As part of lawmakers continuing efforts to address yet another budget shortfall without raising taxes, both parties would lay off some senior agency ...read more...]]> How do the recently proposed 2011-13 supplemental budgets from Washington House Republicans and Democrats for WDFW compare?

As part of lawmakers continuing efforts to address yet another budget shortfall without raising taxes, both parties would lay off some senior agency staffers and redivy up their jobs, but the cuts go deeper on the blue side of the aisle by roughly $2 million.

The Democrats' budget would close the Samish and Nemah Salmon Hatcheries, affecting Chinook production in Willapa Bay and north Puget Sound, reduce production at Hoodsport Hatchery, and suspend in-lieu property tax payments to counties to the tune of $1.8 million.

Both budgets fund wolf, bear and mountain goat work; the Democrat's version also adds in a half a million dollars to thwart geoduck poaching.

It also more closely tracks the original 5 to 10 percent budget-cut proposals WDFW handed over to Governor Gregoire last fall.

For comparison, first take a look at two pages from the budget of Rep. Gary Alexander, ranking Republican member of the House Ways & Means Committee, and who represents Lewis County and most of Thurston County:

Second, the same two pages from the budget of Representative Ross Hunter, a King County Democrat and chair of House Ways & Committee:

Next week Senate Democrats will lay out their supplemental budget, and then the entire Legislature and Governor Gregoire will come up with a final budget before the end of the short session in early March.

Oh, to be sure, things were promising about three weeks ago.

On Jan. 25 an ...read more...]]> OK, I can be honest: This year's spring Chinook fishing has not quite gotten off to the good start we expected here at Springer Control.

Oh, to be sure, things were promising about three weeks ago.

On Jan. 25 an adult and jack zapped past the fish counters at Bonneville Dam.

Then about 100 miles downriver and six days later, the commercials caught their first.

It was touchdown Our Team when on Super Bowl Sunday Dustin Stansbury put a Caterpillar Island salmon in the box.

And that guy limited -- limited! -- on the Willamette and ODFW spotted another landed on the Columbia (one fish for 99 guys!) ... and some have turned up at Sellwood ... and ... and ...

Well, the Bonneville count hasn't budged. It's still stuck at one, which we'll be the first to admit on the record is just 14 percent of the 10-year average, if our math is to be trusted.

And the comms couldn't even scrape up a single springer in two recent test salmon fisheries, or even yard one over incidentally in their next two sturgeon openers.

Whoa is us ...

But today, some good news that's turning our furrow-browed frown upside down: The first springer of the year went over Willamette Falls!

Wahoo!

Did so yesterday, Feb. 21.

Why am I so buoyed by a single fish?

Because it shreds all known factoidia, wisdom and horse sense those Knowers Of All Thing Spring Chinook in Clacka-Salem purport to know.

"It is still far too early in the season to expect spring chinook passage to take place," says ODFW in their latest Recreation Report.

Booyah!

The run, it's coming, no matter what the smart guys and gals say!

Ahem, of course, it is said fish and wildlife management agency which we defer to in regards to the weekend's opportunities for Oregon anglers.

Here are a handful of highlights straight from ODFW:

COLUMBIA ZONE

• Sturgeon retention is allowed three days a week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) from Bonneville Dam downstream to Wauna Powerlines, and seven days per week from Wauna Powerlines downstream to Buoy 10 with a 38-inch minimum and 54-inch maximum fork length restriction in effect.
• Steelhead fishing is good in The Dalles and John Day pools. Anglers are also catching a few steelhead and early spring chinook on the lower Columbia River.
• Walleye angling is starting to pick-up between Bonneville and McNary Dams.

SOUTHWEST ZONE

• For the adventurous angler looking to escape the crowds, consider the rugged canyon of the Illinois River.
• Steelhead fishing continues to be good on the South Fork Coquille River.

• The upper Rogue watershed stocked Lake Selmac, Agate Lake, and Reinhart Pond last week! These legal and larger sized rainbow trout will add to the abundant fishing opportunities available to anglers in Jackson and Josephine counties.
• Crabbing in Coos Bay has been very good.

SOUTHEAST ZONE

• Redband trout fishing has been good on the Blitzen River, while rainbow and brown trout fishing on the lower Owyhee has been heating up in the afternoons.
• In Chickahominy Reservoir, fishing has been good for stocked trout.
• Ice thickness on lakes and reservoirs is variable. Winter anglers should always use extreme caution before venturing out onto ice.

