Wednesday, January 28, 2009

2009-10 Sportfishing Rule Meeting

OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider adopting a proposed package of sportfishing rule changes for the 2009-10 season during its Feb. 6-7 meeting in Olympia.

The commission, which sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene both days at 8:30 a.m. in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Olympia. Commissioners also are scheduled to attend an annual meeting with Gov. Chris Gregoire on Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. in the Governor's office.

During the Feb. 6-7 meeting, the commission will consider adopting more than two dozen sportfishing rule proposals, which were developed with public input and discussed at the commission's November meeting. No additional public testimony on the rules will be taken at the February meeting.

One proposed rule would change the annual opening day of fishing on some streams from June 1 to the first Saturday in June. Other proposals would replace the non-buoyant lure restriction with a new anti-snagging rule, create a new Marine Protected Area in a portion of Saltwater State Park and change the daily limit of salmon and steelhead in the mainstem Columbia River to two salmon or two hatchery steelhead or one of each.

More details on those and other proposed rules are available on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/rule_proposals/ .

The commission also is scheduled to consider adopting a North of Falcon policy, which would provide direction to fishery managers in defining annual salmon fishing seasons in Washington's waters.

In other business, the commission is scheduled to hear briefings on:

  • Timber salvage and thinning operations in 2008 at the Olympic and Johns River wildlife areas.
  • A pilot grazing program, which uses managed livestock to maintain and enhance habitat conditions for wildlife.
  • Salmon management, including hatchery production, in the Grays Harbor watershed.
  • Eyes in the Woods, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to fish and wildlife stewardship.

The commission also is scheduled to discuss various topics, including the spring chinook season on the Columbia River and next steps for the bi-state Columbia River Fish Working Group.

For more information about future commission meetings, visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html .

Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Cowlitz River Fishing

Winter steelhead , Hymer said the early run came in at about half the size of last year's run.  One bright spot was the Cowlitz River, where 1,800 fish returned compared to 850 last year.  "We weren't sure whether this year's run was strong, or just early," Hymer said.  "The escapement numbers indicated it was just early."

He remains hopeful that the late run to the Cowlitz and Kalama rivers, which usually peaks in February, will make a better showing.  Fishing is already starting to pick up on the Kalama, where anglers have been averaging a few steelhead per boat.  "There are still early hatchery winter fish being caught, but the wild fish are starting to show in the catch, with a couple of nice fish in the upper teens reported," said Chris Wagemann, another WDFW fish biologist.  "The late hatchery or winter brood fish are contributing to the catch and should continue with the wild fish into April."

Hymer reminds anglers that all wild steelhead with an intact adipose fin must be released.  That is also the case with chinook salmon on the Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis rivers, although marked hatchery chinook may now be retained in those water, as described in the Fishing in Washington regulation pamphlet. "There aren't a lot of spring chinook around just yet, but reeling in a keeper hatchery fish could definitely brighten up someone's day," Hymer said.

Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428

Friday, January 16, 2009

New Washington policy approved for Columbia River spring chinook

The Washington Fish and Wildlife commission today approved a new management policy for Columbia River spring chinook salmon designed to promote conservation of wild fish while providing stability for sport and commercial fisheries.

The new five-year policy is consistent with catch-sharing provisions recommended by a joint subcommittee of the Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife commissions, while also providing some additional early-season commercial fishing opportunities sought by the Oregon commission.

But with differences remaining between the policies adopted by the two states, the commissions must still find common ground on several issues before they can develop new regulations for the jointly managed fishery.

Both states' commissions based their new management policies on objectives recommended by the Columbia River Fish Working Group, a bi-state panel that includes three commission members, two fishery managers and several citizen advisors from each state.  Those objectives call for providing:

  • A conservation "buffer" to maintain a low risk of exceeding impact limits on wild salmon listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). 
  • A high probability of an uninterrupted 45-day sport-fishing season on the lower Columbia River in March and April.
  • 25 percent of the sport fishery's allowable impacts to fisheries above Bonneville Dam.
  • A stable commercial fishery in off-channel "select areas" such as Deep River in Washington and Youngs Bay in Oregon.
  • Commercial fishing opportunities in the mainstem Columbia River in March and April.
  • Sport and commercial fishing opportunities in May if the run is large enough.

Because the upriver spring chinook run includes wild fish listed for protection under the federal ESA, the fishery is managed under rules that limit mortality rates for wild fish from .05 percent to 2.7 percent of the run.

