Get paid to fish!

Posted by: Salmo g.

Get paid to fish! - 12/09/22 12:09 PM

www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington?keywords=17244

Paste that into your browser. I can't get the full description to pop up. I'll try to figure that out.

Looks like steelhead fishing has gotten so bad in Washington that WDFW is going to hire people to go steelhead fishing. I was thinking about applying, but the hours might be longer some days than what I'm comfortable "working." Equipment and gear is provided, like a state truck, pontoon boat, waders, etc. Wonder if they will buy me flies or I have to provide my own?


Recreational Steelhead Test Fishing & Sampling - Scientific Technician 2 - 2 Non-Permanent-*17244-22
Salary
$2,957.00 - $3,821.00 Monthly
Location
Multiple Locations - Western Washington, WA
Job Type
Full Time - Non-Permanent
Department
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Job Number
2022-17244
Closing
12/19/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Benefits
Questions

Description

Recreational Steelhead Test Fishing & Sampling - Scientific Technician 2 - 2 Non-Permanent-*17244-22 description image

TWO (2) OPENINGS 
FULL-TIME/NON-PERMANENT
RECREATIONAL STEELHEAD TEST FISHING & SAMPLING TECHNICIANS 
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 2 (ST2) 

Fish Program 
Forks, Washington - Clallam County - District 16 Streams 
Montesano, Washington - Grays Harbor County - District 17 Streams 

Anticipated Appointment Length: Three (3) Months 
January 2, 2023 - March 31, 2023

Perform advanced technical scientific duties, independently execute established and new sampling protocols and procedures in the sampling of coastal recreational steelhead fisheries! 

Provide the information necessary to estimate catch and effort statistics for recreational fisheries management, the assessment of biological information by stock, and the subsequent achievement of spawning escapements.
Two steelhead salmon swimming under water next to each other. Salmon are greenish gray in color with pin on their sides and dark small spots. One steelhead is bigger than the other.

Steelhead – Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries 

With that in mind, 

Picture yourself hiking and floating streams to conduct recreational test fishing while using a variety of fishing methods (e.g., bobber, lure, jig, fly) to match the recreational salmon fishing fleet.  

This is an opportunity to collect biological data on steelhead catch to obtain stock composition (DNA), age structure (scales), length information (legal and sublegal proportions) and hatchery/natural-origin (mark-status) proportions.

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork coordinate guided fishing trips, maintain a positive working relationship during fishing trips, and sample fish encountered.

We are seeking candidates with demonstrated values matching those of WDFW: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

Duties

A fisher holding onto a large Winter Steelhead on the shore of a river bank. Fisher is holding the steelhead up to the camera - trees line the other side of the river.

Winter Steelhead 19 Pounds – Photo Credit: Brook Alongi

Our Recreational Steelhead Test Fishing & Sampling Technician,

Conducts test fishing and surveys in District 16 or District 17 streams for steelhead fisheries. 

Operate single-person pontoon boats and multi-person drift boats and rafts, including trailering, launching, docking, and navigating up to Class III whitewater in all types of weather conditions.
Hiking up to six (6) miles a day in streams and off trail to emulate shore anglers over rough and slippery terrain. 
Perform minor routine maintenance on the boats, trailer, and test fishing equipment. 
Operate GPS and electronic data collection devices.
Ensure data is accurately recorded, summarized, and if necessary uploaded to data base.
Work collaboratively with private guide boats to help ensure accurate emulation of guided fishery.

Conduct creel for recreational fisheries for steelhead to determine the catch per unit of effort and species composition to obtain valid sport catch estimates for steelhead and other freshwater species.