For more ideas, including some closer to home, check out the updated Rec Report.

Sign up for Jack and Sharon Tipping's one-day log-building class covering all aspects of construction from foundation to finish, using ropes and pulley blocks.

Taught out of their Onalaska, Wash., log ...read more...]]> Want to learn how to build your own cabin?

Sign up for Jack and Sharon Tipping's one-day log-building class covering all aspects of construction from foundation to finish, using ropes and pulley blocks.

Taught out of their Onalaska, Wash., log house, the Tippings have built seven log buildings on their property over the last 30 years. No. 8 goes up this spring.

(ONALASKA BUILDING SCHOOL)

Cost is $175 per person, and includes lunch, PowerPoint CD and booklet.

For groups of two or more, it's $150 per person.

All classes fall on Saturdays -- April 14, May 5 and May 12.

For more, go to onalaskalogbuildingschool.com, email tmusky@tds.net or call (360) 978-4962.

The Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating the person(s) responsible for the unlawful killing and waste of a blacktail doe and fawn deer less than ...read more...]]> (OREGON STATE POLICE PRESS RELEASE)

The Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating the person(s) responsible for the unlawful killing and waste of a blacktail doe and fawn deer less than a week ago in the Sixes Wildlife Management Unit in Coos County.

On February 21, 2012, OSP Trooper Ryan Keeler responded to a report of two deer carcasses wrapped in a blue tarp near milepost 3 on Two Mile Lane in the Bandon area.  Based on information and the condition of the carcasses, Keeler believes the deer were killed approximately February 18 or 19.  The deer appear to have been shot with a small caliber firearm.  Both deer were gutted and the remains left to waste. The fawn’s head had been removed and wasn’t found.

(OSP)

A reward of up to $500 is being offered by the Oregon Hunters Association Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) Reward Program for information leading to the arrest and conviction in this case.  Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the Turn-in-Poacher TIP line at 1-800-452-7888 or Trooper Keeler at (541) 888-2677 ext. 243.

This Friday and Saturday, as well as Feb. 17 and 18, were all the opener that Portland sturg anglers were slated ...read more...]]> The question from reader Mike Fisenko yesterday midafternoon was, what about sturgeon fishing later this week on the Willamette?

This Friday and Saturday, as well as Feb. 17 and 18, were all the opener that Portland sturg anglers were slated for this winter.

The quota was all of 1,768 fish, but over those first two days, fishermen retained 90 percent of them, or 1,535 sturgeon.

Late yesterday that led Oregon fishery managers to close the big Oregon river below the falls, as well as the Multnomah Channel and Gilbert River.

They say that last week's effort was over twice last year's at this time; they counted a whopping 2,400 boats on the water.

Even though catch rates were about the same, Steve Williams says ODFW didn't count on such a huge jump in effort. His staffers estimate that another 700 to 800 fish would be kept if the fishery were to reopen for the last two days.

The sturgeon harvest has been reduced in recent years due to declining stocks; this year's guideline was down 30 percent from 2011.

“Reduced quotas combined with high effort make it challenging to structure suitable fisheries,” Williams said, “If this trend continues, ODFW will have to reconsider how it structures future sturgeon retention seasons on the Willamette.”

As it stands, the agency will host several public meetings this fall to present population data and some ideas.

Catch and release remains open on the lower Willamette; starting May 1, the sturgeon sanctuary from I-205 to the falls closes to all fishing, however.

SALMON/STEELHEAD

Cowlitz River – No report on angling success.

Last week Tacoma Power recovered 46 winter-run steelhead and one cutthroat trout during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

During the ...read more...]]> (REPORT COURTESY FISHERIES BIOLOGIST JOE HYMER)

SALMON/STEELHEAD

Cowlitz River – No report on angling success.

Last week Tacoma Power recovered 46 winter-run steelhead and one cutthroat trout during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

During the past week Tacoma Power employees released ten winter-run steelhead at the Lake Scanewa Day Use Site above Cowlitz Falls Dam and three steelhead and the cutthroat trout into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 8,360 cubic feet per second on Tuesday, February 21.

Washougal River – 11 boat anglers kept 1 hatchery steelhead and released 3 hatchery and 6 wild fish.  20 bank anglers released 1 hatchery and 1 wild fish.

Lower Columbia River mainstem from the I-5 Bridge downstream – Staff from the states of Oregon and Washington are still trying to physically get their hands on the first spring chinook to sport sample this year.  ODFW checked one but didn’t sample it during their boat run this past weekend.

