| Reference ID: DFW539213 | | Critical Conservation Need Submission Type: Public | Rules Category:
Puget Sound Region Freshwater | Species covered in proposed rule
• Steelhead
• Other
Other Description
Bull trout and salmon | Rule to Change:
790, North fork Nooksack river | New Rule Proposal:
Implement no bait single barbless hook rule from Mosquito lake rd. bridge to Nooksack falls | Why the change is needed:
To protect adult and juvenile Salmonids including bull trout,steelhead and salmon | Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change:
Native fish Society | Describe their support and/or concerns:
Our concerns are that for a significant portion of the year when this stretch of river is open there are numbers of all these species in the river that are harmed by barbed hooks. Given the tenuous state of these fish, we believe it would be a needee protection. | | Submitted by: JOHNSON, CHRIS — BELLINGHAM, WA Date submitted: 06/15/2012 |
Reference ID: DFW539213 Significant restrictions have been put in place in recent years to protect ESA listed species within this watershed consistent with the statewide steelhead management plan. Restricting anglers to barbless hooks and no bait during the limited time periods when bait and barbless hooks are allowed currently, will impede anglers' ability to harvest abundant hatchery salmon and hatchery steelhead produced for harvest. Further, it would limit the effectiveness to reduce the straying of hatchery fish into the wild via angling. Reasons not recommended for further consideration
BODENSTEINER, LEO November 05, 2012
BELLINGHAM, WA
Comments:
I agree that further protection of bull trout should be implemented for this stretch of river. However, the first step should be to enforce regulations against illegal harvest, particularly below the falls, if barbless, baitless regulations are to be considered. It is well recognized by those the fish in that reach that frequent removal of bull trout is occurring when fish are congregated below the dam. STOWELL, BRIAN E December 17, 2012
KALAMA, WA
Comments:
As a sport angler, I wonder why gillnets will be phased out over three to four years, yet barbless hooks will be
required immediately. I know many gillnetters and netting
is not the primary income source. I just knew if we went
with Oregon or even messed with the gillnetters, we sport anglers would pay the price. Our sport angler organizations
simply got bamboozled by a slick politician who in reality
was and is sympathetic to the "fish for all" contingent.
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