Online Fishing Community - Washington Fishing News

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Fri, 22 Oct 2010 22:38:23 -0400

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We are excited to announce our new Pilot Series POWERCAP™ Night Vision Cap. The Pilot Series Night Vision Caps have (2) red LEDs and (3) white LEDs on separate circuits. The buttons are labeled under the cap brim (R = red and W = white.) (2) red LEDs have an on/off button. Three position switch options provide for improved functionality (high beam only, low beam only or both on simultaneously for (3) white LEDs.

Puget Sound Fishery Showing Signs Of Stress

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:04:15 -0500

You can now watch an underwater video showing troubling conditions on Puget Sound’s Hood Canal during a recent low-oxygen event.

Watch the streaming video at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hab/hood_canal_oxygen.htm.

WDFW reinstitutes fishing restrictions to discourage snagging on Cowlitz River

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 13:24:22 -0500

Olympia, Washington - To reduce illegal snagging of Cowlitz River coho salmon, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is reinstituting two fishing regulations that expired for a fishery below the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.

From Nov. 6 through Dec. 31, a non-buoyant lure restriction and night closure will be in effect on the section of the Cowlitz River between 100 feet and 400 feet downstream from the barrier dam below the hatchery.

The department recently opened those waters to anglers to expand fishing opportunities for large numbers of coho salmon returning to the hatchery. Since then, WDFW enforcement officers have reported an increase in snagging activity below the dam where migrating coho salmon are now congregating, said Craig Burley, WDFW regional fish manager.

"These regulations are being reinstituted to promote an orderly fishery," Burley said. "We encourage anglers to take advantage of the large return of hatchery coho to the Cowlitz River, but it's important that everyone plays by the rules."

Under statewide fishing rules, it is illegal to fish using techniques where the fish does not voluntarily take the hook in its mouth.

WDFW estimates that 50,000 to 60,000 adult coho will return to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery this fall, and similarly large returns are anticipated at other southwest Washington hatcheries.

Besides opening the fishery below the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, the department recently increased the daily limit on adult coho from two to four fish per day for anglers fishing from the Cowlitz River mouth to Mayfield Dam through Dec. 31. It also arranged with Tacoma Power, which owns the Cowlitz hatchery, to recycle some coho presently in hatchery ponds to Riffe Lake to provide additional recreational fishing opportunities.

The large coho return is due primarily to new recreational and commercial fishing constraints implemented for the first time in the lower Columbia River to protect naturally produced coho recently listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Burley noted that a new management plan for fisheries and hatcheries on the Cowlitz River also includes provisions for boosting naturally spawning coho populations in the upper Cowlitz River. Parties involved in developing the new management plan for the Cowlitz River include WDFW, the Washington Department of Ecology, Tacoma Power, the Yakama Nation, NOAA-Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and American Rivers/Trout Unlimited.

One provision of that plan calls for moving from a policy of passing 10 hatchery coho to every one naturally produced coho upriver to a goal of passing one hatchery coho for every naturally produced coho moved upstream. Naturally produced coho are the offspring of fish that spawned in the upper river.

However, Burley said recent analysis of out-migration data indicates that the fish-collection facility below Cowlitz Dam does not currently capture enough naturally produced juvenile coho to support moving to a one-to-one ratio this year.

As a result, parties to the management plan recently agreed that this year's goal should be to move approximately 35,000 coho upriver, including a combination of naturally produced and hatchery-reared fish. That represents a ratio of approximately five adult hatchery coho for every natural coho passed upstream, Burley said.

"While we support the goal of being more selective with the fish passed upriver, it's critical that we move enough fish into the upper river to support the long-term sustainability of the run," Burley said. "Once the trapping efficiency of the collection facility is improved, we can begin moving toward the one-to-one ratio referenced in the plan."

Media Contact:
Craig Burley
(360) 906-6711

King County's Beaver Lake to receive 3,000 large hatchery rainbow trout

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:39:03 -0500

Olympia, Washington - Anglers will soon have an opportunity to catch lunker trout in Beaver Lake near Issaquah, thanks to the release of about 3,000 hatchery rainbows that average approximately three pounds each.

