freedom and ability to fish when you want or can.

hey, I have an idea. If you don't like seeing boats then go fish the Lyre. I fish both on the bank and also in my boat. I find that 99 % of both bankies and boaters are very courteous. Treat them right and they treat you right. I can say that on my last 3 or 4 floats on the oly Pen
I have only seen maybe 2 or 3 bankies. And you know what, they all said good morning and we talked fishing for several minutes.

Gee wizz we ever going to lose this thred, it keeps sticking its head up like a weed in my lawn.
You want to change something, do something like change state law.When these folk going to finger it out ,way more people on the water,way more people on the bank= way more conflict.Time to get over it nothing is going to change soon.