Now is the time to get commenting if you want a say in the next round of rule changes for fishing in Washington State. The WSDFW is taking written commentary on the new fishing rules and will be having a public meeting on December 4-5.
Here are a couple of the proposed changes, but you should visit the WSDFW Website to read all of them and find out where to send your comments.
- Prohibit the harvest of all species of “unclassified” marine fish and invertebrates – such as blennies, tide pool sculpins, starfish, sand dollars and shorecrabs – which can either be found on Washington’s beaches or in nearshore waters. The proposal does not prohibit collecting empty shells from any species.
- Develop a set of protective measures for rockfish, including prohibiting retention of rockfish in marine areas 6 through 13 and closing the retention of bottomfish in waters deeper than 20 fathoms in marine areas 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line) through 13.
- Close fishing seasons that allow retention of hatchery-reared steelhead a month earlier on a stretch of the Skagit River and two weeks earlier on portions of several other north Puget Sound rivers including the Pilchuck, Raging, Skykomish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Stillaguamish, Nooksack and north, south and middle Nooksack rivers, as well as Pilchuck creek. All of those rivers would close to retention of hatchery steelhead at the end of the day on Feb. 15 under proposals designed to further efforts to conserve and restore Puget Sound wild steelhead, which are listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.
So if you want a say in how our fishery is managed, now is the time to take action. Kind of like when the election comes around, this is your time to complain and make a difference so get on it!
The rain is here in earnest, so why not go indoors and stay dry while at the same time learning something new about fishing. Here are a few Seattle area seminars and events that you may want to check out!
• Ted’s Sport Center, 15526 Highway 99 North in Lynnwood, is hosting a free blackmouth fishery clinic 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday with Captain Downriggin’s John Abbott. Details: 425-743-9505.
• Three Rivers Marine and Tackle, 24300 Snohomish Woodinville Road in Woodinville, is hosting a blackmouth fishing seminar 7 p.m. Wednesday with Capt. Randy Doucet of Northwest Fishing Charters and Capt. Andy Shanks with Island Guide Service. Details: 425-415-1575 or www.3riversmarine.com.
• The Orvis Store in Bellevue is hosting a winter steelhead roundtable at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Learn from the best steelhead anglers about flies, presentation techniques, casts and water reading. Details: 425-452-9138.
• The Sportsmen for the Preservation of our Rivers and Streams are looking for volunteers 9 a.m. to noon Saturday for a cleanup on the Skagit River in LaConner. Details: 253-861-8964 or rosendo64@yahoo.com.
Winter fishing is coming and I know Thomas will be complaining that his fingers are cold when we are out trolling on Puget Sound this Winter. By far the leader in the market is Glacier Glove but I know there have to be some other manufacturers of quality winter fishing gloves.
So, the question of the day is what is your favorite cold weather fishing glove?
This came through my inbox this morning and I thought I would pass it along. Wish the promoters (for just about everything) would get on the band wagon a little earlier and let people know what is going on more than a few days in advance. I see that happen all the time, and it annoys me greatly!
The Jimmy Green Memorial Fly Fishing Fair and Casting Expo will be held June 20, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at Lake Tye in Monroe, WA and is open to the public, free of charge.
The Fair’s objectives are to:
* Drive awareness and excitement about fly fishing to people new to this historic sport.
* Provide opportunities to learn about fly fishing through instructional demonstrations and skill workshops.
* Connect new and seasoned anglers with the local fly fishing industry leaders.
* Challenge anglers of all skill levels in casting competitions.
What can you do at the Jimmy Green Memorial Fly Fishing Fair and Casting Expo? You can meet and talk to the owners and managers of local Puget Sound fly shops, learn to cast a fly rod, get involved in protecting our local waters and fish, meet fly fishing guides, find a fly fishing club near your home, attend workshops, and compete in casting competitions for single-handed or double-handed fly rods. Check out the Fair’s Schedule of Events, and all of the Fair Sponsors and Exhibitors.
Free Food, Free Drink!
Hot dogs, hamburgers and refreshments will be available during lunchtime at no charge for all Fair attendees.
Two Fantastic Raffles!
One raffle for fly fishers who bring potential fly fishers to the event – the more people you bring, the more tickets you get! And a second raffle for potential fly fishers. New to fly fishing or interested in the sport? This raffle is for you.
For a list of prizes and their donors, click here.
Bring your family and friends and come see what makes fly fishing such a fun and enjoyable sport!
All the applicable details including the impressive list of exhibitors, directions and activities are located on the event site: http://jimmygreenflyexpo.com
So, if you don’t have plans for this weekend or are looking for something to take dad to (remember Father’s day?) here you go!
While the south is gearing up for prime Bass fishing season, up here in the North it is just warming up and the fish aren’t real aggressive yet. So instead of the usual flip-n-rip attack that you see on TV all the time, go slow!
Try fishing a worm, tube or other soft bait right on the bottom and not moving it at all! That is right. Pitch it into a likely spot and let it sit for 30 seconds or so. Then move it just a little and let it sit. I know this isn’t the most exciting way to hunt Bass, but it can be very effective if they are sluggish, or bedded up. By fishing slow you keep the bait in their face until they get irritated and munch down on it.
Obviously the soft baits that will sit on the bottom and have a little bit of action to them are the best here. Tubes are great for this application because you can drop them in weightless with a cotton ball soaked down with scent shoved all the way up in them. Be sure to use scent! Since the Bass will be looking at these things for a while, they will also get a good sniff of them. Having a convincing odor will go a long way in getting them to munch your bait.
