#180118 - 01/04/03 12:48 PM
Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Three Time Spawner
Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1866
Loc: Toledo, Washington
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You tell me!
What the heck is going on in the "Willapa River" (Pacific Co.)? Can anyone please explain the reasoning why the WDFW has restricted the fishing from any floating device from Nov. 1-Mar.31 from bridge on Willsps Rd. (Camp One Bridge) to Fork Creek"? Its been closed for many years to fishing from a boat, but I have never heard the reason for doing so! The rules say that this is the only time that this restriction applies. Why?
Where is their (WDFW) logic? You can fish from the banks in that same location during that same period. You can float your boat or tube down that same location because it is "navigable waters". So why not allow a guy to fish from his float tube or drift boat?
If it is to protect "wild fish" when they are spawning, then why not close it completely? Why not apply the same "restrictions" to all rivers if this is the reason?
All this land is private, so was this rule just made to give a few special land owners some special fishing opportunity on our public waters?
This time frame is really the only time that a person has enough water to make a float down river. It's also the time when all the fishing for salmon and steelhead occurs! I am at a total lost as to why this section of water has been closed to fishing from any floating device! Do any of you "really know" why it is closed to fishing from any floating device?
Cowlitzfisherman
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Cowlitzfisherman
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#180120 - 01/04/03 03:37 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Three Time Spawner
Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1866
Loc: Toledo, Washington
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Eric
Thanks for your quick reply!
What you just told us sounds just like what I and others have suspicion. This kind of sounds like the "deal" that a landowner did on the Cowlitz when he sold a fishing easement to WDFW and then some years later the land owner locked everyone out except for a few of his "good old buddies".
If this is really true of what has happen on the Willapa, fishermen should be outraged! If they (the land owners) are now being allowed to post the land that was agreed to be left open, then things need to change and change fast. I know that the Willapa is a smaller river, but there are lots of them "smaller rivers" out there that guys are now floating on in tubes/rafts. I think that the tube/rafts are the thing of the future for fishing on small rivers that are continually being cut off to the public by a few greedy land owners, who only want to allow their buddies access to fish on.
Let's not forget, the rivers in our state are public, and the public must not allow private groups of land owners to block off every way of access to them. Crossing over a land owner's property is one thing, but preventing the public access on the water to harvest "state" hatchery fish is a whole different story (yes, the Willapa has state hatcheries on it). If fishermen do not turn this kind of fish management (and special deals) around then they probably deserve what they get!
Fishermen should be outraged if this is true. If it is true, I can thing of no better place or way then this forum to begin reversing this act.
What are the members on this board willing to do to keep your waterways open to fishing? Let's hear what you are willing to do fishermen... If anything at all!
Cowlitzfisherman
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Cowlitzfisherman
Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????
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#180121 - 01/04/03 03:41 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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River Nutrients
Registered: 10/04/01
Posts: 3640
Loc: Gold Bar
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The rivers should be for everyone, not just the lucky few with money to buy up its banks. The locals got tired of seeing boats go down, tuff. Maybe they will shut down Stevens Pass for me so I can leave my house on a Sunday and not have to deal with all the backed up traffic on Highway 2 from the skiers which I am personally sick of seeing. Of course that last sentence was just a rant but if you do not want to see people on a river in which you have bought property then you better start packing and move because the rivers are for everyone.
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#180122 - 01/04/03 06:00 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Three Time Spawner
Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1866
Loc: Toledo, Washington
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Does anyone else know of any other river like the Willapa which has such a ludicrous fishing rule applied to it, if so what river is it? It's hard to believe that WDFW would only make such a rule for just a "one single river". It will be even harder to believe that they will be able to justify keeping such a rule in this day and age! Cowlitzfisherman
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#180123 - 01/04/03 07:28 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Spawner
Registered: 11/26/01
Posts: 555
Loc: Browns Point
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the Green River in King Co. has a temporary boating restriction similar to the Willipa starting on Nov. 1st each year...it makes sense to me on such a small river, and there's plenty of bank access anyway, so no boat is really needed. also, keep in mind that you cannot fish only while "in" the boat. it is perfectly legal to float the river, you just have to get out to fish.