Under the catch-sharing policy recommended by the bi-state Working Group and adopted by the Washington commission, 65 percent of those limited "impacts" would be allocated to the sport fishery and 35 percent to the commercial fishery. 

But in a departure from the Working Group's recommendations, the policy approved by the Oregon commission in December approved a base rate of 55 percent for the sport fishery and 45 percent for the commercial fishery to boost the commercial share of the catch.

As a compromise measure, the Washington commission reconsidered the size of the early-season "buffer" - the portion of the mainstem commercial fishery that will be delayed until the size of the run can be verified by an in-season assessment.  By reducing the buffer from 50 percent to 40 percent, Washington's policy would increase the early-season commercial catch in the mainstem Columbia River by an estimated 1,400 fish.     

According to a recent projection, nearly 300,000 spring chinook are expected to return to the river this year, which would make the run the third-highest on record. 

Under Washington's new policy, anglers are expected to catch 22,300 of those fish from Bonneville Dam downstream and 7,400 above the dam.  For commercial fisheries, 7,800 spring chinook would be available on the mainstem Columbia River and 6,300 in off-channel select areas.

Meeting via conference call, the Washington commission also:

  • Extended the previous management plan for summer chinook salmon by one year.  Consistent with Oregon's policy, that plan includes a 50-50 allocation formula for sport and commercial fisheries below Priest Rapids Dam.
  • Elected Commissioner Miranda Wecker chair and Commissioner Gary Douvia vice-chair of the commission through Dec. 2010.  Wecker, who has served on the commission since March 2005 and as vice-chair since January 2007, succeeds Commissioner Jerry Gutzwiler, who was elected chair in January 2007. Douvia has served on the commission since January 2007.
Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428

Carbon River Re-opend for Fishing

Carbon River re-opens for angling

Action: Effective immediately, the Carbon River will re-open to angling, reverting back to seasons listed in the 2008-09 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. This action will allow retention of surplus hatchery steelhead on the river.

Effective dates: Immediately

Species affected:   All gamefish.

Location: Carbon River, tributary to the Puyallup River, in Pierce County.

Reasons for action: Re-opening the fishery will allow anglers to selectively harvest hatchery steelhead, thereby reducing the genetic and ecological competition between hatchery and wild fish. 

Information Contact: Hal Michael, 360-902-2659 Hal.Michael@dfw.wa.gov

Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

10 Ways To Tell You Might Be A Redneck Fisherman

10 Ways To Tell You Might Be A Redneck Fisherman
You might be a redneck fisherman if:

1. Your mother has "stink bait" on her birthday wish list.

2. You have the local taxidermist's number on speed dial.

3. Your dentist gave up asking you to quit biting fishing line.

4. You've ever cleaned crappies in your living room.

5. You've ever had to turn your pickup around because of bridge clearance restrictions.

6. You have more than two fishing buddies named Bubba or Junior.

7. You brought your fishing rod to Sea World.

8. Your kitchen doubles as a bait shop.

9. You consider "Cabela's Spring Fishing Catalog" deep reading.

10. Your boat is worth more than your house.

 

Monday, January 12, 2009

Flooding caused damage at some fish hatcheries

A look at how the recent flooding has impacted Western Washington hatcheries:

Soos Creek Hatchery: Facility was still flooded Thursday but water was dropping rapidly by Friday. One drum screen is inoperable. It still is unknown if there was a loss of fish. Staff will be unable to trap steelhead broodstock — the facility gets the bulk of the Green River stock.

Voights Creek Hatchery Complex: The half-million coho eggs were OK as of Thursday, but everything else has been lost. Houses are in good shape and no damage to personal property was reported. Damage was still being assessed on Friday. Water is 3 feet deep outside the hatchery building and slowly beginning to recede. Yearlings are alive with backup pumps.

Puyallup Hatchery: Spring pond above the upper intake has received significant filling with sand and sediment.

Arlington Hatchery: No change but stable conditions as of Friday. Staff was working on moving 80,000 catchable and jumbo trout to safe ponds at Arlington and Whitehorse.

Reiter Pond Hatchery: Intake is holding. Given the conditions, facility is operating normally.

Tokul Creek Hatchery: Facility is holding 150,000 juvenile steelhead. Staff is working on re-establishing flow with portable pumps and re-plumbing well pump to supply emergency water.

Wallace River Complex: Water in incubation building wasn't causing damage.

Issaquah Hatchery: Residence Number 1 (closest to hatchery) has 3 feet of water in the basement. Lost furnace and water heater.

