2019/20 licenses

Time to think about getting your new license for 2019/20.

Nice idea BUT No Thanks! I'll take my $$$ elsewhere like I have for the past 4 years!

One thing to consider, at least with the fishing license, is to buy single day licenses if you want to go out. I did this a could years when all I did was hit Kennedy and Minter creeks a time or two.

Used to be I would buy hunting and fishing licenses (and tags) early on the supposition that I would go. Now, I will buy them the day before the trip.

It'd be interesting to see 2 pie charts:

One pie chart showing the income for WDFW

and

2nd pie chart showing the expenses for WDFW

then let consumers/public, decide where/if... they want to spend their $$$$


Old saying "you get what you pay for"......not sure this is true when dealing with WDFW, might be closer to "pay more, get less" !!!!!!!

I am thinking that if WDFW presented income, it would show Licenses, Federal, WA GF, Mitigation (local), dedicated funds like special licenses. This makes license sales look like a small piece of the pie.

But, in the Fed money is DJ and PR that is tied to license sales as it comes from a tax on hunting and fishing gear. Plus, each DJ/PR three dollars matches one state dollar. Lose license sales (and I think it sales (number) and not actual income) and there is a big loss in available money as the state pays for only 1/4 of each person supported by DJ/PR.

Carcassman:

My comment was to find out how many "think we are getting our money's worth"...…

When I take a look at the salaries of WDFW from the 2015-16 budget, I'm sure they have gone up since then...…. less fish, WDFW personnel no decrease maybe even increased, gillnets back in the Columbia ????, Cowlitz fish are less numbers, sure don't feel that is a good use of "sports dollars"... IMO

We're getting what we're willing to be involved in. The policy folks are making some "odd" decisions, for sure.

The sporties are getting the short end but there are a lot of reasons that eventually will get back to just how involved folks want to get and what exactly do they want.

Want wild fish? Less hatcheries. More fish to catch, less wilds. More ocean fishing? Comply with ESA and MMA? Limit/reduce human population? There is a lot going on, it's pretty complex, and there will be winners and losers.

One of the things I think WDFW needs to do is to hold meetings where they will actually model the "desired" fishery. Say the WB folks line out the fishery they want. What kind of run size is needed and what kind of outside fisheries at current runs? We all want something, but there seems to be no effort expended by WDFW to show just what that would involve.

Drifter-
The following has some of what you are asking for

https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/budget/graphics/2-17-2019/slide1.jpg

I'll buying a new license next though I understand why there is a growing resistance from many to continue buying licenses - decrease salmon opportunities across the state, decreasing steelhead opportunities, continuing expansion of game fish closures on anadromous rivers, etc. Still have decent kokanee and lake fishing and I find enough shellfish and limited other opportunities to once again buy a license
Curt

Count me among those whose resistance to buying a new license has about topped out!

Senior citizen here...… I don't hunt so you know what it costs me to do the "fish, clam, license"....

I really feel for the family man, has children, and works 4/5 days a week. Would like to take family fishing......more people fishing, less to fish for and if he is a bank fisherman, just less area for family to try to fish,,,

Heaven help this same family man if he likes to hunt....priced out....

What is the "long range" problem for WDFW.....Dad gets pissed, kids lose interest, …. fishing loses another bunch of license funding, hunting loses license.....downward spiral for funding but bigger "hands outs" to reach into public dole for fancy buildings and always increase salary rises.....if WDFW employees, better hope you are close to retirement !!!!!!

My concern about getting new participants is, with fishing, the emphasis on boats. Personally, I have ever been much of a boat fisherman. Most of it is boring, plus there is seasickness. WA has a lot of great fisheries but they are almost all boat-based; ocean salmon, PS salmon, OD lakes, walleye, kokanee, drift boat steelhead, and so on.

Who is going to start out, from ground zero, if you need a boat?

As to the mindset of WDFW, when I started out things like "Opening Day" were a "Really Big Deal". Not only was there a lot of press, press releases, and news clips but on OD much of the staff was out at the lakes doing creek checks, which were duly reported in the papers. This staff was office staff, bios, administrators, and so on because it was recognized that the agency ran on license sales and this event was one of the big sellers. I'm pretty sure that few in upper echelons do OD checks any more; just another disconnect from the stakeholders.

Carcassman:

I remember the "WDFW Old Days", with lots of news, new papers, radio, coverage. Many of the lakes in Region 6 had trout derby 's for the kids...my boys spent time at Lake Aberdeen, still have the pics from 35-40 years ago.


In my youth, 40's and 50's...lots of hours were spent at Lake Meridian. Shadow Lake, and others in the Kent area....then I moved to Redmond, in the 50's, Cottage Lake became my Lake of choice.....and Bear Creek.


I agree that so much of the Washington waters, take some kind of boat. I saw the advantage of a boat when my career started in Grays Harbor....took me 7 years before I could get my own boat....14', 15 hp prop boat that allowed me to fish areas that I couldn't get to. Chehalis for salmon and sea run cutthroat, all the other tide water areas that I could go with a prop, added drift boat and more rivers were accessible. Late 80's, added a cheap jet boat....

