WITH SUCH IMPORTANT decisions looming, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has extended the public comment period on proposed rule changes to recreational fishing on North Olympic Peninsula rivers to Thursday.
The potential changes are listed at tinyurl.com/PDN-rulechanges. The public can click through to offer comment on each proposed change.
The recently created North Coast Steelhead Advisors Group offered the proposals after a process of debate and compromise, not after coming to a consensus opinion on every option.
They all seek to limit the handling, stress, impairment and mortality of the wild steelhead population.
Rick Cahill, an avid angler who has lived along the Sol Duc River for decades, phoned in last week with some thoughts on the proposals.
Cahill is now retired from a career as a forester with the state Department of Natural Resources.
He feels the proposed change to require barbless hooks at all times and in all North Coastal Rivers, and to allow only one hook with up to three points is shortsighted.
Cahill pointed to run times: hatchery steelhead typically begin arriving in the Bogachiel River just before Thanksgiving, and, for the most part, give way to wild returners by mid-January.
This is backed by creel reports kept by Fish and Wildlife going back to the 2001-02 steelhead season.
“If wild steelhead stock are truly down, and they are, I’d suggest a moratorium on catching them during the wild run,” Cahill said.
Enacting a moratorium on wild steelhead would be incredibly controversial, but it would limit mortality.
Many wild steelhead are likely caught and released more than once in the same season.
The stress and strain those encounters cause can lead to the fish dying well after being released back to the river.
Cahill had another point about what a change to barbless hooks would do to those who depend on the river systems for food.
“When the fall salmon runs are in, the wild steelhead are simply not around,” Cahill said.
“This could become a matter of food sustainability.”
Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles related the proposed barbless hook rule to saltwater fishing.
“We are all so used to using barbless in the saltwater, you’ll lose a few more fish, but that’s part of what makes it a challenge,” Aunspach said.
“Surprisingly, you don’t lose that many fish because of it. When you have kids and novices, sure, they’ll miss on a fish.
“It adds another element of difficulty, but you can stay on top of it.
“Steelhead is probably the most acrobatic fish you can catch, so you’ll probably lose a few more of them.”
Ward Norden, owner of Snapper Tackle Company and a former fishery biologist, thinks a barbless hook rule would make bank angling for steelhead “virtually impossible,” based on his experiences with a similar rule on coastal rivers in Oregon.
He said the rule created a drastic drop in the number of licenses purchased, and an ugly switch to using halibut gear.
Steelhead were being flung to shore on long lines and then pounced upon by anglers.
“That proposed barbless hook rule will limit fishing to boats and ultimately eliminate bank fisheries,” Norden said.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim also weighed in.
“I have fished a lot with barbless hooks and caught many fish with them,” Menkal said.
“A lot of people are going to fight that change, the traditionalists.”
Menkal was concerned that a move to barbless hooks also would mean a move to eliminate bait and scent.
But the use of bait would still be allowed for salmon fisheries, according to an explanation provided by the North Coast Steelhead Advisors Group.
Context for the proposed rules is available at tinyurl.com/PDN-Context.
Starting in 2016, bait would be allowed from Oct. 1 to Feb. 15, hitting the peak fall salmon runs and the hatchery steelhead run.
“I don’t fish with a lot of bait, personally, but it is extremely effective,” Menkal said.
“Those who use bait, like sand shrimp or eggs, that could hurt a lot of anglers.”
Gear swap and movie
The annual Hurricane Ridge Gear Swap and Movie is planned for the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles, from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Attendees can buy or sell used equipment and clothing, check out area outdoor activities and get information on merchandise and rentals.
Equipment can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday.
Admission is $5 for individuals and $8 for a family pass.
Unsold gear will be picked up at 5 p.m.
A happy hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and the ski film “Fade to Winter” will follow at 7 p.m.
The film follows nine skiers around the globe on their quest for snow.
Locations visited include Alaska, Iceland, British Columbia, Japan, Colorado, Italy and New England.
Winterfest tickets
Tickets to Winterfest, the annual fundraiser to support winter sports at Hurricane Ridge, are now on sale.
The event will be held at the Vern Burton Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Doors open at 5 p.m., and the event runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Attendees can enjoy a prime rib dinner prepared by Next Door Gastropub, live and silent auctions, live music by Bill and Rudy and a series of short films featuring area skiers and snowboarders shredding snow at Hurricane Ridge.
Proceeds go to snow school and ski team operations, as well as scholarships to underprivileged area children who would like to learn how to ski, snowboard or participate on a ski team.
Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. Children 12 and younger are $25.
Individual tickets can be purchased at Swain’s General Store, Necessities & Temptations and Brown’s Outdoor in Port Angeles, and Brian’s Sporting Goods in Sequim.
Five-person group tables also are available for $320.
For more information, phone Eric Flodstrom at 360-452-2327, ext. 304.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.