Just got asked to fish lake stevens tomorrow about 10 minutes ago. is there any place to get an entry this late? Or will they be selling them at the launch? nice timing on my part.

thx

robert

Doubtful you will pick up a ticket at this point. See all you crazies at 4:30am

Fished the derby today, had some great laughs and a great time. Enough about that...

The thing that I had began pondering is wondering how long it is going to take before the state let's even this fishery get hosed just like so many others. Like a 10 fish per person limit?

I started thinking, there are a few people that have been pounding this fishery everyday for the last month or so, catching their limits plus their partners are getting their limits as well. So, lets say, each time out (we'll go on the minimum side of things) they get 10 fish. So, in a month, one person gets roughly 200-300 fish depending on how many days they fish. So, if they take someone with them, then it's up to 300-500 fish. Now multiply that by more people, more days, etc....how long will it take for that fishery to be wiped out?

I saw one person today weigh in 46 or 48 fish. They kept absolutely every fish. Why? what is the point? It was a derby for the largest fish and largest limits. Do you think that keeping multiple 8" fish is going to do the trick?

In our boat, we weighed in 19 fish (for 3 of us).

I think that this is another case of the state saying that killing fish is justified, so we have this need to kill more than we need. For some odd reason, everytime this state gets an excess amount of any fish, they turn on the green light for killing. Why don't they ever feel that a surplus of a resource is ever a good thing?

Better yet, why don't we as anglers make wiser choices and do our part to help preserve our fisheries instead of whacking 20-30 or near 50 fish every day?

I don't know, just thinking out loud here....

Maybe I got too much sun today, but it doesn't make sense to me.

Hey Thrasher, we brought in 47 fish to the weigh in, none were 8 inches but some were small. I just got done eating two of them and filleting the other 45. A 10 incher tastes just the same as a 15 incher.

I didn't know it was you, but perhaps you missed my point. Do we really need to take that many fish? I think that the State ought to revamp the limits.

Seems that the fishery would last longer with a 5 fish limit perhaps?

So, you got 47 today...in one day. If someone has fished this fishery everyday for the last couple of months and bagged 1200 fish...whatchya gonna do with that many?

Just sayin...

And another thing, look at page 27 in the Regs it states, "all trout (including Kokanee) when caught while using bait must be counted towards your daily limit" if you caught 60 fish for 3 people you were 2 times over your limit.

Better in the cooler then released dead...these fish are extemely fragile and should NOT BE LET GO...JUST SAYIN...AND READ THE REGS TOO IF YOU WERE USING BAIT...YOU WERE ILLEGAL...

obviously a chord has been struck...this wasn't directed at anyone
personally.



Where did I say I was using bait? spoons aren't illegal nor are wedding bands

still missing my point with a 10 fish limit

I hope Curt will weigh in on this as Lake Stevens is one of his home waters and as a retired WDFW fisheries biologist has insight on things that we may not.

Kokanee seem to be very fragile fish. Releasing them may be well intended, but if the mortality rate is high, it may not be the best choice?

If a particular water becomes extremely popular, reducing the daily limit may be an option to preserve or extend that fishery.

Some fisheries are under-utilized, in which case liberal limits may be desirable in that they offer a recreational opportunity in an era when we are seeing more and more restrictions.

It is a tough call.

I understand what you are saying but we are not talking about native steelhead or salmon or even hatchery salmon or steelhead. These fish are planted in the 10'000's of thousands with the strict purpose of being caught. This fishery has been hammered for the past month or more by people catching 10 fish per person per day and it still was producing in great numbers today at the derby. I dont fish this everyday, in fact this is only the second day I have ever fished it.

if you werent fishing with bait then I guess the rule I quoted doesnt apply to you. I just assumed you were becuase everyone we talked to today was either using corn or maggots, especially the people that had more then 10 fish in the boat.

I would love to hear what Curt has to say. That is what I was hoping for. Perhaps some educated insight on that which most of us perhaps do not know all of the facts on.

In an era where we are seeing more restrictions, it seems that having a smaller limit to better utilize the longevity of the resource would seem the best. But, if as you mention, the fragile state of them, maybe then that is the states way of simply saying kill them don't release them?

Who know...that was why I was simply asking in the beginning and asking opinions. I wasn't calling anyone out, they just offered to come forward and felt the need to justify. I was merely asking how we as anglers could justify the killing of this many fish.

I understand this...but just because it's been hammered for the past month means little for down the road consequences.

Columbia...

I'm merely wanting to know how the killing #'s can be justified on many levels.

I didnt get to fill out a ballot, but my vote for loudest boat on the lake would have gone to you guys Chuck! you had us ducking a couple times when we saw the slingshot come out.

Next time you guys need to get just a little bit closer so our sling shot and corkies could get you.

They say, no photos, it didn't happen, so here is proof.

Sorry, no captions, just too tired after a 2:15 AM wake up call yesterday and a pre-fish lesson a couple of nights before with Rotten Chum, Ondariver, and Espionage Agent Vedder.

It was a fun event, great to see some PP friends and meet a few more.

Thanks Jody for letting me tag along.

It was an absolutely awesome event.

I was amazed at it's size for a first year event.

The derby organizers did a wonderful job and a big thank you to all of the sponsors......

Dicknite, Three Rivers Marine, Greg's Custom Rods and many more stepped up to the plate big time.

And how can we forget the Master of Ceremonies, Mark Spada.

Great job Mark and all others involved.

Hey Thrasher its prime time on the lake for fishing. In a few weeks the presure will drop to nothing and the lake will be covered with skiers and jet skies. Very few limits after that

Very fun event overall. I got out on the water at 3:30am. The lines for the launch were very well organized both entering and leaving the lake thanks to everyone for using their heads at the launch!!!

Counted 95 boats on the water at one point and the lake didn't feel crowded at all. We targeted the south end for about an hour looking for a lunker triploid (no luck) and that end of the lake was completely devoid of fisherman.

Thanks to all the sponsors, it was very fun.

Regarding the 10 fish bag; these fish are planted to be harvested. Heavy fishing will not negatively impact the fishery as long as they keep dumping tens of thousands of fry in each year as they have been doing for a long long time.

Tight lines.

The derby was a great success as far as Sue n I were concerned it was very well run. EVERY Sponsor and Volunteer really stepped up to the plate for this one. We saw more kids w/ BIG SMILES running around and on most of the "big" kids too.
Great to see lots of P.P.ers (new faces and old)
Will look forward to next year, but NO hurry as time fly's by too fast.
RottenChum, HuntnCoug n Sam...Thanks for the fun time !!!