Bonneville Pool – No salmonid anglers were sampled last week.

The Dalles and John Day pools – Bank and boat anglers are catching some steelhead though most of the fish were wild and had to be released.

Through Feb. 19, no additional Chinook have been counted at Bonneville Dam since the adult and jack on Jan. 25.

STURGEON

Lower Columbia mainstem from Bonneville Dam downstream - Some legals were caught in the Camas/Washougal and Kalama areas.

Bonneville Pool – Closed for sturgeon retention until further notice.

The Dalles and John Day pools – No legals were found in the sample last week

WALLEYE AND BASS

Bonneville Pool – No bass or walleye anglers were sampled last week.

The Dalles and John Day pools – Boat anglers are catching some walleye.  No anglers were found fishing for bass.

TROUT

Klineline Pond – 45 bank anglers kept 58 rainbows.

Most of that time was actually just a rote recitation ...read more...]]> It took all of 100 seconds earlier this winter for a Senate panel to recommend that the full chamber confirm Larry Carpenter's appointment to the Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission.

Most of that time was actually just a rote recitation of people, bill numbers and positions -- Debbie Regala, vice chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources & Marine Waters, reading the rock-solid sportfishing advocate's name (he's also a hunting partner of WDFW Director Phil Anderson) and rattling off those of 11 others who Governor Christine Gregoire recently put on the state's various oversight boards and commissions -- before an affirmative vote was held on the whole kit and kaboodle.

That's how some gubernatorial appointments go.

It has not gone that way for the other man Gregoire appointed with Carpenter that December day to refill the commission to its full nine members.

In a skirmish that embodies the country's deep divisions, the angst of wolf reintroduction/recolonization in the Pacific Northwest, and is representative of Western Washington-Eastern Washington tensions, Jay Kehne spent 50 minutes in front of the same committee late last week explaining himself, his affiliations, whether he actually hunts, wolves and whatnot.

JAY KEHNE IN FRONT OF THE SENATE ENERGY, NATURAL RESOURCES AND MARINE WATERS COMMITTEE. (TVW)

It remains to be seen whether a majority of the ENRM committee will recommend that his six-year appointment be confirmed, and how or if the full Senate will vote on the matter.

On the one hand, in the TVW video of his hearing it appeared that Kehne would easily get the vote of committee chair Kevin Ranker, a Democrat who hails from one of the last of the San Juan Islands before Canada, and Regala, another Puget Sound Democrat.

While Jerome Delvin, the Republican Senate Whip from Tri-Cities, noted that emails had poured into his office in opposition, he also wished the Okanogan County resident good luck in his term on the commission, seemingly indicating continued service and which way his vote might go.

Two other Republicans are all but for-sure no votes. Bob Morton, who might as well be from Idaho his home is so deep in Eastern Washington, suggested Kehne wasn't much like himself or other Eastsiders, while Val Stevens of the northwestern Cascades questioned why five farm bureaus opposed the appointment.

Senator Dan Swecker, a Republican from Lewis and southern Thurston Counties, didn't give any clue either way except to say it was good to see Kehne again and that they "have a history" -- read that as you may.

Not in attendance, committee members Karen Fraser, James Hargrove and Ed Murray, all Westside Democrats.

So the question for Ranker -- who fairly gushed at Kehne's performance in the face of Morton's and Steven's questions, and as the Senate majority assistant whip knows a thing or two about counting heads before roll call -- is, do you risk the appointment with a vote?

While three of five outcomes work in his and other Kehne supporters' favor, the fourth and fifth leave them with a whole lot of proverbial egg on their faces -- and the last would also send Kehne back to Omak to tend his Katahdin sheep.

If Ranker and ENRM 1) leave Kehne's appointment hanging, 2) end up making a yes recommendation but the Senate doesn't act -- neither uncommon -- or 3) both the committee and Senate vote yes, Kehne continues to serve on the Fish & Wildlife Commission.

(Most commissioners go unconfirmed, but if the Senate signs off on him, he'd be one of three such seated members, joining Brad Smith and the recently confirmed Rollie Schmitten.)

But a majority of ENRM could 4) also recommend against confirmation. That is what happened in the "assassination" of recreational angling champion Clyde McBrayer in 2005 by the commercial fishing lobby. He ended up resigning from the commission several months later.

