Rule to Change: *All game fish - Last Sat in April - Oct 31 - Statewide min. size/daily limit*
New Rule Proposal: *All species - Selective gear rules
Trout - Year-round - Min. size 18" - Daily limit 1.
Other game fish - Year-round - Statewide min. size/limit
Why the change is needed: There are few selective fisheries lakes on the west side of the Cascades which can provide the opportunity for catching good size Trout. Changing the rule for Lake Sixteen would increase this opportunity. The change to a Year-round fishery would also increase the fishing opportunity. This change could also reduce the costs to the WDFW by reducing the need to plant large numbers of fish each year.
Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change: *Evergreen Fly-Fishing Club
Olympic Fly Fishers
Fidalgo Fly Fishers
Fourth Corner Fly-Fishing Club
NW Fly Anglers
Widbey Island Fly-Fishing Club
Washington FFF
Informal survey of fishers on the lake
Describe their support and/or concerns:
*All are very much in favor of this rule change
Submitted by: MINAKER, GREGORY — ARLINGTON, WA
Date submitted: 05/26/2012
WDFW Rule Proposal Recommendation
Not Recommended for further consideration Reference ID: DFW249550
The region supports the concept of creating quality catch and release opportunity but not at the expense of an opening day lake (opens the fourth Saturday in April).
Online Public Comments(1 comments)
JACOBSON, JAKE C November 04, 2012 MUKILTEO, WA Comments: I request that you consider changing the fishing regulations to Selective Gear Only on Lake 16, in Skagit County for the following reasons:
1. Region 4 has over 244 lakes with access. 238 are currently managed as “Opening Day” lakes.
2. Six of the lakes in the region are regulated as Selective Gear or Fly Fishing Only, and only 4 of these are open year round. Only two are within 50 miles of Seattle, and one of those requires a ferry ride (or really long drive) to access.
3. The user group base that would be attracted to a Selective Gear Lake is large. It is estimated by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation that over 17% of license holders in Region 4 go fly fishing throughout the year. That’s almost 60,000 fly fishermen in the region. In other words, 17% of the fishermen currently have only 2% of the lakes set aside for a quality fishing experience in the region.
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