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I know the future of this thread will involve bead bashing, bobber bashing, and guide bashing, but I'm hoping that we can sprinkle in some ideas on what a C&R season might include, prohibit, etc.
The "no guides" was a bit tongue in cheek but because WDFW does not mange fishing guides as far as days, location, or numbers there really is no way to control the pressure unless you use something fairly restrictive. Boats were allowed before; you just couldn't fish from them under power eliminating the side drifters from fishing effectively although they side drifted for years using oars (before kickers); it was tradition. But if you put everybody on the bank and used boats just for access, that would help minimize the number of guides and anglers as a whole.Selective gear! No boats would be interesting, but would limit access and I'm not sure I would want that. No guides doesn't seem fair to me, but limiting the number of guides is a good idea to me...
I understand the "no guides" reference.. I think limiting the number of guides or setting up some sort of outfitter rules in WA is the real answer.. at the very least, having guides only guide in one area and not be able to move where ever the hell they want in the state. I know that would be hard since WA fishing is really about knowing when and where to fish, particularly on the west side and specifically for salmon and steelhead. Just look how crazy it gets on the OP, Cowlitz, Columbia, Methow, Klick, etc. when the fish are in... Anyway, let's get the river open for C&R with selective gear rules and then worry about the rest... or just let people with "Z's" in there name fish anywhere they want, whenever they want too!The "no guides" was a bit tongue in cheek but because WDFW does not mange fishing guides as far as days, location, or numbers there really is no way to control the pressure unless you use something fairly restrictive. Boats were allowed before; you just couldn't fish from them under power eliminating the side drifters from fishing effectively although they side drifted for years using oars (before kickers); it was tradition. But if you put everybody on the bank and used boats just for access, that would help minimize the number of guides and anglers as a whole.
And yet you still find a way to get online. A phone app would just make it possible to access a web program from the field. You could still report your encounters from home on your computer...or, heaven forbid, via the US Postal Service!there are still some of us old farts that still use dated flip phones!
Does this mean that There is a way that the USFS can limit the number of days a permitted guide can access the river with clients?First because the Skagit/Sauk are a wild and scenic rivers the fishing guides are required to get a permit from the USFS. The NOAA has concern about guide impacts they have a tool to limit the guide effort. Looking in that direction maybe more productive than "muddling" the Skagit/Sauk regulation development discussion with statewide guide issues.
^ This seems like the most fair and obvious answer. No one should be fishing the Sauk from a boat, especially above Darrington.No fishing from a boat on the Sauk, no fishing under power on the skagit. Buy a skagit river endorsement to help pay for the creel and enforcement, create an app to log your hours and fish handled and let's see where we are at after a year or two of good data.