Sample for coded-wire tags (CWTs) for steelhead and biological data from steelhead and other species. 
Performs surveys to assess angling effort, counting angler vehicles and trailers at multiple, pre-determined river locations accessed by motor vehicles. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work Setting, including hazards:
Work is primarily conducted in the field, in adverse weather and environmental conditions including noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods of squatting and walking through vegetation and in uneven terrain in and near streams and rivers to obtain angler interviews. 
Climbing in and out of boats, sampling salmon and steelhead in boats, carrying, kneeling, frequently lifting heavy items (up to 40 lbs. unassisted) containers of fish and pontoon boats, working and standing in confined space, fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, biting, and stinging insects, use of knives, transporting agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles. 
Driving and hiking to fishing areas or driving to creel locations via state, federal, and county roads, as well as local travel along streams on private (logging) roads throughout the district using a state vehicle. 
Hiking up to five (5) miles or boating up to ten (10) miles of stream over slippery and uneven terrain to reach anglers - boating may include navigating up to class III whitewater.
Schedule:
Typically, 8 to 10 hours per day, between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. 
Work is performed all days during the week, including weekends and holidays with overtime required, as assigned.
Variable days with shifts up to 12 hours including early morning and late-night hours - highly unpredictable and irregular schedules at times to prosecute monitoring fisheries - for example, be available by phone to staff from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to handle emerging situations and act as check-in at the end of the day.
Travel Requirements:
Traveling includes driving to the work site if the situation warrants it and driving during winter weather conditions - considerable driving is required via state, federal, and county roads, as well as local travel on private (logging) roads. 
Shuttle State vehicles between Forks, Montesano, and Olympia – may be required to use personal vehicle with mileage reimbursement.
Tools and Equipment:
Fishing rods and associated tackle, iPad, electronic sampling equipment (Coded Wire Tag (CWT) detector), knives, forceps, head lamp, measuring board, tally counter, totes/bins, paper forms, labels, scale cards, pencils, pens, clipboard, and scissors.
Copies of current recreational and commercial sampling manuals.
The following clothing is supplied: WDFW apparel, gloves, rain gear and rubber boots / waders / hip boots, and Personal Floatation Device (PFD) as needed - required to wear attire that identifies they represent WDFW with minimum being an agency hat.
Customer Interactions:
Interactions with co-workers from WDFW and co-managing Tribes, recreational anglers; interacts with the public during data collection, and provide basic information regarding fisheries resources, as well as agency programs and activities.
Provides sport fishing regulatory information to the public.
Includes possible contact with individuals who may be frustrated.
Provides a high level of customer service to anglers and the public.
Liaison to regional supervisor and enforcement on fishery violations observed in the field. 


Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Six (6) months or more experience safely operating non-motorized single-person pontoons, drift boats, and rafts in up to Class III whitewater.

AND

Six (6) months or more of recreational steelhead or salmon fishing experience in freshwater streams.

Certifications/Licenses: 

Valid Driver’s License.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND four (4) years of experience as a Scientific Technician. 

OR 

Graduation from high school or GED including one (1) year of high school science AND four (4) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a health or safety professional, biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

Please note: College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.

Experience: 

Twelve (12) months or more of recreational steelhead or salmon fishing experience in freshwater streams.
Twelve (12) months or more of experience safely operating non-motorized single-person pontoons boats, drift boats, or rafts in up to Class III whitewater.

Conducting creel surveys.
Working with members of the public.

Skills and abilities:

Excellent attention to detail and good communication skills.
Ability to identify saltwater and river stage adult salmonids to species.
Must be familiar with salmon life history and sport fishing regulations in freshwater streams on the Washington coast.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. You will be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the hiring process. Please do not upload your vaccination documentation with your application materials - your vaccination status will be verified by your supervisor before you will be allowed to work. Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.

Supplemental Information

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

 

In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

A current resume. 
Three professional references. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:

Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field. We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.

UNION - WAFWP:

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.
Posted by: GoPro Hero

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/09/22 02:02 PM

Hell yeah bro thanks for letting us know about the opportunity. I wonder if it would be a conflict of interest if I could keep my go pro running for my YouTube channel. Bet I could get some good footage for some upcoming episodes and get some more followers for my channel.
Posted by: Carcassman

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/09/22 02:11 PM

That's funny. When I started at WDG fishing was an expected part of the job. Use of an "individual sampler". High lakes, beaver ponds, streams.....Part of the job and expected.
Posted by: Steelheadman

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/09/22 05:59 PM

I've participated in some fish studies at work. This was in support of our permitting process in the water program. Did fish identification and took pictures. Filled in as a supervisor on swing which bumped my pay.

