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Author Topic: WDFW Rufus Woods News Release  (Read 6044 times)

Offline Buckshot Bill

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WDFW Rufus Woods News Release
« on: December 18, 2007, 06:53:47 AM »
New state-tribal agreement could boost
Rufus Woods Lake fishing

OLYMPIA - Anglers could gain additional fishing access to Rufus Woods Lake on the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) reservation under a pilot project agreement signed today by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and tribal officials.

If legislative funding for the project is approved, the agreement would allow non-tribal anglers to fish with either a Washington state fishing license or a Colville tribal fishing permit while they are fishing from a boat or from one of three proposed fishing access areas on the reservation.  Under the agreement, non-tribal anglers fishing in non-designated, undeveloped areas within the reservation must carry a tribal fishing permit. All non-tribal anglers fishing with a Colville tribal fishing permit also must carry a Colville transport permit if catch is going to be taken off the reservation.

Rufus Woods Lake is a 51-mile-long, 7,800-acre reservoir on the upper Columbia River, created by Chief Joseph Dam. It forms the boundary between Douglas and Okanogan counties in North Central Washington, and the southern boundary of the Colville Indian Reservation.  Open year-round, Rufus Woods Lake provides fishing for walleye, kokanee, and triploid rainbow trout. The state's last three record rainbows were caught in the lake.

"Rufus Woods has become a high-quality fishery, and angler interest in the lake has increased substantially over the last seven years," said WDFW North Central Regional Director Dennis Beich. "But access to the lake is primarily limited to two public boat ramps at either end. If funding is provided by the Legislature, up to three designated fishing access areas will be developed along the center of the lake's north shore on the Colville Indian Reservation."

The boundary of the Colville reservation is the center of the Columbia River bed, however determining and enforcing the actual boundary is difficult because the river has been inundated by dams, said Joe Peone, director of the CCT Fish and Wildlife Department. Through various agreements over the past 15 years, non-tribal anglers have been required to hold both a Colville tribal fishing permit and a Washington state fishing license when fishing Rufus Woods and Lake Roosevelt.

"This agreement is the product of a lot of hard work by both the Colville Tribes and WDFW to better serve the public who have come to regard Lake Rufus Woods as one of the premier fishing locations in the state," said Peone.  "The Colville Tribes have put a great deal of effort into developing and managing this fishery, and we are pleased to have worked out a good agreement with the state. We believe it is something that the Legislature can support as a genuine public benefit."

WDFW Director Jeff Koenings applauded the cooperative effort.

"We greatly appreciate the Colville Tribes working with us to both simplify fishing license requirements and improve access to the lake," Koenings said. "Increased access is important to future fishing and hunting opportunities throughout Washington state. This agreement is a good example of how we can work together to increase recreational opportunities for our citizens."

WDFW will request $423,000 from the Legislature to fund the first year of the project, and will submit additional requests over the next four years.

Pending legislative funding, new fishing access areas will be developed over the next five years. Limited access could be available as early as 2008, with additional capital funding in future years for complete development of shoreline docks, boat ramps, restrooms and camping facilities.

The agreement also provides for increased WDFW and CCT enforcement and fish management staff in the area, including portions of the upper Columbia River's Wells Pool and the Okanogan River, and provides additional fish stocking for Rufus Woods Lake.

The agreement is the result of several years of negotiation, and has recently gained impetus from the Governor's Columbia River Water Management Program (CRWMP), which is developing additional Columbia River water supplies for irrigation and other purposes, including fishery needs. The agreement will be in effect and monitored for five years. If goals are being reached and both parties agree, it will be automatically renewed for an additional five years.

Hmmmmm, is this a good thing or bad?  It definitely opens up the area of were you can fish with just a regular fishing license.

Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: WDFW Rufus Woods News Release
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2008, 06:13:29 AM »

Over-the-limit Rufus Woods
fisherman forfeits boat

OLYMPIA - A Rufus Woods Lake fisherman cited earlier this year for too many fish in his daily catch recently forfeited his boat and other equipment to the state.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officers cited Pedro Martinez, 46, of Moses Lake on two counts July 26 at Rufus Woods Lake on the Okanogan-Douglas county line in north central Washington. Martinez was cited for possessing 13 rainbow trout-11 over the legal daily catch limit of two-and for failing to display his catch for inspection to officers when requested.

The criminal violations cost Martinez a $250 fine and the loss of his boat, boat motor, boat trailer, cooler, and fishing rod and reel.

A Washington state hearings officer recently finalized the forfeiture of the equipment, valued at an estimated $2,500.

"This case is a good example of how a fish and wildlife violation can end up costing much more than a standard fine," said WDFW Sgt. Jim Brown of Okanogan. "Loss of equipment for serious intentional violations is a strong deterrent to others."
The only man who never makes a mistake, is the man who never does anything!!
The further one goes into the wilderness, the greater the attraction of its lonely freedom.

Offline WAcoyotehunter

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Re: WDFW Rufus Woods News Release
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2008, 08:12:13 AM »
It appears as though the WDFW is buying access (423k) from the colvilles, so they can benifit from the development and from the increased traffic (tourism?) to the area.  The people that are getting screwed are all the landowners along Rufus Woods Lake that have to deal with out of towners camping, hunting, trespassing and making fires on their property.  When you go there, please keep in mind that MOST of the river bank is private- that includes the ground to the high water mark of the bank.  The landowners actually own the land under the water to the historic high water mark.

Offline roadhuntking

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Re: WDFW Rufus Woods News Release
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2008, 12:49:00 PM »
Sorry to combine two different threads and off the subject of Rufus Woods, but in one of the hunting threads that backwoods boy had about the trophy blacktail that was poached and the guy that was convicted only got probation and I believe a 6000 dollar fine. I understand the hunter had the bigger dollar amount fine but the angler lost his boat and gear. Yes poaching is poaching but lose your boat and gear for to many fish and not lose your rifle and truck for shooting a trophy big animal?  I believe the angler-poacher is gonna learn his lesson a bit better than the hunter-poacher in this situation.

 


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