WDFW closes all coastal steelhead fishing!

[upperleft]

Well if its WDFW's goal to have this states sportsman's disapprove of them any more, then they really are making it easy to hit their goal. The closer of this years steelhead season shouldn't come to a shock as we have repeatedly seen the government agency screw everything up. Like others I currently have a lot of emotions and questions surrounding this issue.

• Is this the right decision to close the season?
• Is the fish counts the wdfw providing even accurate?
• As a sportsmen what can we do?

Even though we are in the process of reversing the spring bear ruling it still feels that our voice doesn't matter in this state.I fear that we may someday lose all control of this agency. Hoping to hear what my fellow Washington State sportsmen's thoughts are on this ruling and what you've all heard regarding the issue.

[upperleft]

the official rule change:
https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=2805

https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/state-announces-full-closure-coastal-steelhead-fishing-support-conservation-following

[Platensek-po]

Well if its WDFW's goal to have this states sportsman's disapprove of them any more, then they really are making it easy to hit their goal. The closer of this years steelhead season shouldn't come to a shock as we have repeatedly seen the government agency screw everything up. Like others I currently have a lot of emotions and questions surrounding this issue.

• Is this the right decision to close the season?
• Is the fish counts the wdfw providing even accurate?
• As a sportsmen what can we do?

Even though we are in the process of reversing the spring bear ruling it still feels that our voice doesn't matter in this state.I fear that we may someday lose all control of this agency. Hoping to hear what my fellow Washington State sportsmen's thoughts are on this ruling and what you've all heard regarding the issue.

If the numbers are right, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, then it’s absolutely the right decision. That being said there are a lot of other things they could be doing to make sure this doesn’t happen in the future. I’m pretty pessimistic about the future of salmon and steelhead though.

[Meathunter06]

Tribal governments along the coast are closely monitoring their coastal steelhead fisheries and considering in-season management steps to continue to support conservation. Now that is funny right there, let the indians fish that will save the steelhead dumb 

[Stein]

Several of your questions would be answered if the department was transparent even the smallest bit.

[metlhead]

Closing seasons will not impact wild fish numbers one bit. They wont be extinct in our lifetime, but numbers will never recover to levels of consumable sustainability. Any person with intelligence could point out quite a few fisheries for hatchery steelhead with minimal impact to wild fish. Kinda wish wilds would do the dino dance. Maybe then we could choke the rivers gmo drones and get back to fishing.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Several of your questions would be answered if the department was transparent even the smallest bit.

  

[Forks]

Should have closed the peninsula years ago. When the Queets gets nothing back......that should tell you something. Humans suck.

[Bullkllr]

 

It continues down a road that for me has been both soul-wrenching and heart-breaking, that much I know.

[JimmyHoffa]

Should have closed the peninsula years ago. When the Queets gets nothing back......that should tell you something. Humans suck.

I'd guess that springer season on the coast will probably not last too long.  Usually the park closes everything first, followed shortly after by WDFW.

[Ridgeratt]

Not to mention that the wdfw just recently lost a large number of steelhead on the snake.

[branches]

It continues down a road that for me has been both soul-wrenching and heart-breaking, that much I know.

I feel the same way.

[Slow-drifter]

This closure is ridiculous,  backed by false science and a lack of real world numbers. Most people on the peninsula are reporting seeing a larger than normal number of reds already this season due to low river levels, but Noone seems to care that due to those levels the creel reports are low because fishing is tough. It's not a lack of fish. It's a lack of proper management from our bull@@$% state

[Dirty Mike]

This closure is ridiculous,  backed by false science and a lack of real world numbers. Most people on the peninsula are reporting seeing a larger than normal number of reds already this season due to low river levels, but Noone seems to care that due to those levels the creel reports are low because fishing is tough. It's not a lack of fish. It's a lack of proper management from our bull@@$% state

agreed watch as soon as we get this incoming rain the Numbers will increase a ton

[PolarBear]

I hear the Satsop snd Wynoochie are full of steelhead right now. Saw this closure coming a mile away. There are too many environmental activists in the WDFW.