What are your ideas on the most effective to compel the governor to appoint recreational-friendly WDFW Commission appointments?

Do any of you know why I am asking?? Go!

Let me guess... you want to avoid having WA's commission populated with a bunch of commercial shills like Oregon's?

My jaded opinion is that if we want justice, we'll have to break out our wallets and fork out more than the other interests have been contributing to campaigns. Either that, or withhold our license revenues until we see justice start to prevail. Either one should be effective.

Elect a new Governor? One that isn't part of the two-party problem that plagues all states and our federal government?

Said it before....and I'll say it again.

Politics as usual in Washington State.

Maybe come up with some strong candidates for an upcoming position and nominate them to the Governor and concurrently push our candidates hard through our legislators.

Don't buy any fishing or hunting licenses. Money and only money talks at that level. As long as one continues to buy licenses, one is giving de facto approval that "all is well". This only works when MOST of us don't buy licenses together. Missing millions will turn heads. Missing revenue from just a few sportsman is a rounding error that's not even noticed.

I'm not buying, and I support this message.

not buying license's could send the message that interest is fading and cuts could be made within the WDFW. Not only is it money, politics and an attempt at a budget matter also. We, the end user, are the first to feel the issues even though we contribute a large portion of the dollars. No license is not going to make up for the thousands of idiots that only buy a license during Humpy season. It's a bumper year for WDFW and rest assured, they WILL take all the credit for a fish they do nothing to propagate!!!

Not buying a license is a no go for me. I don't have any other hobbies that would take up the 100+ days a year I'm on the water.
Besides that, I like to fish for species that don't get the hell netted out of them, require hatcheries or are as poorly managed by WDFW as other species.

No doubt salmon and steelhead are the gold standard in regards to species and their poor management is what pisses people off the most.
If you don't buy a license, how does the state really know the reason you didn't renew was due to salmon and steelhead management?

I know the idea was floated around about individual carch cards for specific species. I buy a freshwater license every year which gives me the right to fish for steelhead. I haven't fished for steelhead in three years after fishing for them for the past 50 years and don't plan to in the future. Yet I'm paying for opportunity to do so. I won't be renewing my Columbia River endorsement this year as I don't plan to fish the Cowlitz this year.

Maybe the a la cart system is the way to go. It would give the state a better idea of how many people are truly checking out of salmon and steelhead fishing versus just not buying a license. Over time and with declining license sales for those two specific species, you'd think they'd get the message loud and clear that people are fed up with the mismanagement of those two species. They should know it by now, but it doesn't appear they do.

I know that what I typed is a slippery slope. Nobody wants more bs when it comes to licenses, fees etc. It may cause some enforcement issues as well, but you could at least speak loudly with your pocketbook in regards to management or lack there of in terms of salmon and steelhead.

No easy solutions, just my thoughts as a WA lifer.
It's a damn shame where we are.
Flame on if you must.
SF

Well that is a very good question. With two Commissioners on the block it is a important thing so this. If you know who JT is in the Guv's office then you can address it but if you do not know who JT is then frankly you will not be successful as that indicates the lack of understanding of the behind the scenes efforts by the Governors staff. Yes it is known by many but not talked about but rather shortly I imagine it will when we loose two of the present Commissioners.

Ding-ding! we have a winner! If we see the Commission reshaped by loosing recreational interest and knowledge on the commission, our rec fisheries will have taken another Large, long term step further down the drain. We can ill-afford to loose the two commisioners who speak on the recreational interests behalf, and see those individuals replaced by commercial or tribal representatives representing their interests. I'm not alone in scratching a hole in my head on how we can influence this decision in any meaningful way.

The way I see it we stole the land from the native americans in the first place.
I feel bad about that.

Lets just give it and the resources all back.

They can have WDFW too.

Tribes don't want WDF&W as their staffs are superior in the harvest arena to be sure. Tribes slip a bit on science but then WDF&W is technically better but mired in internal politics. Yup tribes would not want them either!