Rule to Change: Statewide Freshwater Rules > Tackle > “Hook and line angling only. Barbed or barbless hooks may be used, and a hook may be single-point, double, or treble, but not more than one line with up to three hooks per angler may be used.”
New Rule Proposal: Statewide Freshwater Rules > Tackle > “Hook and line angling only. Only barbless hooks may be used, and a hook may be single-point or double point but not more than one line with up to two hooks per angler may be used.”
Why the change is needed: The barbless hooks only rule has been adopted as a conservation effort in many areas including many OR rivers, parts of CA and ID, and Canada including all of British Columbia. Hunt (1970) found that fishing seasons and daily bag limits, when used by themselves, are not effective management tools, because they do not apply to each fish that is captured. Hooten (1987) found catch and release mortality of adult winter steelhead to be 2.5 times greater when using barbed hooks compared to barbless hooks. The use of barbless hooks reduces handling time and stress on hooked fish and adds to survival after release (Wydoski 1977). The extremely valuable juvenile steelhead, rearing for 1-3 years in freshwater, are often regularly exposed to mortality in fisheries targeting trout and adult salmon and steelhead. Compared with using barbless hooks, using barbed hooks has been proven to increase tissue damage, handling time, exposure to air, and can significantly reduce smolt numbers and adult returns. Compelling evidence shows that catch and release mortality of juvenile and adult salmon and steelhead can be greatly reduced by using barbless hooks.
Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change: The Wild Fish Conservancy - Trent Donohue and Nick Gayeski
Native Fish Society - Mike Moody
American Rivers - David Moryc, Senior Director River Protection Program
Bill McMillan, Biologist and Outdoor writer
John McMillan, Fish Research Scientist
Wild Salmon Center - Devona Ensmenger
Conservation Angler - Pete Soverel
Will Atlas, Steelhead Conservation Committee – Federation of Fly Fishers
Doug Schaad, Conservation Committee - Washington Fly Fishing Club
Dave Steinbaugh, Waters West
Dave McCoy, Emerald Water Anglers
Bill Robinson, Fish Advocate and Chair of the WDFW SCPAG
Mike Gross, WDFW Fishery Biologist
Describe their support and/or concerns:
Discussed in Detail with Mike Gross of the WDFW. This Rule proposal is supported by all others listed.
Submitted by: LUKE KELLY (CONTACT), WILD STEELHEAD COALITION — KIRKLAND, WA
Date submitted: 06/14/2012
WDFW Rule Proposal Recommendation
Not Recommended for further consideration Reference ID: DFW858808
Adopting a broad regulation such as this can unnecessarily limit fishing opportunity. Further, this regulation is unnecessary in southeast Washington, where most trout streams are already selective gear rules and all steelhead fishing in this section of the state requires barbless hooks.
Online Public Comments(0 comments)
No online public comments submitted for this proposal.
