Thanks to all that replied. My apologies for not responding sooner...

My comment about C&R poachers appies to C&K too. Without proper inforcement and more WDFW ramp checks, how do we really know if someone is poaching now? The answer is, we don't. IMO, the current 'honor system' doesn't accurately reflect the number of fish being taken out of the sysytem. Does everyone punch their fish on the catch record cards? Most probably do, but certainly not all. Do some people exceed their daily limit when the fishing is really hot? Some probably do, but certainly not all. Does the WDFW take this into account when determing run-size forcasts and sport impact? Probably, but how accurate are they?
So the way I see it, C&R or C&K, the enforcement problem stays the same.

If ramp checks, or on the water checks were practically guaranteed through increased staffing, I think that the poaching would dwindle and a more accurate count of fish actually being taken would be possible. I realize that this isn't going to be possible to do everywhere in the state, but I agree that the state can still do more.

Hi Jeffhead, formerly know as salmonhead! Well, as I am the author of the NOF post I can comment on what the author was thinking.


When I wrote to NOF, I really wasn't making a distinction between hatchery and wild, because I don't think that they are getting the real message. See the last paragraph of this reply...

I totally agree that we should be taking full advantage of hatchery origin fish, but here's my questions. If we reduce the impact of harvest during the peak of the run, and in the end exceed escapement goals, is this not a good thing? Can't these stocks be used to replenish extinct runs? Do we know for sure that these excess fish won't spawn naturally in the rivers and increase the size of future runs? And how many 25 pounders do you eat in a week anyway? I know that I can live with punching 1 a week, as long as I can continue to have the bigger thrill of C&R. If you still want to keep the smaller blackmouth too, whatever. I'm looking at it from a point of view that I want to catch bigger fish, so if we let 'em grow in the winter instead of taking them home when they are 22", we can catch 'em later in the summer when they have graduated from the barely legal size to the 10-20 pound size. As for the other areas you mention that I didn't, I can only comment on the areas that I consider myself to be knowledgable of.

Why don't they get it? Take a look at the proposed season for Sekiu this year. I know it's not final, but it's probably pretty close to what they will approve. They have proposed opening that area on July 16th until 2000 Chinook, WILD or HATCHERY are taken. How long is that? 2 weeks? The problem I have with this is why not have a longer season by making it a C&R opportunity for the wild fish. You see, I think that they still want to manage with a "Harvest" mentality and THEY aren't making a distiction between wild and hatchery. To me and you, C&R on wild fish is so friggin' obvious and simple, but these guys still don't get it! So if they can't make a distinction, then at least C&R 'em all so we can fish that area longer.

P.S. Jeffhead - I've scratched a couple of small blackmouth this year in 2 tries. Nothing too spectacular though. Heading for Kelso this weekend. What about you?

[ 04-04-2001: Message edited by: seacat69 ]