Jerry, I do not agree with that .I am working right now with NSIA, state rep kirk pearson of monroe,tony floor of NMTA to get mill creek to open up the sky from the wallace to 1000 ft up stream 1 of the mouth, from june 1st-july 31st.

Chad Jackson, Region 4 Biologist
Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capital Way North
Olympia, WA 98501


Dear Mr. Jackson,


The Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association is a regional organization encompassing the States of Washington, Oregon and Idaho boasting more than 300 business members. These members include Three Rivers Marine of Woodinville, The Duffle Bag of Everett, GI Joes, Fred Meyer, Pure Fishing and other large and small businesses, groups and individuals.

As you know, the run of summer Chinook to the Skykomish River is expected to be 15,700, approximately tripling last years return. This is an exciting proposition for an extremely popular fishery that generates thousands of angler trips and economic activity for a state with the 4th highest unemployment rate. Given the high numbers forecasted for this run, there is every reason to expand this fishery from the parameters of last year.

In order to protect and grow the tourism/sportfishing related jobs for our region, we suggest that the Summer Chinook sport fishery be open from June 1st until August 1st with a bag limit of two Chinook per day. To facilitate fully capturing the opportunity this strong run represents, it is our opinion that the fishery should be expanded to include the area below the Lewis Street Bridge to 1,000 feet above the mouth of the River that is currently closed to fishing and has not been included in the proposed fishery for this year.

To assist the Department, NSIA members are willing to provide the signage and placement thereof to indicate the boundaries, season, and bag limit changes for this fishery. Many sportfishing groups have also offered volunteers to help with the creel census in order to reduce the costs of expanding and increasing this fishery.

These hatchery fish are all marked, thus alleviating the concerns of accidental retention of wild stocks during a selective fishery. With the lower boundary being 1,000 feet above the mouth of the river, there will be limited risk of intercepting the Snoqualmie wild run. With the hatchery escapement needs of 750 fish, there is no reason not to increase the time, area, and bag limit for a popular fishery.

The Skykomish hatchery summer Chinook are funded through the Puget Sound Recreational Enhancement Program—a tax if you will—that anglers fought to pay in order in increase the quality of Puget Sound fisheries. The healthy returns in the Skykomish are the fruits of those labors. Please insure the sportfishing community derives the benefits of those investments. We stand ready to assist in the expansion of this fishery.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call Scott Weedman, Board Member, at (425) 415-1575 or Corey Freeman, WA Government Affairs Director at (360) 480-6646. Thank you for your time and effort working on this issue.


Sincerely,


Liz Hamilton Scott Weedman
Executive Director Board Member


Encl: NSIA Membership List

Cc: Pat Patillo
Kurt Kramer
Bob Everett
WDF&W Commission
Director Koenings
Rep. Pearson
Rep. Dunshee
Sen. Stevens
Rep. Dan Kristiansen