Rule to Change: All game fish April 16-Fri.before first Sat. in june catch and release except up to 2 hatchery Steelhead may be retained. selective gear rules. Internal combtion engines.
New Rule Proposal: propose to do away with the existing selective gear rule and go back to the June 1st date that existed in prior years before it was changed.
Why the change is needed: We have had increased amounts of fish being recycled and trucked to the relese point in the last few years showing we do not have a shortage of fish. We could catch the fish earlier on bait and barbed hooks. Why pay the cost of recycling them and add undue stress on fish that are recyled up to 2 or 3 times. It would save time and money for the Game Department as well. These fish don't die, they go back to the ocean and return again. We should be fair to the fish let them spawn and let nature take it's course once again. The checker on the river has all the facts we need lets put the data to use.
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 Ron and Joe are in favor of seeing the rule changed back to the way it used to be. By deleting the selective gear rule.
Submitted by: AXTON, DONALD D — VANCOUVER, WA
Date submitted: 06/07/2012
WDFW Rule Proposal Recommendation
Not Recommended for further consideration Reference ID: DFW553784
The current rule allows for retention of hatchery summer steelhead with selective gear rules(SGR). If SGR rules are removed then this season would have to be eliminated because of potential impacts to outmigrating wild salmon, steelhead smolts, and adult wild winter steelhead. An intensive creel survey conducted in the river indicated there is handling of wild winter steelhead that could be at greater hooking mortality risk if bait fishing was permitted.
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