On Monday 01 October 2001 03:11 pm, Preston Singletary wrote: > Anyone interested in targeting coho in the Yakima, please be advised: > targeting salmon in a river that is closed to fishing for salmon can net > you a fine that can run to four figures. This applies to any salmon in any > river that is closed to salmon fishing, including humpies or chums in the > North Fork of the Stilly. Leave 'em alone!
According to http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/regs/regchng/sep0601a.htm the Yakima is open to fishing for hatchery raised coho and chinook starting on 9/6. As to the NF of the Stilly, there does not appear a rule change other than the ban on weighted flies. According to the 2001 rule pamphlet and the website, the laws are silent on the capture of humpies or chum, with the exception of raising the limit of humpies to 4. I highly agree with Preston about the leave them alone ethic, but the WDFW is not closing any of NF Stilly and even opened the Yak to salmon fishing. These are WDFW calls, and we can see where their sympathy lies. My strongest feelings about the leave them alone are in the case of fish listed under the ESA (wild coho and chinook in puget sound) and the poor little kokanee of Lake Washington and Sammamish, and wild Steelhead anywhere in this state and south. All these fish need space to allow them to spawn without disruption. I recely read with distaste on eBay about a guy selling flys that would get steelheads off their redds. What a crappy way to fish. Rob
