2023 Skagit/Sauk season is a go

_WW_ said:
When you meet the fish checkers this spring be sure to voice your displeasure and tell them to pass it up the chain. If their motherfucking paycheck depended on getting it done on time it would be. These orgs are worse than the union I once belonged to - couldn't get fired on that job either.
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I'm frustrated with the agency as well, but...I personally know a college kid that worked as a creel checker this last year. They have ZERO power to "pass it up the chain."
He said it was literally THE worst job he's ever had because of asshole sport fishermen of all methods. He is a fly fisherman himself and a damn talented biologist. Making their life hell is not going to do anything except possibly run off good talent that the agency sorely needs.

Be nice to the fish checkers!
 
skyriver said:
I'm frustrated with the agency as well, but...I personally know a college kid that worked as a creel checker this last year. They have ZERO power to "pass it up the chain."
He said it was literally THE worst job he's ever had because of asshole sport fishermen of all methods. He is a fly fisherman himself and a damn talented biologist. Making their life hell is not going to do anything except possibly run off good talent that the agency sorely needs.

Be nice to the fish checkers!
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I recently switched jobs from working for the government and interacting directly with the public and I have to say I feel like I am now realizing how fucked up it all was. It’s like finally being out of an abusive relationship.

People treat the government like garbage these days and the long timers I worked with said it has gotten especially bad the last decade. It’s sad that it has become so accepted. The government has problems and isn’t perfect and never will be, but folks should still treat government employees like they are human beings which isn’t happening.
 
skyriver said:
I'm frustrated with the agency as well, but...I personally know a college kid that worked as a creel checker this last year. They have ZERO power to "pass it up the chain."
He said it was literally THE worst job he's ever had because of asshole sport fishermen of all methods. He is a fly fisherman himself and a damn talented biologist. Making their life hell is not going to do anything except possibly run off good talent that the agency sorely needs.

Be nice to the fish checkers!
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No one is advocating for "making their life hell". Since these creel checkers have direct contact with the portion of the public affected the most by WDFW decisions and actions then they absolutely need a method to 'pass it up the chain'. Just another item in a long list of things that need fixed at the department.

It's too bad your acquaintance considered his job as a bad experience. I'm sure it was an enlightening experience, just not in the way that he had hoped. You are right that the agency needs talented biologists. Hopefully with all this talent they can get their stuff done in time to avoid this type of snafu. Perhaps he should go to work for NMFS. It's obvious they need some talent too.

As in most careers, there are jobs needing done that are less than desirable. I know because I had to do a lot of them. He'll figure that out eventually.
 
skyriver said:
I'm frustrated with the agency as well, but...I personally know a college kid that worked as a creel checker this last year. They have ZERO power to "pass it up the chain."
He said it was literally THE worst job he's ever had because of asshole sport fishermen of all methods. He is a fly fisherman himself and a damn talented biologist. Making their life hell is not going to do anything except possibly run off good talent that the agency sorely needs.

Be nice to the fish checkers!
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I creel checked on the Skykomish and Skagit. Most people I talked to were polite and curious. There was a few folks who were short with me, either because they were in a hurry or cranky because they didn't catch anything, but overall most people were polite and curious.

That was in the early 2000's though, so maybe things have changed?

I agree though, be nice to the creel checkers.
 
HauntedByWaters said:
I recently switched jobs from working for the government and interacting directly with the public and I have to say I feel like I am now realizing how fucked up it all was. It’s like finally being out of an abusive relationship.

People treat the government like garbage these days and the long timers I worked with said it has gotten especially bad the last decade. It’s sad that it has become so accepted. The government has problems and isn’t perfect and never will be, but folks should still treat government employees like they are human beings which isn’t happening.
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I think that's a two way street. Many have been treated like shit by government employees on a power trip.
 
_WW_ said:
No one is advocating for "making their life hell". Since these creel checkers have direct contact with the portion of the public affected the most by WDFW decisions and actions then they absolutely need a method to 'pass it up the chain'. Just another item in a long list of things that need fixed at the department.

It's too bad your acquaintance considered his job as a bad experience. I'm sure it was an enlightening experience, just not in the way that he had hoped. You are right that the agency needs talented biologists. Hopefully with all this talent they can get their stuff done in time to avoid this type of snafu. Perhaps he should go to work for NMFS. It's obvious they need some talent too.

As in most careers, there are jobs needing done that are less than desirable. I know because I had to do a lot of them. He'll figure that out eventually.
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I want to clarify, or go deeper, about what I meant when I said "literally THE worst job he's ever had because of asshole sport fishermen".
We're not talking about cleaning stalls on the farm or toilets at McDonalds. Or cold calling and getting bitched out over the phone. And this kid is top of his class, grew up working on a farm. He knows what hard work is and has had plenty of unpleasant people experience. This is past the "less than desirable" stage.
We're talking a different level.

He's had douche bags actually put their hand on their weapon while cussing his ass out.

