2010 fresh water license

[Special T]

I think people like tony salami are just tired of the shell games the state and the WDFW play. The state comes in and reduces funds to the WDFW because they have some dedicated funds.... Much like the WDFW plate revenue that out esteemed Gov Cristine  took away. In business when $$ is tight you trim the fat and focus more on your CORE objectives.... I would love to get the financial breakdown of how the WDFW gets its $$ and where it goes.  If the WDFW had built up some raptor with the hunters and fisherman they could just explain it... Unfortunately we need a forensic audit to find out the truth.. 

[tomy salami]

I have zero beef with the gamies. They are regular guys with a job to do. They are not politicians, just pawns in the game.

No I do not condone poaching. I have more respect for steelhead, especially the wild ones than you could imagine. A wild steelhead has never got the lazy boy treatment from me.

Where I do most of my fishing, WDFW is rarely seen, operates zero hatcheries, and is a non factor. Doubt they will be savin my hiney if the fecal matter hits the fan.

Seems like I do have more money than Davey Crockett in gear. Just like thousands of other guys. So, when is the state going to treat us like the money machine we are, instead of making us suck hind titty? I would be nice to thumb the old nose right back at them.

The only way I have seen average guys win against any large operation (govt,company) is to take the $$ away. They all start listening real good when that happens. Writting letters, joining goups, fund raising, and working in a political fashion are all first line strategies. Taking money away from a govt operation, is probably the last resort, but if enough people do it, results will come fast.

[fishseeker]

Alot people have taken the money away for years! I started fishing for Steel in the early 70s. Have seen many guys and gals say screw it and sell thier gear. Those monies no longer go to the resources that need them.
 I have not fished for Steel in 6 years for one reason or another. Have bought a lic. every year. Found time to fish for trout a couple times! If the crick you fish has ANY brats in it you can thank WDFW for them. They would not be there without them. Is WDFW ran right, Hell no, Can it be changed, Hell yes! Takes getting laws changed to reverse things that have been done. Takes putting YOUR voice in getting things changed. Not going on a forum and telling people to start Poaching.

[MIKEXRAY]

I think the licences are very reasonable and I don't feel ripped off at all. I got the fish combo, archery deer / elk, crab, bear & cougar for just over a $ 100. I think that is a hell of a lot of recreation for a $ 100. I don't know where that money goes or if it used properly but I wouldn't gripe about the cost of the licences. I spend more to fill my truck tank when it is on empty than all my licences combined. Not bad I think. Mike

[kbyers]

So I did a little looking around online at the prices of fishing licenses in the west coast states.  These are the prices that I found if you want to fish in both fresh water, and saltwater where applicable.

               Resident   Non Res
California    41.50, 111.85
Oregon       33.00, 106.25
Idaho         25.75,  98.25
Alaska        24.00,  145.00   Salmon stamp-10.00,  non resident annual stamp- 100.00
Washington 46.20 (freshwater 24.00 saltwater 22.20), 91.80 (freshwater 48.00 saltwater 43.80)    plus 8.25 for the Columbia river endorsement

As you can see Washington is the highest for residents to fish and the lowest for non residents to come fish, because we have such great opportunity

I talked to a fish checker at Ringold in November and learned a lot about the hatchery steelhead on the Columbia.  Each year the WDFW buys 200,000 smolt and project a return of 2% of those smolt.  Also they loose an estimated 500 fish per day from the rearing ponds due to predation from birds.  When ask why a net isn't put up he said that there is no money in the budget for one.  He also said that the ponds are large enough that the net would need to be "engineered" and that it would also be a union job.  Not to knock the unions, but let's face it, they tend to drive up the cost of the job.  So basically a net, like one at an outdoor batting cage, would potentially increase steelhead returns by 10 fish per day(2% of the 500 fish lost per day to birds).

I personally have no problem paying the 8 bucks to have the opportunity to salmon fish the Columbia, if the $8 that I pay and that my buddies pay, and that all of you pay, goes back into the fishery.  Not trout for the tucannon, not a boat ramp on the Skagit, and certainly not to fund the welfare check that someone who is too lazy to get off their a$$ and earn their money receives.  But when you live in a state in which all the revenue that comes in goes into a general fund and then is passed out from there, I find it hard to believe that the money that is paid by sportsmen goes back into funding programs for those individuals.

I apologize for the length of my rant, but when I feel like I am being shafted, it really bothers me.  I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year

[tomy salami]

Big 10-4, kbyers.

Just because a guy can afford a license, does not mean it is a value for the $$. If licenses go up in price, and I can actually see the improvement in the quality and quantity of fishing opportunities, I would be happy to pay it.

Sadly, this is not the case.

[Thehowler]

Pay up, You have no choice. Your governor has some social services she needs to keep funding.

[MIKEXRAY]

I'm still not sure of the griping about "quality " of fishing, the fishing in Washington easily exceeds all of my expectations. I took the kids fishing to multiple lakes all summer (local & eastern) & they caught trout (lots) everywhere. We went to Sequim bay crabbing for two weekends in July & limited out each day & brought home tons of crab. ( still some in the freezer), We had a great lake Chelan fishing trip & caught sockeyes on lake wenatchee for three days. I also went down to multiple rivers & checked on my buddy & he always had fish. My father inlaw & his buddies did a steelhead trip to the columbia & limited out each day & brought home beautiful fish. I had a great year !! Boat launches were all great, life jackets at some to borrow if you need them for kids, Always pretty clean. I can see places for slight improvement , but I would have to really look. I surely would not "focus" on the few negatives I encounter. My     Mike

[ICEMAN]

Well said.

[tomy salami]

Glad to see somebody thinks the state spends our money well.

[MIKEXRAY]

I stated that I don't know if the money is spent in the right places or for the right reasons. I also pointed out that I had a blast last year fishing with the family & am really excited about this summer. I would give the state an 8 out of 10 for services provided. I'm happy with what I received for my money spent. Mike

[tomy salami]

My 2010 resolution..........purchase zero fishing licenses, parking permits, other forms of thievery.

Gonna stop payin the bastids. No more fishing waters that require their tariff.

Still gonna do just as good as I always do, less a spot or two that I slum when the everything is punched.

I can only wish the same tactic could be pulled with my property taxes.

Surly, my tiny bit of $$ is not gonna change nothing. But my conscience will rest better.

[walt]

$35 bucks is a great deal for a years worth of fishing.  Especially for all our state has to offer.  I have been buying my season out of state licences for Idaho and Montana for 15 years and they are starting to get up there.  Idaho is up to $100, thankfully Santa put that one in my stocking.

[Special T]

If your willing to pay a C-note for an out of state license you obviously think Idaho had better fishing, your paying 3x as much...

[walt]

I spend a lot of time on the water.  Idaho is close and family is in Montana.  I like fishing rivers and there are lots and lots of great ones to the east.  and Santa dropped the C-note this year.  It's better than 2008, I bought licences in 5 states.