Skyrise

You asked me "why should the WDFW be trusted with anything concerning wild fisheries?" That a pretty simple one to answer! Because it's the law! Do I like that law…not really! But until its change, that's the way it will be. True, many of the reasons why are rivers are so screwed up is because of the way WDFW manages it's polices. But remember, until we change our system of having our governor appoint our WDFW director, things and polices will probably not change much.

A lot people do not even know that there are already EXISTING LAWS that mandate WDFW to develop a plan that would double "Game fish production by the year 2000". The law (RCW 77.12.710) is still active and on the books. In part it states; … "the department SHALL provide the legislature with a specific plan for legislative approval that will outline the feasibility of increasing game fish production by one hundred percent over current levels by the year 2000. The plan SHALL contain specific provisions to increase both hatchery and naturally spawning game fish to a level that will support the production goal established in this section consistent with department polices. Steelhead trout, sea run cutthroat trout, resident trout, and warm water fish production areas of the state SHALL be included in the plan." Have you ever seen "the plan"? I have not!

So the tools are already in place that requires WDFW to define the escapement needs for each river system that support runs of wild steelhead because they are a "naturally spawned game fish" and fall directly under the mandate of RCW 77.12.710. Many of us get so passionate over "wild fish" that we sometimes loose site of the bigger picture. There are ways to satisfy both point of views concerning harvest and catch and release (CNR). I will give you one example of how that has already been successfully carried out. In 1994 WDFW participated in a joint reintroduction program in the upper Cowlitz River. "Wild" genetic stocks of late-winter Cowlitz steelhead were used for the reintroduction.

The Sport fishing Guides of Washington fought and protested the plan and made a big issue that only 3 wild fish had returned from the 1997 plant of 75,000 smolts. It didn't matter or make any different to them the fact that the entire Cowlitz River had also experience one of its worse returns ever of winter steelhead. Originally, WDFW planted 400,000 steelhead fry into the upper Cowlitz that came from what WDFW reported was a late "genetic stock" of the original "wild Cowlitz steelhead". Most all of them never survived because the trapping faculties at Cowlitz Falls Dam never came on line until late 1996, and to top it off, that was the year of the "Big floods" on the Cowlitz.

When word got out about the Cowlitz Falls Reintroduction Plan, the Sport Fishing Guides of Washington were outraged because they knew that these fish, if successful, would put new limitations and restrictions on what they could harvest. Like it or not, that was the way it happened!

Because of the massive amount of public pressure, sport fishing groups like Friends of the Cowlitz helped the WDFW developed a plan that would allow some limited sport fishing on these "wild genetic stocks" of Cowlitz late-winter run steelhead. The 5 year plan called for rearing and clipping the right petrol fin of 75,000 late-winter genetic Cowlitz steelhead and holding them in rearing pens in the Cowlitz Falls reservoir for imprinting and release into the lower Cowlitz River below the Barrier Dam. Needless to say 1995 and 1996 were some of the biggest flood events to ever occur on the Cowlitz. All 75,000 smolts, and countless numbers of fry, were dumped into Riffle Lake for a one way ticket to doomsday. From that time on (1997-1998) the total planned numbers of fry and smolts released for up-river sport harvest and reintroduction dropped considerably. Finally, in 1999 sport fishermen got there first returned fin clipped fish back for the upper river fishery. I know of numerous others fish that were taken by fishermen just below the Cowlitz Barrier Dam and were never reported.

Both last year and this year, numerous right fin clipped steelhead were harvested at the barrier dam and below. Even with all the poaching going on, and the hook and releasing in the lower river, the numbers of unmarked wild fished has increased dramatically. In 1998, only 3 late-winter unmarked (up-river) genetic stock of steelhead returned to the separator at the Barrier Dam. In 1999, 122 late-winter unmarked (up-river) genetic stocks of steelhead returned to the separator at the Barrier. In 2000, 388 late-winter unmarked (up-river) genetic stock of steelhead returned to the separator at the Barrier Dam after going through a massive sport fishery below. And now in 2001, we have over 692 up-river unmarked steelhead returning to the separator at the Barrier Dam. These numbers do not even include the fish that the hatchery has taken out for there own late-winter brood stock programs.

Now, that is how you can have both a CNR and harvest at the same time, and yet you can keep building up the "wild stock" runs while you are also having a harvest. Its working on the Cowlitz and it can work on other river systems too! It just takes a lot of hard work and commitment, but it shows you that 2 different points of views can coexist. I and others have been working on this for the last 10 years and it's just now starting to come together. That is why I think it's time to find out what the escapements needs are for all rivers systems and start now to develop a plan similar that on the Cowlitz. Catch and Release is great, and a lot of fishermen think harvest is just as great.

It's kind of ironic that we can all talk about the many different ways to catch fish on this BB, but yet we just can't seem too able to talk about any new inventive ways that both CNR and harvest can work and coexist together. Or can we? A lot more needs to be said about this issue without anyone taking personal offense to another persons opposing view. I for one want to hear and see the science that says CNR and harvest can't work together. Some of our best creative fish-knowledgeable minds read and post on this BB, so why don't they suggest some new ideas?

One thing that I don't want to do in this posing is to get into the Indian thing! There is lots of other posting to bring that issue up in. I just want to stay focused on how we can have a CNR and Harvest fishery both at the same time.

Cowlitzfisherman

Lots of people enjoy shooting ducks, while other only enjoy shooting clay pigeons. Some like meat and other just like to shoot. Is one side more right then the other?

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????


[ 08-17-2001: Message edited by: cowlitzfisherman ]