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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/

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Replies to This Discussion

Danny,

I'm concerned about the lack of foresight on the part of WDFW.  I have my theories, but could you explain why WDFW relies on tribes for a joint permit instead of permitting directly? 

Could you outline in any way, what type of risk management takes place at WDFW that would enable them to identify the key contracts, permits, or other barriers that could eliminate our rights overnight? 

I'm genuinely interested to know if this is incompetence, soft politics, bad negotiating, or something much more calculated at work here. 

Moreover... I cannot imagine that WDFW would double down on their own inability to get this done by writing tickets to the people paying good money for them to fail at protecting our best interests pro-actively and intelligently.  If the tribes are holding up the show....again, I'm not sure where the dog in the fight is for WDFW to write anyone a ticket beyond financial gain in very poor form. 

Don,

This is the REALITY. The tribes are not concerned with preserving the resource, they are concerned on how to screw you out of more money. They became financially wealthy after the Boldt decision and utilized this money to hire educated lawyers to gain ground. Then they built the casinos that so many enjoy donating their hard earned money at. With the casinos came influential non tribal support with political clout. They pulled off one of the oldest tricks in the book "sneak attack".

I have a simple idea. Quit supporting the tribal casinos, buying the less taxed tribal alcohol and tobacco, purchasing tribal fishing/hunting permits and guides. Lets see how long the influential non tribal supporters hang around when the money dries up.

For the record, I have no use for the tribes. I don't support them nor do I feel sorry for them. I think the whole sovereign nation thing is a joke and should not be recognized within this country. Judge Boldt should of had a permanent bullet hole tattoo on his forehead. If this makes me a racist, I'm proud of it. 



Don Hankinson said:

I need to add to my earlier statement about the canoes and dip nets. 20 years ago, or so, a buddy and I were rabbit hunting up near Mt Rainier. We were driving a logging road and had a red Ford pickup drive past us with 4 or 5 guys in the back. About 100 yards up the road we discovered 3 dead elk laying along side the road where only the hind quarters and back strap had been taken. Putting 2 and 2 together, we turned around to follow the truck when we heard several distant gun shots. We drove slowly up the road and, in the distance, saw the guys and the red truck again loading the best cuts from the other 4 elk they just shot. We got good descriptions of the guys and the truck license plate. Once they left, we looked at the dead elk and saw, like the others, only the hind quarters and back straps had been taken. The rest was left to rot. We got down off the mountain and called WSP to report the "poachers". We immediately got a call from a detective, who thanked us for the thorough information and said he would get to work. A few weeks passed when I received a call from him stating " there is nothing we can do, it a local tribe on a tribal hunt". Really? Didn't their ancestors use the bones for knives, hides for shelter and clothing and gnaw on every scrap of meat? Now we are, as taxpayers, battling over who has the right to fish? Anyone ever really look at the Puyallup River when the salmon are running? Staggered gill nets from the bottom to the surface every 50' for miles? The occasional one that is accidentally hooked by a bass fisherman in Lk Washington matters? Really?

Dana

I don't think it makes you a racist to ask that a minority group gets treated the same as everyone else in the country. 

was out on lake WA tonight, no signage of any kind at the launch and no enforcement out on the lake...just weird

I will be interested to see how willing the state will be to enforce it. Sounds like they have to put the memo out to please the people at the negotiation table... but I don't think they will be writing tickets.

#Occupy_WAWA 

Thats probably some of the worst publicity we could get as a group.  Something like the Occupy Skagit movement where the fly fishers go down to the river and cast without flies on would be much better.  Have everyone cast a bare lead weight or casting plug without hooks, no laws are broken, the point is made.  Although not sure what it will accomplish since the indians dont give a damn.  We have to remember this is a fishery set at the Federal level through NOAA with regards to ESA listed species, not a state regulation.

So because an agreement isnt made the government isnt doing its job?  Isn't their job to come to the best compromise possible?  It's not like they've been in a stalemate for months here.  Again I suspect this has something to do with WDFW trying to do their job and protect our resource and the indians not obliging.  How that is WDFW's fault is beyond me.  What needs to be protested is the sovereign nation bullshit so there is one organization applying to NOAA, the State of Washington.

.....and again - why should NOAA (Washington DC) have the right to dictate fishing regulations in Washington State? Where is that mandated in the Federal Constitution? It's not.....WE, Washingtonians have given up our State's rights to self governance. THAT IS IN THE CONSTITUTION, IT'S CALLED THE 10TH AMENDMENT!

Ryan I won't argue that we are where we are.....what I would say is that shame on us, and the generations before us that abrogated our responsibilities to Government. Furthermore, the State of Washington COULD refuse to enforce this. Look at immigration laws, sanctuary cities, legalized marijuana - the list goes on and on.....

KEEP IN MIND.....THE DIRT WORSHIPPING HEATHENS (I stole that from my Avatar) CAN KEEP RIGHT ON FISHING.

