WDFW to end two early winter hatchery steelhead (chambers creek) programs

WDFW statement on at one time destined Washougal River Steelhead smolts being released into Banks Lake.
One heck of a positive spin, “may find…”-

“Because these fish originated from anadromous steelhead, many anglers may find this particularly appealing, knowing that they’re fishing for a species with a migratory heritage, popular for their size and fighting spirit. For WDFW, this release also represents a commitment to maximizing the use of hatchery fish in a way that aligns with recreational goals while supporting conservation efforts in critical river systems,”
 
Recent events in the middle east meant I spent the last few days reading through propaganda from various geopolitical entities. I find it funny to see similar propaganda techniques used on something as relatively inconsequential as Fish and Game Management
 
Hasn’t WDFW been spreading propaganda from the beginning? I mean, the fish were here first right? But now it’s like we wouldn’t have any opportunity to fish without the agency. Even wild fish fisheries require all this monitoring. We can’t have any fishing without the agency, so thank you so much WDFW for providing us with whatever you can…
 
HauntedByWaters said:
Hasn’t WDFW been spreading propaganda from the beginning? I mean, the fish were here first right? But now it’s like we wouldn’t have any opportunity to fish without the agency. Even wild fish fisheries require all this monitoring. We can’t have any fishing without the agency, so thank you so much WDFW for providing us with whatever you can…
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They are adept at being the fall guys for all things fishing. Yet, they persevere.
 
The monitoring of the various steelhead fisheries by WDFW is a direct response to the federal requirements to limit the impacts on ESA listed populations or an attempt to avoid a listing for current non-listed stocks.

The harsh reality is that WDFW only has two dials (harvest and hatcheries) that WDFW can turn to affect steelhead populations. By 2008 in Puget Sound those dials have been all the way turned on (no hatchery fish or fishing) for 70% of the individual steelhead populations. nO some 15 to 40 years later none of those populations have recovered or improved significantly. Another example, on the Skagit we are now a decade into the era without any hatchery steelhead being planted yet somehow the population has declined.

For the last 35 years we have constantly heard the eliminating hatchery fish and reducing/eliminating harvest will lead to increased populations and potentially recovered populations. Clearly those two factors are bit players in the limiting factors of our steelhead populations and at least to date what appears to be the major population limiters have not been addressed, yet I continue to find hatchery and harvest being in the fore front of recovering steelhead discussions. This is nothing short of full blown Enviornmental Denial.

The ultimate blame falls on us (the citizens) not WDFW though as WW points they continue to lead with their chins and make a convenient escape goat.

Curt
 
Smalma said:
The monitoring of the various steelhead fisheries by WDFW is a direct response to the federal requirements to limit the impacts on ESA listed populations or an attempt to avoid a listing for current non-listed stocks.

The harsh reality is that WDFW only has two dials (harvest and hatcheries) that WDFW can turn to affect steelhead populations. By 2008 in Puget Sound those dials have been all the way turned on (no hatchery fish or fishing) for 70% of the individual steelhead populations. nO some 15 to 40 years later none of those populations have recovered or improved significantly. Another example, on the Skagit we are now a decade into the era without any hatchery steelhead being planted yet somehow the population has declined.

For the last 35 years we have constantly heard the eliminating hatchery fish and reducing/eliminating harvest will lead to increased populations and potentially recovered populations. Clearly those two factors are bit players in the limiting factors of our steelhead populations and at least to date what appears to be the major population limiters have not been addressed, yet I continue to find hatchery and harvest being in the fore front of recovering steelhead discussions. This is nothing short of full blown Enviornmental Denial.

The ultimate blame falls on us (the citizens) not WDFW though as WW points they continue to lead with their chins and make a convenient escape goat.

Curt
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Everyone should read this post 100 times out loud before they say anything about WDFW. The blame and ire directed at WDFW is nothing more than pissing into the wind.
 
charles sullivan said:
Everyone should read this post 100 times out loud before they say anything about WDFW. The blame and ire directed at WDFW is nothing more than pissing into the wind.
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Which might explain why some folks think the department doesn't listen to them. Because they get blamed for things they have no control over.

For the department to really have any effect on fish numbers they would need unlimited authority over things other than seasons and catch limits. Like this:
Everyone who has an address ending in an odd number must be sterilized and those with an address ending in an even number are limited to one child per house hold. Anyone that lives within ten miles of a river bearing anadromous fish must immediately vacate and return the property to its natural state. All of western WA to be declared a wilderness area with access limited to foot traffic. All fishing on the high seas to be declared illegal and violators to be torpedoed.

You get the picture...

It is mans history to use and abuse any resource until it's gone or so depleted as to be useless.
 
_WW_ said:
Which might explain why some folks think the department doesn't listen to them. Because they get blamed for things they have no control over.