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#180124 - 01/04/03 07:50 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Three Time Spawner
Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1866
Loc: Toledo, Washington
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Cowlitzfisherman
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#180125 - 01/04/03 08:43 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Spawner
Registered: 11/26/01
Posts: 555
Loc: Browns Point
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i didn't say it makes sense to keep people off the water, i said it makes sense to me since the green is such a small river (anywhere from the dam to tidewater you can easily cast from the bank to the other side). you do not need a boat to fish this river. there is tons of public bank access and i also have access across private land (and i am not the only one with permission to do this).
why do i think that the regs on the green are similar to the Willipa?...
from the regs for the green... "Fishing from any floating device prohibited November 1 - February 28" (ending March 15 on the upper river)
from the regs for the willipa... "Fishing from any floating device prohibited November 1 - March 31"
i would call that similar.
i will remind everyone again...you can still float the river if you want, you just have to get out to fish.
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#180126 - 01/04/03 09:02 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Three Time Spawner
Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1866
Loc: Toledo, Washington
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OK Metalhead Mojo
Why then does it make sense for any floating-fishing closer on either the Green or the Willapa?
What is its purpose other then limiting public access to public waterways?
Cowlitzfisherman
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#180127 - 01/04/03 10:43 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Spawner
Registered: 11/26/01
Posts: 555
Loc: Browns Point
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i dont know what the underlying reason for the history behind that rule is, ive got a good idea why but it doesn't matter much to me...i don't feel like i am being denied access because of it. you can still float the river to get to your fav spots, it's not a big issue to me.
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#180128 - 01/05/03 12:17 AM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Returning Adult
Registered: 11/24/00
Posts: 381
Loc: The Terrace
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C.F. We have used the DB for transportation on some puget sound rivers for years.The river you speak of have any bars you can wade and fish ?
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#180129 - 01/05/03 03:18 AM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Repeat Spawner
Registered: 08/04/99
Posts: 1463
Loc: Olympia, WA
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CF, I don't understand the logic of your protest. Regulations similar to the one you disagree with have been in effect on small Puget Sound rivers for years. If the river is navigable, you can float hole to hole, and still have a considerable advantage over the bank angler who has to drive and walk into the holes. Where's the discrimination there? Friends of mine floated the Cedar River for years this way, and the only complaints I heard from them were about the lawbreakers they encountered who were fishing from a boat. You're well aware of the conflicts, often heated, between boaters and bankies on larger rivers. Imagine the level of river rage that would occur if you put a much greater number of driftboats, pontoon boats, and Seylor plastic rafts on a river where most of the holes are the size of a bathtub, and you can touch the opposite bank with the tip of your noodle rod. One thing you're unlikely to see, on these "transportation only" rivers and creeks, is fishing guides floating with clients. Personally, I see the regulation as an attempt by WDFW to limit conflict among user groups, and to restrict the pressure on smaller rivers' fish runs. Got a better idea?
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#180130 - 01/05/03 10:30 AM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Juvenile at Sea
Registered: 01/27/02
Posts: 235
Loc: Chehalis
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My ignorance will show with this question but if you have to get out to fish are you not trespassing the moment you touch dry land?
Jim
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#180131 - 01/05/03 11:47 AM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Three Time Spawner
Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1866
Loc: Toledo, Washington
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No!
You are allowed public access to any land below the "normal high water line" on a river bank
Cowlitzfisherman
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Cowlitzfisherman
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#180132 - 01/05/03 12:03 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Three Time Spawner
Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1866
Loc: Toledo, Washington
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Cowlitzfisherman
Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????
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#180133 - 01/05/03 12:09 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Spawner
Registered: 06/24/01
Posts: 698
Loc: Toledo Wa
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Try explaining the high water mark stuff to an irate land owner or lawman while your getting your trespass ticket. You better have a copy of the R.C.W. with you. although I doubt it would help much.You can probably count on an expensive day in court ,plus a ruined days fishing,even if you do win.
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#180134 - 01/05/03 01:26 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Three Time Spawner
Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1866
Loc: Toledo, Washington
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_________________________
Cowlitzfisherman
Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????
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#180136 - 01/05/03 06:11 PM
Re: Why does the "Willapa" have float restriction
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Returning Adult
Registered: 08/18/00
Posts: 270
Loc: (Tacoma native),San Diego WA, ...
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I would be the first to admit that my memory is, frankly, terrible!
Was there a board member who tried to cite that law (link in CFM's post) in a court case and the judge ruled that the property owner's property extended to the middle of the river?
In addition, is there a similar law re salt-water beaches? Below some line (mean low tide?) it was legal to be there w/out trespassing.
Any clarification greatly appreciated
Sincerely, Roger
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