Samish Hatchery: Flooding and large deposit of debris. A large log jam formed just above and at the gravity intake on Friday Creek. Flooding threatened pump intake. Water flows increased in the Samish River and threatened pump intake on the river. Maintenance staff removed debris from Friday Creek and gravel from the Samish intake.

Cowlitz Hatchery Facilities: No damage to report.

Elochoman Hatchery: Four feet of water in the last occupied residence basement. Coho in J pond are likely lost. Access was limited or impossible.

Grays River Hatchery: High water, but facility and fish are OK.

Speelyai Hatchery: Spring chinook were moved on Wednesday; kokanee were released early; temporary pumps were put in place to pump water to rainbow trout remaining on site. Intake breeched. All fish except for catchable rainbow and derby fish have been moved off station. Currently maintaining one screen and operation intake. Working on cleanup by Friday, and repairing intake dam. Removing water treatment building. Domestic water will be established next week.

Lewis River Hatchery: Debris problems inside creek near rearing pond.

Kalama Falls Hatchery: Extremely high water. May have liberated all of the 350,000 late coho. So far, everything else is OK.

Fallert Hatchery: Foot of water, but everything is OK.

Lewis/Merwin Facilities: No problems.

Gobar Pond: Can't gain access to facility.

Goldendale Hatchery: Wind damage to the roof of one on-station hatchery residence.

Toutle Hatchery: Sandbagged for protection. Pump damage likely.

Minter Creek, Hupp Springs, Coulter Creek, Dungeness, Hurd Creek, Elwha, Bogachiel and Sol Duc hatcheries: All facilities were reporting intake issues.

Forks Hatchery: Water level dropped and all is well.

Satsop Springs Hatchery: River was backing up into adult holding pond. Water had broken through the dike in a couple of places. No contact with staff as of Thursday.

Bingham Hatchery: Water ran around hatchery building, sand bagging kept water from getting into the building. All is well.

Mayr Bros Hatchery: Damage to roadway to adult trap and to fence around trap. Staff will evaluate once water is lower.

Lake Aberdeen Hatchery: Septic line was fine; water was up to bridge stingers.

Humptulips Hatchery: All is well.

Nemah River Hatchery: All is well.

Naselle Hatchery: Staff spent a lot of time keeping ahead of muddy water in the incubation room. Everything else is fine.

Eells Springs Hatchery: Stable. Cut off due to slide over Eells Springs Road and Skokomish River flooding.

Skookumchuck Hatchery: All is well.

McKernan Hatchery: Stable.

Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428

Massive flooding has negative impact on young salmon survival

Hitting the rivers to go fishing is at a standstill for days to come, but many are wondering about young salmon survival because of massive flooding.

"This is an especially bad situation like the flooding that happened in [November] 2007, and we're having the same problems of scouring eggs on spawning grounds, and loss of juvenile fish survival," said Jeff Haymes, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "It seems like now we're getting these 100-year type floods every other year, which is not good. These floods will dig a big hole for several years.

"This was supposed to be a La Niña kind of year, and then it snapped back to something like an El Niño weather pattern, at least for the time being."

Some of the severe impact on fish survival is in Southwest Washington.

"The worst damage happened from Woodland north in places like Chehalis, Kalama and Kelso," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "Depending on the salmon species, and when and where they spawned, I am sure it will have an impact.

"We had fairly low water conditions this past fall so some fish probably spawned in the main river channels and that will make those eggs in the gravel more vulnerable. The local hatcheries on the Lower Columbia got drilled pretty hard, although it sounds like they survived, but it was nip and tuck for a while."

The situation around Aberdeen and Grays Harbor looked grim as well.

"Everything was flooded like the Wynoochee, Satsop and all the smaller rivers," said Scott Barbour, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "Most of the coho and chinook redds are down in the gravel, and I imagine there would be some scouring of eggs. There are still [migrating] coho to come, but this will do damage to chinook redds for sure. It is pretty nasty."

Locally, it appears that the outlying areas of Seattle got slammed, and likely damaged some salmon and steelhead spawning grounds.

"This kind of situation is lousy for the spawning beds, and for all the chinook and sockeye eggs that are in the gravel," said Steve Foley, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist who assessed the Cedar River. "I heard the hatchery is going to be OK at Landsburg."

While the hatchery at Landsburg escaped substantial damage, the Lower Cedar juvenile fish trap was lost and then recovered from Lake Washington with some damage. The other trap in the Lower Cedar River was taken out of the water with some damage.