 Ryan Higgins said:

So because an agreement isnt made the government isnt doing its job?  Isn't their job to come to the best compromise possible?  It's not like they've been in a stalemate for months here.  Again I suspect this has something to do with WDFW trying to do their job and protect our resource and the indians not obliging.  How that is WDFW's fault is beyond me.  What needs to be protested is the sovereign nation bullshit so there is one organization applying to NOAA, the State of Washington.

Same reason they also dictate maximum limits and seasons for waterfowl and other migratory birds, the fish are not confined within the state, they travel interstate and to other countries.  They are not a state resource, they are a federal resource.  The state could refuse to enforce this for sure, but it would come at the cost of all the federal dollars coming into this state with regards to habitat management and hatcheries as well as most likely cause a closure on all waters anadromous ESA listed fish swim.  If NOAA closes the fishery, the Indians cannot fish, period.  Now whether or not they will obey the closure is another story as they end up being prosecuted by the tribe and not the state or the feds sadly.  We deal with this on the East side every year.  The Wenatchee, Entiat, and Methow close every year due to NOAA restrictions and only open up when NOAA opens the Steelhead fishery.  Some years that is very late, some years it never happens.  The issue with allowing water to be open is guys will claim they are fishing for "bass" while targeting Salmon as well as the impact of incidental catches.

Jon Sessler said:

.....and again - why should NOAA (Washington DC) have the right to dictate fishing regulations in Washington State? Where is that mandated in the Federal Constitution? It's not.....WE, Washingtonians have given up our State's rights to self governance. THAT IS IN THE CONSTITUTION, IT'S CALLED THE 10TH AMENDMENT!

Ryan I won't argue that we are where we are.....what I would say is that shame on us, and the generations before us that abrogated our responsibilities to Government. Furthermore, the State of Washington COULD refuse to enforce this. Look at immigration laws, sanctuary cities, legalized marijuana - the list goes on and on.....

KEEP IN MIND.....THE DIRT WORSHIPPING HEATHENS (I stole that from my Avatar) CAN KEEP RIGHT ON FISHING.

 Ryan Higgins said:

So because an agreement isnt made the government isnt doing its job?  Isn't their job to come to the best compromise possible?  It's not like they've been in a stalemate for months here.  Again I suspect this has something to do with WDFW trying to do their job and protect our resource and the indians not obliging.  How that is WDFW's fault is beyond me.  What needs to be protested is the sovereign nation bullshit so there is one organization applying to NOAA, the State of Washington.

I am going to continue to fish until I am cited. I don't believe this is going to be enforced. 

First person to get cited, will be the first person I start the gofundme campaign for. 

I just went by Washington. Looked like a couple boats trolling with rods out.

Lake Washington Sockeye are not ESA listed, Puget Sound Chinook are, hence the closure of all fishing if a season is not established for the Chinook and not the Sockeye.  Apples to Oranges.

John G said:

"The issue with allowing water to be open is guys will claim they are fishing for "bass" while targeting Salmon as well as the impact of incidental catches."

All of these same things existed on Lake WA before this. You were not allowed to catch sockeye  every year but I was still bass fishing.

Ryan Higgins said:

Same reason they also dictate maximum limits and seasons for waterfowl and other migratory birds, the fish are not confined within the state, they travel interstate and to other countries.  They are not a state resource, they are a federal resource.  The state could refuse to enforce this for sure, but it would come at the cost of all the federal dollars coming into this state with regards to habitat management and hatcheries as well as most likely cause a closure on all waters anadromous ESA listed fish swim.  If NOAA closes the fishery, the Indians cannot fish, period.  Now whether or not they will obey the closure is another story as they end up being prosecuted by the tribe and not the state or the feds sadly.  We deal with this on the East side every year.  The Wenatchee, Entiat, and Methow close every year due to NOAA restrictions and only open up when NOAA opens the Steelhead fishery.  Some years that is very late, some years it never happens.  The issue with allowing water to be open is guys will claim they are fishing for "bass" while targeting Salmon as well as the impact of incidental catches.

Jon Sessler said:

.....and again - why should NOAA (Washington DC) have the right to dictate fishing regulations in Washington State? Where is that mandated in the Federal Constitution? It's not.....WE, Washingtonians have given up our State's rights to self governance. THAT IS IN THE CONSTITUTION, IT'S CALLED THE 10TH AMENDMENT!

Ryan I won't argue that we are where we are.....what I would say is that shame on us, and the generations before us that abrogated our responsibilities to Government. Furthermore, the State of Washington COULD refuse to enforce this. Look at immigration laws, sanctuary cities, legalized marijuana - the list goes on and on.....

KEEP IN MIND.....THE DIRT WORSHIPPING HEATHENS (I stole that from my Avatar) CAN KEEP RIGHT ON FISHING.

 Ryan Higgins said:

So because an agreement isnt made the government isnt doing its job?  Isn't their job to come to the best compromise possible?  It's not like they've been in a stalemate for months here.  Again I suspect this has something to do with WDFW trying to do their job and protect our resource and the indians not obliging.  How that is WDFW's fault is beyond me.  What needs to be protested is the sovereign nation bullshit so there is one organization applying to NOAA, the State of Washington.

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