If you read the news, odds& ends section you will get the impression that the Humptulips was closed due to too many wild fish taken by tribal nets. Or as Bob puts it " another example of ..." This is false. The number of Wild Humptulips steelhead (and Chehalis) taken can be counted on one hand. The only example I see is the personal agenda of the author. There hasn't been one delivery in 4 weeks from the Humptulips and the last was all AD clipped.
No personal attack intended here Bob, sometimes ya just gotta stand up and say "Hey, wait a minute!"

[This message has been edited by potter (edited 03-03-2000).]

Potter ... unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to update that that page in awhile (although I've got a new version of the page with lots more added to be up soon). The comments you are referring to are dated February of 1999. Now, again we have a closure in 2000. We have also had closures in previous years too.

Doesn't this clue you in that perhaps the management IS NOT working?? Anytime that you have a series of closures like this, there is obviously something wrong. Tribal netting is one of those things. I noticed that you conveniently left out that I mentioned sport harvest is too - I said both were likely contributors to the problem ... after all, the Hump was the last river in the state to come off the old three fish limit, and has not been switched to C&R.

We go into each season saying, the annual limit is two wild fish, a number of fish are whacked and netted, and then no one can fish it as the state (and Quinaults) suddenly decide there aren't enough fish. Fine and dandy by me, it should be closed if there aren't enough fish.

Potter you mention that all of the last delivery was made up of adipose clipped fish. Given a thought as to why there weren't any wild fish in the last delivery?? Could it be the parent stock of this year's run in is someone's freezer rotting (sportie) or perhaps got sold to a fancy restaurant in Seattle (from a tribal netter)?

Overharvest, period, from both the tribes and the sporties.

A personal agenda, yes! As I said, there is a gross mismangement problem taking place here, and I will always stand up and fight for the fish when needed, and in this case, it appears to be needed badly!

On the Hump, I'm not so sure it's a problem brought on by mis-management. Tribal catches of wild steelhead have always been low. I don't know the sport numbers. I have been told ocean survival is down 1%. Maybe this is part of, or the problem? The best news is that I've also been told ocean temps are changing and survival should increase.

[This message has been edited by potter (edited 03-03-2000).]

Why do you say the Hump is closed. There is nothing on the wildlife web site about it. If it did close March 1 dont you think it would be listed under News Releases or in the fishing section. Somebody please verify.

Mac according to the paper it's closed. "concern over low return of wild fish" - C&R'd a 20 in late Jan and my partner landed a 15 in Feb, so a few slipped by the nets.

If this is true then the wildlife dept. should pull their head out of their ****ing ass and post it on their web site. It's C&R anyway for nates. For all you people bitching about the pressure on the Nooch it just got a little more crowded. Thanks Wildlife Dept, you blew it just like they did on the Hoh a couple of years ago.

I called the Montesano WDFW office Thursday and was told that the Hump. did close on March 1st. I have not seen any news on it in our local paper about any closure.

From two to none. HMMMMMM!!

[This message has been edited by fp (edited 03-03-2000).]

fp, have your heard from or seen Larry Eddleman? Does he fish anymore? Learned a lot about plugs from him long ago when we fished on the Quinault & Hump. I have a feeling by the way he talked that you got him into guiding back then. I couldn't get your homepage to load?

[This message has been edited by potter (edited 03-04-2000).]

I agree with you bob on the mismanagement
thing. Ive been fishing for years and ive never seen anything like it.The state needs to do more with the money they take for licence fees and put it back into the fish.
Now about the Hump i live in grays harbor and i havent seen anything about it being closed.I have been looking in the news paper but nothing that ive seen..

potter, Larry E. pretty well gave up on fishing and everything else. Just about sits on his ass and draws. He looks like he is about 100 pounds soak-n-wet. I tried to help him guide but working is not what he wanted to do. I was the best man @ his wedding but I think the wife is gone too!! He was a damn good plugger.
My AK web page is not back up yet. Maybe soon if I could get Bob (the really big-un) to come help me.(HINT) fp

BOB I HAVE YOUR BANANA RIGHT HERE PAL.

BOB I HAVE YOUR BANANA RIGHT HERE PAL.

hey gutpiles,whats the matter having a little trouble admiting that maybe bob has a good point?you can belive what you want buddy

NET,I MEAN FISH ON!!!