The Online Source for Washington Fishing Information

Launch Fee rant

I guess its been a while since I've been to Sammamish. I went there today with my son to fish for a few hours this morning. I paid what I thought was the correct fee of $7.00. When I got back to my rig I noticed a piece of paper on my windshield. Apparently there is a brand new "discovery" fee of $10 more dollars you need to pay along with the $7 launch fee. I guess it doesn't matter where you launch someone's gonna want the better part of $20. I just wish the facilities reflected the amount charged. I'd gladly pay that kind of money for a first class ramp with top notch facilities but poor launch conditions, docks and restrooms. Damn I just wanted to fish for a few hours not rent out the park.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jamie on July 19, 2011 at 4:37pm

I would love to see how much of that money actually makes it to the parks. Seems like this state gets away with taxing the hell out of us and giving us nothing but more government. My local county park does have some awesome solar trash cans that compact garbage. Only $10,000 each times like 10. Your welcome hobos that sleep there. Its the least I can do.

Permalink Reply by Josh Potter on July 20, 2011 at 4:08pm

John,

It is not true that all the launches on CDA are free except for down town. There are more free launches there than most places but you have to pay at many of them. I launch at Windy Bay (south end) and I have to pay $3 more as a non resident.

Idaho and Montana are both much cheaper license fees on both hunting and fishing than Washington. I don't feel like we get a good value for what we have to pay.

John G said:

Ben said it Its too dam confusing State launch city launch year pass day pass resident fee non resident fee & now some crazy discovery pass WTH. Its this kind of crap that stopped me from salmon fishing No fishing on these months fill out a card when you catch no fishing north of BLA BLA BLA I don't want to have to consult a 50 page manual just to fish or know what I need to pay to launch a boat.

When I went to Idaho lake coeur d'alene the fishing license there with hunting was same as what I pay for just fresh water here. All the launches on lake coeur d'alene were FREE except the one in down town.

How is it we live in a city with a whos who of the stock market but never have enough money. We don't have a money problem in this state we have a spending problem.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on July 20, 2011 at 4:42pm