I love fishing from the bank BUT bad knees and older age limits my ability to "walk the river banks". No boat during salmon and winter seasons, no fishing for me!!!! Wish I could turn back time...my out look on types of fishing would change.....I'd love to walk the gated off areas of rivers, but just can't....

Just killed me, not to be able to launch at the lower boat launch, on the Satsop, for Coho and winter steelhead..... grrrrr to major river changes,

I am also collecting years and unstable legs. Still, a nice stream (obviously not on western WA with a reasonably open bank is what I like. Wade a little, rock hop a little. Farm pond with open banks....

I had a pontoon boat and tried it a couple times on some local lakes. Just took too much time to set up, take down, and catch nothing.

Address doesn't work for me..... Kinda like WDFW/QIN, information...doesn't work in Region 6....

Does anything work in Region 6??
t

I am opting out. Been buying the full pachage fishing license required to do all of my favorite stuff every year for at least 25 or maybe even 45 years or more...it is no longer a good Investment. I did it to help pay for good stewardship of the resource even if I didn’t directly benefit for all of it. No more. Done.

I'm wondering...…..

I'll buy my f@$%!&# license again. I know it, the rest of you know it, and (here's the problem, folks) WDFW knows it. Hell of a racket they're running....

Does anybody know the probable cost of a ticket if you're fishing without a license? If you don't have any fish, just fishing, like in a lake? I'M NOT ADVOCATING INTENTIONALLY FISHING WITHOUT A LICENSE, JUST CURIOUS.

I don't think advocating for fishing without a license, which sounds a lot like advocating for poaching, will change the views at WDFW.

Are you high?

Just guessing, but the tone of Bay Wolf's statement seems to suggest he accidentally left the word "NOT" out.

Does anyone have an answer to his question about the fine for fishing without a license (with no fish in possession)? I'm curious, too, but just because...

This topic is getting out of hand. I (like a lot of others on here) will be buying my license this year, I have for many years. If I were going fishing just for the sake of harvesting everything I could get my hands on, then yes, I would think more toward saving up for my Costco membership. But fishing is not always about harvest.

Heck, I'll one up you and tell you I also purchase an OR license every year too.

I wish I could stay out of this one but the troll reply about advocating for poaching is ridiculous. I realize that is exactly what it was meant to be. Good one dick-tree.

Sound Transit must love you.

Misdemeanor up to 90 days and 1000$ fine. Max.
Not worth it.

Thanks Flea! YES, I failed to proof it before. I corrected the post and added the "NOT". Crazy how leaving a single word out completely changes the mood of the post.

TanTastic84: "I wish I could stay out of this one but the troll reply about advocating for poaching is ridiculous. I realize that is exactly what it was meant to be. Good one dick-tree."

Not sure what "dick-tree" means, but if you're referring to the fact that I'm very well hung, thank you.!

Of course i will be buying one. Cheapest part of fishing for me. 100 plus days a year spent chasing various species. There is some great fishing to be had if you quit ur bitchin and look around. Sure salmon and steelhead are short tough seasons at times but there is still plenty of places to go and plenty of fish to catchand Alot of other species to target that are doing great.

I usually buy the full combo with everything option. Not this year.
Freshwater only and no Columbia endorsement unless I go, then I'll add it later.

Deerlick said it. Buying our license is among the least of our fishing expenses. I spend at least twice as much on wading gear every season, and that's to say nothing of what I spend on tackle and fly tying. How about the ridiculous amount of gas we burn up getting to the water?

There's no legit financial argument for not buying a license. To not renew one's license is a political statement at best (and only effective if lots of others join you).

Another tax that will be used to support Gov. Jay and his failed attempt to be a president. $4 Million of our tax dollars to guard a guy no one in this nation cares about. Are we going to get more days on the water this year?

Think the calendar is staying at 365 days. Dont think you will het anymore days better figure out how to use the ones you have.

the Washington fishing license combo is a great deal. $80 and my freezer has been full all year with fish. the old farts here don't seem to understand how inflation works or that to increase hatchery production might cost $$$. Hard for me to listen to these old guys complain when they had years of great fishing and I've got to deal with the leftover crap they left for the next generation.

I agree 100%

Kids, say the darndest things....If the "kids" today only knew the 100's of hours working brood stock programs, picking eye'd eggs, baby sitting salmon, collecting money for summer run food, going to meetings....to just to keep the fishery's available for all,.... that's what us Old Farts do....we'd like to see more young people 20 - 60 start going to NOF meetings, learn to fight the fight.


I see them all the time...pay your $$$$$$$ for the license, then want to fish without putting any time to get the resource back......I'm here to tell you, no active older people, WDFW would be making sure the commercial fisheries would be allowed to take even more......The battles are on going in Willapa Bay, Chehalis, and Humptulips,,,,,there are other battles, some involve $$$$$$$ to pay lawyers to fight the WDFW lawyers...


