Proposed 2013 Lake Sammamish Rule Change - Single point Barbless Hooks Only

Dear all,

I am sending you this email to inform you of a rule change proposal for Lake Sammamish.  WDFW is heavily invested in a recovery effort for Lake Sammamish kokanee that has been ongoing for many years.  Recent creel surveys have indicated that kokanee are frequently caught as bycatch in Lake Sammamish, primarily by cutthroat trout anglers.  During this year’s regulation change process, a new rule requiring use of single point barbless hooks (from January 1- through April 30) was proposed, and is designed to maximize the survival of incidentally caught kokanee.  Although this proposed regulation is designed to protect kokanee in Lake Sammamish, it will affect the type of fishing gear that bass, trout, and perch anglers can use during the specified time period.  Although we realize that bass anglers infrequently catch kokanee, this conservation measure must be applied to all user groups. Otherwise, these regulations are very difficult to enforce, and enforcement remains a key component to the effectiveness of all regulations. We welcome your thoughts about this proposed change to the fishing regulations for Lake Sammamish, both online or in person. To comment online, please visithttp://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/comments/proposal.php?id=88 . We are also holding a public meeting to discuss all rule change proposals this Thursday, Oct 4^th, from 6-8 pm at our Mill Creek Office.  The address is 16018 Mill Creek Blvd, Mill Creek, WA 98012.

I encourage you all to participate in this process.  Your comments, both online or in person, will be viewed by the fish commission prior to their consideration of the rule change.  Please forward on to anyone not included in this email who may be interested. I primarily focused on those of you who lead a fishing organization, and those who held a tournament on Lake Sammamish during Feb-April 2012.  Thanks in advance for your participation in the public review process.

Best Regards,
Danny

Danny Garrett, Ph.D.

Lead Warmwater Fisheries Biologist - Region 4

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

16018 Mill Creek Blvd.

Mill Creek, WA 98012-1541

Phone: (425) 775-1311 Ext. 101

Email: dan.garrett@dfw.wa.gov