Are you buying a 2017/18 license?

Why?

Why not?

I will not be buying a license.

Tomorrow for the 2nd year in a row I will be turning in a catch card with not a single salmon punched on it. And this is also the 2nd year in a row I didn't make a single cast for either a salmon or a steelhead.

Saturday I drove out to Banks lake to find it frozen so I continued on to Burke lake and caught a quick limit of trout. Although I love catching and eating trout they just are not worth my time and money. As I sat soaking a nugget I got to wondering if this was the last day I'd ever fish in the state of Washington . Until I can buy just a lake license for cheap I will not be buying another license.

Fishing is my first love and is how I met most of my friends so this is a very sad day for me indeed!

The big test of my resolve will be when the alpine lakes melt out sometime in late July and I get hungry for a trout. Will I be able to leave my trout rod at home? We will see but till then...............

.......fuckem!!!

I will be buying an annual BC freshwater license and steelhead stamp again this year. If they ever open up the C&R seasons on the S'rivers again maybe they will get me to buy a license. I haven't even been out after searuns in the last 2 years because of all the river closures. Living less than 5 minutes from the Stilly the minimal amount of searun fishing I used to do was enough to keep me buying the license but now I can't even rely on that. So yeah, F'em!

I will. But only because my drift boat will become a trout fishing party barge for friends and family. Regardless of the politics, most of my best days have included a body of water. Fish or no fish, i'm not ready to let go of that.

I have plans for Wyoming. For WA, if I can find some interesting places (to me and my preferences aren't mainstream) then I'll buy one here. If not, I know we're spending more time in CA, where I have some spots staked out, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Australia, Yellowstone, and maybe AK so the opportunities are out there.

Probably will buy deer and maybe waterfowl if I am in the state in Sept and Oct. The deer is mostly for the weekend with some great friends (the landowners).

If there was a cheap C&R freshwater license I am sure I'd get one of those.

I'll be buying one and likely always will.
I haven't fished for steelhead in three years and don't see it happening again soon, but I probably fish more now then I ever have.
The species I fish for have changed, but some that are pretty cool and fun to target.

Though fishing isn't what it used to be, it is still a release valve and keeps me on an even keel. You'd probably be reading my obit soon if I didn't fish.

Being on the beach yesterday morning at 6:00 with just the eagles keeping me company was a pretty good feeling. I fished four other beaches and didn't see another soul fishing. Fishing was pretty good as well.

Salmon and steelhead are certainly the gold standard. If they are the only species a person likes to fish for, I can easily see why and can't blame them for not buying a license.
As hard as they try, WDFW hasn't broken me yet.
SF

Maybe not. Bought one last year to crab a little, one evening salmon fishing, and one day winter steelhead fishing.

Going to buy my Oregon out of state license online next month.

No. This will be the 2nd year in a row of no WA license. There are alot of fishing opportunities that don't revolve around salmon and steelhead, but i feel like overall management in WA is a joke, therefore I will continue to buy licenses in the surrounding states.

It's funny how WA best anadruomous fishery(Columbia) is centered around catching hatchery fish that were released by neighboring states.

Look on the bright side.....it's a humpy year

you Bet!

While I don't fish steelhead much any more and the salmon fishing has been in decline still find plenty of opportunities for salmon , kokanee, various trout, shellfish, and warm water species that I typically spend approximately 100 days a year fishing.

Even better I turned 70 today so when I buy my new license tomorrow it will cost at least $55 less!

curt

Welcome to the 70s! I hit that in November so have already enjoyed purchasing my 2017 license at the lower cost. Sure felt good! Now, if I can only find some salt water salmon opportunities this year in P.S. and make more of an effort on ling and coonstripe shrimp in Possession Sound.

HBD Curt. Thanks for all that you do to contribute to this board!

WDFW and I are keeping it together for the kids...

I'm going fishing. Not gonna miss ya's.

And, being way over 70, it's a cheap thrill!

fp

Wooly Bully thanks!

fp -
I agree but then it sure beats the hell out of the alternative!!

Curt

I already have bought the new license.

Happy Birthday Curt!!!

"I fish, therefore I am"....

Yes, I'll buy.......born in Washington State, before WWII....have fished since I was 4 or 5....caught 1st steelhead in 1965, on a fly while fishing for sea run cutthroat...that got me hooked on "big fish".

Teaching career started in Aberdeen, salmon, steelhead, sea run, off the beach ocean fishing became very much apart of my life..

