Originally Posted By: Salmo g.
Originally Posted By: Carcassman
Others here on the Board have more detailed information but a while back a group (organized) staged a fish-in on the Skagit, I believe, using no-hook flies. It was all a very public and publicized protest fishery.


I was a technical advisor to the group that organized "Occupy Skagit." WDFW was notified in advance that the "fish in" would occur on a specific day at a specific location (Rockport and nearby) as a part of the larger effort to move WDFW to action to develop a Skagit specific management plan that would pass ESA muster so that the traditional catch-and-release steelhead season could occur in Feb., Mar., and Apr. when forecasted run sizes would allow fishing. The fish in occurred with artificial lures and flies without hooks or with hooks cut off at the bend. In addition, some casting instructors have held casting lessons on the Snoqualmie and Skykomish Rivers, again giving WDFW notice of dates and locations in advance. I think this is significantly, and probably legally, different than if I just take off on my own, fishing hookless flies whenever and wherever I want with no notification to WDFW.

SG. I remember the topic of specific management plans for each river came up some time ago. Are those called Hatchery Genetic Management Plans, HGMP? How come other rivers have not had those done yet? It's been years? What could be the hold up? If I understood correctly, a completed HGMP could provide catch and release opportuniies, with hooks, on many rivers that have been closed for years? Looked up, https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/hatcheries/hgmp, and none seem to be in the works for steelhead?
_________________________
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller.
Don't let the old man in!