I'm considering retirement in the next year or two.
Posted by: DrifterWA

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/09/22 06:52 PM

12/09/2022

WDFW has the people with all the answers.......I volunteer Losee and Cummingham, lets see if "they can walk the walk, after all the talk the talk", that they do ".
Posted by: RUNnGUN

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/09/22 07:07 PM

Hell, I'm recently retired and physically able to participate for free! Have 40+ yrs of Steelhead drift boating & catching experience, on most, if not all the rivers in this state, which means squat. But, pontoon and drift boat available for free! Even have a BA and BS degree to boot for the education requirements. Sign me up for some local catch and release for science! I'm in. That's what it' s all coming to anyway. Either for science or pay to play period.
Posted by: FISH'N BRASS

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/09/22 08:38 PM

RG do it! Report back-why not-you would do us all a favor!
Posted by: Get Bent

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/10/22 08:08 AM

If they’d let me use eggs and shrimp I’m in! If restricted to fly fishing only the results of the survey would most likely conclude that steelhead are now extinct. beathead
Posted by: Salmo g.

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/10/22 10:26 AM

Originally Posted By: Get Bent
If they’d let me use eggs and shrimp I’m in! If restricted to fly fishing only the results of the survey would most likely conclude that steelhead are now extinct. beathead


Lures, jigs, and flies; not restricted to fly fishing only. Just no bait. Probably single barbless hook too, but that shouldn't matter if you've caught a steelhead before. Go for it!
Posted by: 20 Gage

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/11/22 10:00 AM

Goodness, if you can get on the Green, Puyallup, or maybe the Nisqually from Jan 15, thru the end of March, the fishing is to die for !

Apply, apply, and apply again...

Give me 6 siwashed barbless fat max spoons in hammered brass, and 6 more in the hammered chrome, and the Steelhead will beat a redd to get to your gear.

Monsters abound I tell ya...
Posted by: darth baiter

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/11/22 10:09 AM

Other than obtaining hatchery vs wild proportions over time, I wonder what valuable data are obtained by the fishing part of the job.
Posted by: skyrise

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/11/22 10:31 AM

another Huge waste of taxpayer dollars. pair up a department biologist with some volunteers with boats - Done !
Heck I would bet there are a few guides that would join in if the cause was to help gather information.
And you just saved a bunch of money. Genius. But of course that would mean the department would actually be working With the citizens who pay for their salary instead of fighting against them.
Not in this Tyrannical overlord state government we have now.
Posted by: Salmo g.

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/11/22 11:52 AM

Originally Posted By: darth baiter
Other than obtaining hatchery vs wild proportions over time, I wonder what valuable data are obtained by the fishing part of the job.


I don't know for sure, but I would think useful data might include CPUE for different gear and method types by river. Possibly some CNR survival rate info, as there has been some co-manager concern and disagreement conveyed previously. Might also include expanded spawning escapement surveys. WDFW doesn't have a whole lot of good quality data to go on for recreational fishing when negotiating with tribal co-managers.
Posted by: Salmo g.

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/11/22 11:58 AM

Originally Posted By: skyrise
another Huge waste of taxpayer dollars. pair up a department biologist with some volunteers with boats - Done !
Heck I would bet there are a few guides that would join in if the cause was to help gather information.
And you just saved a bunch of money. Genius. But of course that would mean the department would actually be working With the citizens who pay for their salary instead of fighting against them.
Not in this Tyrannical overlord state government we have now.