Be thankful, or you'd have even less.....

^this is the real deal. What will you do when "the old farts" are gone and there is no one to do the heavy lifting? Bob R

+1. The vaping flatbillers are trained to be takers and complain that it's someone else's fault.

In my opinion there’s more than apathy that has lead to the decline in people getting “involved”. I believe that a great majority of sportsmen feel it is all just a waste of time. They see how the system is stacked against the sportsmen. And how much of the game is just smoke and mirrors. They also get blasted by the so called “experts” among us and then there’s the “fish mafia” and all their self righteous BS.

So the ordinary guy joins CCA or PSA because he’s been told that “they” represent the sportsmen. Well, you see where they get disheartened and give up. Sportsmen have no real influence because they have no real organization. And by organization I don’t mean some pay to join group. I mean like a single, laser focused cause with real leadership.
We have no Cesar Chavez...

CCA has been tremendously successful in efforts to improve fisheries along the Gulf and Atlantic coastlines. They've been much less successful in the Pacific, and I think it's because the politics surrounding salmon are so complicated. One advantage they enjoyed in the Gulf and Atlantic states was the absence of international stakes. It was always recreational fishers versus commercial; all American citizens. Assuming each of the Treaty Tribes is a sovereign nation, and how Alaska likes to think it's sovereign, you have the US, Canada, Alaska, and the Tribes involved. Not going to be easy to force the whims of one horribly outnumbered (or perhaps under-represented) stakeholder group on multiple nations who disagree with their position....

This Fall 2018 Zero Based Budget Report for WDFW required by the WA Legislature provides a fair bit of data. There are other budget documents out there after digesting this one...

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/02013/wdfw02013.pdf

I purchased a Washington combo license last year and I only went out crabbing for 3 days and only one day fishing the Bogey in early December. I spent about two weeks fishing in Oregon.

Too many projects at both houses and farm. A few weddings, concerts and football games. In laws went to hospital and now in assisted living. Mom and dad gave me the fishing gear.

I plan to fish more this year in Washington. Wife is going to Mexico in a month so I'll have to find some river that is open. Daughters wedding in September is on the beach near Ollala but don't think I'll have time to make a cast. There were a couple of fly guys on the beach going after cutthroat when we met the wedding coordinator in January.

I'm delaying my purchase until things get straightened out. Over 45% take of Hood Canal coho @ PFMC is not acceptable.

i knew it wouldn't take long to get the tired "millennials are lazy" and "i walked uphill both ways to get to school" tropes. the reason why you aren't seeing more "kids" these days at WDFW meetings:

1. many people my age don't have the money and time to get into salmon/steelhead fishing. all of my regular fishing buddies are 10+ years older than I am and much more well established.

2. young people who do get into fishing are moving towards bass and other types of fishing, its a based on popular trends and availability of the fishery.

3. many sportfishing stakeholders have boats and houses to store their boats at, a luxury that a majority of millennials will not likely have the resources for in their lifetime and thus have no access to the fisheries that are oft talked about in this forum.

additionally, how do you expect young people to become stakeholders as sportfishermen if they're being called, lazy, flatbilled, vape toting idiots? the resources were overharvested and poorly managed by the generations before me and the human development in our region has continued to increase- I didn't have any say in that but many of you guys did. literally every generation complains about the generations after them when ironically they were the ones that raised those subsequent generations. lets just agree that that the whole argument is shite.

i pointed out that the license fee is still a great deal and its a huge distraction to everyone who is invested in protecting our salmon and steelhead fisheries to quibble about plus or minus $10 bucks or the fee itself. all I'm saying is that if we're going to seriously improve our fisheries it will cost serious $$$. many folks here are concerned about conservation and fishing opportunities but blow a gasket when you suggest that license fees and WDFW budget should be increased. I'm tired of the constructive discussions that derail when taxes and fees are involved and this seems to consistently happen. i haven't heard one person honestly articulate what alternative options we have to increasing fisheries abundance without putting more money towards that goal. the whole point of hatcheries is to mitigate development which has reduced the ability of the rivers to produce to their historic levels- in my opinion we simply aren't taxing and collecting money from polluters and increased development. existing development too- how many rivers are lined with old houses with questionable septic systems? consumer pesticides and surfactants are devastating to microfauna that smolt rely on for food. how do you propose we stop this?

we're all on the same team but if y'all want more young people involved maybe try having a little bit more of an open mind and less gatekeeping. so a few guys here helped with broodstock programs back in the day? great job! very commendable. here is your gold star for recognition. sportfishing requires an infusion of young people to continue to advocate for our fisheries: invite them on your boat, talk to them when you're on the river and engage with them in a positive way.

Good post, Blenny.

I bought my license yesterday. I've figured out that I almost never need a Discover Pass where I fish. Between that and my decision to buy only freshwater + Columbia endorsement, I had to do a double take when the clerk said my total was $38. That is cheap. Probably a little too cheap....