Stilli opener delayed

Creatch’r said:
This shit is maddening because I just don’t see it. I’ve been fishing the NF nearly every day since the opener. Floating when I can and walking in when time is limited after work or early mornings and at minimum just snooping around checking on things as I drive to and from town. I haven’t seen a single chinook roll and I also haven’t rowed over any (and I’m looking in every run as I row around) or seen any chinook redds between cicero and town. I saw some small schools pinks, and just this week finally saw some coho splashing in select spots. I haven’t seen anyone flailing away at salmon at all. No spin rods spotted. Everyone I’ve crossed paths with has been legitimately out there fly fishing for trout. Sad state of affairs that somehow this is the result.

Leave the river closed all spring and summer and don’t bother to respond to reports of poaching while it’s getting hammered by spin fishermen, bait and people legitimately clubbing chinook. Then open it for fly fishing for trout for a couple weeks and be all up in everyone’s ass and close it anyway. Very WA.

I like the bit “Limited allowable take of Chinook in the Stillaguamish system necessitates this action to preserve coho opportunity later in the fall.” You mean after the kings have spawned and are circling an eddy or dead on a gravel bar? At this point counting spawned out carcs in the bushes against our take wouldn’t even surprise me. I guess it also is worth pointing out that since there isn’t ever a coho salmon kill fishery on the NF what they really mean is NF gamefish season is being sacrificed so someone on the mainstem can knock a coho on the head next month. It’s almost like you’re supposed to read that and feel grateful.

Was anyone on the river on 9/7 between about 5 and 8pm? Was that ant fall not absolutely biblical? I’d rather relive that night one more time then kill another salmon in the next decade. Zoom in to see my secret chinook fly.

View attachment 192665
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That's a killer chinook pattern. Especially when paired with 5x tippet....
 
Long_Rod_Silvers said:
That's a killer chinook pattern. Especially when paired with 5x tippet....
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Too be fair. There was a fairly infamous encounter with a fly guy catching and releasing chinook on the nf in front of wdfw and tribal biologist a few years back that really screwed us for encounters.

Or at least thats the story the basin biologist told me last year.
 
the_chemist said:
Too be fair. There was a fairly infamous encounter with a fly guy catching and releasing chinook on the nf in front of wdfw and tribal biologist a few years back that really screwed us for encounters.

Or at least thats the story the basin biologist told me last year.
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I think it was two, perhaps three, years ago. A trio of anglers hooked, and maybe landed 15 Chinook over a weekend, maybe it was a 3-day weekend, and posted about it on Instagram or other social media. Yes, 3 idiots got the the river shut down by "handling" the entire allowable ESA incidental take. Those guys should be banned from setting foot on the Stilly ever again. You don't hook 15 Chinook "incidentally" in a single weekend. They had to be deliberately targeting Chinook. Not hard if one wanted to, cuz the Chinook all hang out in the few really deep pools that are well known to anglers who fish there regularly.
 
As bad as that was for a couple fly guys to do that at least they were released, the river is fished all summer by poachers with bait and barbs and those fish don’t always get to see the water again. In fact I think that’s the point. If I was a poacher I’d be thankful it’s closed to us pesky fly guys with cellphones. It frustrates me that when the river is closed it’s as if it doesn’t even exist. Not a warden in sight. Then they open a small slice of river and keep their finger on the eject button the entire time and shake down anglers who are legally recreating. I stare at it all summer and really look forward to this fishery. I then blink….. and it’s gone. Maybe tonight I’ll read a few chapters of “Steelhead Water” and tie a fly. About as close to fishing the stilly as I’ll get apparently.
 
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VMP said:
WDFW requesting restoration of monitoring funds for the 2027-2029 budget..,
nwsportsmanmag.com

WDFW Asks Olympia To Restore Pugetropolis Salmon, Steelhead Monitoring Funding -

Washington state lawmakers won't arrive in Olympia for several months, but WDFW is already putting out feelers to bring back much-needed fishery funding.
nwsportsmanmag.com
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Oh look blatant fucking with our season for their economic gain. They havent had to monitor the snohomish system since February this year and didnt bother with the spring skagit system.

Some how 1/10th the normal monitoring is too costly but we can spend $5,000,000 to give the tribes electric boats.
 
My 2 cents on this, I doesn’t matter if you are fishing flies or treble hooks the river is closed to salmon and always has been. The incident of the fly anglers fishing spawning kings was posted on Instagram and there opinion was they we just catch and release fishing. The king did release a far amount of milt on his waders so the fish was in spawning mode. I can see why the state shut it down but they have to take more stern approach to enforcement. If someone is targeting kings in this watershed take there rod/reel/vehicle and the problem will be solved. It will only take on violation to cure this. Regulations need to change for us to have an opportunity to fish this fishery. Floating line only, no weighted flies, hook restrictions and no sinking lines. It definitely needs enforcement during the season as I have never seen or been checked on this river in over 40 years of fishing it. I feel for us to have a fair fight to fish we have follow the rules including guides, shops and anglers. When I worked in the industry it was common for clients to come in and ask for flies for salmon on the stillie. I would remind them that the river was closed for salmon and there response was we are just catch and releasing. I care a lot about this fishery and miss the opportunity to fish it thru the whole season not just September and October. Sorry for the long rant.
 
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