And if 5) the full Senate gives Kehne a thumbs down, that would not only be an embarrassment for Ranker, Senate Democratic leadership, the governor and other supporters, but result in his removal.

Gregoire (or the next guvnah should she be too busy over the next 10 months) would then need to find a new commissioner.

Those latter scenarios would cheer some Washington hunters, legislators and others who have been urging senators to block Kehne's confirmation.

For starters, they do not like his association with Conservation Northwest nor its boss who they will never forgive as one of the 1980's original tree-sitters -- there is a real nexus between the outdoor trades and outdoorsmen, and both groups have long memories. Kehne works part-time for Mitch Friedman and his Bellingham-based organization as an outreach associate on wildlife-related land issues in his home county.

The Okanogan houses the state's biggest and most important mule deer herd, as well as other species, and hosts some of the best large blocks of private land on winter range in Washington. It's where the Department of Fish & Wildlife (which the Fish & Wildlife Commission oversees) is eagerly buying ranches from willing sellers or protecting them from future housebuilding by purchasing their development rights -- a hot topic for some in the state's farming community.

Some see a potential conflict of interest for Kehne. An online petition to ENRM and signed by 275 people wonders, "Why haven’t paid employees of Washington Cattlemen’s Association, SCI, Hunter’s Heritage Council, Washington Livestock Producers, or Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation been appointed to the Wildlife Commission?"

Further angering some is that Conservation Northwest has also been at the forefront of wolves and wolf recovery planning in Washington. Kehne himself has been part of panel discussions entitled "Living with Wolves," and he rebuked Okanogan County commissioners for their petition to delist Canis lupus, calling it a "waste of energy and time."

All fine and dandy activities when it was Kehne's own time and dime.

But now that he's a Fish & Wildlife Commissioner, they've attracted far more scrutiny. For some the questions are, is he more representative of a bunch of tree-and-wolf-hugging Westsiders than the Eastside position on the commission that he filled? What effect might he have on wolf and game management? And is he the right fit for a commission that, as Dave Workman, the longtime Washington hook-and-bullet writer, put it, should be swaddled in "fluorescent orange with a blood stain here and there"?

Kehne attempted to address some of the questions in his appearance before Ranker's committee.

He told senators that he's spent 44 of his 57 years in Eastern Washington, and that he grew up in Spokane. That's when he began hunting upland birds and ducks with his brother when they were boys. He said he now focuses mostly on big game, and hunts the backcountry and Utah and Idaho.

(His Washington hunter reports show that between 2002 and 2010 he killed five deer and two elk; his appointment also upped the percentage of hunters on the Fish & Wildlife Commission from 71 percent, or five of seven members according to chairwoman Miranda Wecker's count last fall, to 77 percent, or seven of nine.)

The rest of Kehne's résumé includes two degrees from Pullman and decades of working with ranchers and farmers throughout the western Columbia Basin and eastern slope of the Cascade Range on soil and other issues with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

He has since retired and began working with Conservation Northwest two years ago. Some of his projects include pushing for an underpass on a stretch of Highway 97 where he says 400 deer a year are killed, and helping keep ranchers on the land and their spreads from being subdivided. He also noted that he recused himself from last week's commission vote to buy a 165-acre parcel that includes a mile of Okanogan River waterfront.

Kehne's words didn't seem to phase Senator Morton, described in a recent Omak Chronicle article as in "strong opposition to public-land acquisitions" and who in 1995 introduced a bill that would have barred such buys for wildlife habitat and public use through funding from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, now known as the Recreation and Conservation Office.

As Morton began to grill Kehne, he first held up a sheaf of papers the committee had received on Kehne's appointment, and then referenced another stack that had come directly to his office and opposed it.

It was from the latter that the senator posed a series of questions.

SENATOR BOB MORTON. (TVW)

He asked Kehne to elaborate on Eastside rural values, why the Fish & Wildlife Commission is comprised the way it is, whether there was anything about Conservation Northwest he disagreed with, if he knew what Y2Y -- the Yellowstone-to-Yukon initiative -- was, and his thoughts on northern pike, the Shanker's Bend dam project (since withdrawn), leasing WDFW land for grazing, and the Loomis State Forest.

Morton also threw in several questions apparently designed to test the depth of Kehne's Five-Oh-Nineyness -- what a latigo, panel and throat-latch fish bait were.

If Kehne parried the previous questions, he whiffed on Morton's gotchas.

