[Chris Bailey]

I was just reading the WDFW Weekender Report and read that the Naches between the Tieton and Rattlesnake Creek is C&R for trout now. I had no idea. Just thought I would pass it on. I don't know if it will make a difference, as I'm sure the signs will be few and far between and poachers will likely go unnoticed. However, this section is getting more activity every year. If you ask me, the C&R section should extend up to and maybe even include the Little Naches, Bumping, or American, as that is the section that gets the catch and fry it up for dinner pressure from the campers and cabin owners along the river. That might be a tough sell, though.

 

[Mike Etgen]

Naches River - New C&R rules

RiverFishing

I really appreciate this post. Some friends of mine are planning to camp somewhere close to the Naches next weekend and I was going to joining up with them on that Saturday evening to fish Sunday. I'll be sure to pass this on.
Many thanks!

Mike:thumb

 

[cast and blast]

That is a fabolous fishery. I wouldn't hurt my feelings to go to C&R. This is especially true up the american where even the August water temps are super cold.

 

[Mike Etgen]

Naches River - New C&R rules

RiverFishing

Isn't it sad that so many of our fisheries are protected in one way or another (limits, catch and release, selective gear, etc.) and yet ENFORCEMENT IS COMPLETELY ABSENT.
I know the state has a huge budget crisis, no matter the reason, but I've heard that the there are significant numbers of WDFW positions that are unfilled because of lack of funds.
Personally, it just kills me to see the regs being willfully violated. But I'm the first to admit I'm not going to confront someone on "their own turf" and especially out in the middle of nowhere.
I know from my membership in a local flycasters' club that there's a state program called "Eyes in the Woods" that trains sportsmen to spot and report poaching NON-CONFRONTATIONALLY. I missed the last training seminars because of a previous commitment but hope to make the fall session. It seems to be one possible solution, but what you've said really triggered me, becuase as little as I've fished in Washington, here on the east side, I've never seen any sign of enforcement personnel and it shows in the violating behavior I've seen. It makes me wonder if it's epidemic.
Sorry...this really pressed my button!:reallymad

Mike

 

[Old Man]

I forgot what I was supposed to remember.

But you can keep Eastern Brook trout. I don't know why they are not classified along with the regular trout. Because on the East Coast they are a sought after fish. If the state doesn't care about this fish then why did they plant so many of them. Just an old man asking questions.:dunno

Jim

 

[Chris Bailey]

This is certainly frustrating, especially when any violation is well out of cell-phone range and will likely go unreported. In the upper area, the closest communication line is the pay phone at Whislin' Jacks. I still frequently see bait and/or barbed treble-hooked spinners used in the upper regions, particularly in the Little Naches area or around campgrounds and cabins, so the people are already way behind in their observance of the rules. My experience in the area tells me that alot of the occassional campers have been camping up there for years, or even generations like myself, even though they only go a few times a year. They don't bother with the rules, particularly if only the kids are fishing and no lisence is required. Some probably think the area is still stocked on a regular basis, so they treat it like a put-and-take system. I think non-confrontational education is the key, as you suggested.

I think it is great that the 10 mile area between Nile and the Tieton is C&R now, but I don't think that area will benefit as much as the area above would.

 

[jackchinook]

Old Man,
as far as brookies go, the state 'doesn't care about them' because they wreak havoc upon just about native species around, they can practically spawn in a toilet and consequently become over-abundant and stunted and provide a pretty lame fishery, they are not supposed to be here and now there's concern over interbreeding with native bull trout. Sure the state made a mistake in bringing them out here. Just like all the other western states did in bringing bass and bluegill and carp etc. etc.. But now we've seen what can happen and, in my opinion, it should be open season for the little devils everywhere west of the Appalaichans! Even in c&r waters there should be an allowable take of brook trout.

 

[Mike Etgen]

Naches River - New C&R rules

RiverFishing

I've pretty much heard the same thing. My impression from reading and conversations about Oregon lakes in particular is that brookies in those lakes are like bluegill in so many places - they thrive, overbreed, and become stunted. In many places in Oregon you're practically begged to thin out the brookies.
I haven't personally heard many of the same kinds of thoughts about carp and bass. I do understand that carp can degrade the riverbanks with their feeding behaviors, but beyond that don't offer competition for food, nor predate other fish, and I recently heard from a WDFW guy at a presentation that smallmouth are suspected or confirmed predators of salmon and steelhead smolts where they share fisheries. But bass are pretty opportunistic and just as likely to feed upon other bass, bluegill, or anything that swims. I'm not guessing they target steelhead or salmon, but I'm not an expert.
Hmmm....

Mike

 

[Native]

Naches River - New C&R rules

There's no question that there's a ton of illegal fishing occuring on the Naches. But, it's always been my experience that the illegal fisherman, ie, the ones with the treble hooks or the bait, aren't much good at fishing in the first place. I assume that someone who doesn't have any idea of the rules probably doesn't get out fishing much. Since they don't know what they're doing, I also doubt that catch much too.

For example, one time last year I was fishing near Horseshoe bend when a guy and his girlfriend came down with a spin rod and a jar of eggs. The two baited their hook and threw it out into a slow-moving, relatively shallow, muddy pool of water and just let it sit there while they talked and drank. It seemed to me that they weren't intentionally breaking the law, since they weren't at all concerned that me and my buddy were close by and could see them. For sure, if they even caught a sucker it was their lucky day.

My point is that I think the vast majority of illegal fisherman on the Naches are just people who don't know any better, and because they don't fish much, they don't catch much. The most unfortunate biproduct of these people is the trash and the tangles of 20 lb line that they leave behind. The few poachers who know it's illegal and know how to catch fish are the dangerous ones. It's my opinion that this type of idiot isn't nearly as prevalent. At least that's what I like to think.