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I see that yesterday's WDFW central sound creel checks had the pink catch approaching that pink/angler 1.0 level. Game on?

Have hiked many hundreds of miles in felt sole boots (longest hike 12 miles round trip) and after more than 50 years of that sort of travel they still remain my choice. On longer treks I would remove my waders, (stuffed into a day pack) and use my wading boots as hiking boots (saving weight)...

I see that WDFW announced 3 more days of Chinook in MA 10, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (7/31-8/2).

I still on fishing violations when I see poaching type action (fishing salmon closed season etc.). I try to provide as much information as possible, location, time of day, vehicle (including lic. #) and angler descriptions. My hope is to provide the kind of information that allows those...

A little math to expand on the enforcement presence on our waters. According to WDFW's web site enforcement has 165 commissioned personnel who make 225,000 contacts annually. That equates to the commissioned personnel on the average contact 1,364 folks (225,000/165) annually. 260 working...

Looking at the 2023 Shilshole checks it was on August 4th that they average a pink/boat and by August 10 it was a pink/angler. Consistent fishing is maybe 2 weeks away!

Chris- I don't see the situation in Montana much different than what we see in Washington. Generally speaking, both states have limited exceptions to the regulation of bull trout closed waters/illegal to target them. Here in Washington, there a few waters where fish for bull trout is illegal...

USFWS is the federal agency that has the responsibility for bull trout (decent numbers found in the Chiwana) which was ESA listed in the late 1990s (1998?). That listing is likely the reason for the change in fishing regulations in the 1990s. Would often see WSFWS bios at issues potentially...

I'm huge fan of drop shot hooks. I used them for kokanee, sockeye and even mooching for Chinook with excellent hook to landed ratios. To that point the last year that I fished Baker very much I kept track of the boat sockeye encounters. We had 28 strikes, hooked 26 and landed 24 of them...

Good stuff Brian! Yes, a sub-legal Chinook is one smaller than the legal size, that is 22 inches. I think someone should ask for an emergency regulation change to allow that coho opportunity in MA 9 in July and if not given ask why such season isn't appropriate. Not that I suspect that you...

For an opener on Baker 11,000 sockeye is a big number. For those anglers that have that fishery "dialed" limits would be common. With the evolution of Baker sockeye fishing techniques and the willingness for a significant portion these fish to bite the myth that sockeye are poor biters has...

Dave - I thought that brook trout was 13 years old but was sure that it was at least 10 years old. I would have need better equipment to sure. Know that a brook trout out of a north California high lake was aged at 23 years old. That large cutthroat was caught 10 years after I planted the lake...

Wonderful report Dave! The debate of fishing lakes with "wild" populations or those sustained by stocking is an interesting one. Some of the Alpine lakes can be in creditably productive with the ability to grow some very respectable size trout. Old reports from Whatcom County were that brook...

I believe that folks have forgotten or did not experience how big steelhead fishing was in this state. For example, during the mid-1980s WDFW creel surveys found that on the Snohomish system just during the 3-month winter period (December through February) it was estimated that there were...

While it has always been the case that it is critical that we become an aggressive advocate for our own health care it has become doubly so since covid. Within our stressed medical system, it is just too easy to delay tests, appointments, etc. We have to insisted on getting our questions...

An interesting question that has been discussed on this site a number of times. Bottom line hatchery programs with the possible exception of conservation recovery programs do not do the fish any favors. That said the factors driving steelhead abundance are complex and varied. For nearly 40...

An important part of anyone's personal health ought to include regular wellness checkup (physicals). Being able to detect potential serious health issue early can be critical. In my case it was detecting colon tumor and dealing with it early has been huge.

An interesting berry year; great year for 3 of the 4 crops. The June strawberries are winding down, with 4 4 x12 raised beds lots of berries. The plants were loaded with large berries, lots of jam and frozen berries and the neighbors and family sharing the bounty. Best crop ever...

Have been concern for a number of years in central sound that the populations large females (from the protection provided by the slot limit) are aging out and recruitment may fall as a result. WDFW has long been reluctant to provide central sound specific ling cod regulation protection...

HauntedByWater - I agree those orcas likely Biggs aka transient orcas. A mature Biggs will typically be about 3 feet longer than a resident with a larger dorsal fin (can be greater than 5 feet tall). Curt