I checked into some harvest numbers from the WDFW a while back and found that the sport anglers DO get screwed, but I don't think it's the tribal nets as much as the non-tribal commercial netters. They get first crack at the fish, so invariably, when the escapement looks like it won't be met, it's the sport anglers that face the closures. From 1987-1991 7.705 million salmon were harvested in Washington. 811,000 were sport caught. That's a whopping 11% of the harvested fish. That's because you have a pie. The non-tribal commercial piece gets taken first. Then the tribal piece gets taken. Now, mom (WDFW) thinks the pie is too small, so she gives you (sport anglers) a smaller piece than the rest. It's even more bogus when you consider the revenue generated in a commercial vs. sport fishery.

The thing is, the non-tribal nets can be bought out without any long, drawn out court battle. That's why Johnny Carlson's plan is bogus. By NOT supporting I-696, and instead including the tribes in his net ban plan, he has guaranteed a long battle in the courts. If he chooses to avoid court by using the "end all fishing to protect any endangered species" plan, then that means ALL fishing including selective sport fisheries because of their associated mortality rates, as low as they may be. If you ask me, Carlson's plan stinks. He had a chance to help get the nets out once, and he chose to speak out against I-696 instead. Would leaving the tribal net unaddressed be "unfair". Maybe, but at least it's POSSIBLE in the short term, rather than waiting for the court battle to reach the US Supreme court, which it very well could.

Call me selfish, but I'm tired of paying to fund fisheries, and then being the last in line for the scraps, especially considering the amount of my hard-earned income I spend on fishing on a yearly basis. In my estimation, we should pick a fight we can win. The non-tribal nets have no treaties that guarantee them the right to fish, the tribes do. Of course, I feel badly that somebody would lose their way of life and job, if I had my way. But the world changes, even if the treaties don't. People can be given financial assistance and job retraining, just like guys from Boeing, Todd Shipyards, and Acme Buggy Whips. At least we don't have to face a lengthy, and worse, COSTLY court battle. We just need politicians that aren't whores to the commercial fishing industry. There are Demos and Repubs out there that ARE whores, we need to sniff them out and put pressure on them to change their evil ways, or risk the unemployment line themselves. I speak of "we" as if all sport anglers see things the way I do, and I know that's not the case. But I think I've thought this thing through a little more clearly than Gary Locke or John Carlson apparently have. Maybe not, but hey, when I become dictator (ha ha) it WILL be the way things are done!

Fish on....................

[This message has been edited by Dan S. (edited 09-15-2000).]

RICH
& JG

Quickfish and sardines...never touched them. Just corkies and yarn for me. Whats your definition of coho water versus king water on the rivers? seems like we were getting both last year boondoggin in fast water and slow deep water alike. So I really dont quiet understand what you mean by targeting kings in my case. How can you target kings with the above mentioned set-up I use? sure you can sit in one place. But when your boondoggn and catching a silver, then a king, then another king, then another silver. I just don't see it. sorry. I'm not there to intentionally catching kings. And by the way I watched tons of folks specifically catching kings last year, sure you werent one of them? 6/0 gammis w/ egg gobs, give me a break, sounds like you might be the culprit.

Poor management from the Fish and Wildlife Dept. has ruined the Hoh for sportsman. They have obviously made another one of those "closed doors agreement" concerning that great river giving the natives a clear and undefenseable advantage. STOP THE NETTING!!! That's why I'll vote Carlson!

screaminreelron
I couldn't agree with you more. They can't blame poor or deteriorating habitat on the Hoh....out of the national park and glacier fed. Don't blame the ocean. It's been improving for several years and river returns bear this out...except the Hoh. Why? There is only one thing preventing this river from recovering..nets, nets, nets!!! I keep hearing "drop it" it's a dead horse. Nothing we can do. They may be right,but the consequences are so devastating not only for us but for all the young kids just starting to learn our great sport. The WDFG should also have to negotiate with us on seasons and allocations. I'm beginning to think they represent the commerials and the tribes. They played a huge role in managing into this mess and now they're going to manage us out of it. Maybe John Carlson can't really make a difference, but Locke had his chance and where are now?

Hohman I second that. I've fished that river for many years. The last five years it keeps getting worse. So I totally can't believe that you can't fish for Kings in the Spring and Summer when there is NETS in the river. Man it just does'nt make any sense to me.

I used to do well on the Hoh in years past. But recently in the last 5 years because of the nets, there hasn't been much to have on that river.

Given I had to drive out from Seattle to go fish it. Its not cool when I get there and find out they just pulled nets. That sucks.

My new writein vote for Gov...Dan S.
The only way we as Sportsman can make a difference is to get together and vote...stand up and be counted!!!

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Row Quietly and fish a Cataraft }<<(('>----<'))>>{
Release all Wild Fish