(The answers: a saddle strap; part of a corral; part of a fish.)

Concluding, Morton said:

"I wonder if you would consider becoming a representative from Western Washington? I think what I hear from you is, you would be a good one to blend, and leave the seat that would be open for someone who is more familiar with, particularly, the grazing, the agriculture use, the timber, because we have a serious problem with the Loomis, which is our school money ... I'll be talking to you to see if there's a chance of you taking a slot that would be available that's a Western Washington representative and leave the seat for the eastern to another individual."

Kehne responded that he didn't know much about the Westside.

The RCWs governing the commission require three commissioners to be residents of Western Washington, three to be residents of Eastern Washington and three to be from anywhere in the state. None may live in the same county.

Currently there are members from Whatcom (Smith), Skagit (Carpenter), Kitsap (Connie Mahnken), Thurston (David Jennings) and Pacific (Miranda Wecker) Counties in Western Washington, and Okanogan (Kehne), Chelan (Schmitten), Grant (Chuck Perry) and Ferry (Gary Douvia) Counties in Eastern Washington.

The next at-large position opens up after Dec. 31, 2012, when Douvia's term is slated to end.

As for what's next in the Kehne saga, an official at Senator Ranker's office late last week said that a committee vote had not been scheduled and to call back in two weeks. He said that there are other matters on ENRM's agenda, including numerous House bills that must be moved before upcoming cutoff dates.

He also pointed out that even if Kehne does get a recommendation, it would then be up to Senate leadership to schedule a final vote.

That poses a risk not only for Kehne and his supporters but for those hunters and others against him.

If he is confirmed by the committee and Senate despite the opposition, what does that say about the sway of sportsmen in Washington?

On the flip side, it could be used as a further rallying cry for hunters to vote for Rob McKenna for governor this fall.

Stay tuned.

What’s hot is trolling the lower basin of Lake Chelan for Lakers.  Also hot, is bait fishing on Roses Lake for Rainbow Trout and Perch.  Rufus should continue to “perk” along for still fishers.  For ...read more...]]> (DARRELL & DAD'S PRESS RELEASE)

What’s hot is trolling the lower basin of Lake Chelan for Lakers.  Also hot, is bait fishing on Roses Lake for Rainbow Trout and Perch.  Rufus should continue to “perk” along for still fishers.  For something a bit different, try the edges of Lake Chelan for some big rainbows.

On Chelan, fish the deep water in the lower basin of Lake Chelan for nice numbers of average size fish.  You can “gamble” on catching a big fish by trolling on either side of the Narrows near the Yacht Club.  Our “go to” lure in the Basin was a Silver Horde’s Ace Hi Fly in double glow Splatterback colors baited with a strip of Northern Pikeminnow.  Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders in glow colors similarly baited also worked.  Near the Narrows the same lures have worked, but our “go to” lure is a T4 Purple Glow Flatfish.

Fishing with Pautzke’s Fire Bait near the lower pens on Rufus has caught some fish.  American Wildfire worked best.  We continue to be able to get fish to bite jigs for some catch and release action.

Roses Lake remains frozen over with safe ice during the past reporting period.  The days are getting longer and warmer so I’d be very cautious as we approach early spring.

Some anglers have been scoring nice big rainbows shore fishing on Chelan.  Dunking Firebait and being patient could pay off with a three to four pound rainbow.  Don’t expect fast action.

JOSH SAYAN AND CRAIG WATTS WITH A BRACE OF 4-POUND RAINBOWS CAUGHT AT THE MILL BAY DOCK. (DARRELL & DAD'S GUIDE SERVICE)

Your fishing tip of the week is to use Washington State’s two rod endorsement and the scientific process to determine your best presentation.  It’s hard to know if your “favorite” is best, if that’s all you use.  Run “experimental” lures against your favorite in a head to head comparison.  Remember, control and variable.  Try to keep track of the variables.

Your kid’s tip of the week is to use these upcoming mid-winter and spring breaks to create some fishing memories and family traditions.  We developed our passion for the Lake Chelan Valley by bringing Darrell to the Lake Chelan State Park over Spring Break in the RV.  The weather was manageable, there were very few other people and the Valley was beautiful as always.  Involve them in the planning phase to get the maximum benefit.

Your safety tip of the week is to have a “stay awake” plan after fishing in cool or cold weather all day.  After an early wake up, a drive to the lake and all day on the water in energy sapping weather, the drive home can be a struggle to stay awake.  Remember stay alert, America needs more Lerts.