The release by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is scheduled for the week of Nov. 13. The trout were part of an educational display at WDFW's Issaquah Hatchery.

Beaver Lake is best fished by small boat, although anglers can also be successful fishing from shore, said Chad Jackson, district fish biologist for WDFW.

The lake's access site is most easily reached by way of East Beaver Lake Drive Southeast, off Southeast 24th Street in the city of Sammamish. Parking for vehicles and boat trailers is limited, and a valid WDFW vehicle access permit (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/vup/) must be easily visible in or on vehicles parked at the access site.

Beaver Lake is one of several westside lowland lakes open to fishing year-round. Internal combustion boat engines are prohibited on the lake. All anglers 15 years of age and older are required to have a valid fishing license. The daily bag limit is five fish, and bait anglers must keep the first five trout they catch.

Anglers are advised to check the 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) sport fishing rules pamphlet for complete details.

Razor clam dig starts Friday on three ocean beaches

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:18:33 -0500

Olympia, Washington ? Clam diggers today got the green light to proceed with the second razor clam dig of the fall season, starting Friday, Nov. 3, on evening tides at three of Washington's ocean beaches.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the digs at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks beaches after a series of marine toxin tests confirmed that the clams there are safe to eat.

The beaches will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3-5. One beach ? Twin Harbors ? will also be open for a fourth evening of digging Monday, Nov. 6.

Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight each day at the three beaches. Two other beaches ? Copalis Beach and Kalaloch Beach ? will remain closed to clam digging in November.

The beach at Copalis will be closed due to the low number of clams in the total allowable catch, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. Kalaloch Beach, which is located within Olympic National Park, will also be closed to razor clam digging in November, which coincides with the opening of elk hunting season.

Considerable hunting occurs along the park's boundary, requiring increased ranger patrols to prevent illegal hunting within Olympic National Park and to protect park visitors who may be sightseeing or hiking close to the boundary, said Olympic National Park Superintendent Bill Laitner.

At the other three beaches, Ayres recommends that diggers start digging at least one hour before low tide for best results. Low tides for the upcoming openings are:

? Friday, Nov. 3 (4:32 p.m. -0.3) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks ? Saturday, Nov. 4 (5:23 p.m. -1.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks ? Sunday, Nov. 5 (6:11 p.m. -1.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks ? Monday, Nov. 6 (6:59 p.m. -1.7) Twin Harbors only Under WDFW rules, harvesters may take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 taken, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's limit must be kept in a separate container.

In addition to the early November opening, WDFW and Olympic National Park also have tentatively scheduled two more evening digs at Washington beaches through the end of the year.

The first will be held Dec. 2-3 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Kalaloch beaches if a new series of marine toxin tests shows the clams at those beaches are still safe to eat. Twin Harbors would be open one additional day, Dec. 4. Copalis Beach will again remain closed to digging those days due to the low number of clams in the total allowable catch.

Another opening is also scheduled over the New Year?s holiday, with evening digs tentatively scheduled Dec. 31 at all five ocean beaches ? including Copalis ? and continuing Jan. 1 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Kalaloch. One beach, Twin Harbors, would also remain open for an evening dig Jan. 2.

Dates and evening low tides for those digs, still pending the results of future marine toxin tests, are as follows:

? Saturday, Dec. 2 (4:16 p.m. -0.4) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Kalaloch ? Sunday, Dec. 3 (5:07 p.m. -1.0) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Kalaloch ? Monday, Dec. 4 (5:56 p.m. -1.3) Twin Harbors only ? Sunday, Dec. 31 (4:00 p.m. -0.0) all beaches, including Copalis ? Monday, Jan. 1, (4:53 p.m. -0.3) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Kalaloch ? Tuesday, Jan. 2, (5:43 p.m. -0.5) Twin Harbors only Locations of the razor-clam digging beaches are:

Anglers, food banks to benefit from coho returning to Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 15:25:51 -0400

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is working to maximize recreational fishing opportunity on a large adult hatchery coho return to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, as well as providing fish to Northwest food banks.