Got to fish "the old days", in Grays Harbor before Bolt Decision, before all the gill netting got carried away, before steelhead were netted at all. Before the rivers were jammed with drift boats, jet boats and guides EVERYWHERE !!!!!!!

Old, old, old, so its cheap for the license.....

I am pissed that I won't be able to fish Chehalis Springers, but QIN and Chehalis tribe will be able to net on them......grrrrrrrrr

I got my money's worth for my 2016 license, which was inexpensive considering all the fun I had with my friends and family...

-Wild Steelhead C&R on the Humptulips in February/March 2016
-Caught a few Spring Chinook outta the drift boat Kalama April/May 2016
-Fishing with buddies for trout Cottage Lake May 2016
-Neah Bay was rough weather for the Memorial Day halibut opener but we got out and caught some flat-siders & lingcod.
-Westport bottomfish trip in May yielded limits of rockfish & lingcod.
-June 17 I caught my earliest Albacore for the season
-Late June Skykomish opener there were plenty of summer kings & steelhead around and we found a few.
-July we had plenty of crab cookouts thanks to area 9/10
-Buoy 10 trip with coworkers to Buoy 10 was fun
-Westport Tuna trip in August was tough fishing but glad I went.
-Fished mouth of the Lewis for the first time and we caught a couple.
-A few Snohomish coho trips, a few nice fish I think October?
-A shotload of weekend road trips to the Humptulips in October/November with the drift boat.
-Great fishing for hatchery steelhead on the coast December

Last year was a turbulent time for fisheries management, but I always say you get out what you put in.

I respect your choice if you don't buy a license because you won't use it, but I don't respect negative online posts that will deter others from fishing because you weren't happy because of politics. There were plenty of great opportunities in 2016 and this years should be even better!

Yeah, I'm buyin'

People are willing to spend $50/month on Internet access to bitch about how it isn't worth $50/year to fish. I eat self-caught seafood 2 or 3 days a week and I'm a homebody that barely qualifies as a weekend warrior anymore. I feel for the Puget Sound crowd that has been largely shut down locally but if you are willing to travel a bit and play the seasons, opportunities abound. And that is before you even hit the east side of the state.

Fishing has ups and downs. Even with that plus work and a family I get salmon steelhead tuna bottomfish crab and other opportunities each year. It often isn't great fishing but is always a good time. And it's getting better as my kids get more able.

Like doc, yeah, I'm buyin'. X4 in my case

Oh yeah, what's a few more dollars to throw in the crick? Besides have to have an excuse to get out of dodge once in a while.

Have you looked at the Seafood Prices in the store? Yes, I'll be buying a license, I feed my family year round with it. The only thing I ever buy in the store are 15/20 Scallops.

Nunya.

I already bought mine. If I dont go fishing I go crazy and I am positive most of you don as well. Just look at the dark side.

Plus, I have been checked in the most odd places last couple years. If I could c&r some bass without worry I would prob just buy a BC license. I think enforcement is covering crap fisheries now because there arent any choice fisheries left most places.

I'm either buying the license or selling the boat.

I'll let you guess which of those 2 is going to happen!

Will buy, there is still opportunities clams crab oysters and fish not as good as it used to be but what is . Do not let politics stand in the way of your opportunity to enjoy the outdoors . I will defiantly spend a good part of my retirement fishing and enjoying the outdoors .

There is an interesting aspect to this question that has bubbled up a few times. I grew up in CA. Almost all my fishing was shore based, walk and wade. At least the freshwater stuff, which was almost all I did due to mal-de-mer.

Up here, the primary fisheries are boat-based. Marine salmon, tuna, rockfish, halibut. Freshwater takes driftboats or some other craft for lakes.

So, the question about buying a license gets weighed against the boat or boats stored in the garage/shed/marina. Add to that the fact that most boat-based trips include others and it becomes an even bigger social event. I remember my Dad and a bunch of coworkers heading up to our cabin for opening day of kokanee. I chose not to go as I had both a track meet and the quality of fishing was iffy. They, on the other hand, had a great weekend of eating, drinking , probably lying, and did get some fish. And a good time was had by all.

There is a lot more to our motivations than just if there are fish to catch. WDFW is betting on it.

Morevac, You hit the nail on the head with this one. I also literally fish every weekend plus select weekdays throughout the year & there is absolutely no reason to think there isn't any opportunity. I'm looking forward to the rest of 2017!

In

Thanks for the reminder.

Purchased, along with my hunting licenses.

A trip up to Craig and B10 this summer should fill the coffers with quality salmon. Add in some halibut and some tuna, and I'm good to go.

