Elwha 2024?

I hope they will make it as strict as possible but open it. Whatever they want or think it is necessary(from single barbles hook, no retention, daylight fishing ...) Name restriction and implement it.

:)
 
Haven’t heard anything. I live 15 min away so I’d be OK with an opening
 
I hope it stays closed for a number of years to come....
 
I have no inside info, but my guess is they will extend the fishing moratorium again.
The whole thing has been a fiasco in my opinion from the new hatchery to the lack of a weir. They blew a major opportunity to really see what Mother Nature could do on her own with some of the best remaining habitat. That happens when getting harvest ramped up as soon as possible tops the list of priorities.
SF
 
Last edited:
Dr. Magill said:
It will become a tribal fishery
Perhaps solely
Click to expand...
Already happened. That's what's happened to the Queets and Quinault, too. Not enough fish for both the Tribes and the state, so only the Tribes are fishing (perhaps as it should be, but it sucks for us). I suspect this suits them just fine; they've wanted us off their water for the past 178 years and counting, and now we're off it, so they're not likely to bend over backwards to get us back on the Elwha. Just sayin'....

Like @Stonedfish , I am more disappointed that they put in a new hatchery without reliable sorting accommodations, as opposed to letting native fish re-seed the habitat. We already know we can fuck up a pristine environment in just a few decades by putting dams and hatcheries in it, but apparently, some folks still aren't convinced....
 
If Scottish and British keep their water closed (private) then charge fee, I think it will be awesome if land owners at OP set rules and charge fee. Nothing is wrong with that. In Slovenia is 70-100 Euros per day to fish Soca river. I don't think Soca is more important than Elwha. I will pay daily use if I can afford it.
If not well I will fish somewhere else where is cheaper.
 
"Land owners" aren't the major limiter on the OP. What limits us here is the combined efforts of our all-too-eager to please fisheries managers and the sovereign nations that want us off the water. Much different situation from Europe. That said, you can pay a Quinault guide a couple hundred to get access to what should be pretty great fishing by today's standards, so you can definitely "pay to play" if you're so inclined.
 
Zoran said:
If Scottish and British keep their water closed (private) then charge fee, I think it will be awesome if land owners at OP set rules and charge fee. Nothing is wrong with that. In Slovenia is 70-100 Euros per day to fish Soca river. I don't think Soca is more important than Elwha. I will pay daily use if I can afford it.
If not well I will fish somewhere else where is cheaper.
Click to expand...
Quinalt
 
I am not going to pay guide.
I am willing to pay to access specific water if I can afford it. First nations could work out something like that. They own the land and we should respect private property.
 
I've never fished Montana or Wyoming but I heard some private owners of land charge for access?
 
I’m really not interested in paying additional fees to fish inside a national park, which is where I’d want to fish the Elwha if it ever opens.
SF
 
Zoran said:
I am not going to pay guide.
I am willing to pay to access specific water if I can afford it. First nations could work out something like that. They own the land and we should respect private property.
Click to expand...
It's an apples to oranges comparison. This isnt beat #12 on the Tweed, there arent landowners blocking access. The state (at the behest of the tribes) does not allow for fishing.
 
Most of the river is in the Park...
Would love to fish up high in the river again.
 
I look forward to when they open this which I do think will happen as long as people leave the salmon alone. I have talked with the a few people involved and I was surprised it didn’t open this summer. The trout population is healthy and the real question is regulations and guiding. I have suggested no guiding and other restrictions which I will not into detail now. I don’t think it would support a winter run fishery but I feel a summer fishery would be fine as long as people leave the salmon alone!!! This river has a tons of water that is not accessible and that is why I think it should be open. The upper water shed will be a chore to get to and not for everyone. I’m can guarantee when it opens I will make the trek to my old stomping grounds and fishing my favorite dries for trout.
 
Last edited:
As long as tribal approval is a component in the approval of a sport fishery it remains most likely that they will be the only ones fishing the Elwha. Co-managers indeed.
 
albula said:
As long as tribal approval is a component in the approval of a sport fishery it remains most likely that they will be the only ones fishing the Elwha. Co-managers indeed.
Click to expand...
In general the tribes have always keep there focus on the lower two miles in my experience. As long as the park provides good regulations I don’t see them pushing back. I had a long conversation with the park biologist and he plans on opening it but had concerns about regulations and guiding. When I guided on the coast there were 5 guide concessions allowing guiding in the park. Now there are like 35 and he felt it would not be wise to open for guiding which I agree and I’m sure the tribe feels the same way. There were selective regulations prior to closing I just feel there should be more. And albula I will be your sherpa and give you a tour up there when it opens.
 
Denwor54 said:
I look forward to when they open this which I do think will happen as long as people leave the salmon alone. I have talked with the a few people involved and I was surprised it didn’t open this summer. The trout population is healthy and the real question is regulations and guiding. I have suggested no guiding and other restrictions which I will not into detail now. I don’t think it would support a winter run fishery but I feel a summer fishery would be fine as long as people leave the salmon alone!!! This river has a tons of water that is not accessible and that is why I think it should be open. The upper water shed will be a chore to get to and not for everyone. I’m can guarantee when it opens I will make the trek to my old stomping grounds and fishing my favorite dries for trout.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your kind response. It is good you are contributing to opening. Salmon should be defenitely protected. Without salmon, trout will be whiped out. Same is here in our Coastal rivers and estuaries. It is great to see all this dead salmon rotting everywhere. So much food for searuns.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top