I'd rather they "waste" tax dollars on this kind of effort than raising hatchery salmon for Canada or AK. You might bet on the utility of using guides and volunteers to collect data, but previous experience has demonstrated time and again that volunteers simply don't collect the kind of stratified random sampling that is necessary to obtain statistically useful results. And working with antagonists who think the Department is responsible for things outside the Department's control is never easy or satisfying.
Posted by: Carcassman

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/11/22 01:33 PM

You could also get age and genetic information. When I looked at age data for steelhead it varied over time. This was known as far back as Waddell Cr in CA. So, if all you look at is fish collected in the "early" fisheries you have no idea of the age co position of the run. Also, since it has been shown that repeat spawners appear to return at the same time as they did on the first trip you miss the later fish and you may underestimate the actual amount of repeats as the only segment sampled is the one that gets killed.
Posted by: skyrise

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/11/22 05:10 PM

that’s all nice/good but with a department that really doesn’t give a rats sss (right now anyway) and keeps it all behind closed doors anyway.
yea put that money in hatchery fish.
Posted by: Carcassman

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/11/22 05:37 PM

Put more money into producing more hatchery fish that you aren't allowed to fish for?
Posted by: 20 Gage

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/12/22 11:37 AM

Originally Posted By: Carcassman
Put more money into producing more hatchery fish that you aren't allowed to fish for?


Hmm, possibly a little gaslighting here ?
Posted by: skyrise

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/13/22 04:35 PM

nope just another frustrated angler in a long line of frustrated anglers.
Posted by: 32mm

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/18/22 11:37 PM

This test fishery looks to be a total waste of money. I heard from some folks that are close to the Region 6 staff that work under James Losee is that he hasn't even put together a study design or developed an analysis of what kind of questions they are trying to answer or how they will use the data. Instead he thought this would be a good idea, went out to hire these anglers and now will figure out what they want to do with the data. I don't know if that is true, but if so, it seems like ass backwards way to approach things. I'm no scientist, so if someone else has thoughts on this, I'm all ears.

I wonder if the money used for this program could have been spent instead to creel and monitor the Skook or Nooch or Satsop. I sure thought at those town halls they were talking about opening those rivers up and bringing in some extra creel staff so we could catch the damn fish we pay for.

But instead they want to go pay guides to float WDFW staff down the river.

Another notch in the belt of incompetent management we get in Region 6 under the Losee regime.
Posted by: Lifter99

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/19/22 05:28 AM

I had heard that they didn't have the money to do creel census on the Chehalis system streams. They have checkers doing creel census all summer on the saltwater areas . There is very little saltwater fishing areas open in the winter (Area 13). Take those people and put some of them checking the rivers in the Harbor. Lots of hatchery steelhead will be surplussed on the Nooch, Skook and Satsop again this year. Region 6 needs to do something for the recs who pay for these fish. Losee needs to do a better job and grow a backbone.
Posted by: Lifter99

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/19/22 05:40 AM

I am friends with a guy who does creel census for steelhead every winter on the Forks streams. There doesn't seem to be any problems there with creels census. I think the animosity and disagreements between WDFW and the QIN is a major problem on the Chehalis and Queets systems.
In Area 11 where I fish for salmon there are creel census checkers and a WDFW test boat fishing all the time. Also a tribal test boat is fishing this same area. The WDFW test boat fishes and gathers data even when the area is closed to sport fishing.
Posted by: Misguided

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/30/22 11:11 AM

NOPE, Fukk that!!!!

“ WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.”
Posted by: Carcassman

Re: Get paid to fish! - 12/30/22 03:38 PM

Your choice.
Posted by: DrifterWA

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/06/23 11:07 AM

1/06/2023

Well ????? Closing date was 12/19/2022

Starting date was suppose to be 1/02/2023 and continue 3 months.

Does anyone know if anyone got the position or positions?????
Posted by: Salmo g.

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/07/23 09:17 AM

Due to "scheduling difficulties" I did not apply. As much as I enjoy fishing, I don't want to fish 40 hours a week. It might become like work!
Posted by: DrifterWA

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/07/23 11:51 AM

01/07/2023

Originally Posted By: Salmo g.
Due to "scheduling difficulties" I did not apply. As much as I enjoy fishing, I don't want to fish 40 hours a week. It might become like work!



Did anyone even apply ??????
Posted by: Salmo g.

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/08/23 09:21 AM

I don't know.
Posted by: DrifterWA

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/08/23 10:05 AM

1/08/2023


Another "shoot from the hip" project that seems to be prevalent, with the changes in management a few years back.