Further north, it looks like some rivers could feel the loss of future salmon runs.

In general, these types of floodwaters don't do much good for young chinook, steelhead and coho," said Brett Barkdull, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist who covers areas from Skagit River north to the Canadian border. "It displaces the juvenile fish, and gets them stranded in places where they shouldn't be. What affect it will have on them in the long term and how much loss is hard to say at this point.

"The Nooksack and Stillaguamish got hit pretty bad, and this is going to really have impact, mainly on chinook and chum there. And to some extent the coho may get away a little better because they tend to spawn in smaller streams."

Barkdull pointed out that the Upper Skagit River escaped flooding problems, and all the northern hatchery facilities were doing fine.

"I talked with our hatchery complex manager and we survived at all the facilities, and the fish are alive and doing fine," said Barkdull of the Marblemount, Baker, Kendall, Whatcom Creek and Lake Whatcom hatcheries.

Other local hatcheries may have taken a worse hit from this latest storm.

"The Tokul Creek [Hatchery] was a mess, they're taking it hour by hour, and we're looking at releasing [150,00 juvenile steelhead] early," said Annette Hoffman, a state Fish and Wildlife fish program manager. "The staff [at the Arlington Hatchery] had some concern, but were working hard on their issues, and were planning on moving fish to other ponds for the time being. They planned to release [some 80,000 trout] early into local lakes if necessary."

The Whitehorse Hatchery was pretty much an island. The Soos Creek Facility took on a considerable amount of water, and there was also some issues at Voights Creek as well.

"It doesn't sound too great for our hatcheries and this may bring on high mortality losses along with low releases in the future," said Chad Jackson, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist.

 

Related

Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428

Orientation meetings for Master Hunter applicants

 
Best RThe Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and its Master Hunter Advisory Group are offering orientation classes in February for those interested in enrolling in the 2009 Master Hunter program.

The orientation meetings will focus on the Master Hunter program application process, requirements for certification and the role of the master hunter. Participants may apply for the program after the meetings and will receive packets and study materials to take home, said Mike Kuttel, WDFW Master Hunter policy lead. No pre-registration is required.

The following meetings are open to the public and will be held:

  • Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Valley Fire Department in Yakima,
    10000 Zier Road. Take the Nob Hill Blvd. exit off I-82; turn left onto 72nd Ave. and right onto Zier Road.
  • Feb. 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council headquarters in Spokane, 6116 North Market Street.
  • Feb. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building (NRB) in Olympia, 1111 Washington Street, off Capitol Way. Directional signs are posted in NRB parking lots.

The Master Hunter program is a voluntary program sponsored by WDFW.  Formerly known as the Advanced Hunter Education program, the new Master Hunter program has been redesigned to promote the highest standard of hunter ethics and help ensure continued hunting opportunity in the future. Master hunters participate in controlled hunts to eliminate problem animals that damage property and/or threaten public safety. In addition to providing certification, the program emphasizes safe, ethical, responsible, and lawful hunting practices.

The deadline for enrolling in the 2009 Master Hunter program is March 31. Details on the program and enrollment procedures are available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/masterhunter/ . egards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428

Friday, January 9, 2009

Commission asks negotiators to seek common ground on spring chinook plan

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, meeting via conference call, today authorized continued negotiations with Oregon fisheries officials on a joint catch-sharing plan for spring chinook salmon fisheries on the lower Columbia River.

The commission, which sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), authorized three of its members as well as top department managers to work with their Oregon counterparts to find a consensus recommendation on the issue.  

Differences between the two states emerged on an allocation plan for sport and commercial fisheries last month, when the Oregon commission approved a formula that would provide a larger share of the harvest to commercial fisheries than the one recommended by a bi-state subcommittee of both state commissions.

Known as the Columbia River Fish Working Group, the subcommittee includes three commissioners from each state, along with fishery managers and citizen representatives who serve as advisors.

Agreement on an allocation plan is essential, because the two states jointly manage spring chinook fisheries on the lower Columbia River.  Nearly 300,000 upriver spring chinook salmon are expected to enter the Columbia River this year, which would make it the largest run since 2002.  The fishery is open now, although spring chinook do not begin to arrive in significant numbers until mid-March.

The Washington commission asked members of its negotiation team to report on their progress by Jan. 16, when the issue of a new management plan for spring chinook will be back on the commission's agenda for possible approval.  The public will be able to listen to that meeting, set to begin at 8:30 a.m. via conference call, on speakerphones at WDFW offices in Olympia and Vancouver, Wash.

