Hey Kid, I want to hire you as a guide. Tow that black Thor on down here and back it into my driveway. What does this client want? I want you to paint my house . (sorry, old joke) ...

I haven't read the exact Washington laws on this matter, but it has been an issue in recent years in Oregon. The ODFW decided to legally allow fishing guides to hand off a fish they hook to a client if it's done right away and the client proceeds to play the fish. Any person in the guide's boat that limits out his tag (usually 2 adult steelhead &/or salmon) then has to put their rod down and cannot continue to fish, or play another person's hooked fish. I have no problems with these newer rules, partly because Oregon native steelhead have to be properly released unharmed anyway - as do native salmon in areas where that's needed. I do have a problem with 5 rods continued to be fished when one or more of the 5 people (4 clients plus guide in a sled) has limited their tag. (2 clients plus a guide in driftboats).

RT