THE RIPPLE EFFECTS stemming from last week’s decision by the state Fish and Wildlife Commission outlawing wild steelhead and wild rainbow trout retention on eight North Olympic Peninsula rivers remain to be seen.
Those rivers, the Sol Duc, Calawah, Bogachiel, Quillayute, Dickey, Hoh, Clearwater and Quinault, were the last remaining rivers in the state where anglers could catch and keep a wild steelhead.
Not that very many anglers made that choice, at least in recent winter steelhead fisheries.
“I understand that people think it’s a great step forward for wild steelhead,” said Jerry Wright of Jerry’s Bait and Tackle (360-457-1308) in Port Angeles.
Wright used to guide full-time for years on the West End, and will still take an occasional customer or columnist on a river trip.
“But steelhead fishermen already understand the problems these fish are facing, and I’d bet they practice catch-and-release over 95 percent of the time.”
A quick glance at three years worth of Fish and Wildlife-compiled winter fish reports for West End rivers backs up Wright.
For 2012-14, wild steelhead retention was highest on the Bogachiel/Quillayute at 6.9 percent (132 of 1,886 wild fish were kept).
The lower Hoh river was next at 5.7 percent (92 of 1,589).
The Sol Duc, by far the river with the most wild steelhead pressure, had a 4.2 percent retention rate (175 of 4,102).
Wright’s claim is certainly in the ballpark.
“I think sports fishermen try and be responsible for the most part,” Wright said.
“It just always seems like it’s the sports fisherman’s fault.”
Wild steelhead suffer from a number of ills.
“The cause of steelhead decline on the OP is multifaceted, with tribal over-harvest, hatchery supplementation and habitat loss, particularly on unprotected spawning tributaries, all playing significant roles,” the Wild Steelhead Coalition said in a statement after the commission’s decision.
“But the fact remains that as anglers, we are a part of the problem and therefore we need to be part of the solution.”
The big question on these changes branches out from there: is this truly a decision to be lauded and praised, or is it a bandage on a gushing wound?
These rule changes aren’t likely to stop tribes from netting the rivers, timber companies from using pesticides and herbicides to promote the growth of their trees, and the other slow-drip destruction of habitat caused by man.
Economically, Wright is worried for himself and others, such as bait sellers.
“I’m going to have to wait and see how it plays out, but I don’t think anybody but fly-only guys really stands to gain,” Wright said.
“Basically, fly fishermen got their way, and to me that’s not fair.”
Limited operations
Two rope tows are expected to be in use Saturday and Sunday, Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area announced earlier this week on its Facebook page.
That in itself is a victory for Peninsula powder lovers who were shut out of any winter sports activities due to last winter’s dearth of snow.
The snow was up to 48 inches at Hurricane Ridge’s snow stake Monday, and another foot or more of snow is needed to operate the Poma lift.
The tubing area at the park also will be shuttered this weekend.
No ski instruction will be offered — instructors will be undergoing training at Stevens Pass this weekend.
Ranger-guided snowshoe walks begin this weekend and continue through the end of March.
Walks begin at 2 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays at the Hurricane Ridge visitor center.
Registration for the hike begins at 1:30 p.m. at the information desk.
The cost is $7 for adults, and $3 for ages 6 to 15. Children 5 and younger are admitted free.
All vehicles headed to Hurricane Ridge must carry chains.
For up-to-date road conditions, phone Olympic National Park’s road and weather hotline at 360-565-3131, or check the park’s Hurricane Ridge Twitter account at www.twitter.com/HRWinterAccess.
Fish Marine Area 6
If cabin fever is settling in, anglers in Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca) do have an opportunity to fish for salmon.
The hatchery blackmouth season is open and runs through April 10.
Hatchery chinook a minimum of 22 inches in length may be retained.
There is no size limit for other salmon species, and the daily limit is two fish combined.
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.