Regardless of what I say about steelheading, my only issues is that I just don't have the time like I used to. So, I'll just make the most of when I get to go.

Still some nice hatchery fish out there now and past April....and probably worth the renewal.....

No need for a boat to catch salmon up here in marine areas, at least Puget Sound. Just sayin
SF

With a little help from my friends I've gotten over my Monday blues .

I had completely forgotten that we can purchase a fresh water only license so that is the route I'll be taking this year. I suppose I can afford the $30.00 and catching a 14" trout out of a creek is just about as exciting to me as a teener hen.

I wish you all good luck low holing my ass this year!

Thanks for the reminder. Dennis Co has them at two for $7.50. Could not help myself.

Good one, Softbite!

Must be nice... can't wait. Gee, only 16 yrs to go!

See ya at the meeting.

I agree that withholding your license money from the state won't make a positive difference. Quite the opposite, I think it will hurt us in the long run. And fishing is fun.

I plan to buy a fishing license in two States, including Washington, and maybe as many as four States. Plus one for BC. And one for Argentina. Don't need one for Hawaii which is pretty cool considering the amount of great opportunities to be had.

I plan to use my Washington license and punch cards and endorsements and discover pass and whatever the fu.ck else quite extensively. My punch cards will be full. I never have any doubt if I got my $ worth out of the license so I'm more than happy to buy one.


If I was a guy that hardly ever goes fishing, but regularly bitches, I could see not buying one. I will enjoy not seeing those guys on the river.

Buying mine.. By not buying you restrict funding that would go to hatchery plants, and as Jake said, would make things worse...

Nope. I'll buy a shellfish/seaweed license so I'll still be able to bitch but I'll spend my money and my time up north. The writing has been on the wall for awhile but after the last couple of years it's time. The WDFW isn't advocating on our behalf and I won't fund those working against me.

I'll buy one

Oregon only.

Totally agree with this as the writing has been on the wall unfortunately for more than a long time! AK and BC will be the beneficiary of my hard earned $$'s with 3 trips planned this year already!

I actually don't need to buy one this year because both my kids can fish for free and I don't have to have one while I take them out... but i will still buy one...

However, this doesn't change my mind that WDFW doesn't have a clue how to manage resources and manages them for the best interest of commercial fishing and that they are creating a new generation of poachers fishermen that will actually feel justified in bonking the hatchery fish that they paid for but are not racially entitled didn't donate enough to re-election contributions in order to keep said fish...

Glad to hear so many won't be buying licenses this year, thins out the numbers of fishermen competing for a limited amount of fish. I got to take my hat off to all of you for dedicating this season to conservation. Melanie and I will continue to utilize the NUMEROUS other fisheries which are NOT in decline, as well as bonking as many legal salmon as we can. Bob R

im buying. for about a $1 a day i can hunt and fish all over the state. As far as entertainment goes, it is as cheap as i have found.

Yes, giving in.
Thought about selling the boat but its paid off and lots of great memories in that thing. Still love the shrimping and sea run fishing off the beach and will partake of salmon when available along with maybe getting into the kokanee thing. Hoping some day when I have grandchildren things will be better but might just be wishful thinking.

Given the feeble amount of days I can go out, I'm buying 1-Day licenses as needed along with shellfish tag.

I'm saying I'm not, but I really will because I still go often enough to make it a good deal.

WDFW can suck it, though.

I don't fault anyone for buying a license. Nor do I think buying one is in any way a tacit endorsement of their bad policies. I haven't fished enough, because of being short-sheeted by WDFW again, that it doesn't make sense. I've been wanting to move north anyway and it just so happened that the stars aligned. When I am back down here I don't think I'll miss fighting the crowds, rules and lack of fish to justify joining in the madness.

I gave up Steelhead fishing years ago when it became a ridiculous excercise in frustration and a competition for the last fish. I'm not going backwards any longer and look forward to Steelhead fishing again, albeit in a different state.

Screw it I'm just going on free fishing daze!

Walleye........

If you are required to buy a license (because of age) and buy one,then you are fishing. If you are required to buy a license and don't, and still go "fishing" in this state,, you are not fishing, you are poaching. That makes you scum. bob r

This made me laugh.

I'm pretty sure everyone here can agree on things like "fishing is fun," "I like to catch fish," or "my fishing license is a great entertainment value." These are all (good) reasons why we buy licenses every year.