An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 adult coho are expected to return to the hatchery this fall, and similarly large returns are anticipated at other southwest Washington hatcheries. The large return is due primarily to new recreational and commercial fishing constraints implemented for the first time in the lower Columbia River to protect naturally spawning coho newly listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The large numbers of coho making their way back into the Cowlitz River present WDFW with a unique opportunity to maximize angler opportunity on returning fish. Thus far WDFW has:

Eight REI Stewardship Award Winners Announced

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:49:38 -0400

Seattle, Washington - Leading trail clearing crews on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, developing a Peace Garden in Boston or restoring an ancient irrigation ditch at Montezuma Castle National Monument, the work of volunteers has become essential to maintaining America's great outdoor experiences.

Across the country thousands of volunteers participate in projects that help protect our natural landscapes, lead youth groups and teach safe and responsible enjoyment of outdoor recreation. In recognition of this volunteerism, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national retail cooperative providing quality outdoor gear and clothing, today announced eight recipients of the REI Stewards for the Environment Award.

"Each of these volunteers have made contributions that are unique to who they are and worked with groups that are finding important ways to make a difference," said REI President and CEO Sally Jewell. "We hope that their stories will inspire many others to get involved."

This year's eight recipients of the annual award will also receive a $500 REI gift card. REI will donate a total of $160,000 in environmental stewardship project grants - $20,000 to each of the organizations with which the recipients volunteer.

The winners of the REI Stewards for the Environment awards are:

Pete "Pickaxe" Fish of Sacramento, Calif., with the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
Inspired by the experience of hiking Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Fish volunteered to work on a trail crew. He became an effective organizer and leader of trail maintenance efforts in the southern California region for the association. Fish and his teams have devoted tens of thousands of hours organizing trips throughout the year, prioritizing trail segments and clearing the trail of downed trees and errant boulders.

Fran Taylor of San Francisco, Calif., with San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.
Since 1994, Taylor has been a community organizer, motivator and aggressive proponent of alternative transportation, traffic calming and urban greening in San Francisco. She has spent hundreds of hours as a coalition representative at community meetings, signature gathering, educating and corresponding with those interested in improving their neighborhood's environment.

Jan Prentice of Seattle, Wash., with Seattle Girl Scouts - Totem Council.
By leading courses on basic camping and hiking skills with a strong emphasis on the principles of Leave No Trace, Prentice has taught the adults who in turn have helped thousands of girls engage in responsible outdoor recreation with awareness and appreciation for the environment. She has educated 3,000 volunteer leaders over 30 years.

Anna Ryan of Tempe, Ariz., with Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona.
At age 16, Ryan has become the youngest certified crew leader for Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona. She has completed 16 projects, including the construction of a new pedestrian bridge deck, removal of salt cedar from Cave Creek and the restoration of an ancient but functioning irrigation ditch at Montezuma Castle National Monument. Now she is bringing classmates to volunteer, acting as both a peer and a leader to her fellow students.

Bill Tregoning of Boise, Idaho, with Winter Wildlands Alliance.
Tregoning has been a dedicated volunteer starting out as treasurer and then keeping the organization afloat when they were struggling and in need of leadership. Tregoning also donated more than 500 hours to Bogus Basin Nordic Trail Solar Lighting Project, digging trenches, laying conduit, pulling wire, hanging solar panels and control boxes and assembling lights for the 89 poles that cover five kilometers of lighted trail.

Allen de Hart of Raleigh , N.C., with Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
For nearly 35 years, de Hart has led the progress and vision for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in North Carolina. When complete, this trail will stretch 1,000 miles across North Carolina. De Hart is the founder of the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and responsible for growing the membership to excess of 1,000. He personally gave 1,473 hours of service last year.

Dan Harrison of Troy, Mich., with Michigan Mountain Biking Association.
For more than 30 years, Harrison has logged thousands of hours throughout his home state as a cycling spokesperson, trail designer and builder, trainer and lobbyist. He founded a trail building school, which has trained more than 100 volunteers trail in advanced trail design and construction. Harrison's work also includes donating salvaged bikes to inner-city youth and restoring natural habitat in Michigan's lakes.