These are assholes, who are sport fishermen, getting in his face because this river isn't open or the season is wrong or Inslee appointed the wrong commissioner. On & on.

So all I'm saying is just keep that in mind the next time you all come into contact with a creel/fish checker. It can be a real shitty job.

I'd like to think everyone on here is nice to them. Have a good one.
 
skyriver said:
I want to clarify, or go deeper, about what I meant when I said "literally THE worst job he's ever had because of asshole sport fishermen".
We're not talking about cleaning stalls on the farm or toilets at McDonalds. Or cold calling and getting bitched out over the phone. And this kid is top of his class, grew up working on a farm. He knows what hard work is and has had plenty of unpleasant people experience. This is past the "less than desirable" stage.
We're talking a different level.

He's had douche bags actually put their hand on their weapon while cussing his ass out.

These are assholes, who are sport fishermen, getting in his face because this river isn't open or the season is wrong or Inslee appointed the wrong commissioner. On & on.

So all I'm saying is just keep that in mind the next time you all come into contact with a creel/fish checker. It can be a real shitty job.

I'd like to think everyone on here is nice to them. Have a good one.
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Abusing a fish checker is like abusing the mailman because you don't like the president. It's misplaced and not fair.
 
skyriver said:
I want to clarify, or go deeper, about what I meant when I said "literally THE worst job he's ever had because of asshole sport fishermen".
We're not talking about cleaning stalls on the farm or toilets at McDonalds. Or cold calling and getting bitched out over the phone. And this kid is top of his class, grew up working on a farm. He knows what hard work is and has had plenty of unpleasant people experience. This is past the "less than desirable" stage.
We're talking a different level.

He's had douche bags actually put their hand on their weapon while cussing his ass out.

These are assholes, who are sport fishermen, getting in his face because this river isn't open or the season is wrong or Inslee appointed the wrong commissioner. On & on.

So all I'm saying is just keep that in mind the next time you all come into contact with a creel/fish checker. It can be a real shitty job.

I'd like to think everyone on here is nice to them. Have a good one.
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I think your preaching to the choir here.
 
skyriver said:
He's had douche bags actually put their hand on their weapon while cussing his ass out.
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I hope the local sheriff heard about that. Threatning a government official and all...
skyriver said:
These are assholes, who are sport fishermen,
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NO! They are just assholes! Nothing sporting about threatening creel checkers.
skyriver said:
I'd like to think everyone on here is nice to them.
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If that is what you think, then why even start this tirade?

I don't know your friend. Hell I don't even know you. But I'm sure we would all like to know where all this happened, and when? Might be someplace we want to avoid...
 
_WW_ said:
I hope the local sheriff heard about that. Threatning a government official and all...

NO! They are just assholes! Nothing sporting about threatening creel checkers.

If that is what you think, then why even start this tirade?

I don't know your friend. Hell I don't even know you. But I'm sure we would all like to know where all this happened, and when? Might be someplace we want to avoid...
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Sorry, didn't mean for it to be a tirade. Haha!
Just the couple comments I saw about trying to use the creel guys as a conduit to WDFW management got me thinking I should probably give some perspective based on my friend's experience. And based on that experience, that they are not the conduit that we might think or hope for and therefore should not be thought of as that.

His experience was on all the S rivers. Not surprising.

So back on topic. :)
When the hell is Skagit opening? I want to fish it again. A big girl came unbuttoned on her 3rd jump here last time I was there.
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skyriver said:
I want to clarify, or go deeper, about what I meant when I said "literally THE worst job he's ever had because of asshole sport fishermen".
We're not talking about cleaning stalls on the farm or toilets at McDonalds. Or cold calling and getting bitched out over the phone. And this kid is top of his class, grew up working on a farm. He knows what hard work is and has had plenty of unpleasant people experience. This is past the "less than desirable" stage.
We're talking a different level.

He's had douche bags actually put their hand on their weapon while cussing his ass out.

These are assholes, who are sport fishermen, getting in his face because this river isn't open or the season is wrong or Inslee appointed the wrong commissioner. On & on.

So all I'm saying is just keep that in mind the next time you all come into contact with a creel/fish checker. It can be a real shitty job.

I'd like to think everyone on here is nice to them. Have a good one.
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A good friend of mine worked as a creel checker last summer in Anacortes and Friday Harbor, she told me it was really tough, especially in Friday Harbor. People were consistently rude to her. Thankfully she never had any experience as frightening as the one you highlighted. I chatted with a creel checker on the Sol Duc a while back and she has had plenty of bad experiences as well.

There are some great people in the sport fishing community but also a whole lot of assholes who don't deserve the privilege to ever put their hands on a fish
 
Salmo_g said:
Relax and chill a bit. Remember, in 2018, the first season under the new RMP, they got it open in April, just in time for the last 12 days of the season!
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And as I remember it the Sauk was totally blown for a good chunk of those 12 days. April can be iffy for weather. I remember one year a long time ago the Skagit system had full tilt runoff happening the last couple weeks of the season.
 
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