For the department to really have any effect on fish numbers they would need unlimited authority over things other than seasons and catch limits. Like this:
Everyone who has an address ending in an odd number must be sterilized and those with an address ending in an even number are limited to one child per house hold. Anyone that lives within ten miles of a river bearing anadromous fish must immediately vacate and return the property to its natural state. All of western WA to be declared a wilderness area with access limited to foot traffic. All fishing on the high seas to be declared illegal and violators to be torpedoed.
Click to expand...


I like it and am all in, exept my place I want to stay were I'm at! 😂
 
_WW_ said:
Which might explain why some folks think the department doesn't listen to them. Because they get blamed for things they have no control over.

For the department to really have any effect on fish numbers they would need unlimited authority over things other than seasons and catch limits. Like this:
Everyone who has an address ending in an odd number must be sterilized and those with an address ending in an even number are limited to one child per house hold. Anyone that lives within ten miles of a river bearing anadromous fish must immediately vacate and return the property to its natural state. All of western WA to be declared a wilderness area with access limited to foot traffic. All fishing on the high seas to be declared illegal and violators to be torpedoed.

You get the picture...

It is mans history to use and abuse any resource until it's gone or so depleted as to be useless.
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I'm not sure that your sterilization plan is robust enough. You make your point quite well though.
Bill Burr once quipped that if he were in charge, he would start by taking out cruise ships.
 
Bill Burr, one of my favorites. When I am fearless leader I'll put him in charge of the Department of National Common Sense.
 
What makes Bill Burr a purveyor of "common sense?"

Is it his willingness to sacrifice OTHER people so he can have the existence he wants? If so, I say that makes him an asshole. For sure, that sets him up for tremendous success in our society (which rewards assholes at every turn), but does it really make him a bastion of truth? As someone with kids and grandkids that prick might like to see dead, I don't share his point of view.

You think the world will be better off without so many people? Start with yourself. Not willing to do that? Shut up.
 
Shad said:
What makes Bill Burr a purveyor of "common sense?"

Is it his willingness to sacrifice OTHER people so he can have the existence he wants? If so, I say that makes him an asshole. For sure, that sets him up for tremendous success in our society (which rewards assholes at every turn), but does it really make him a bastion of truth? As someone with kids and grandkids that prick might like to see dead, I don't share his point of view.

You think the world will be better off without so many people? Start with yourself. Not willing to do that? Shut up.
Click to expand...
It's humor in the form of an idea that is absurd and contains truth that should not be.
 
Shad said:
What makes Bill Burr a purveyor of "common sense?"

Is it his willingness to sacrifice OTHER people so he can have the existence he wants? If so, I say that makes him an asshole. For sure, that sets him up for tremendous success in our society (which rewards assholes at every turn), but does it really make him a bastion of truth? As someone with kids and grandkids that prick might like to see dead, I don't share his point of view.

You think the world will be better off without so many people? Start with yourself. Not willing to do that? Shut up.
Click to expand...
If you liked Bill you're gonna love this guy!
 
Shad said:
What makes Bill Burr a purveyor of "common sense?"

Is it his willingness to sacrifice OTHER people so he can have the existence he wants?
Click to expand...

You must have Burr confused with some ancient leader of the Mayans or Hawaiians? I have never heard Burr advocate for sacrificing anybody.

Based on your post I am not sure you have the common sense that Burr does.
 
Smalma said:
The monitoring of the various steelhead fisheries by WDFW is a direct response to the federal requirements to limit the impacts on ESA listed populations or an attempt to avoid a listing for current non-listed stocks.

The harsh reality is that WDFW only has two dials (harvest and hatcheries) that WDFW can turn to affect steelhead populations. By 2008 in Puget Sound those dials have been all the way turned on (no hatchery fish or fishing) for 70% of the individual steelhead populations. nO some 15 to 40 years later none of those populations have recovered or improved significantly. Another example, on the Skagit we are now a decade into the era without any hatchery steelhead being planted yet somehow the population has declined.

For the last 35 years we have constantly heard the eliminating hatchery fish and reducing/eliminating harvest will lead to increased populations and potentially recovered populations. Clearly those two factors are bit players in the limiting factors of our steelhead populations and at least to date what appears to be the major population limiters have not been addressed, yet I continue to find hatchery and harvest being in the fore front of recovering steelhead discussions. This is nothing short of full blown Enviornmental Denial.

The ultimate blame falls on us (the citizens) not WDFW though as WW points they continue to lead with their chins and make a convenient escape goat.

Curt
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What’s the explanation of the big number of cookie cutter fish the Quinault still get back? Do they just release boatloads of smolts?
 
kg4lwp said:
What’s the explanation of the big number of cookie cutter fish the Quinault still get back? Do they just release boatloads of smolts?
Click to expand...
In a word, yes. Lots of smolts. And because of rearing in the lake net pens, half or more are lost every year to disease prior to release. So yes, they take lots of eggs, begin with lots of fingerlings so that they still have a lot of smolts to release. Not great from a fish culture perspective, but it has continued to yield fairly large adult returns.
 
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