Rule to Change: All game Fish April 16-Fri before first Sat in June catch-and-release except up to 2 hatchery STEELHEAD mat be retained. Selective gears rules. internal combustion motors prohibited.
WASHOUGAL RIVER
New Rule Proposal: Propose doing away with the selective gear fishery and make the date the 1st of June as the way it used to be.
Why the change is needed: for the last 2 years we have had a dedicated fish checker on this river ,I suggest we utilize his data and get our bait use back We are seeing surplus fish every year that have to be recycled from the hatchery that should and would be caught if we could fish bait and barbs It makes no sense to have the Kalama and the NF Lewis open for bait and close the Washougal and East Fork at the same time. It would make the job easier for enforcement by allowing this rule and not having the rules so detailed. Plus the WDFW is all about revenue and angling opportunity and this would generate both.
Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change: Ron Reeves (fish checker)
Joe Hymer WDFW
Describe their support and/or concerns:
Both in favor of deleting the selective gear restriction
Submitted by: CAREY, DANIEL H — CAMAS, WA
Date submitted: 06/03/2012
WDFW Rule Proposal Recommendation
Not Recommended for further consideration Reference ID: DFW313725
Current rule allows for retention of hatchery summer steelhead with selective gear rules(SGR). If SGR rules are removed this season would have to be eliminated due to potential impacts to outmigrating wild salmon and steelhead smolts and adult wild winter steelhead. An intensive creel survey conducted in the river indicates there is handling of wild winter steelhead that could be at greater hooking mortality risk if bait fishing was permitted.
Online Public Comments(0 comments)
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