2023 Skagit/Sauk season is a go

Last time we went though into Canada, they asked use if we were carrying anything illegal.
My buddy replied, "yes, mass quantities of graphite". The border patrol person could see our fishing rods and must have been an anglers because he just laughed and waved us through.
SF
 
Coming back in from Castlegar pulling my boat the guy asked what I had been doing in Canada.
 
But you can bet your sweet ass they are gonna make us buy a new license to fish the last two weeks of it...if it ever comes.
Me to the game warden on April 8th, "Don't worry I'll be getting a license towards the end of next week. It's all good, you can wait 'till then right?"
Complete and utter bullshit and why I will never again involve myself in the affairs of fish management. After fighting for six years to make this happen they can't even open it on time. They can just kiss my hairy ass.

And don't tell me this isn't WDFW's fault. I hold all of them responsible. The tribes, WDFW, NMFS, the entire fucked up conglomerate that are involved in this delay. I know they can read a calendar the same as the rest of us. It ain't like Feb. 1 was hiding in the bushes and waiting to jump out unexpectedly. They have a comment period before, maybe what we really need is an after action comment period.

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.
 
_WW_ said:
But you can bet your sweet ass they are gonna make us buy a new license to fish the last two weeks of it...if it ever comes.
Me to the game warden on April 8th, "Don't worry I'll be getting a license towards the end of next week. It's all good, you can wait 'till then right?"
Complete and utter bullshit and why I will never again involve myself in the affairs of fish management. After fighting for six years to make this happen they can't even open it on time. They can just kiss my hairy ass.

And don't tell me this isn't WDFW's fault. I hold all of them responsible. The tribes, WDFW, NMFS, the entire fucked up conglomerate that are involved in this delay. I know they can read a calendar the same as the rest of us. It ain't like Feb. 1 was hiding in the bushes and waiting to jump out unexpectedly. They have a comment period before, maybe what we really need is an after action comment period.

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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Met one today at the nooksack. He was gently hounded and politely berated for the incompetency of his agency. He provided tentative, qualified answers to my questions, and honestly couldnt give me a straight answer on when its opening or why its being held up.

I could tell he had plenty he was not saying.
 
Was there an official announcement about opening the river ? Only thing I remember seeing was an article in Northwest Sportsman magazine. Don’t remember seeing anything from WDFW ?
 
skyrise said:
Was there an official announcement about opening the river ? Only thing I remember seeing was an article in Northwest Sportsman magazine. Don’t remember seeing anything from WDFW ?
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Nothing as of this moment.
 
kerrys said:
You should try crossing the border with hair down to the middle of your back while riding a custom built Harley Davidson. They literally used a camera to look inside my gas tank. The border agents must have watched Easy Rider.
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You're lucky they only "scoped" you gas tank! Haha! Probing humor of course! :cool:
 
Checking again I found the article in NW Sportsman dated 12/23/2022 with a mention & link to WDFW medium.com blog ? Went to that and is dated 12/22/2022. Basically says Skagit River “Federal Review “ of fishery plan. Fishery managers “Hope” to hold a catch and release Steelhead fishing season. Hmm ! I guess I won’t hold my breath on that. Fingers crossed but feeling less optimistic.
 
Kashf said:
Pretty insane that a fishery that is meeting escapement, where both comanagers agree a fishery is sustainable, may not be held
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They'll probably use lack of funds as an excuse.. saying they can't hire enforcement to cover the river while opening.. I hope I'm wrong, but thats the excuse they used the first year, after Occupy Skagit worked for 6 years!! Sad, but true!
 
To expand a bit on Skyrise post.
The 12/23/2022 news release stated "WDFW fishery managers hope to hold a catch and releases steelhead fishery on the Skagit and its major tributary the Sauk River in early 2023 pending the review from the National Fisheries Service....".

It also provided a link for those interested in reviewing and commenting on the Skagit River Steelhead Fishery Resource Management Plan (RMP). Those interested in commenting on the RMP had a month (until 1/23) to provide their comments.

Wonder how many here that seem to care so much about this fishery took the time to provide comments to the feds on this plan. Without approval of this plan (which will likely require addressing concerns raised).

WDFW has committed to monitoring that fishery if it occurs. In fact they had been monitoring the Skagit fishery all fall through the end of January.

