New rules on the Skagit

[Racer]

July 2, 2012

Gear restrictions implemented on the Skagit River

Action: Selective gear rules, with a maximum hook gap of ½ inch required.

Species affected: All species of fish.

Location and effective Dates:

The Skagit River from the mouth to the Highway 536 Bridge at Mt Vernon (Memorial Highway Bridge), July 5 through August 31.
The Skagit River from the Highway 536 Bridge to Gilligan Creek, July 16 through August 31.
The Skagit River from Gilligan Creek to The Dalles Bridge at Concrete, July 5 through Sept 15.
The Skagit River from the Dalles Bridge at Concrete to the Highway 530 Bridge at Rockport, July 5 through Sept 15.
The Skagit River from Highway 530 Bridge to Cascade River Road (Marblemount Bridge), July 16 through Sept 15.
Reasons for action: The gear restriction will reduce incidental hooking mortality of chinook salmon listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Anglers are abusing the gamefish rules and specifically targeting chinook salmon, leading to increased mortality.

Other information: Fishing rules will revert back to seasons as listed in the Sport fishing Rules 2012/2013 pamphlet edition, FISHING IN WASHINGTON after the listed end date of the emergency rule change.

Information Contact: Brett Barkdull, 360-466-4345 x 270, brett.barkdull@dfw.wa.gov .

[natetreat]

Wow. WDFW is getting cranky this year. Float fishing only on the Samish, emergency selective gear on the Skagit.

[Gringo Pescador]

From Northwest Sportsmen...

Skagit Outside Of Sockeye, Springer Zones Switched To Selective Gear To Combat Angling For Off-limits Chinook
By Andy Walgamott, on July 2nd, 2012

To protect off-limits summer Chinook, Skagit salmon anglers will have to switch to single, barbless hooks and won't be allowed to use bait or scent in certain parts of the river.

The selective-gear switch goes into effect in two stages, July 5 and July 16, "anywhere there is not an open and legal salmon fishery. It's outside the sockeye, coho and spring Chinook fisheries," says an annoyed and frustrated Brett Barkdull, the state fisheries biologist for the area.

The change was prompted by "anglers .. abusing the gamefish rules and specifically targeting Chinook salmon, leading to increased mortality," according to an emergency rule-change notice out from WDFW this afternoon

"There's a large contingent of folks who think it's OK to target Chinook. You'll see 10 to 30 guys on the lower river. A lot are letting fish go; others are playing hide-and-seek. The game's been going on long enough. It's not OK to go fish for Chinook," says Barkdull. "If this doesn't work, we're going to close it ... We're going to start losing opportunity if people don't behave. We just can't keep beating on Chinook."

There haven't been enough summer/fall kings the past two years to open a fishery on them.

It sounds like they have a right to be cranky - a few bad apples spoiling the whole bunch. Perfect example of why I keep the poaching hotline programmed into my cell phone.

[natetreat]

I know, I think it's great. I'm interested to see how it pans out, and how hard enforcement will hit it to back it up. Some of the rules that were put into effect at the combat zones just turned out to be worthless because the fish cops never showed up to enforce it. They spend their time on the sound, and show up one or two days a year. I've never had a fish cop respond to my complaints, so I don't know. I'd like to see a bunch of guys walk out with tickets.

[Bodofish]

Except for Pinkie years I see way more flagrant violations on the upper Skagit than anywhere else. I was on the river just sightseeing and running rapids a few years ago, the river was totally closed to fishing. I approached two fishermen from the water side and said, “Hey did you guys know fishing is closed on the whole river now?". The answer I got was, "It’s our river, we fish when we want to. Get outta here were fishing there.". We finished our run and when I got back to the rig someone had written in the dirt on the side of my truck, "Go home it are river". I stopped in town found a sheriff reported the incident gave them a description and the Deputy just shrugged and said thanks, I'm sure he just tossed it when I left. If you're ever fishing up that way and you start hearing banjo music, run....

[Racer]

I was born and raised around the Skagit and I can vouch for some of the attitude that Bodo ran into. The upper river has alot of fine people as well as the lower but there is always going to be some who think the river is their property. The problem is those few are what create the issue for the rest of us.