Seems like the Fishing regs book is getting bigger by the year, and now rumors about the cowlitz being shut down! What the hell is going on? Does the fishing have to get this bad before it can get better or is this the beggining of the end?

I think the steelhead fishing might actually get better in the future, but i dont see much happening with salmon runs. Anybody agree/disagree? just seeing what u guys think....

tight lines

I was wondering the same thing, but not about salmon. Usually we buy two out of state licenses. We only fish for bottom fish on our two week boating vacation and never keep more that three a day unless we are having company. This year the areas we cruise have a one fish limit. That cost the state our license fee and the ports of Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor many dollars besides. That's OK because I will gladly forgo the fishing in order to help out.

On the other hand,from reading the regs and noting that the areas with extreme over fishing (the areas with charter fleets) still retain the 5 fish limit, it would appear that the state is more interested in political impacts than it is in actually increasing the fish.

Canada here we come :-).

John Rowley

We used to laugh at Grandpa when he'd head off to go fishing. But we wouldn't be laughing when he'd come back with some whore he picked up in town.

Janc Handey

Bank walker & John Rowley:

Same concerns.....until the state chooses to answer the "gill net", and other major problems, fish runs in Wa. State will contunue to decline. Lack of hatchery "output", due to the protection of wild fish, will see even more decline of salmon and steelhead fisheries.

Now with the declines in salmon, the chapter boats are targeting the bottom fish....soon the cutbacks, in bottom fish, will be even greater there.

Saving grace---Buy backs of commerical boats, restriction of commerical licenses, total ban on non-indian gillnetting(like it or not, tribal fishing has been upheld in every court case), fish farms(but better escapement controls) and a change at the state level to "sport over commerical", continue to watch the environmental concerns.

"Worse day fishing, still better than the Best day working".....

Yup, I thought that I would tell you that I am with you. Hey bank walker bud only 3 days, do you know what I mean?

Chris

Chris, i can't wait man..... less than three days til June 1... Sky is really high but there should be summer runs in!

The Sky is dropping like a rock! By June 1st it will be awesome! Good luck gentlemen, hope to see you on the river Thursday! Take care.

Doubletake

[This message has been edited by Doubletake (edited 05-29-2000).]

IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE END!