There is a mini-war brewing within WDFW and the legislature centering around funding for WDFW. Director Koenings has shot the first volley with his threat that the upcoming Sockeye season in Lake Washington this summer will not happen for sports fishers. The reason given is that there is not enough money available to fund the fish counting to allow a season. This is despite the fact that estimates put the run size at near 1 million fish..that's right ONE MILLION fish. The escapement minimum is 350,000 to allow a fishing season. Predictions are that a season of 4 or 5 weeks is possible. With current funding a 2 day season for sports is all we can expect. That scenario would mean 7 day a week tribal netting. No season for us does not mean no season for the tribes. It means they get the forgone opportunity and will net the living hell out of those fish. Just imagine the ads for WILD fresh Sockeye at Safeway!

The new legislative session starts this week and it is time for all those of you who care to write letters to the governor and to your respsective representatives in congress. Common sense would say that such a high rate or return will bring out a huge number of fishers to the lake and that it would be the biggest fishing related money maker in our state. That is exactly why the politicians target it. They go after the most popular fisheries for closure so the public will get up in arms and approve more funding. That way they can do like Governor Locke is doing and propose even more taxes for his social programs and propose even more bloating of state government while very worthwhile and profitable things go unfunded.

The time is now to write letters. Politicians believe that one letter is worth 1,000 votes. Emails and phone calls are ok but nowhere as effective as a personal letter. No form letters.
Get busy if you care.