Big changes to skamania county boat launching

[buglebuster]

Out of state guides heads are rolling!

https://www.skamaniacounty.org/departments-offices/public-works/boat-launches/-fbclid-IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHpAckSXMn2ZPQQgavkI_uQvUU1cCPaOdGLlEC4XdLtB4tCsZJlLQsAXVMYT4_aem_rUEkpK2m2Z4amrY7juZCDw?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOyaTJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEev11HQBIZkhYvQZ943qZNkj1UzBh8_krf3VwT9fLr_cpOcZHfvqn2bd4dV3o_aem_jdEF__y4MQEl3b9MViMA1A

[CP]

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[Ghost Hunter]

Wow!  Busy place.  Will it thin the herd?  Never fished it.  Drive be several times a year.

[Limhangerslayer]

What it doesn’t say is that they were talking like there will only be 40 out of country guide permits sold.  It could get interesting

[buglebuster]

What it doesn’t say is that they were talking like there will only be 40 out of country guide permits sold.  It could get interesting

Yikes! That could get really interesting 😬

[Antlershed]

So they will just have to all launch at Stevenson or Hood River and then make the run. I really don’t see this changing the fishing much, but will make the Drano launch a little less congested, and no out-of-county guides at the Wind River launch.

[Bunny Thumper]

This is good news! The explosion of guides especially at Drano in the last 10+ years has gotten out of hand. Add clients showing up in one or two cars for each guide boat and you have a parking nightmare. As a county resident if I want to be on the water by daylight I need to get up at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning so I don’t get stuck waiting on the highway before entering the launch.
Can’t believe no one has been killed on the highway once the boat trailers start backing up from the West and East at the same time.

[Klickitatsteelie]

Last year during springer season with the wind we constantly had it would be a sketchy run from hood river to Drano, especially in the dark.

[buglebuster]

Last year during springer season with the wind we constantly had it would be a sketchy run from hood river to Drano, especially in the dark.

Exactly what I was thinking. Asking for trouble if the wind comes up! Didn’t a guide die down there last year?

[Antlershed]

I don’t fish Drano, and have only fished the Wind once, so it doesn’t really impact me, but I have a few questions.

It says to get a Drano Lake launch permit, there are no out of state guide passes being issued, and one must show a valid Washington business license. Is Drano considered part of the Columbia for purposes of guide licensing, or do guides have to be licensed in WA to guide at Drano? If the latter, seems like they could get a boat launch pass, with their Washington business license.

I don’t see the $500 as a huge barrier for the majority of guides that fish it, as that is a cost that is quickly recouped. So, unless they truly limit the number of passes sold, I really don’t see this doing anything other than making a bunch of money for the county, and overcrowding other launches that have to take up the surplus. 

[Magnum_Willys]

Its mind boggling the County hasn’t expanded the parking at Drano.  They goffed by making it too small to start with.

[buglebuster]

Its mind boggling the County hasn’t expanded the parking at Drano.  They goffed by making it too small to start with.

Right! Angle the parking spots, add another launch, maybe some lights at the launch. It wouldn’t be too much work

[spookgus]

When it’s salmon season on the Columbia, I try to get in line at the launch by 4am. 2-4 hour drive typically. In my experience the guides have already launched and are tied up out of the way. The launch that I used the most down there is still owned by me but is off limits to me now.

[metlhead]

Easier option to reduce conflict and congestion is to simplify fishing regs and leave much more area open to anglers. Safety in WA is only implemented if opportunity can be reduced and not increased.

[huntnnw]

Easier option to reduce conflict and congestion is to simplify fishing regs and leave much more area open to anglers. Safety in WA is only implemented if opportunity can be reduced and not increased.

Yup! And the whole springer fishery mess could easily be fixed but they don’t listen.