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Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish to Close to All Fishing Effective May 1st

Dana, I know you're likely fishing the NMI @ Moses this weekend but we're going to need your input on this one STAT....

Unreal. 

Article Source: http://nwsportsmanmag.com/editors-blog/

WDFW Announces Salmon Impasse-related Fishery Closures

Several Puget Sound-area marine, freshwater fisheries to close May 1

OLYMPIA – Five lakes and the lower sections of most rivers that flow into Puget Sound will close to all fishing beginning Sunday, May 1, when salmon and steelhead fishing also closes in the Sound.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials said today they are closing state fisheries in waters where salmon migrate while they work to secure the federal permit required to hold salmon fisheries in Puget Sound. Typically, the state and tribes jointly obtain the federal permit for the Sound, where some fish stocks are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The current permit expires April 30.

However, many fishing opportunities remain available in and around Puget Sound. WDFW has posted a list of rivers and sections of rivers that are open to fishing on its webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/pugetsound_salmon_update. That page also has a list of Puget Sound area lakes that are closed to all fishing.

“Since we didn’t reach an agreement with treaty tribal co-managers on this year’s Puget Sound salmon fisheries, we have to close fishing in areas where we know salmon will be,” said Ron Warren, head of WDFW’s Fish Program.

For the next few months, those areas include several Puget Sound-region lakes and the lower reaches of streams where salmon smolts will travel on their way to the Sound.

Lakes that will close May 1 to all fishing include Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish (King County), Monte Cristo Lake (Snohomish County), Lake Cushman (Mason County), and Barney Lake (Skagit County).

Today’s action also applies to Puget Sound-area rivers that typically open to fishing in early June, though fishery managers will be evaluating those rivers to determine whether any can open on schedule.

All non-tribal commercial and recreational Puget Sound salmon and steelhead fisheries, including those in Marine Area 13 and year-round fishing piers around Puget Sound, will close May 1 to salmon and steelhead fishing until further notice. More detailed information about marine area closures can be found online athttps://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/

The department is working with federal authorities and doing everything possible to re-open Puget Sound marine and freshwater fisheries, Warren said.

“We regret having to close these fisheries,” Warren said. “We know this is a hardship on many communities around Puget Sound and disappoints many anglers.”

In the meantime, Warren urged anglers to consider trying new fishing waters, emphasizing that most Puget Sound area lowland lakes remain open to fishing.

Also, he said recreational fisheries in Puget Sound marine areas that are not affected by the closures include bottomfish, such as lingcod, Pacific cod and cabezon, as well as sea-run cutthroat trout and halibut. These fisheries are covered under a separate permit and are open as scheduled. Anglers should check the 2015-16 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/, for details.

Salmon fishing will continue as scheduled in the Columbia River and Washington’s ocean waters and north coastal rivers. Information on those fisheries can be found on WDFW’s webpage athttp://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/

Views: 7098

Replies to This Discussion

To: Jordan, Danny, Ron Warren, Larry Phillips and (Wa  Fish Anglers),

Re: Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish to Close to All Fishing Effective May 1st by WDFW

This is my first post to the sight, some of you may know me but I’m willing to bet the majority of you may not. I too am a local bass angler, and I’ve read through the majority of the posts and agree with the sentiment and tone regarding the outrageous position the bass angling community has to endure, due to the current permit situation.

Danny in one of your post you stated that this situation could be rectified within a few weeks if the separate permit application submitted to NOAA is approved. Is it possible that you, Jordan will keep the Wafish community updated on the outcome of this process? Likewise, if this decision is rejected by NOAA are there any other plans in place or temporary legislation that will allow the bass angling community to fish Lake Washington and Sammamish until the final application is approved?

Finally, I will conclude with this question: “what changes to the current federal permitting process should be revised, deleted, or updated to ensure this does not happen in the future?”

 

Tight Lines

Ernest

$10 says this stems from WDFW wanting to close or restrict the Coho fishery this year due to low estimated returns and the greedy tribes not wanting to oblige.

