Washington State closes Steelhead.

[OldBlackDog]

In Unprecedented Move, Washington State Announces Full Emergency Closure of Steelhead Fishing on Coastal Rivers

The unprecedented closure goes into effect on Tuesday, March 1, and it extends to all rivers on the coast and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

www.outdoorlife.com

 

[CRGreg]

In Unprecedented Move, Washington State Announces Full Emergency Closure of Steelhead Fishing on Coastal Rivers

The unprecedented closure goes into effect on Tuesday, March 1, and it extends to all rivers on the coast and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

www.outdoorlife.com

Sadly, I dont think BC is far from that.

CR Greg

 

[Sharphooks]

That move was absolutely what Victoria/Smithers should have done to the Skeena system last September but they got lobbied hard by commercial interests and let the guides beat up on the few fish that did return until 15 October. If the numbers come in low this year and Victoria/Smithers makes that same move again, that will be a window into the soul of how BC fishery manager’s view conservation vs. resource extraction.

Down here March is the best month ....there are some really unhappy campers—-both rec guys like me and a lot of guides who just lost the meat and potatoes of their season. If the FN chose to continue gill netting after the rec guys are shut down, that will be a window into the soul of how the FN tribes view conservation vs. resource extraction.

 

[Whitebuck]

Here we are on our way almost halfway through March and the Vedder still has barely half the brood stock completed.
Traditionally we have been are almost always done by mid Feb...one other LM flow just completed there brood when it was done by first week of Feb most years. At what point do we start to consider that maybe these wild fish are more important spawning than the hatchery runts that have returned this year. There also seems to be a complete age class of missing fish this year. This year has been mediocre to abysmal in the LM and on the island. I would even go as far to say that there is number of streams that should be closed asap to protect whatever has come back so they can spawn unharrassed.

Again like most of our problems in our fisheries nobody seems to care or put up a fight. Props to Washington state and Oregon for doing the right thing and closing it down if there isnt the return.

 

[Dave]

Great post re the Vedder Whitebuck. Only 70 or so in the Wally Hall Jr derby also. No float counts this year due to water conditions so we will have no idea of escapement.

 

[onefish]

It was a gorgeous sunny day, early march, rivers in ideal shape, steelhead paradise you say. Sadly I was bobbing around on a lake looking for trout instead.

 

[Derby]

Here we are on our way almost halfway through March and the Vedder still has barely half the brood stock completed.
Traditionally we have been are almost always done by mid Feb...one other LM flow just completed there brood when it was done by first week of Feb most years. At what point do we start to consider that maybe these wild fish are more important spawning than the hatchery runts that have returned this year. There also seems to be a complete age class of missing fish this year. This year has been mediocre to abysmal in the LM and on the island. I would even go as far to say that there is number of streams that should be closed asap to protect whatever has come back so they can spawn unharrassed.

Again like most of our problems in our fisheries nobody seems to care or put up a fight. Props to Washington state and Oregon for doing the right thing and closing it down if there isnt the return.

A very interesting presentation at the SFAB mainboard meeting from Washing F&G guys last month. The washington s/h return the lowest ever at 100,000 fish. Which is more then we have for steelhead in all of BC!! The Piniped mgt actions are now show as how many pounds has been removed The Washington Manager said of the 100,000 fish that 80 to 90 perecent are hatchery componet. Interesting

 

[Whitebuck]

Is that based upon the Columbia or the OP derby?

Almost all our LM tribs have 2-3 seals working the lower reaches of them daily.
Would be great if someone could take care of those....

 

[Derby]

Ya.. I would agree it would be a good start for sure