Cowlitz Dippers Net Lots Of Smelt On Opener
Smelt are now being smoked for snacks as well as prepared for sturgeon bait after today’s five-hour opener on the lower Cowlitz.
‘Worst Ever Return’ Of Puget Sound Steelhead
Even as angling reopens on sections of most of them today, state managers are dealing with a significant eggtake shortfall on three of four east Puget Sound river systems due to “the worst ever return” of the popular fish.
Puget Sound Anglers’ Garner Gives His To ‘Lifeblood’ Documentary
A key member of Western Washington’s sportfishing community appeared in a new documentary this week urging often at-odds salmon stakeholders to work together to recover habitat and runs.
Boater Safety Or Gov. Overreach? Bill Would Require Anglers, Others Aboard Small Craft To Wear PFDs
Earlier this month, Reps. Cindy Ryu and Lauren Davis (both D-Shoreline) introduced a bill that would require teens and adults aboard all watercraft less than 19 feet long to wear Coast Guard-approved PFDs, and this week HB 2443 had a hearing in Ryu’s Housing, Community Development & Veterans Committee.
State Rep Aims To Simplify WDFW Hunting Regs; Oly Fish-Wildlife Bills Update
It was the fall of 1969, man had just walked on the moon, the road over the top of the North Cascades was still dirt and all of Washington’s big and small game seasons fit on one side of a state highway map that also featured GMU borders.
Northwest Sportsmen’s, Boat Shows Take Center Stage
Along with the big racks, the gun raffle he signed up for and the guy with the sparky fire tool thingy, what caught the eye of my youngest son at the fishing and hunting show we attended last winter was a school of fish.
Thoughts On The Cancellation Of Skagit-Sauk C&R Steelhead Season
Like many North Sound steelheaders, I’m disappointed with this week’s news that not enough wild winter-runs are forecast to return to the Skagit and Sauk this year to support another catch-and-release opener.
Decade’s Top Northwest Fish And Wildlife Stories
Maybe it’s that we’re so close to the winter solstice or just the times we live in, but a glance back over the decade in Northwest fishing and hunting seems like a bleak undertaking. Viewed through the lens of late December 2019, recent years’ sharp salmon and steelhead declines stand out starkly against an angry […]
Inslee Proposes Fish-Hunt Fee Increase, Bringing Columbia Endorsement Back
Governor Inslee is proposing to increase Washington fishing and hunting licenses and bring back the Columbia River endorsement to partially fill gaping holes in WDFW’s budget, surprising agency officials.
More 2020 Columbia Salmon Forecasts, Outlooks Posted; Sockeye A Brighter Spot
Columbia salmon managers are rolling out more 2020 forecasts and sockeye might be the bright spot next year.
18 WDFW Fish, Wildlife, Recreation Acquisition Proposals Out For Comment
Washington land managers have their eyes on nearly 7,000 acres across the state for fish and wildlife habitat, angling, hunting and other recreational uses and are asking for comment on them.
Baker Sockeye Issues Back On WDFW Commission Agenda
It turns out that my best idea for solving aggravating Baker sockeye harvest inequities would cost on the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars — money WDFW doesn’t exactly have at the moment — and require round-the-clock monitoring so thieves don’t steal valuable parts.
A Few More Of Northwest Fishing’s ‘Influential Communicators’ Who Need To Be Recognized
A local fishing magazine’s recent list of the “15 most influential communicators” in the Northwest’s angling world caught my eye and while I can not argue with any of those who made the roundup, from my vantage point I feel there are a few more folks who probably should be recognized.
7-day Razor Clam Dig Coming Up; Tentative Jan., Feb. Openers Set
Razor clam diggers can return to ocean beaches for a seven-day opening beginning Dec. 10.
6 Options For Liberalizing Washington Bass, Spinyray Limits Identified
WDFW staffers will present the Fish and Wildlife Commission a half dozen options for liberalizing bass, walleye and channel catfish retention in select waters across Washington later this month.
WDFW Commission Denies Petition To Restrict Popular Skykomish Fisheries
A utility district’s petition to restrict bait fishing for half the year and roll back the opening of the summer Chinook and steelhead season on Washington’s Skykomish was rebuffed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission late last week.