2013-02-05

2013-02-03

2013-02-01

How a Steelhead Trout Goes From the Hoh River to the Entree Menu

follow this link and read what: Hitchcock Restaurant has to say about the article Dear Guests/Fishermen/Environmentalists: I appreciate all of you reaching out and weighing in on the controversy surrounding the article about our fish sourcing in the current issue of Seattle Met. I've been met with some very constructive letters as well as threats to burn down the restaurant. So I'd like the opportunity to state our intentions and possibly re-direct some of the vehemence coming our way. Although our Olympic Peninsula steelhead are not currently listed by the Endangered Species Act, it is obvious that they are headed in that direction. All of the other West Coast river runs are endangered, and the remoteness and grand scale of our Peninsula seem to be this fish's last stand. Because of this trend, we won't be serving steelhead anymore. The debate over the hatchery fish vs. native rages on, and because we are not passionately defensive of our obvious and legal right to buy and sell the fish, we'll happily choose not to. My total impact on the fishery this year was about ten small fish. I also hope some of the takeaway from the article can be the process that Preston and I use for sourcing all of our fish - if the article had been researched this month it would have featured blackmouth kings and Neah Bay sablefish. The point is we source local fish and treat them with a great deal of respect. I understand some of the reasons behind the outrage, and hope it can be equally directed to places who serve non-sustainably sourced fish from all over the world. If you want to make a difference, go after large seafood companies, corporate chains that encourage Atlantic salmon farming and raping international waters. It's easier to bully a chef-owned farm-to-table restaurant; ironic because our model champions our local food concerns and environmentalism. We are part of the fabric of our community, have an open door, and nothing to hide. Lastly, it might do your group some good to lobby to have this fish listed as endangered. Also the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guide has nothing to say on the subject. These are sources widely used by chefs, writers, and others to determine how and what to eat. Best Regards, Brendan McGill

2013-01-29

SUPPORT OCCUPY SKAGIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads%2Foccupy-skagit-defined.86075%2F What is Occupy Skagit? • A gathering on the Skagit River, April 6th in support of restoring the C&R season. The activity will involve 'fishing' without hooks in as many visible places as possible on the Skagit and Sauk; from the bridge at Concrete upstream to Bacon Creek on the Skagit, and upstream on the Sauk to the bridge at Darrington. • This is a 'Wade In' Our purpose is not to disrupt traffic, be violent, disrespectful,trespass, harass, or engage in illegal activity of any kind...you know, just like when you go fishing. • This is a parallel action to mesh with attendance at the WDFW Comissioners Meeting the following week in Olympia. Why is Occupy Skagit? • At the time of the ESA listing of Puget Sound wild steelhead, it was generally acknowledged by NMFS that the most robust large basin population in the region was in the Skagit; in fact on its own it probably would not have been listed. After reviewing the evidence, it is our belief that a well managed, catch-and-release (C&R) season on the Skagit would not be inconsistent with the recovery of its wild winter steelhead. • This will require a petition from WDFW to NMFS for a permit that establishes basin specific allowable impacts (as is currently being done with Puget Sound Chinook). Who is Occupy Skagit? • You are. If two people do it, no one will notice. If two hundred people do it, we hope to garner some attention. Sometimes you have to dump a little tea in the harbor to get noticed.

2013-01-26

2013-01-25

websites to check out https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/score/score/species/population_details.jsp?stockId=6091 https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/score/score/species/population_details.jsp?stockId=6105

2013-01-20

2013-01-18

2013-01-17

2013-01-14

2013-01-12

found this image in my archives from 2006

2013-01-10

2013-01-04

First light on Higgins for this new year, Happy New Year

Last light on Higgins for this year, Happy New Year

2012-12-29

Christmas Eve 2012

Happy Holidays from all of us at NF Stillaguamish Steelhead Society TIGHT LINES!!!!!!

2012-12-21

2012-12-20

2012-12-18

2012-12-13

2012-12-07

2012-12-06

2012-12-03

2012-12-01 bait boys are here welcome for another winter steelhead season.

2012-11-30

so you may need to stop for fish!!!!

2012-11-29

2012-11-28

2012-11-25

2012-11-23

2012-11-21

2012-11-20

2012-11-19

One very wet day!!!!!!!

2012-11-15

2012-11-14

West Side Fly Fishing Lakes Need Your Help;

In the spring of this year the WDFW asked for rule change proposals to improve the fishing in the state. The conservation committee wanted to see Lake 16 changed from a "put & take" to a selective fishery. We put in one proposal, DFW616241, and Mike Traux put in a second, DFW809852. The WDFW rejected these proposals and said that Lake 16 should remain an "opening day lake". We need the EFFC members to write or e-mail the WDFW and the Game Commission in rebuttal to the WDFW position. Below are links to the Commission and the WDFW proposal site. The WDFW site allows for input for these proposals, all you need to do is enter your comments. A copy of my input to the Game commission is included so you can use it as a template. Please take the time to respond to the WDFW position, We need more good quality lakes. Links: commission@dfw.wa.gov http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/comments/original.php?id=DFW616241 http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/comments/original.php?id=DFW809852 Template: "This e-mail is concerning the Sportsfishing rule changes for 2013 -2014 as submitted by myself, Ronald Pera and Michael Truax concerning Lake Sixteen in Skagit county. The WDFW requested input for changes in the rules for enhanced fishing. The suggestions in items DFW616241 and DFW809852 proposed making Lake Sixteen a selective gear rules lake. The WDFW response was that the old rules should stay in effect, i.e. allow this lake to be an "opening day" lake. This is not needed , most lakes in this area are opening day lakes and very few have selective gear rules. This lake is capable of growing large fish and should be managed as a catch and release fishery. We are losing a flyfishing only lake, Ebey Lake, under the proposed rule changes. The change in the rules for Lake Sixteen would provide some compensation for the loss of Ebey Lake. The flyfishing clubs in the area want this change and most would help maintain Sixteen as a quality fishing opportunity lake."

2012-11-09

2012-11-08

Updated Wallace River hatchery genetic management plan available for review

November 7, 2012 Contact: Heather Bartlett, 360-902-2662 Updated Wallace River hatchery genetic management plan available for review OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will accept public comments through Dec. 7 on an updated draft management plan that will be used by the agency to guide hatchery operations on the Wallace River. The draft plan, known as a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP), describes the operation of the hatchery program for summer chinook salmon in the Snohomish River Basin and the potential effects of the program on wild fish species - including salmon and steelhead - that are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The draft plan is available for review on WDFW's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/hatcheries/hgmp/ ) or at the department's office in Olympia. To schedule an appointment to review the plan in person, call (360) 902-2782. Comments on the draft HGMP can be submitted by U.S. mail to Hatcheries at 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA, 98501, or by email at HGMP-PScomments@dfw.wa.gov . WDFW has updated the draft HGMP to better reflect current efforts to protect and restore wild salmon in the Snohomish River Basin, said Heather Bartlett, hatchery division manager for the department. Public comments, WDFW's response and any resulting modifications to the draft HGMP will be posted on the department's website. The finalized HGMP will be forwarded to NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency responsible for implementing the ESA. NOAA Fisheries is currently working to produce a final environmental impact statement on the effect of hatchery programs on protected salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River and Puget Sound. In the coming weeks, WDFW will be seeking public comment on updated and revised draft HGMPs for other hatchery programs in Puget Sound. Those draft plans also will be posted on WDFW's website.

2012-11-06

2012-11-04

2012-11-03