Tag,

Just got home from a long weekend on the eastside. I need to do a little research on this one before I respond. I will say that this is not a surprise, I think I may have eluded to many issues, including this one in some of my previous post.

It's going to get worse, guaranteed. Our group is still not organized nor united. We are pretty easy pickings for the groups that want abolish ALL sport fishing.

Mr. Sessler,

I can't agree more. Sad that it's just not sinking in yet.
Jon Sessler said:

This is what happens when the people allow a centralized government MORE power than they are constitutionally allowed. Show me in the constitution where the Federal government is supposed to manage fishing in Washington State.

Mark my words - the Columbia River is next. Maybe not this year, but it will happen.

All of you people voting for the Government to "do more" "give more" "control more" this is a result of your ignorance.  

The tepid response to this issue speaks volumes!

Maybe a few of us need to go get arrested or cited to raise awareness. That's what the tribes did back in the 70's. 


 
Dana Steiner said:

Mr. Sessler,

I can't agree more. Sad that it's just not sinking in yet.
Jon Sessler said:

This is what happens when the people allow a centralized government MORE power than they are constitutionally allowed. Show me in the constitution where the Federal government is supposed to manage fishing in Washington State.

Mark my words - the Columbia River is next. Maybe not this year, but it will happen.

All of you people voting for the Government to "do more" "give more" "control more" this is a result of your ignorance.  

So I see the news release stating the closure, but nothing noted in the emergency closure section of the website under Lake Washington https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules_freshwater_lake... nor on Lake Sammamish https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules_freshwater_lake...

Nothing listed in the overview here either: http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/emergency_rules.html

Also, I just heard there aren't any signs at Lake Sammamish state park launch stating the closure. I'm going to bet nothing on Lake Washington either. 


I'll be launching at lake WA (Kenmore) in a couple of hours. I will check the launch area for signage. I reviewed emergency info as well on wdfw's site, nothing referenced.
Jordan Doucet said:

So I see the news release stating the closure, but nothing noted in the emergency closure section of the website under Lake Washington https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules_freshwater_lake... nor on Lake Sammamish https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules_freshwater_lake...

Nothing listed in the overview here either: http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/emergency_rules.html

Also, I just heard there aren't any signs at Lake Sammamish state park launch stating the closure. I'm going to bet nothing on Lake Washington either. 

I feel bad for west-siders now, too....WDFW is completely incapable, and completely political.  Having no bass-limits for ALL of the Columbia River, and now this......I'm about ready to just move to Tennessee or Alabama, where the government has 1/2 a brain, and salmon and Native Americans aren't in the picture.  This is crazy-making...

I just paid an application fee for lake Sammamish for our clubs tournament in a few weeks on Thursday morning. They are refusing to reimburse us and they are stating that they were unaware of the closure. So we are out $50 for nothing.
From the state park:

"The application fee is non-refundable. And I’m just wondering, what Lake Sammamish closure are you speaking of? Sorry that I’m not aware; the only closures I know of regarding our park is the parking lot for Sunset Beach constructions, which doesn’t affect the boat launch area."

 US explaining entered here...


"I see. I just read an e-mail regarding that a few moments ago. That’s too bad! Sorry I can’t reimburse you. I hope next year works out better, or whenever your group decides to hold a tournament again"

It's not much, but here's a place to start to contact your local representatives:

https://www.votervoice.net/NMTA/campaigns/46258/respond 

The politics of this situation are unbelievable. Fortunately there are some organizations in the State working to support the health of our warm water fisheries. It might be worthwhile to look into supporting these groups as well as fighting against those opposed to our best interests. It looks as though Nixon's Marine is donating a large sum of money through the upcoming NWBASS tournament to the Central WA fish advisory Committee. cwfac.org I also know that the Washington State Pond Jumperz Bass Club has raised about $400 to donate to that organization as well. 

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