So next time you head out, bring some patience along with you. Those Bass may not be in quite ready to beat the hell out of your top water lures yet. You need to get down in their face and take some time to get them mad!
Good luck and let us know how you do!
I love fishing the Northwest, but I have to admit that from time to time I get a bit jealous of the guys down in Florida that get sunny weather most of the year. Up here on Puget Sound it is rain gear and heaters about half the year. Not to mention that we almost never get to see gals like Jennifer and Lindsay over there out fishing in bikinis. It just isn’t fair!
I think we need to start a contest of our own. I know we have some good looking gals up here in the Northwest, and some of them even go out fishing. Once the weather warms up I challenge everyone to send in their best bikini babe pics for a chance to win…. Something! I haven’t figured that part out yet.
The rules are:
- Must be your own photos, no stealing from the web
- No full on nudity (you can send them in, but they don’t count)
- Must be shot in the Northwest
- The girls must actually be fishing, no just hanging out on the boat!
Send all your entries to the Northwest Fishing Babe Competition.
As soon as I get a few entries, I will figure out a place to post them all. Lets show those guys down in Florida just what we have going on up here in the Northwest!
February 14th, 2009
Cliff
It has long been my suspicion that PETA is actually part of a much larger conspiracy aimed at discrediting animal rights organizations. Why else would an organization go to such lengths to make fools of themselves and launch utterly ridiculous campaigns. I speak of this because a friend of mine recently pointed out that PETA has an entire campaign devoted to keeping kids from going fishing.
They are even attempting to rebrand fish as ‘Sea-kittens’ which I think is utterly ridiculous. Their attempts to humanize every creature big and small inevitably work to do nothing but make them sound ridiculous. I am sure there are a few mush headed people, and obviously more than a few mush headed celebrities, that will support them but the fact is that either they are entirely misguided or they actually have a secret agenda to make animal rights supporters looked idiotic.
I love animals, animals are great and they never think anyone should abuse one. That being said I can’t see how I am being more cruel to fish when I catch it, and quickly dispatch it and throw it in my cooler than when a seal chases it now and eats it while it is still alive. As for the kids I think it is very important that children learn where their food comes from, and they respect the fact that for us to live we must consume another living thing be it plant or animal.
For all the money they spend screaming about causes that only gains them ridicule, why aren’t they out doing something about actual cases of animal cruelty. I may be wrong, but I haven’t heard of PETA stepping in with a cash donation to help the 600 or so dogs and potential 1500 or so puppies that are flooding the Everett animal control facility after the raid on the puppy mill in Gold Bar. Where are the celebrities now? Where is the money now? Apparently when there’s dirty work to be done they are to proceed to actually step in and help.
For anybody from PETA that might wind up reading this, I do respect some of the work you’ve done with the farming industry and just because a chicken is on its way to my fryer doesn’t mean that it should live in shitty conditions until that point. But until you start walking around without your heads up your asses, talking shit you sure as hell won’t get my support.
(As for the picture of the girls, well I guess I can live with that sort of protest…)
Thomas and I got out Saturday morning for some Winter Chinook Salmon fishing in area 8-2. I know area 9 just opened up, but considering the dense fog that was blanketing the sound, copious logs and trees floating in the water, and our shitty Lowrance GPS that has ceased to function, we decided to stick to fishing up around Hat Island.
Right off the bat we dropped our gear in 40′ of water and started a sweep of the shallows. Not 15 minutes later my line breaks loose. Much to my surprise, it is a 1.5# hatchery Chinook. Not a bad way to start off the day. Unfortunately that was our only hook up with a fish.
We did however manage to lock horns twice with what looked to be old debris from fishing nets. One chunk was even attached to a 10# chunk of steel. We had a great time getting a barnacle encrusted rope, with a weight on one end and kelp and sea critters on the length of it, untangled from the downrigger wire. Oh well, we didn’t lose any gear on it, so all is well.
We are headed out again next week, Hell bent on learning the tricks of Winter Chinook Salmon fishing in area 8-2. Working from the advice I have heard for Steelhead fishing, we are picking a spot and working it until we know all the secrets. So if you want to find us, look around Hat island!
P.S. Video of this trip will be up soon!
December 13th, 2008
Cliff
I was just reading up on the fishing down in Oregon, and it looks like the Steelhead and Coho are the way to go if you are looking for something to fish for this weekend. According to Oregon Fish and Game:
More winter steelhead have entered area rivers with the little batch of rain last week. Look for fish numbers to be increasing in the coming week, with improving angling prospects. Streams such as Big Creek, North Fork Nehalem, Wilson River, and Nestucca River offer good opportunities.
The county boat launch at Netarts Bay is scheduled for maintenance work Dec. 15-18. The ramp will be closed during this period.
The seasonal coho fisheries on Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes offer an unusual opportunity to fish for wild coho salmon. Fishing is currently good as large numbers of coho have been returning to the lakes recently. The fishery is expected to remain productive over the next couple weeks. More fishing news from Oregon
Now I am unlikely to get a chance to drive down there and test out the waters, but get your butt up out of bed in the morning and get out there! If you catch something good, come back and give us a shout!
December 10th, 2008
Cliff
Not fishing related, but I had to pass this along, whether it is true or not. I just read that:
Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden" …and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
LOL… So now if you hear us make reference to a Golf Fishing Trip you will know what we mean!
