Rules Category: Eastern Washington and Columbia Region Freshwater
Species covered in proposed rule • Other
Other Description Spring Chinook
Rule to Change: Bonneville Pool closed to boat fishing for Spring Chinook.
New Rule Proposal: Open the entire pool to boat fishing if the run supports it. There is nothing preventing the Department from doing so. We dont care if it is not popular with the tribes and the notion of it being to hard to monitor is absurd.
Why the change is needed: The sport fisher in the Bonneville Pool is jammed into the Wind an Drano like sardines.Drano is a defacto Indian fishery. They take most of the fish and then turn to the hatchery for anything they missed (ceremonial of course)They did not even give the Department the courtesy of notifying them on the platforms.Now we get to watch them race around Drano daily and "mock us" Its time to reconsider the sportfisher. The Department is grossly under estimating how unhappy we are. We are left with few options and hoping for fairness. I guess we could blast away on the net and the periodicals or organize a statewide boycott if forced to do so. As a person with some business acumen I know how devastating that could be no matter how technically successful it was. Do the right thing for a change. Step up and dont be afraid. It might prove to be the best course of action.
Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change: John Weinheimer ( Good man doing a tough job)
Describe their support and/or concerns:
No input given
Submitted by: MALELLA, ANTHONY — WHITE SALMON, WA
Date submitted: 06/13/2012
WDFW Rule Proposal Recommendation
Not Recommended for further consideration Reference ID: DFW446883
We will pass this proposal onto our salmon managers for their consideration during the Columbia River Compact Rule Making Process.
Online Public Comments(1 comments)
EIDS, DAVID November 21, 2012 WALLA WALLA, WA Comments: I agree that it would be nice to open the Bonneville Pool. However, I would be concerned with impacts to fisheries upstream such as the Snake River, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Icicle Rivers. I would suggest consideration such as placing fishing bouys outside the main Drano Lake similar to the Wind River to provide a little more opportunity to Drano boat fishermen.
