Which salmon fisheries will we lose this year?

[DOUBLELUNG]

When I was a kid we had a cabin up the Chiwawa. Lots a Salmon went up that river, was great fishing. One of my contractors has a cabin up there he said you cant fish and it is all screwed up.. Cause?

ESA listing of Upper Columbia River steelhead and spring Chinook. 

[Night goat]

Honestly, the only reason why I'm going to buy a fishing lisence this year is so I can fly fish small creeks and stuff up in the hills, just happens to be that I have a good spot for pinks 7 min walk from my deck at my cabin, so, might get a lisence and huck flies off the beach, I highly doubt they are gonna close skagit pinks in the salt, but, I suppose you could say I don't have a very positive outlook on the fisheries in Washington, I've pretty much quit fishing here all together. I find it more enjoyable to get a rack of beer and hike up to a small lake and mess with bluegill and perch than most other fisheries, at least they haven't screwed that up yet

[Bullkllr]

Honestly, the only reason why I'm going to buy a fishing lisence this year is so I can fly fish small creeks and stuff up in the hills, just happens to be that I have a good spot for pinks 7 min walk from my deck at my cabin, so, might get a lisence and huck flies off the beach, I highly doubt they are gonna close skagit pinks in the salt, but, I suppose you could say I don't have a very positive outlook on the fisheries in Washington, I've pretty much quit fishing here all together. I find it more enjoyable to get a rack of beer and hike up to a small lake and mess with bluegill and perch than most other fisheries, at least they haven't screwed that up yet

Give it time, give it time.

It's pretty dismal. I used to basically be a "steelhead bum" during the whole winter. The entire experience has become limited beyond what I ever imagined.

[JimmyHoffa]

The hike in lakes used to be really great fishing.  First they were going up with helicopters and putting fish in the lakes.  They also used to allow you to backpack up plants each year to stock the high country.  A few lakes even had salmon in them.  Then you could catch a bunch later in the season and grill them up while camping.  State stopped that.

I'd imagine the salmon seasons are going to be fast and furious, especially silvers.  Supposedly they took the worst hit from 'the blob' that messed up ocean conditions. 

Hopefully, more than just this:

[WAcoueshunter]

It's gonna be tough.  My take, there will be salmon that we can catch.  Somewhere.  Are you good/flexible enough to catch them? If they aren't stacking up in the pool in front of your house, it may require some effort.  My six year old punched 44 (not caught, actually punched) fish in 2015.  He kicked my rear, I only punched 41.   This is also a pink year.  Last year was tough, but there were some fish to be had.  You need to know how to fish, and be flexible on when/where you do it. 

[singleshot12]

But have you done the math to find out what those salmon are actually costing a pound? For most it would not be feasible. I hate to see all recreational salmon fishing become a bubble fishery for just the rich.

[Dhoey07]

I didn't buy a fishing license for the first time in my life this year.  There were a handful of times I wish I would have, but I survived.  I used to fish the Snake and Columbia a lot over here, but the springer season on the snake, poor forecast for sockeye at Brewster and the CRSSE turned me off.

[Stein]

Just read Tony Floor's monthly column and it looks pretty bleak.  Get the trailer up to 100% shape and buy some gas futures if you want to play.  The pinks even look a bit questionable, especially south sound.

There will be fish to be found, but when you add in ferry costs, hotels, gas and days of vacation it gets a bit much for many people.

[theleo]

Springer prediction is 101,000 to Bonneville...could be bad.

Could be an interesting year to add to the data set for the discussion on the lower 4 dams on the Snake.

[snake]

It's gonna be tough.  My take, there will be salmon that we can catch.  Somewhere.  Are you good/flexible enough to catch them? If they aren't stacking up in the pool in front of your house, it may require some effort.  My six year old punched 44 (not caught, actually punched) fish in 2015.  He kicked my rear, I only punched 41.   This is also a pink year.  Last year was tough, but there were some fish to be had.  You need to know how to fish, and be flexible on when/where you do it.

Wow, you are totally not getting the point here...good for you by the way...

[Tinmaniac]

Pinks don't count and neither do the ones that are brought home not bled with the guts still in them.

[Mr Mykiss]

Springer prediction is 101,000 to Bonneville...could be bad.

Could be an interesting year to add to the data set for the discussion on the lower 4 dams on the Snake.

Because those dams caused the ocean conditions to be horrible the last few years?

[Mr Mykiss]

Springer prediction is 101,000 to Bonneville...could be bad.

Could be an interesting year to add to the data set for the discussion on the lower 4 dams on the Snake.

Or because they caused last year's sharp decline in fall chinook?

[singleshot12]

Ocean conditions,dams,predation etc. all don't help. But any realistic thinking person knows that "NETS" are the most detrimental to salmon runs.

 

[WAcoueshunter]

It's gonna be tough.  My take, there will be salmon that we can catch.  Somewhere.  Are you good/flexible enough to catch them? If they aren't stacking up in the pool in front of your house, it may require some effort.  My six year old punched 44 (not caught, actually punched) fish in 2015.  He kicked my rear, I only punched 41.   This is also a pink year.  Last year was tough, but there were some fish to be had.  You need to know how to fish, and be flexible on when/where you do it.

Wow, you are totally not getting the point here...good for you by the way...

It's gonna be a tough year. Not the first time. I enjoy fishing and spending time with my kid. The idea that I would not buy a fishing license because I need to fish outside of my home water would never cross my mind.

I know that's not what the OP was asking, but several of the posts went that way.  But I also get tired of the "woe is me" crowd who would like to blame everyone under the sun rather than just getting out there.  There are animals to be hunted and fish to be killed, I'd rather live my life making the best of the hand I'm dealt instead of griping about whether the deck was fairly shuffled.