Curt
 
Smalma said:
To expand a bit on Skyrise post.
The 12/23/2022 news release stated "WDFW fishery managers hope to hold a catch and releases steelhead fishery on the Skagit and its major tributary the Sauk River in early 2023 pending the review from the National Fisheries Service....".

It also provided a link for those interested in reviewing and commenting on the Skagit River Steelhead Fishery Resource Management Plan (RMP). Those interested in commenting on the RMP had a month (until 1/23) to provide their comments.

Wonder how many here that seem to care so much about this fishery took the time to provide comments to the feds on this plan. Without approval of this plan (which will likely require addressing concerns raised).

WDFW has committed to monitoring that fishery if it occurs. In fact they had been monitoring the Skagit fishery all fall through the end of January.

Curt
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I guess I am in the camp of "What has changed in the last five years that might affect approval?"
 
You know Curt, I think what the major complaint people are having right now is about the timing. The original plan for all intents and purposes expired 4-15-22 when the season ended. This new plan could have been proposed and approved by WDFW and the tribes within a week. They surely knew it was coming up. So are we to comment on the delay before the delay has in fact happened?

Next time I will be sure to comment. "History has shown that you are incapable of moving at anything other than a snail's pace. It would be helpful if you were to open and close the comment period a year in advance. Or do you think you'll need two years?"
 
Smalma said:
To expand a bit on Skyrise post.
The 12/23/2022 news release stated "WDFW fishery managers hope to hold a catch and releases steelhead fishery on the Skagit and its major tributary the Sauk River in early 2023 pending the review from the National Fisheries Service....".

It also provided a link for those interested in reviewing and commenting on the Skagit River Steelhead Fishery Resource Management Plan (RMP). Those interested in commenting on the RMP had a month (until 1/23) to provide their comments.

Wonder how many here that seem to care so much about this fishery took the time to provide comments to the feds on this plan. Without approval of this plan (which will likely require addressing concerns raised).

WDFW has committed to monitoring that fishery if it occurs. In fact they had been monitoring the Skagit fishery all fall through the end of January.

Curt
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Well, I can attest that I put my comments in and I’ve only been here for about 5 years. New to the area, I have a fraction of knowledge that others have here, I’m a complete newbie on these systems, but I felt I had to do my part as insignificant as those comments I put forth may be to those who make the ultimate decisions on the Skagit and Sauk rivers for a C&R season.
If in fact they do decide not to have a C&R season on the Skagit and Sauk I suppose it would be illegal to swing a hookless fly just for a grab🤔😂. I guess I could just go eagle watching if that‘s not a possibility and brush up on my boating skills.
 
WW -

I agree that the whole process is not very transparent. That said reading between the lines it seems to be that the hang-up is getting the federal approval for the new plan (10 year). I suspect the comments they received last month will be key. As you there are those that do not think there should be any fishing.
Curt
 
_WW_ said:
You know Curt, I think what the major complaint people are having right now is about the timing. The original plan for all intents and purposes expired 4-15-22 when the season ended. This new plan could have been proposed and approved by WDFW and the tribes within a week. They surely knew it was coming up. So are we to comment on the delay before the delay has in fact happened?

Next time I will be sure to comment. "History has shown that you are incapable of moving at anything other than a snail's pace. It would be helpful if you were to open and close the comment period a year in advance. Or do you think you'll need two years?"
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So we had 1 month to comment on the proposed 2023 opening and on the 10 year plan ? when WDFW knew this was coming up last summer and through the fall when they were Monitoring the fishing from September up to the end of January?
 
Latest rumor is Feb 15th 🤞🤞

skyrise said:
Was there an official announcement about opening the river ? Only thing I remember seeing was an article in Northwest Sportsman magazine. Don’t remember seeing anything from WDFW ?
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Yes WDFW made an official announcement in multiple places, and their employees have been on the water answering questions/providing additional information. They were super slow getting the ball rolling and NMFS is dragging their feet. Fun stuff.
 
M_D said:
hmmm….$80 for a BC non resident alien license….and it’s only good until March 31st :unsure:

AND the last time I went up the border guy made me throw out my home made lunch cuz I had a chicken sammie and an apple in there.😫

what’s the world coming to? 😏
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Try an buying an unregistered boat trailer in Canada and made in China. Border guard decision costs me $300 in hotel and storage till I could get trailer WA registered, no problem with said brand, took me ten minutes. Then had to drive back to Abbottsford to get said trailer. Really annoying and a pointless decision.

Dave
 
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