WDFW needs to get back to open "face to face" meetings.......zoom is just not the way to get input from the general public.
Posted by: steely slammer

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/08/23 10:29 AM

the problem with face to face meetings is WDFW isn't the smartest people in the know in the room.

go by zoom they can pick who speaks. and if they dont like whats being said they can just cut them off.
Posted by: GPS

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/09/23 03:48 PM

Originally Posted By: DrifterWA
01/07/2023

Originally Posted By: Salmo g.
Due to "scheduling difficulties" I did not apply. As much as I enjoy fishing, I don't want to fish 40 hours a week. It might become like work!



Did anyone even apply ??????


I did; mostly out of curiosity. Got an email before Xmas that said I made the 1st cut...
Posted by: DrifterWA

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/10/23 09:39 AM

1/10/2023
Originally Posted By: GPS
Originally Posted By: DrifterWA
01/07/2023



Did anyone even apply ??????


I did; mostly out of curiosity. Got an email before Xmas that said I made the 1st cut...


If I recall, the people that got the position should be working !!!! see next......

Anticipated Appointment Length: Three (3) Months January 2, 2023 - March 31, 2023
Posted by: eswan

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/10/23 08:17 PM

Awesome! Can we expect daily reports for the rivers we can't fish? It'd be great to live through your experience in fishing this year. It'd be interesting hear it from the horses mouth what the numbers are/were without getting the interpretation through wdfw.
Posted by: GPS

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/13/23 06:54 AM

It might give us all a better picture, but regardless it looks like they didn't like me enough to earn an interview. I am curious who/how many were hired and what their experience has been though.
Posted by: WDFW X 1 = 0

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/13/23 10:13 AM

You can bet it will be a:
A) Guide
B) Past WDFW employee
C) Native American


This state has really went tits up.
Posted by: 20 Gage

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/13/23 10:19 AM

Originally Posted By: WDFW X 1 = 0
You can bet it will be a:
A) Guide
B) Past WDFW employee
C) Native American


This state has really went tits up.


Correct Listing, wrong order....
Posted by: WDFW X 1 = 0

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/13/23 10:35 AM

Perhaps D) All of the Above
Posted by: DrifterWA

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/13/23 02:22 PM

1/13/2023

Whoever gets the position, has LOTS of things they would be responsible to do, many hours of on water, paper work, etc.

OR

not very much, pretty tough to fish if the river is brown, logs coming down, etc. and it seems that this year has been a "high water year".
Posted by: RUNnGUN

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/13/23 03:36 PM

Originally Posted By: WDFW X 1 = 0
You can bet it will be a:
A) Guide
B) Past WDFW employee
C) Native American


This state has really went tits up.

You can bet the selection will be based on who you know, not what you know.
Posted by: WDFW X 1 = 0

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/16/23 09:23 AM

Amen.
Posted by: DrifterWA

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/18/23 07:14 PM

1/18/2023

Well, I got on it........ the following it what I found out..... will keep people posted, as I get information.

I can tell you, 1 fisher will be in the Willapa area and the other in the Forks area.

Here is what I got..... should answer a few questions...

1/18/2023

Hi Bill,

I am helping supervise these positions and lead the recreational test fishing pilot study. We recruited for two positions, one stationed in Montesano working in the Willapa Bay area and another stationed in Forks working in the north coast area. I am managing the south cost position and can update you on where we are at, but the north coast position will be managed by my coworker Colt Holley. He would be the best person to reach out to about updates for north coast test fishing and can be reached at Colt.holley@dfw.wa.gov.

It did take us longer than expected to complete the recruitment and hiring for these positions. I selected a candidate for the south coast position in Montesano and they are scheduled to start work this coming Monday. So no data or results to share yet. These positions will run through the end of March and in the future we hope to start them around the beginning of December. Please feel free to reach out if you have any more questions.

Amy Edwards
Posted by: Salmo g.

