I was just checking my mail. Noticed the new pamphlet is available online.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/

So it says kings are open right now East and west of the Tatoosh Line in area 4. Can we fish?

`and it says the Puyallup opens on the 1st like always...

did they print this 4 years ago and just upload it, or is this a joke?

The emergency rules closing salmon are still in effect so it really doesn't matter what gets put in print. I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have internet access and tries to fish.

Thanks.


Now Prepare for corrections, emergency rules, and miscellaneous tomfoolery.

after all the horse crap we have been fed the last couple months you would have thought they would have got it right the first time....

if there is going to be corrections, emergency closures, ect, the WDFW just bit off a huge chunk to chew, hope they have the money to fund such an overhaul, gonna take a while....

Cool. No more wild steelhead retention.

you have to keep all hatchery steelhead no c&r .. guess they want u to keep boots..

see thats what im talking about, they remembered to put that in there, why did they screw everything else up?

or did they?

Oh good I can fish for perch again.

+1. Yup - my place looks great!

Area 4 is part of the ocean regulations... Tatoosh all the way to north-south line at mouth of Sekiu River. East of that line, follow PS regulations for area 5, etc.

The rules in the new pamphlet take effect July 1. Unless changed by e-regs. They change NOTHING until then.

Area 4 is broke into 2 areas at the Bonilla/Tatoosh line.

Why didn't the regs come out on time? Because of the NOF "process"? Seems that if they're just handing out last years copies with a different cover they could have done so sooner.

Good thing they left us with lings. My lawn looks like dogsh!t.

lol

ON TIME in now July 1, with the regs in force July 1 to June 30. Made that change a couple years ago.

They want to cycle us off the water faster. Lessen the impact on the wild fishes of concern.

Back in the old days, Game Department rules were that the limit (trout, steelhead) was the number you could catch. C&R beyond the set limit was a violation.

This actually meant that if you were fishing steelhead in the spring you had to both punch the fish and count it to the 2 fish limit even if it was a kelt. Had many conversations with wardens about this and how the handled it in the field. The bios tried to get this changed but leadership opposed it; gotta cycle more folks through.

This would not be a thing if the Feds, US/Canada Treaty, allowed more fishes to home waters?

I was just getting used to the new (now old) layout of separating PS rivers from coastal and now they've put them all back together...

To the person who said the Puyallup is open on the 1st, not sure where he is seeing that, unless the pamphlet I just downloaded is different than what was first posted.

Surprised to find the new printed regs at Sportco today.

What's WDFW gonna do? There's more to the state than (gasp) Puget Sound and the regs go into effect 7/1.

Should they print, say, separate pamphlets for the Columbia/eastside, coast, and PS?

If we get an online catch reporting system, it will need to have information (catch codes, etc.) for each marine area/river in its database. Lots of other, useful information like, say, current regulations for each marine area/river, could also easily be maintained there without breaking the bank. Heck, they could even incorporate hunting regs and reporting.

Picture an app that starts off with a question like, "What fishing/hunting activity are you doing today?" The answer you provide prompts the next question, which in the event you chose fishing would be "Where are you fishing today?" The user looks up his/her fishing destination, probably using a search interface, then selects it. The page that follows lists whether or not the water you selected is open, the current season parameters, what it's open for, what the limits are, and any special rules/gear restrictions. Instead of fumbling through the entire haystack, you use a few quick clicks to go straight to the needle.

The same fuddy duddies that don't want to use an electronic catch reporting system won't like it (unless they try it), but wouldn't the vast majority of today's angling population get on board with something like this?

Sounds like a nice system, if you want to buy all the electronics to go along with it. It would also require WDFW to keep it up to the minute.

I have tried to use their current where to go fishing for what and it sucks. Very generalized.

There you go, name calling!!

I, for one (somewhat fuddy duddy) older guy, can handle online reporting using my at home computer (although I know that the current crab reporting system could be made more user friendly) but I do not own a "smart" phone nor do I want to go there either voluntarily or by mandate.

Same here, Larry. Plus, there is not universal service/100% coverage. This comes into play when I decide to try a different place.

It would take an app developer two seconds to design an app for strictly catch record cards.

1. Species select
2. Wild/hatchery
3. Catch area code.
4. Enter.

(when you first download the app you would need to enter your "wild ID")

Done. Real time updates with no fluff. It would be that easy.

But, knowing our state simple and effective wouldn't fly. It would probably have to have a safe place feature so people living in the "jungle" could receive food stamps, while shooting heroin on an over priced unnecessary bike lane; and it would have to built by something that breaks down every 5 minutes.

Our state government sucks big.

Sorry about the fuddy duddy remark, Larry. Admittedly, in most matters, I'm a fuddy duddy myself, so I don't consider that term derogatory, but rather descriptive of someone who generally resists change. I think most of us, no matter our age, are at least somewhat averse to change, especially before we're convinced change is necessary. No shame in that.

Sure, there are valid arguments against making online reporting the only option available. Perhaps a pilot program could be used to identify the real, actual issues that would need to be addressed in order to make it viable as the only option. Meanwhile, those not participating in the pilot could continue to use paper.

