2023 Skagit/Sauk season is a go

[SeaRunner]

My understand is that the fishery is limited by the number of encounters.

It is common to use something like a 5 day a week season to extend the season length. It also provides a built in fishery pause which gives the managers a chance to crunch the number to reduce the chances of over run the allowed encounters. These was what was discussed at the public meeting prior to that first fishery a few years ago.

That said it has long been noted that the distribution of steelhead redds if often different during periods of fishing and non-fishing. the boat traffic seems to push the fish to areas with less traffic (side channels, etc.). it is commonly assumed that steelhead egg survival would be better if the fish are allowed to spawn in their preferred location.

curt

Yes, I understand using a 5 day a week season to extend season length. If that is the reason the WDFW should state that. If WDFW wants a built in pause to crunch numbers they should state that. If the season is 5 days per week because that was all that was on NMFS's table to approve for this year that should be stated.

I don't doubt what you say about steelhead redds. But if that becomes a guiding conservation/management metric then perhaps we should be fishing 5 days per week regardless of run size (or not fishing at all). It may increase steelhead egg survival. 5 days per week also eliminates roughly 3 weeks of opportunity out of a 12 week season that is authorized by a plan which you and several others put a lot of time and effort into getting done. I appreciate the work you've done on that and in my opinion the impact rates in that plan are sufficient conservation measures.

 

[Dr. Magill]

My understand is that the fishery is limited by the number of encounters.

It is common to use something like a 5 day a week season to extend the season length. It also provides a built in fishery pause which gives the managers a chance to crunch the number to reduce the chances of over run the allowed encounters. These was what was discussed at the public meeting prior to that first fishery a few years ago.

That said it has long been noted that the distribution of steelhead redds if often different during periods of fishing and non-fishing. the boat traffic seems to push the fish to areas with less traffic (side channels, etc.). it is commonly assumed that steelhead egg survival would be better if the fish are allowed to spawn in their preferred location.

curt

This makes sense to me

 

[Smalma]

SeaRunner-
When the Sauk spring CnR season was first implemented in the early 1980s the season end date of April 30 was chosen as an ultraconservative alternative. April 30 was chosen as a date well in advance of the peak winter steelhead spawning in that basin. When the Skagit season was added the April 30 was also used. When the Skykomish season came on board a few years later an season ending date of April 15 was chosen for similar reasons.

When a CnR season on NF Stillaguamish was added in the late 1980s the season was year-round. With a few years of experience the amount of fly anglers targeting the active spawning fish was concerning. To this day I consider that extended opportunity was mistake. However, I realize that is/was a personal opinion that is not universally shared by managers or anglers. Certainly, a number of current steelhead seasons do not reflect that concern.

Curt

 

[Salmo_g]

To ensure good fishing behavior, an additional section should be added to the Special Regulations. If you encounter someone fishing over actively spawning steelhead, they are engaging in "Conduct Unbecoming an Angler." So you are authorized, nay, commanded, to break their rod over their head and wind 120' of Spey line around them and throw them in the river. Like shooting tweakers, it prevents recidivism.

 

[Paige]

"To ensure good fishing behavior"

Good luck with that, especially Saturday!

 

[_WW_]

I'll be making my March trip to the dump on Saturday.

 

[GOTY]

I'll be making my March trip to the dump on Saturday.

So you're the guy who's been dumping their trash behind native all these years!!!

 

[skyriver]

Everybody be safe tomorrow. And play nice.

 

[Matt B]

Anybody ketch anything yesterday? I caught bupkis!

 

[Paige]

At 1st light I landed a 16-17" resident bow, shortly lost another. @matchu865 picked my pocket and lost a nice bright Steelhead after 2 or 3 jumps. 4 guys on a big run, 2 passes each except @Bhudda after he snapped his Meiser at the top of the run.

Was nice to get out play in the Skagit/Sauk spring Steelhead season, The Sauk needs a about 2 feet of water though!

 

[Matt B]

At 1st light I landed a 16-17" resident bow, shortly lost another. @matchu865 picked my pocket and lost a nice bright Steelhead after 2 or 3 jumps.

Nice

4 guys on a big run, 2 passes each except @Bhudda after he snapped his Meiser at the top of the run.

Not so nice

Was nice to get out play in the Skagit/Sauk spring Steelhead season, The Sauk needs an about 2 feet of water though!

Yes it was and we got to experience three seasons in a single day!

 

[Pink Nighty]

At 1st light I landed a 16-17" resident bow, shortly lost another. @matchu865 picked my pocket and lost a nice bright Steelhead after 2 or 3 jumps. 4 guys on a big run, 2 passes each except @Bhudda after he snapped his Meiser at the top of the run.

Was nice to get out play in the Skagit/Sauk spring Steelhead season, The Sauk needs a about 2 feet of water though!

Big time skunk guy here, but the dirtbag @Rvrfisher360 did great while cheating!

Please god more water next weekend

 

[HauntedByWaters]

It definitely wasn’t red hot unless you launched your boat at the mill Friday night.

 

[Bhudda]

Saw a dime brite pig being netted on the Sauk by a gear boat. Fish was pissed!!!!!

 

[O' Clarkii Stomias]

Saw a dime brite pig being netted on the Sauk by a gear boat. Fish was pissed!!!!!

Like he would have been any happier with a wad of jungle cock, McNeese iron, bronze mallard, seal, and silk in his grill?

 

[Skunk Ape]

On Skagit, within first hour had a bright chrome on but it rolled quickly and that was that. Nada the rest of the day but it was nice to get out and see that most people were behaving themselves! Gear guys always kill it on the Sauk.

 

[Pink Nighty]

Wanted to say that every single person I interacted with showed excellent etiquette, aside from one lowholing guide who started backing plugs 10yds from the bottom of my swing. Everyone else was super courteous, had drift boats float between myself and the bank to not mess up my run, multiple people politely ask to fish upstream of me. Marco if you're on here you were rad!

Really a nice change of pace from the last couple frenzied weeks on the nooksack.

 

[charles sullivan]

Honestly, it was the 1st time that I have ever been surprised to not catch a steelhead.

 

[HauntedByWaters]

Wanted to say that every single person I interacted with showed excellent etiquette, aside from one lowholing guide who started backing plugs 10yds from the bottom of my swing. Everyone else was super courteous, had drift boats float between myself and the bank to not mess up my run, multiple people politely ask to fish upstream of me. Marco if you're on here you were rad!

Really a nice change of pace from the last couple frenzied weeks on the nooksack.

The bad etiquette on the Nooksack is mostly from one infamous guide. He called me a “fucker” in the dark last season when I was in the spot he wanted. I’ve been waiting on that run in the dark for at least 20 years and I think he was in grade school back then. The guides are so crotchety because they can’t make a living doing it and it’s usually their friends they are guiding anyway. It’s pretty clear some of these guides have low self esteem and want to prove their manliness on the river. I am sure he would enjoy beating me up for posting this.

 

[Salmo_g]

I caught bupkis!

But did you fish the "secret" spot? I know it's loaded with fish!