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/19/23 09:15 AM

Oh man, only two positions? I'd hate to be the person who got the Willapa job. Can you imagine 40 hours or more a week working the Willapa system? If the job requires a scientific approach with stratified random sampling, then you can't just spend your time fishing the choice sections of the Willapa and Naselle. I've actually fished the Naselle once decades ago and the Willapa a few times. The Willapa is a nice little stream, especially if there are some fish in it, but I think it would get old. Then imagine, you have to spend an equal amount of time fishing the Nemah, a creek with about a total of 200 feet of fishable water above tide and below the weir. And then there's the North - anybody ever tried to fish the North? Oh man! The pain. Unless you just sit in one of the plunker shacks, if they're still around. Oh, jeeze, so glad I did not apply!
Posted by: WDFW X 1 = 0

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/19/23 09:39 AM

Nemah and Willapa were awesome 25-30 years ago when man was really starting to screw up the resource.


"It did take us longer than expected to complete the recruitment and hiring for these positions."
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Typical WA State Bureaucracy!!!!!
Posted by: snit

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/19/23 09:47 PM

I fished the Naselle into the mid-2000’s. Fishing was great at times.

My old man started fishing it and the Gray(s) about 1970 through the early 90’s. He and his buddy had some fantastic trips over there through the decades.

Pops hit the Nemah around March-81 and had his most memorable afternoon of big native winter fishing ever. Only landed the smallest fish he hooked (and saw) and it was 17-1/2. Had both a hen over 20# and a buck over 24# both beach themselves on the opposite side of the creek, flip/flop and tangle-up in a root wad and break the leader before he could get across the creek and recover them! He ran out of leaders in his Pip’s from the fish taking his straight drifted eggs and burning into a brush pile or log jag. The fish were fine bright, having just came in on the tide. He was physically exhausted after 4hrs and 15 leaders he said. I experienced a similar situation in the late 90’s on the Dickey, but the fish weren’t big.
Posted by: Salmo g.

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/20/23 09:27 AM

Hey, I'm not saying that the WB rivers don't have any steelhead in them, but the fishing is nothing, NOTHING, like it was in the 1970s. And then, with most of the wild fish gone, those loads of steelhead that did return were nearly all hatchery fish. (The last lick of old growth timber hadn't yet been removed from the Willapa Hills, but they were working hard at it.) Lest we forget that the state used to stock the hell out of those streams and the SAR (smolt to adult return) rate was 5 to 10 times greater than it is now. My point is that I'd rather not be the person assigned to fish the WB streams in 2023. This job notice did not include a "way back time machine" that could transport the angler to the fish abundance of yesteryear.
Posted by: Carcassman

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/20/23 10:42 AM

Speaking of planting fish all over. Used too fish the Lyre in the late 70s. I was not a good steel header but got into fish every day. My coworker went on the last day (2/28) of the season and lost something like 8 or 10 before finally bringing one to hand. This was all hatchery fish but it was actually fishing and not just casting to vacant water.
Posted by: RUNnGUN

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/21/23 08:17 AM

Don't beat yourself up to bad. The Lyre is tough one for evn the experienced angler. There, you need to be young and nimble to chase after hookup to give yourself a chance. Very seldom would a fish stay in those short swift pockets after hookup. Back then limits abound if you could chase them down.
Posted by: Carcassman

Re: Get paid to fish! - 01/21/23 08:28 AM

Yeah. It seems to me, based on myself and my coworkers (3) that you should always get into fish there. Maybe not land, but there were fish.

I was drift fishing. My first encounter was a rather nice-sized male. I sort of hooked him. As I pulled, his head came up out of the water and threw the hook. I think he was playing with me.
Posted by: DrifterWA

Re: Get paid to fish! - 02/18/23 01:42 PM

2/18/2023

1st report from Southern fishery.....

Hi Bill,

Our test fisher program is progressing. The Willapa Bay test fisher officially started on January 23rd and spent the first week and a half going through training and getting familiar with the area.

He is splitting time between the Naselle and the Willapa rivers. For the month of February, he has fish 5 days in the Willapa and 4 days in the Naselle so far.

He has been fishing both gear and fly techniques. The low and clear water has made fishing challenging the past week.

He sampled one unmarked steelhead in the Willapa last week and hooked a couple other fish. Currently, this project as well as the creel monitoring is slated to go through the end of March, so more information will be collected over the coming weeks.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.