Nataka Crayton of Boston, Mass., with Urban Ecology Institute.
Crayton volunteers in the CityRoots program and led the development of the Cabot Street Peace Garden. CityRoots offers residents in underserved communities in Greater Boston the opportunity to beautify their neighborhoods through planting projects. Crayton has inspired and empowered others to get involved in creating the kind of community where they want to live, work, play and raise families.

REI retail store employees across the country nominated local non-profit organizations for their exceptional work in the area of environmental stewardship and promoting outdoor recreation. The organizations in turn were each asked to nominate one volunteer. Nominees were evaluated on the overall impact of their efforts, personal time investment, creative approach and success in engaging others in the cause.

Following today's announcement, REI will host local ceremonies to personally recognize each individual and to present their non-profit organization with a $20,000 check.

About REI
REI is a national outdoor retail cooperative, committed to inspiring, educating and outfitting for a lifetime of outdoor adventures. Founded in 1938 by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers seeking quality equipment, REI is today the nation's largest consumer co-op with more than 2.8 million active members. REI offers products from all of the top brands for camping, climbing, cycling, hiking, outdoor cross training, paddling, snow sports and travel, including its own line of award-winning gear and apparel. While anyone may join or shop at REI, members pay a one-time $15 fee and receive a share in the company's profits through an annual member refund based on their purchases. REI currently operates stores in 25 states, two online stores - REI.com and REI-OUTLET.com - and an adventure travel company, REI Adventures. A portion of REI's profits is set aside each year for support of environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation causes.

WDFW seeks nominations for advisory groups on steelhead/cutthroat and resident fish

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:58:49 -0400

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking nominations for Steelhead/Cutthroat and Inland Fish policy advisory groups, which are volunteer panels that provide the department with recommendations on many issues.

Each group consists of about 20 members, who represent species-specific, general conservation and fishing industry interests. Groups advise WDFW on statewide issues related to management of specific species. They also serve as an important communication link between WDFW and its constituents.

Advisers should have a broad statewide interest in their particular species and the ability to communicate effectively with large segments of the public.

The advisory groups meet approximately three times each year, and advisers are asked to provide comment on written material throughout the year. WDFW will provide financial assistance with meeting-related travel costs to working group members who request it. Advisers serve for a term of two years and can be reappointed. Appointments become effective January 2007. Current members are encouraged to reapply.

Nominations must be mailed no later than Dec. 1 to Bob Gibbons, state freshwater fish manager, at 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA., 98501-1091. More information is available by contacting Gibbons, at (360) 902-2329.

Any group or individual can submit a nomination, and self-nominations are also accepted. Nominees do not need to be affiliated with an organized group. Nominations must include the following information:

· The name of the advisory group the nominee is applying for.

· The nominee's name, address and telephone number.

· The nominee's affiliations, if any.

· The name, address and telephone number of any organization submitting a nomination.

· Experience, including the amount and type of experience, and any species or areas of interest, and references.

Anglers may again retain chinook caught in lower Columbia River

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:43:27 -0400

Olympia,Washington - Columbia River anglers will again be able to keep chinook salmon they catch between Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam under a new rule approved today by fishery managers in Washington and Oregon.

The new rule - approved one month after those waters were closed to chinook retention - takes effect Friday, Oct. 13 at 12:01 a.m. and runs through Dec. 31.

Bill Tweit, Columbia River policy lead for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said the latest action was triggered by the fact that the number of chinook salmon migrating upriver past Bonneville Dam since mid-September have been much higher than expected.

Since then, fishery managers have increased their estimate of returning "upriver bright" chinook from 198,700 fish to 225,000, Tweit said. Although the peak of the run has passed, biologists are still counting 700 to 1,000 chinook salmon moving through the fish ladders at Bonneville Dam each day.

"This run has a long tail," Tweit said. "That allows us to reopen the lower river for chinook retention, while more fish continue to move upriver to spawn."

