Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011-12-31


Happy New Year may your lines be tight next year. Thanks for stopping by and viewing the river. Wakingflies

Friday, December 30, 2011

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

2011-12-28

please read and respond ASAP

WDFW Rule Change Proposals

In October WDFW released proposed a list of rule changes to be implemented in the 2012-2013 fishing season. Among the proposals is the permanent adoption of the February 1st closure of Puget Sound Rivers, and the shortening of seasons on several Southwest Washington River systems. In the Willapa Bay region these closures are not a reflection of unhealthy fish populations but rather a lack of escapement goals that are based on the true productive potential of the river systems. While we support cautious management of wild steelhead, we also believe it is incumbent upon the state to provide catch and release fishing opportunities for wild steelhead when possible. Around the state escapement goals range from absurdly high to dangerously low and there is a glaring need for WDFW to adopt a statewide protocol for determining escapement goals and statewide fishing seasons based on this data. In areas where populations are ESA listed such as Puget Sound, WDFW should work collaboratively with NOAA to develop a list of criteria that would allow the opening of selective regulations, catch and release fisheries and monitor populations to ensure that these criteria are being met.

WDFW operates under the false assumption that simply closing sport fisheries will allow wild steelhead populations to recover, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Sport fishing has an undeniable impact on wild fish, however it has a comparably small impact particularly when managed under selective regulations for catch and release. Under these conditions the risk posed by sport fisheries is reduced significantly and there is no justification for closing fishing in rivers where wild steelhead populations have been stable for the decades. In instances where populations of wild steelhead are deemed so fragile that they can no longer sustain catch and release fishing for wild steelhead WDFW should also work actively to eliminate other impacts by curtailing hatchery operations, and banning the use of bait all year. With fishing opportunities dwindling around the state we should demand leadership from WDFW that ensures catch and release sport fishing opportunities in areas where it does not pose an undue conservation risk.

Please take a minute to write WDFW and tell them to protect sport fishing opportunity for steelhead by adopting a statewide protocol for determining escapement goals and fishing seasons, and not to close steelhead fishing in areas where populations are stable and have consistently met these escapement goals.

Comments can be submitted before December 30th to WDFW’s rule coordinator at:

Lori.Preuss@dfw.wa.gov

Or by mail

WDFW Rules Coordinator Lori Preuss
600 Capitol Way N.
Olympia, WA, 98501

Monday, December 26, 2011

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Friday, December 23, 2011

Remembering the masters Wes Drain on the N.F. Stillaguamish


Photograph made by Master Steelhead Flyfisher and Photographer Ralph Wahl

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Monday, December 12, 2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Thursday, December 08, 2011

2011-12-08

No photo today but the river was beautiful and the prefect height for some winter casting; fished many spots.Only to forget to pull my camera out for at least one photograph.
maybe tomorrow.

Saturday, December 03, 2011

Friday, December 02, 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Friday, November 11, 2011

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

2011-11-09


Harvest Moon tonight in the valley of the stilly.





Sunday, November 06, 2011

Saturday, November 05, 2011

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Sunday, October 23, 2011