Fishing Rule Change
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

February 15, 2006



Skykomish River closes to fishing


Action: The Skykomish River will close to all fishing March 1, 2006. The closure effects the spring (March and April) catch-and-release season.



Effective date: March 1 through May 31, 2006.



Species affected: Steelhead and all other game fish.



Location: Skykomish River from its mouth (near the Highway 522 Bridge) to the mouth of the Sultan River.



Reason for action: The forecast for Snohomish River system wild winter steelhead returning this winter (2005/2006) is 2,322, which is approximately 36 percent of the basin’s wild winter steelhead spawning escapement goal of 6,500. Due to the low run-size forecast this year, every effort is being taken to maximize the escapement of wild steelhead. The closure of the catch-and-release fishery will prevent incidental hooking mortality and disturbance of spawning fish.



Additional Information: This area will reopen to fishing June 1, 2006.



Information contact: Chad Jackson, District Fish Biologist, (425) 775-1311, ext. 113.



Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license. Check the current WDFW “Fishing in Washington” rules pamphlet or the Fishing section of the WDFW webpage at wdfw.wa.gov for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing regulations are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500; press 2 for recreational rules; call the Shellfish Rule Change hotline, (360) 796-3215, or toll free 1 (866) 880-5431.

Go figure!

Da!

I'm surprised they even bother to still add that season to the regs. What's it been now? 10 years??? And we don't seem to be getting any closer to seeing it open again

I can't believe it either SKYGUY.....this comes as a total shock! As much as I used to love March/April fishing on the N. Fork Stilly and the Sky, I have finally come to grips with the closures - they need to be closed.

Ike

Brooder, I'm glad they do it this way with a Fishing Rule Change rather than just wiping it from the regs. This way if the run does recover we might be able to fish in March/April again. If they remove it from the regs totally (end the season Feb. 28) I doubt it would ever return, even if the escapement went over 6,500.

Glad to see you got into some fish last weekend.

Ike

Thanks Ike! Been a tough winter for me. Looks like you've been doing fine though

Your right that it's best this way, I'm just a bit perplexed that the run hasn't returned without any fishing pressure. Kind of puts a hole in the leave it alone and the runs will return theory I really, really miss that fishery.

On the positive side though OP sure is nice that time of year and it's givin me a chance to learn those rivers. I'd much prefer a choice though.

I was talking to Mike at Ted's the other day and he thinks they're fudging the Skagit #'s to keep it open for the c&r season (just like they used to do on the Sky and Stilly). If that's the case then that's unfortunate as we've learned there's a threshold that the Nates don't easily return from.

I hear ya Ike! Better to have it taken away at the end of the season rather then to never have the oppurtunity again.

I really find it hard to believe that we won't have a catch and release season in the near future. I think we will see some major restrictions like no sleds on the river and no fishing from a boat(drifter or raft as transportation only).

The bottom line is that the resource needs this to survive let alone thrive. If having a shorter season is going to help, so much the better. Besides, I got crap around that house I gotta do.

Ikiss has it right. Emergency closures of existing regulations are the way to go. Dropping a regulation is not good as it becomes very difficult to get it back in the future.

Ocean conditions and other unknown variables are obviously keeping numbers down. The CNR thing on the Stilly and Sky was awsome when it was first implemented and now has gone to hell. The Skagit is stil open but not as good as it should be.

In 10 years if the runs come back and they open it, the rivers will be an absolute zoo and something will have to be done to minimize traffic and harrassment of spawning fish, because pressure on a new opened puget sound stream would be unreal.

Glad i fished the Stilly and the Sky when i did

I guess the Three Rivers Trailer Park just prime real estate...

Just great...

I finally get the nuts to post here and not only do I say something stupid, but fail to compose a proper sentence.

I tried to say that the 3R Trailer Park sits just south of the 522, so technically would be legal.

But of course the resource protection comes first, as you all have aptly stated. I couldn't agree more.

Being a noobie, I look forward to you all cursing and flaming me into submission.

And FYI, I appreciate all the info I've been able to glean from you all.

Brooder, I agree with Mike.....I call it throwing the dog a bone. I think last year the escapement goal for the Skagit/Sauk was 6,100 fish (gimmee a break!) and the "expected return" (from the forecasting experts) was 6,200 fish, so therefore we (all Puget Sound anglers) were allowed to fish on 'em through April.

Ike

And before anyone asks, the Skykomish above the Sultan is always scheduled to close at the end of February. That's why the emergency change only mentions from the mouth to the Sultan.

I agree with bankwalker, there is a lot more boat traffic then there was back when it was open. It would be nice thought to fish again during the prime time. I have noticed more fish each of the last few years for me in Feb. though. Maybe this is working, or I am becoming a better fisherman. Although, last year on the Skagit CnR, I think we caught a few less fish then the previous season, but I did notice more boat traffic.

I don't think they are "fudging" the Skagit numbers at all. The return last year was pretty strong, and this year is doing just fine if you know where to catch them. I've heard plunkers down in the lower river (somewhere below Sedro Wooley) are are having good days.

I have yet to see any NA nets in the river this year. Let's hope the tribes decide to leave the nates alone!

The problem is that they close the river below the Dalles Bridge on March 15, and with the Skagit/Stilly closures everyone is stuffed into about 16 miles of river..and the upper fish get hammered.

There are an awful lot of fish that spawn below the Dalles brige, and those fish are un-bothered after 3/15.

My two cents worth...

Mike

I`ve heard that this will be the last year for the closure to be in the regs. It will be removed from the 2006-2007 regs.And it will now take a four year study to determine if the numbers are high enough to allow a sustained fishery. With the first possible fishery around 2012-2015. Past history shows us that once they close a fishery we rarely get it back.

I heard a rumor that the Sky C&R season is going to be excluded altogether next time around. Might be tough to get it back even if runs rebound.

Chad Jackson, the regional WDFW biologist, told some of us that he would like to see several seasons (3, 4...?) with runs returning at or above 80% of escapement before a C&R season would be considered so we still have a long ways to go. The 2004 escapement was an improvement over previous years. I am not sure what the escapement was for 2005.

I wonder, if there was a separate escapement for each system, Skykomish, Snoqualmie and Snohomish, if the Skykomish by itself would have a healthy enough run to support a C&R season?

Another thing I have been thinking about is how many brats are actually getting caught in February? Except for Reiter and the Wallace, all the fish I've been hearing about in February are nates but a lot of people are still running bait diver/shrimp combos. Pretty tough presentation on a fish you have to release. Would you guys support a change to selective gear for February in the Snohomish system to protect wild fish?

Just a thought
Beezer

And a damn good one too! I don't fish that system much unless I'm with someone who knows it, but it seems quite reasonable that folks would agree to to lose the bait/scent and barbed hooks to achieve a more harmonious outcome with the fish.

Mike

Absolutely and no question. These aggressive wild fish very willingly take artificials and they are unquestionably easier on the fish.

-t

I would be all for it Beez. Very good idea.