This is 2nd/3rd/4th hand information, so I cannot verify its accuracy. There is a thread on iFish to this effect:

"He was also told that due to the over 3000 Sea Lions and Seals consuming on average 3 salmon a day in the Cloumbia, no counts going thru Bonneville, the gill netters getting their quota, that the fishery may be cut off on April 8 do to poor, less than expected numbers coming thru the system."

Again, this could be a total miscommunication, but I wanted to throw it out there in case any of you are in a position to verify or debunk it.

I have yet to hear that...though I have been hearing about the low counts at Bonny and the gillnetter catches.

If that were the case, I'm sure glad the gillnetters were able to get their share before the closure.

How has fishing been in the lower tribs? Kalama, Lewis, Cowlitz? Any fish showing up in there yet?

I hope they're just late, and if the bulk of the runs show up in a week, the fishing should be pretty darn fantastic for the sporties.

If they don't, oh, well...there goes another recreational season down the tubes.

Fish on...

Todd

Was going to go down this morning Till I heard That they netted again all night last night.
Lets hope they got their quota filled and leave the river to us.
I heard the larger Idaho fish are just starting to show so If they do show in numbers we could have a real fest out there.
If they close it early the short end of the stick is not all we would get.
Ramprat

Its still early.

http://www.cqs.washington.edu/cgi-bin/da...enddate=12%2F31

What the crap.. I got a trip planned for the 10th.. Dont it just figure. Cant they just shoot the dam sea lions.. oooops, I better shut up

Steelhead dude,

I got the rifle and rounds (not sure if I have enough for 3000 of the buggers, but we could sure make a dent). I checked cabelas and they don't have a sea lion call but I figure the sound of line being stripped off a reel might work.

Perhaps, but that mantra is beginning to ring hollow. You have to go all the way back to the disastrous 1999 run to find the sorts of Bonneville numbers that we are seeing this year.

Late? Maybe. C____y forecast? Maybe. Marine mammal predation? Maybe. All the above? Probably.

Bottom line is that if the managers think the number of salmon getting upriver is going to be too low, they will shut down the fishery. That is the only factor they have direct control over.

I believe the thread referenced is titled "Unofficial Unconfirmed Springer Cutoff" on the iFish board.

Link to the iFish Forum (not content)

Didn't we get screwed last year from overfishing by the commercials combined with a weaker run than expected?

How about letting the sport guys go first for a change?
(no, no, we can't do that...that might create a semblance of fairness)

Has anyone ever heard of a song that has the lyrics "send lawyers guns and money" well I think that notion will soon apply to fisheries and the battles that insue. Until then I think a new lure for seals and sea lions should be created or a combo springer sealion/seal tag should be issues, oh heck why not just eat the seals they must be nummy with the salmon feed they take in. How can I say these things when my mom teaches her 1st graders a whole unit on how wonderful those animals are, I am definitely going to hell ( with a 42 pound springer dime bright over my shoulder!)

It's just gets worse every year,, less fish, less time we get to fish for less fish,, And the money we pay for fishing and hunting licenses..

With our licenses being renewed next month, maybe it's time for everyone to band together and NOT purchase a new license.
Then the WDFW could try and survive off of the money from the commercial boys.
How many of us have the kahunas to try that?

What, no takers? Somehow, someway, we have to find a way to end this commercial first, sportfishermen second. This states' politicians suck!

the lewis, cowlitz, and kalama are not producing anything really. a couple of fish here and there other than that its been dead

UGH!!!!!

My dad and drother are coming up from California to fish with Clancy April 10/11, would that blow if they closed it down 2 days before they both came up! I just wanted to get those 2 into there first salmon and if they dont because the river closes on account of the sealions and the commercial's thenn i am gonna be so pissed along with everyone else! My dad does have about a dozen shotguns and tons of 12 and 20 guage loads, as long as the sealions are close enough we could scare em off and maybe "Manage the sealion poulation" i.e. shoot the buggars!!!!!! Wouldnt that be nice

Just got this off another site yet I have nothing to back it up so this might not be completly true:

"FACT: the Commies caught over 8000 springers using smaller net mesh.

FACT: This is 2500-3000 more than their quota allowed.

Rumor: will be a fact Thursday; lower Columbia to close April 8. Over fishing by the commies will draw the quanities from the sports quota. "

Was just looking at the WDFW Emergancy Rule changes and they have nothing on this yet. But i did see something interesting. The Yakima will open April 16th for Springers since they think just under 20,000 fish will return. I'm starting to think that the fish are just a little late and that this rumor is nothing but that, a rumor.

If you look at the yearly stats, the big run is not really that late, however the small amount of fish to date seems very low. I am not a biologist and can't digest all the information, but the run appears to need to pick up momentum soon.

I really hate to say this, but i think this really is the facts and come thursday we will all be in an uprage. The Question is what are we gonna do it about it instead of just whining and complaining.

Also the water temp has been pretty cool so that might have something to do with it. Maybe not, just trying to keep a positive attitude about it.