I think it's important that we remember that, regardless of how many of us buy licenses, our opportunity ultimately depends on the outcome of a political process. In case you haven't noticed (and I know you have), that process is slowly, but surely diminishing our opportunity. Unless either revolution or Jesus, Himself comes to change the political climate, that trend will only continue, until we reach the point where we don't even get to fish for the species that define sport fishing in our region. To believe otherwise would be, well, "stoopid."

As we've discussed, ad nauseum and beyond, the only way we're going to get our fair share is by economically asserting ourselves in Olympia, whether that's by spending more (lobbying) or withholding our funding (not buying licenses). If I thought we had a snowball's chance in hell of getting organized enough to create a large enough lobbying fund, I'd opt to go that route, because that keeps us fishing and assuredly solves our problem. Trouble is, we can't get organized, because we're too opinionated to agree to any platform. That leaves us with not buying licenses, and we see how many of us are willing to do that....

For all my talk, I will almost certainly cave and buy a license, for all the same, obvious reasons most of the rest of you will. I don't have the means to "take my fishing elsewhere," so I do what I must to enjoy my favorite hobby locally. I've accepted that by willingly participating in the game, under the current rules, I effectively give WDFW and the Legislature my full approval of the shrinking package they offer us every year. So far, that unfortunate, annoying reality hasn't been enough to make me throw in the towel. Eventually, if I really do care about my grandchildren being able to fish, I (and ALL the rest of you) will have to be willing to make the personal sacrifices required, because the other guys don't seem to give a rat's a$$ about the future, and they have a lot more friends in high places than we do.

See you on the water, I guess, and yes, that prospect makes me happy.

Still buying it obviously.
Didn't even work all that hard and filled out over 4 cards with dimer kings..stayed away from most the coho and pounded some consistent steel..
Even with gas prices and the future raise in prices ( a couple buck's lol) I still come out to my fish at about 75 cents a pound. .

You do whatever you want...leaves more for the rest of us

Flea, we feel your frustration and your utter despondence in the current fisheries management. Believe me when I tell you, as someone who's "peeked behind the curtain" the real wizard running our fisheries IS NOT WDFW! They want us to believe that, they spend lots of money convincing us of that. Hell, Unsworth probably chants that in the mirror at night, but the real wizard is the ones with the money, influence and power....

As hard as it is for me to say. The battle is well lost. Of all the letters, phone calls, emails, request for meetings we've done to WDFW leadership and legislators, Senator Pearson is the only one to date who has stood by our side and said it's wrong to manage our fisheries this way! Conservation is a smoke screen used only to advance agendas. The sad truth is, those that can do something, won't and those that should do something, don't. The politics in our fisheries will surly kill the last fish, without a doubt!

Renewed mine today'

Freshwater

Harvester card

Two pole

Shellfish

Dealer fee

$19.00 Who says getting old ain't cool!

Tried for a get out of jail free card but a no go there!

fp

I'm not buying a license until 11:53 pm the night before I go fishing for very the first time this year. Whenever that is...

So, you buying one or not?
SF

Bought... clams are destined to die tmro morn.

Haven't yet and don't plan to unless something dramatic improves.

My 11 y.o will get a two pole endorsement for Baker Lake (he reels them all in anyways). Would I need a license to help him get the rods set up with the downriggers?

I got mine yesterday. After talking with the wife for a time about whether we should or shouldn't for a good while. We decided to make the wdfw donation. Mainly because our daughter is 3 and she likes going to the lakes and reeling in trout, no to mention the fun she has at the beach clam digging. I'm not happy with the current plans for the salmon seasons and I guess this'll be the first time in a long time time that they aren't my primary focus. But in the end getting the kiddo out and learning was too important to me. Just hope G loomis introduces a high end flounder stick soon so I can look cool chasing sanddabs this year.

If you're fishing with your daughter (3) you don't need a license. Just follow the rules for assisting her fish and clam and you're in good shape. She is under 15 so does not require a license. You can help her since she is so young.

I thought you needed tags to assist a juvenile. At least that's my understanding of the regs.

Your daughter would need a catch card if you plan to fish for salmon and steelhead. Not sure if you need anything for yourself if all you plan to do is help.

Despite all my talk, I bought my license 3 days into the season. Seems things haven't gotten quite bad enough to convince me to throw in the towel altogether.

I still haven't licensed my boat trailer... that'll teach 'em.

Kiddos and clamming.... it's simply the BESTEST!

I've used mine about eight times so far since I bought it.
Fishing has been great and not a lot of folks out wetting a line.
Occupy WDFW must be working........
SF

Same here. If I were to go buy Springer Fillets at the market,equal in weight to what I've already killed this Spring, I'd be spending about 2 decades worth of fishing license money. Seems like a good deal to me.

