WFDW Schedules Meetings On Proposed Freshwater Gamefish Rules

OLYMPIA – State fishery managers are seeking public comments on proposed sportfishing rules for the freshwater areas of Puget Sound and the Washington coast.

As part of that effort, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled four meetings to discuss rules proposed for the 2016 season with the public. All but one of the proposals is specific to the rivers and lakes of the Puget Sound and coastal regions.

The exception is a proposal for the lower Columbia River that was held over from last year in order to coordinate with fishery managers in Oregon.

To review and comment on the proposed rules, visit WDFW’s webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/. Comments will be accepted through Nov. 4. For a hard copy of the proposed rules, please call (360) 902-2200.

More than 300 proposals were submitted by department staff and the public in March. State fishery managers are recommending that 50 of the proposals move forward for additional review. The webpage has more information about the proposals as well as those not recommended for further consideration.

The public meetings are scheduled for:

Mill Creek: 6 to 8 p.m., Aug. 13, WDFW Region 4 headquarters, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd, Mill Creek

Vancouver: 6 to 8 p.m., Aug. 17, WDFW Region 5 headquarters, 2108 Grand Blvd, Vancouver

Aberdeen: 6 to 8 p.m., Aug. 18, Aberdeen Rotary Log Pavilion, 1401 Sargent Blvd, Aberdeen

Olympia: 6 to 8 p.m., Sept. 1, Natural Resources Building - Room 175, 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia

The public will also have the opportunity to provide testimony on the proposed rule changes during the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s meeting Nov. 13 and 14 in Olympia. Check the commission’s website http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html for details on the meeting.

The commission, which sets policy for WDFW, is scheduled to vote on the proposals during a meeting in December.

WDFW is recommending further discussion on proposals that would:

Eliminate size restrictions and daily limits for eastern brook trout in most western Washington streams and crappie in several western Washington lakes.

Provide trout-fishing opportunities in sections of several streams currently closed to fishing. These streams, which include the Little Quilcene and Snoqualmie Rivers, would open to fishing in sections farther upstream from where endangered fish return.

Require anglers to retain hatchery steelhead they catch in some western Washington waters in order to reduce the effects of hatchery fish on wild stocks.

Remove rules limiting anglers to keeping only two trout that are larger than 14 inches in several western Washington lowland lakes. WDFW is stocking these lakes with larger trout, making the requirement unnecessary.

Eliminate size restrictions and daily limits for bass, channel catfish and walleye for areas in the Columbia River and tributaries contiguous with Oregon.

The department is also considering several proposals to protect wild steelhead on the north coast of Washington. Those proposals include implementing selective gear rules on some north coast rivers and prohibiting the harvest of wild steelhead in several coastal rivers including the Clallam, Bogachiel, Hoh and Sol Duc. WDFW is working with an advisory group to refine options for the commission’s consideration.