The Olympia office is in the Natural Resources Building, Room 172, 1111 Washington St. S.E.  The Vancouver office is at 2108 S.E. Grand Blvd.  More information about the Jan. 16 meeting is available at (360) 902-2267.

Today's meeting, originally scheduled as a two-day session in Olympia, was conducted via conference call because of weather-related transportation problems.  Working through an abbreviated agenda, the commission:

  • Deferred action on electing a new commission chair and vice chair until the Jan. 16 conference call.  Those two-year leadership positions have been held by commissioners Jerry Gutzwiler and Miranda Wecker, respectively, since Jan. 2007.
  • Heard public testimony on policy direction for the North of Falcon season-setting process for 2009 salmon fisheries. Written comments can be submitted on the policy through Jan. 30 to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA, 98501-1091.
  • Received briefings on Gov. Gregoire's proposed budget for 2009-11 and a new analysis of the economic value of recreational and commercial fisheries in Washington state. 
Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Floods force evacuation from WDFW hatcheries

Flooding, heavy rainfall and high winds prompted evacuation of staff from one hatchery and have damaged other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) facilities throughout the state.

Staff at the Voights Creek Hatchery in Pierce County left the site early Wednesday morning on orders from the local fire department as the Carbon River approached historic flood levels, said Ron Warren, WDFW hatcheries division manager.

"I believe this is the first time we've left a facility totally on its own, but the rising waters were threatening the safety of our employees," Warren said. "The water was so high that chest waders were required to get in and out of the hatchery building."

While staff were able to move major equipment to a dry site, 1.6 million fry chinook, 780,000 yearling coho, 1 million coho eggs and fry, and 150,000 yearling steelhead remained at the hatchery, Warren said. 

"The forecast calls for drier weather this weekend so I hope we'll be able to get back in soon to assess the situation and begin cleaning up," he said. Warren said damage to the facility from last November's storm cost the department approximately $30,000.

Flooding and high winds have also caused damage at other WDFW facilities throughout the state. At the Goldendale Hatchery in Klickitat County, 60 mph winds tore the roof off one hatchery residence Tuesday, allowing rainwater to enter the building. No one was hurt, but persistent high winds prevented staff from making repairs.

Other hatchery facilities affected by rising water and flooding conditions include:

  • Soos Creek Hatchery in King County, where staff have moved fish and equipment to protected locations.
  • Arlington Hatchery in Snohomish County, where a rechanneled creek jumped its banks and entered the hatchery grounds..
  • Elochoman Hatchery in Wahkiakum County, where high water flooded a hatchery residence and reduced access to fish ponds.
  • Forks Creek Hatchery in Pacific County, where a spring intake overflowed and washed out the access road.
  • Spokane Trout Hatchery in Spokane County, where a spawning pond cover and rearing-pond bird netting collapsed due to heavy snow loads.

Warren said other operations have also reported damage and once weather permits, the department will do a complete assessment.

"The entire state's been affected," he said. "WDFW employees will continue to monitor facilities and work to protect state resources." 

Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Meeting Closed due to Weather

Due to extreme weather conditions across the state, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting scheduled for Jan. 9-10 will not take place as planned.  Instead, the commission will meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9 via telephone conference call to discuss future scheduling of key agenda items.

The commission, which sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will discuss - but not take action on - proposed fishery management plans for Columbia River spring and summer chinook salmon.  That discussion, set to occur early in the Jan. 9 conference call, will include consideration of when to schedule commission action on the two fishery management plans.

The public can listen to the commission's Jan. 9 conference call via speakerphones at WDFW offices in Olympia and Vancouver, Wash.:

  • Olympia:  Natural Resources Building, Room 172, 1111 Washington St. S.E.
  • Vancouver:  2108 S.E. Grand Blvd.

A public hearing was held on management plans for spring and summer chinook salmon during a commission meeting Dec. 13 in Olympia.  Other discussion items during the Jan. 9 conference call may include:

  • Gov. Gregoire's proposed budget for the department in 2009-11.
  • An analysis of the economic value of recreational and commercial fisheries in Washington state.
  • A pilot-grazing project on lands owned by WDFW in Asotin County and a separate partnership, established under the Wild Horse Coordinated Resource Management Plan, with landowners in Kittitas County.
  • The status of a timber salvage and thinning operation on portions of the Olympic and Johns River wildlife areas near Grays Harbor.

Questions about the change in meeting plans may be directed to Susan Yeager, executive secretary for the commission, at (360) 902-2267. 

Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428