Weekend Fishing Opportunities:

Sturgeon retention is allowed three days a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) from Bonneville Dam downstream to Wauna Powerlines, and seven days per week from Wauna Powerlines downstream to Buoy 10 ...read more...]]> (OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)

Weekend Fishing Opportunities:

Sturgeon retention is allowed three days a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) from Bonneville Dam downstream to Wauna Powerlines, and seven days per week from Wauna Powerlines downstream to Buoy 10 with a 38-inch minimum and 54-inch maximum fork length restriction in effect.

Steelhead fishing is good in The Dalles and John Day pools.  Anglers are also catching a few steelhead and early spring Chinook on the lower Columbia River.

Walleye angling is starting to pick-up between Bonneville and McNary Dams.

SALMO/STEELHEAD

Salmonid angler effort was light on the lower Columbia this past weekend and catch rates were low but should improve in the coming weeks.  On Saturday’s (2/18) flight, 26 salmonid boats and 31 Oregon bank anglers were counted.

Gorge Bank:

No report.

Gorge Boats:

No report.

Portland to Longview Bank:

Weekly checking showed one adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus two unclipped steelhead released for 99 bank anglers.

Portland to Longview boats:

Weekend checking showed one adipose fin-clipped spring chinook kept for 44 boats (99 anglers).

Bonneville Pool:

No report.

The Dalles Pool:

Weekly checking showed one adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus two unclipped steelhead released for 16 bank anglers; and two unclipped steelhead released for three boats (seven anglers).

John Day Pool:

Weekly checking showed one unclipped steelhead released for five bank anglers; and four unclipped steelhead released for five boats (eight anglers).

STURGEON

Sturgeon angler effort was low on the lower Columbia River this past weekend, with the majority of the effort concentrated in the Willamette.  On Saturday’s (2/18) flight, 24 sturgeon boats and three Oregon bank anglers were counted.

Gorge Bank:

Weekly checking showed no catch for one bank angler.

Gorge Boats:

No report.

Troutdale Bank:

No report.

Troutdale Boats:

No report.

Portland to Longview Bank:

No report.

Portland to Longview Boats:

Weekly checking showed no catch for six boats (14 anglers).

Bonneville Pool:

Weekly checking showed no catch for four bank anglers; and three legal white sturgeon kept, plus 15 sublegal sturgeon released for 10 boats (20 anglers).

The Dalles Pool:

Weekly checking showed one sublegal sturgeon released for 39 bank anglers; and one oversize and one sublegal sturgeon released for two boats (five anglers).

John Day Pool:

Weekly checking showed no catch for 21 bank anglers; and two sublegal sturgeon released for 12 boats (28 anglers).

WALLEYE

Bonneville Pool:

No report.

The Dalles Pool:

Weekly checking showed one walleye kept for one boat (three anglers).

John Day Pool:

Weekly checking showed 15 walleye kept, plus three walleye released for 23 boats (44 anglers).

Engrossed Senate Bill 5661, which requires commercial skippers to report their lost nets within 24 hours, is now one step closer towards ...read more...]]> A Washington House panel has just pushed a lost-net-reporting bill out of committee on a 13-0 do-pass recommendation.

Engrossed Senate Bill 5661, which requires commercial skippers to report their lost nets within 24 hours, is now one step closer towards becoming law.

It was already passed out of the full Senate on a 47-1 vote earlier this session.

Under current law, commercial fishermen are only encouraged to report lost or abandoned gear within 48 hours to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Shellfishermen would be exempt under the bill, and would still only be asked to call in their lost pots within two days.

Before calling for a vote of the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resource just before 11 a.m., chairman Brian Blake told members 5661 was "a good bill and I urge your support."

During a public hearing in 2011, one of its main proponents, Bear Holmes, said that commercial fishermen had only reported two lost nets since 2003.

One was found and pulled out of Port Susan in 2008.

"It contained 162 seabirds, 14 salmon, 42 dogfish, 1,400 Dungeness crab and one harbor seal," Holmes said.

With Puget Sound's, the Straits' and the Pacific's currents, it makes sense that the faster lost gear is reported, the quicker crews can be dispatched to come pull it up. The Northwest Straits Initiative's Derelict Gear project reports yarding in nearly 4,100 nets and over 2,650 crab pots through last November.

The issue of lost gillnets still fishing and killing sea life was brought to widespread attention in a recent KING 5 story.