Anglers fishing from Bonneville Dam upriver to Pasco have been allowed to retain chinook since Sept. 30 for the same reason, he said. Meanwhile, anglers have been allowed to retain chinook from Rocky Point/Tongue Point downriver to the mouth of the Columbia since the season opened there Aug. 1.

"We're now back to the same rules for chinook retention set out in the Washington rule pamphlet," Tweit said. Those regulations are described in WDFW's Fishing in Washington rule pamphlet, available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

Media Contact:
Cindy LeFleur
(360) 906-6708

Columbia River anglers may again retain chinook from Bonneville Dam to Pasco

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:50:10 -0400

Olympia, Washington - Columbia River anglers will again be able to keep chinook salmon they catch between Bonneville Dam and the Highway 395 bridge at Pasco under a new rule approved today by fishery managers in Washington and Oregon.

The new rule - approved less than three weeks after the area was closed to chinook retention - takes effect Saturday (Sept. 30) at 12:01 a.m. and runs through Dec. 31.

Bill Tweit, Columbia River policy leader for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said the latest action was triggered by the fact that the number of chinook salmon migrating upriver past Bonneville Dam have been significantly higher since mid-September than expected.

"Anglers fishing above Bonneville Dam didn't get much of a chance to take home chinook salmon earlier in the season," Tweit said. "The additional fish we're seeing now will allow us to provide some additional fishing time in that area, without exceeding conservation guidelines or compromising the commercial fishery in the lower river."

Tweit noted that anglers must still release any chinook salmon they catch downstream from Bonneville Dam to Rocky Point/Tongue Point near Astoria. Anglers fishing in that area may, however, retain hatchery coho and steelhead, which can be identified by a missing adipose fin.

Additional regulations are described in WDFW's Fishing in Washington rule pamphlet, available on-line at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

WDFW, tribes using nets to sample coho in the Stillaguamish River

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 12:38:41 -0400

Olympia, Washington - As part of a study to better understand coho salmon in the Stillaguamish River watershed, state and tribal fish biologists are netting, tagging and releasing coho in the mainstem of the river through mid-November.

The cooperative project, which is being conducted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Tulalip and Stillaguamish tribes, will help the co-managers estimate the number of spawning coho and gauge the overall size of the watershed's population.

"A clearer picture of the coho spawning population in the Stillaguamish River watershed will allow us to better manage fisheries and continue to maintain healthy populations of coho salmon," said Kirt Hughes, regional fish manager for WDFW.

Throughout the mainstem of the Stillaguamish River, hoop nets and seine nets will be used to safely capture coho. Coho captured in the nets are measured, equipped with jaw tags, and have their gill plates marked before being released back into the river.

Sportfishing will remain open on the Stillaguamish River throughout the study. Regulations for the fishery are located in WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet or online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

"Our sampling gear and personnel are clearly marked with WDFW or tribal insignias," said Chad Jackson, district fish biologist for the Stillaguamish and Snohomish watersheds. "We're asking anglers not to interfere with our crews or our nets while we conduct this important study."

Anglers who catch a coho equipped with a jaw tag are asked to report the tag's number and color, along with the harvest date and location, to Kirt Hughes at (425) 775-1311 ext. 101, or Jason Griffith at (360) 435-2755 ext. 25.

Jaw tags also will be recovered from the watershed's many tributaries during spawning ground surveys from November through January.

"We're collecting information that will lead to better management of the fishery resource for decades to come," said Jason Griffith, fisheries biologist with the Stillaguamish Tribe. "Every fisherman - tribal, recreational and commercial - will benefit from improved coho management in the Stillaguamish."

Salmon fishing opportunities increase along the coast beginning August 11

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 03:01:02 -0400

OLYMPIA – Salmon anglers along the Washington coast will be able to fish seven days a week and keep up to two chinook per day beginning Aug. 11, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
Those changes will increase sportfishing opportunities in ocean waters, where salmon fishing is currently restricted to five days per week, said Phil Anderson, special assistant to WDFW Director Jeff Koenings.
“Angler participation has been down along the coast and salmon fishing has started slower than expected in some areas,” Anderson said. “For that reason, we can provide anglers some additional fishing opportunities without exceeding this year’s recreational harvest quotas.”