I haven't bought one in almost 5 years. Not worth it.

A South Sound denizen? You might want to look at the MA 11 and 13 opportunities this year especially given the lack thereof up north.

Remember to have your descender device on board and ready to use when fishing for bottom fish beginning 1 July to include sand dabs.
Seriously!

I saw a list recently put out by WDFW about all the fisheries coming up in hopes of inspiring license sales. Salmon, halibut, rockfish, bass, walleye, OD trout, and so on. Lots of really nice opportunity IF you have access to a boat and an unlimited supply of scopolamine. They are doing a good job of developing some boat-based fisheries. Kokanee comes to mind, and the Lake WA walleye will be killer. To my pea brain, though, there is nothing there I want in on. So, license fees go elsewhere.

Yes, I believe you need a fishing license to assist the little ones - if you are in control of the rod at any point while actively fishing.

I have no idea about clams.

I think the clam rule is that the kid has to actively digging and not just along to watch.

I'll second that. Just substitute halibut for springers.

I just had a great day on a beach digging steamers & butter clams. The kiddo found 23 clams in the muck piles I missed while digging (granted she showed me every clam shell I dug up lol. She was so proud of her bucket of clams it was priceless. Even got the wife butthole deep into a couple holes digging. Days like this takes most of the sting out of donating to the dept.

We also waded around and I showed her all the crabs, starfish, and everything else that moved. It's funny watching her relate everything she saw to spongebob characters.

Spending time outdoors with loved ones and teaching children about the natural world is priceless. You certainly got your money's worth on that outing. Great job and I hope you have many more adventures with the little one.

Is that a joke? What walleye fishery? I thought WDFW/the tribes were trying to eradicate any walleye to protect the "all mighty" sockeye that none of us will ever get to fish for again in Lake Wa?

No. The walleye will succeed because the lake is now more suited to them than to anadromous fish. One kicker about developing a commercial walleye fishery in Lk WA is that the forage fish accumulated a lot of mercury. Walleye eat forage fish. So, the walleye to eat safely will probably be the smaller ones. The ones Doc refers to as "egg wagons" will be unsafe to eat but will lay a lot of eggs.

I definitely bought a license, and the value of the fish I have harvested far exceed the cost of the licenses, and it's only been a handful of weeks. Even with costs going up and opportunity going down the recreational and food value I get out of my license overwhelmingly outweighs the costs.

One trip to the movie theater with popcorn and drinks costs more than my fishing license.

Fish on...

Todd

Of course I do X 4.
I also spend about $700 on the hunting side as well.

This enables me to not be a hypocrite.

Know wonder I haven't been to the movies since Pulp Fiction.

There's no denying that a single saltwater outing can "pay" for itself or that the pleasure a sportsman gets from pursuing his passion is reason enough to buy a license. Like Lotto tickets, it's worth the price just to dream. If I didn't have other plans that will keep me busy for the foreseeable future I'd be complicit as well.grin Good luck to everyone and make sure to wear a PFD...especially kids. We're lucky to live in a place that's so beautiful the scenery alone is worth the price of admission and sharing that with friends and family is priceless.

I think they are talking walleye on the dry side of the state. Apparently, guys are coming out from the Midwest because of the excellent walleye fishing on Moses Lake. With the way things have been going we may all be dragging our boats over there some day...

No, there are walleye in Lake WA. Plus Northern Pike have been captured, too.

Well at least the bucket bios are trying to give us fishery lol

Back when WDG thought bass were crap they rehabbed a lake to remove the bass so they could plant trout fry. When the bio went back to check a day or so later there were fresh dead bass on the boat launch. Apparently the restocking was done too soon.

Lot's of fond memories of fishing Lake Wilderness on the opener as a Kid. Talk about a zoo.

Yep still the best deal going! Think of all the memories you and the rest of us have been fortunate enough to make and share with our families and friends! Things change but we can figure out how to keep doing it with style! Or give it to the casinos, bars or heck the malls! If just eating fish and game is all you want it's all for sale at the restaurants. Now there's some awesome memories. Don't forget to take a picture of your plate!

I still haven't bought a license. Reading some of the items here is not really getting me motivated. I suppose I will soon enough but the state of things is really depressing.

I haven't purchased a Washington fishing license yet this year and may not. Haven't fished since June in Oregon and cut my trip short. Don't know when I'm fishing again or where.