[Brazda]

This is on the rule change proposal:
#25. Wild Steelhead Retention Seasons
Proposal: This proposal would change the beginning date for wild steelhead retention seasons on
coastal streams from December 1 to February 16 – end dates of these fisheries would not be
affected.
Explanation: Moving the starting date of the wild steelhead retention date forward to the middle of
February is needed in order to protect the early portion of the run. Run timing is one of the important
diversity traits of wild steelhead that helps maintain their total annual abundance and distribution. In
the past, these early runs were large and known to migrate higher in the watershed during early high
flows and occupy spawning areas not often accessed by later running fish.

Smarter than before:thumb:
anybody know who brought it up?

 

[C.Jones]

Looks like some new proposals to end wild steelhead retention on the Green, Hoko, and Pysht rivers also..?

 

[Dr. Magill]

This is on the rule change proposal:
#25. Wild Steelhead Retention Seasons
Proposal: This proposal would change the beginning date for wild steelhead retention seasons on
coastal streams from December 1 to February 16 - end dates of these fisheries would not be
affected.
Explanation: Moving the starting date of the wild steelhead retention date forward to the middle of
February is needed in order to protect the early portion of the run. Run timing is one of the important
diversity traits of wild steelhead that helps maintain their total annual abundance and distribution. In
the past, these early runs were large and known to migrate higher in the watershed during early high
flows and occupy spawning areas not often accessed by later running fish.

Smarter than before:thumb:
anybody know who brought it up?

Will the closure also cover commercial harvest or just recreational?

 

[937]

Will the closure also cover commercial harvest or just recreational?

Not trying to be a smart ass here but what do you think? You only get one guess to answer your own question.

 

[Brazda]

Well,, good question and one that answer is 99% no!
Even when we close fishing on rivers early to protect the reduced run size the OTHER commercial harvesters do as they see fit not as WDFW does.

We have made some great strides in just the last few years, as on the Hoh they have agreed to fish only so many days and reduce the CERIMONIAL days to something more expectant. Unlike a few years back when they added Cerimonial days weekly and beyond the sport closure.

 

[Jonathan Stumpf]

What are the historical sport harvest numbers from that period of December 1 - February 16? Read: how many fish will this put back in the river for any given system??

 

[Brazda]

Historically the wild winter fish started showing in November but with Hatchery influence these fish have been culled off at an increased rate, the tribe fishes 5 and 6 days a week then and also the highest % of KILL anglers fish then and theres the cross breeding that has been known to be unbenificial to the wild fish. By totally protecting the wild fish then it will reduce the Sport kill only on the run timing needing it most. In reality it may only be a hundred fish on say the Bogachiel but that is a hundred more wild steelhead where they need as many as possable. Note that the tribes will still be killing them then and that may lead to less tribal fishing days later. The point is hopefully some of those early wild fish that need survival the most will be.

 

[FlyFishNeahBay]

hopefully everyone sent in their testimony before the December 1, 2009 deadline. this proposal was supported by wdfw staff so it likely to be implemented, which is a good thing.

while it only applies to sport anglers, it will add some steelhead to the spawning grounds. just for the quillayute, these are the numbers of wild steelhead harvested from november 1 - january 31
96/97 - 419
97/98 - 44
98/99 - 335
99/00 - 437
00/01 - 515
01/02 - 501
02/03 - 270

many years this number of sport harvested wild fish is close to 10% of the escapement goals. these fish often spawn higher in the systems and use smaller tributaries. when looking at the most pristine fish habitat left, much of what was put aside as national parks / wilderness areas throughout the northwest is higher in the river systems. hopefully, these few extra fish will be able to utilize some of the best habitat remaining and rebuild some remnants of the lost early runs.

while the early runs will continue to be devastated by the higher non-selective harvest pressure on hatchery stocks, letting up to 10% of the run spawn cannot be a negative.

 

[Jonathan Stumpf]

Thanks for digging up the numbers, Topwater. Yep, every little bit helps.

Now, to do something about hatchery stocks....

 

[Rich Simms]

This is on the rule change proposal:
#25. Wild Steelhead Retention Seasons
Proposal: This proposal would change the beginning date for wild steelhead retention seasons on
coastal streams from December 1 to February 16 - end dates of these fisheries would not be
affected.
Explanation: Moving the starting date of the wild steelhead retention date forward to the middle of
February is needed in order to protect the early portion of the run. Run timing is one of the important
diversity traits of wild steelhead that helps maintain their total annual abundance and distribution. In
the past, these early runs were large and known to migrate higher in the watershed during early high
flows and occupy spawning areas not often accessed by later running fish.

Smarter than before:thumb:
anybody know who brought it up?

The Wild Steelhead Coalition, wrote and submitted this proposal and testified on its behalf at the Commission hearing in Olympia.

 

[fishbadger]

Yes it would be a step in the right direction (toward no wild retention statewide) so I would support it for sure. Enforcing it might be another matter. . .certain habits seem like they die hard in some zip codes,

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