OLYMPIA -- Washington fisheries officials are about to deliver a bombshell on Columbia River anglers, proposing single barbless hooks be required for salmon and steelhead angling as far upstream as McNary Dam.
The proposal is part of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's 2010-12 sport-fishing regulations package. The regulations would apply from May 1, 2010, through April 30, 2012.
Single barbless hooks make the release of wild salmon and steelhead much easier.
Patrick Frazier, regional fish program manager, said anglers trolling or anchored with herring in the lower Columbia could continue to use up to three hooks, so long as the hooks are barbless.
Anglers trolling with Wiggle Warts or anchored with Kwikfish could continue to use two hooks, but single, barbless hooks, not the dual treble hooks standard on the lures.
"We expect we're going to hear quite a bit about this one,'' Frazier said.
The single barbless hooks proposal comes at a time when the Legislature has placed a two-year, 10 percent surcharge on hunting and fishing licenses (through June 30, 2011) and a new $7.50 annual fee for salmon and steelhead fishing in the Columbia and tributaries through 2014.
Jack Glass, a Columbia River fishing guide, said he has mixed emotions about the single barbless hook proposal.
"Does it reduce handling mortality and give us more opportunity, more days on the water?'' Glass asked. "If it gives us more revenue, more economic benefit, a fair number of more days, then I could support it.''
Glass said single hooks on plugs work well, but not on spinners.
"Often, without that treble hook, they won't spin right and are not as effective,'' he said.
John North of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said single barbless hooks are not in the Oregon 2010 draft angling regulations being circulated for review.
Oregon staff hasn't reviewed the Washington proposal, North said, adding that concurrent rules in the Columbia River are necessary.
Similar stories:
Washington wildlife officials set sights on northern pike
Washington wildlife officials set sights on northern pike
SPOKANE -- State wildlife officials will ask fishermen to help control the advance of northern pike toward the Columbia River.
Fishery managers in the next few months plan to enlist anglers to remove as many northern pike as possible from the Pend Oreille River, which is the route the voracious species is following from Idaho and Montana.
Studies conducted with the Kalispel Tribe and Eastern Washington University show a dramatic decline in native minnows, largemouth bass, yellow perch and other fish species that inhabit the 55-mile Box Canyon Reservoir.
Chinook season looks strong for 2012
Chinook season looks strong for 2012
It's only a matter of time before the first migrating spring chinook is hooked by a lucky angler in the Lower Columbia River.
We already know this fish will be among a strong forecast of 414,500, which could lead to the fourth-largest return of upriver spring chinook on record.
Fishing is open daily from Buoy 10 in the Lower Columbia up to I-5. The fishery expands upriver to Beacon Rock from March 1 to April 6 (closed March 20, March 27 and April 3), and possibly longer depending in the catch rate.
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will test whether anglers can successfully catch summer chinook salmon in the tailrace of the Chelan County PUD's hydroelectric powerhouse in Chelan.
The new fishery is scheduled to run through Oct. 15.
"This opening will test whether we can conduct a fishery in such a small area," Jeff Korth, regional fish manager for the WDFW, said in a news release Friday. "Starting this year, a lot of hatchery-reared fish will be moving through the tailrace, and we'd like to give anglers a chance to catch some."
Meals on Wheels seeks volunteer drivers
Meals on Wheels seeks volunteer drivers
Meals on Wheels needs drivers to help deliver meals to homebound seniors in Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and Benton City. Drivers are especially needed in Pasco.
The meals are delivered to seven locations for drivers to pick up at 10:45 a.m. Routes take 30 minutes to an hour and a half.
Drivers use their vehicles and mileage reimbursement is available. Volunteers must pass a background check. For information, call 735-1911.
Yakama Nation shutters Boundary Reach to anglers
Yakama Nation shutters Boundary Reach to anglers
YAKIMA -- Rule-breaking anglers certainly don't like it and even some law-abiding fishermen may not like it, but state fisheries biologists are quite pleased with the Yakama Nation's decision to close to sport fishing the stretch of the Yakima River that borders the reservation.
For years, tribal and state fisheries and enforcement officials have been alarmed about the number of winter and early-spring anglers that, while fishing for whitefish, have reeled in and in some cases illegally harvested steelhead.
"Our enforcement guys watched it, and in some cases, if people thought they could get away with it, they would keep steelhead," said John Easterbrooks, regional fish program manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Print
Email Story
