Let's get WDFW to work closer with us next year!


Here's an idea that's way over due in my mind! It can save WDFW a lot of money, time, and lot of confusion. Next year when WDFW gets ready to prepare to "publish" their 2003-2004 Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet, why not post a "draft" of it on this and other fishing sites, and ask us for our comments?

As it stands right now, WDFW usually always waits until the very last minute, or the "weekend" just after the "North of falcon" (NOF) meeting have ended, and then attempts to catch all the errors (and there are lots of them) in the new rule book pamphlet. So why waste limited WDFW funds for people to come in on weekends and work, when we can do it for nothing? Maybe they all volunteer their time, but I highly doubt it!

I know that the NOF meeting may effect some changes in the rules, but 90% of the "screw ups" have nothing to do with the NOF changes, if you think that I am wrong, just look at the changes that were made on the pamphlet this year at; http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/do/jul03/jul0203a.htm

It would appear that most all of these errors have nothing to do with the outcome of the NOF meetings. In this day and age, there is no excuse why WDFW could not publish a "draft copy" of the rules before they spend all that money to run the final paperback copy!

It will save WDFW time, money and a lot of headaches. I know that WDFW reads these posts, so maybe they will ask us all for our help. It's almost imposable for 6-8 pairs of eyes to see what 1000 or more pair of eyes may see. Also, fishermen will review their own pet rivers and lakes and rules changes far more thoroughly then any staff member would likely do, because they known every single detail about their area.

Some will say that I am picking on WDFW again, but that is not my intent. This is just my suggestion on how WDFW can improve how they communicate with the public. Our comments could help clear up any rules that may be ambiguously stated (wouldn't that be nice?) BEFORE the rules are printed.

In reality, it's just plain good old fashioned business operational procedures. Maybe you may have some other ideas that may also help WDFW to print a better, more understandable rule book next year. I would like to hear what they may be!

PS; I have already been invited to attend the "proofing" of the next rule pamphlet, but why not invite everyone to proof read the next set of rule on the internet?

Thanks

Cowlitzfisherman

i`d like to see them have a page on the internet that list all the lakes, rivers and saltwater area`s seperately, you would just click on what body of water you are wanting to fish and the regulations for "just" that area would pop up and you could print it out. the only reason i go get a phamplet is becasue its to big of a hassle to print out "just" what i want.

An excellent idea... I can see positive change from this!

Three cheers for CFM

I agree CF, that's a damn good idea. I will see what I can do to get this idea to the right people in WDFW

I have been thinking about this for quite some time today and I have come up with another idea to add to my original one above. We have been debating the laws about guides on this board since I have been here (about 3years).

Since fishing guides are sport fishermen and all they do is take sport fishermen fishing, wouldn't it make a lot of sense to post the fishing rules for guides just like they do for sportsmen in our fishing pamphlet?

Several times I have written to the WDFW enforcement to get clarification on fishing rules that only apply to guides when they are fishing with other sport fishers. Why not spell out the "rules" that they must follow too? Why not show all the known areas where WDFW knows that guides are required to have certain special licenses? It would not only help the guides out, it would also help the fishing public too.

Changing the laws as some have suggested is no easy task to do. But posting the laws that guides must follow would be a very simple thing to do. Then everyone would know what was required of who and where. Personally, I think it would clear up a lot of problems for the public, the guides, and for enforcement.

So what do you think?