Carcassman: I'm not sure what electronics you're referring to, but I don't think it's a big deal for WDFW or anglers; we've all got personal computers at least, and I bet at least 2/3 of us have a tablet or smart phone. Developing the software would cost money, but so does keeping people on staff to enter and compile catch data as it arrives through the mail. Software like what I am describing would pay for itself in saved printing costs alone within a few years.

As regards Internet access, while that would certainly be necessary to submit data to WDFW's database, the beauty of an app is that it can be used offline, then upload data when a connection is established. If the app syncs with the database while connected, the data stored offline (catch codes, regs, etc.) will be kept current, if not in real time.

Not to mention, It would also have to be designed by the lowest bidder...

For what it's worth, I just called WDFW and he said Noaa should have a stamp of approval by June 24

Okay, my feelings were only hurt a little bit (not really). One of my friends has suggested that I live in a techno tarpit. Oh well.

I generally carry a flip phone when out on the boat because my better 2/3 has asked me to do that - solely for her benefit you understand. There are just too many negatives for me to support immediate online catch record card requirements (that is, in lieu of paper).

Besides the use of a smart phone name one negative. There are water proof cases. So ruining your phone in the rain is out. So the negatives of digital reporting is? I don't think it should be mandatory (yet), I think any logical person can see how making it mandatory would have to many issues "I left my phone at home officer" wouldn't fly the same as "I left my license at home. But if you had both options, a CRC and an app makes much more sense.

The more people who use online immediate reporting the better in season adjustment management could make, increasing or decreasing catch limits.

Just have both.

Offering digital and paper initially would probably be necessary, but in order to realize the management benefits associated with electronic reporting, we'd have to make a full switch, in fairly short order. Making management decisions based on only a portion of the eventual dataset would be ill-advised at best. If everyone isn't willing to at least use a home computer to get their catch data uploaded periodically, the data won't be usable for in-season management purposes. Of course, the app I'm proposing would still be very useful to anglers who want to check regs before heading out, for example.

As someone who works in software development and has seen A LOT of ill-advised software projects, I think this is about as strong as a case for technological solutions gets. Regardless of the implementation challenges, a well-designed app could save WDFW a ton of money, on a ton of administrative activities, and it could give license holders instant access to WDFW resources and services. We've discussed regulations (how about email alerts about new, emergency rule changes, while we're at it?). We've talked about catch reporting. How about renewing your license with the app? Email alerts about upcoming public meetings or forums to which an angler subscribes?

How the negatives could outweigh the positives is a total mystery to me. Besides "It requires me to change my habits," what negatives do we see? I really want to know....

Negatives......pen and pencil generation, don't want to change....

Same foot dragging today as when many of the vocal staff at Aberdeen High School fought the "new machine that was just a passing fad", the personal computer.

I hear/see the same kinds of arguments, that I did in the 80's. Didn't understand computers, didn't want to change, didn't want to have to learn a "new fad", too costly, didn't see the need, etc.

I was in the business department so computers were a natural, out went the typewriters, in came rooms full of computers....all networked together...sure we had problems but the long range benefits were great.

Bring on any new apps. that would make getting information quicker!!!!!

Well, there is that cost factor. If I buy a 5 year license will they provide a new phone with all apps loaded?

I agree Shad. I just don't think it needs to even be that complicated. Like I said, a simple 3/4 step app would work for reporting (at least to get the ball rolling). We can show proof of insurance with our smart phones to a police officer, why can't we just have our proof of license, catch card and rule book all in our phones. So I see your point.

I think Drifter has it right. I don't give it long until phone companies only make "smart" phones. I had teachers in high school who refused to let us type out our papers. They thought that it would teach us more about the real world and business...how wrong they were. Im only 25. That wasn't that long ago.

One of my teachers said he had a computer in his room for 10 years without even turning it on. He did all of his research with books, and did all of his grading by hand. He was the only teacher to turn in his attendance by hand.

My point is, technology usually wins. I remember when I got my first iPhone, my dad said its a passing fad, he's had a bunch of smart phones since, and loves them.

Its simple, if insurance companies can figure out how to make a useful app, you would think a state could do something half as good. Maybe not this state.

Cost wouldn't be a factor. The build and maintenance of the system would be covered by the advertising - just like the print version.

No advertising on licenses or CRCs - currently. Are you suggesting that an app to buy a license or to record a retained crab would have me pummeled with more advertising? Oh, I'm really on board with that idea!

No smart phone or tablet required (unless you want to take them afield). A home PC with an Internet connection, which I have good reason to believe everyone reading this forum possesses, would be the minimum requirement.

The rule while fishing would remain the same; you must record your catch immediately, whether it's on a mobile device or an optional paper CRC, with an understanding that you will need to input your trip data next time you are connected.

this would work for me. bob r

Just think...you won't have to walk to the mail box to get your junk mail!

Oh, if it only worked that way......

If a fishing-related advertisement on the page is the best con left, I'd say my argument's looking like a winner.

Don't know about the rest of you, but I've accepted that we'll never escape unsolicited marketing (as long as we're still Capitalists). If I've gotta get spammed, give me web ads over phone calls and TV commercials ANY DAY.

As if we have a choice.........it just keeps coming!!

The advertising would be in the regulations portion of the app just as they are in the paper version.