i must live in a cave

[fishpimp]

  i just thought i would share this. i was totally shocked when i read a wdfw creel report from the op. i was under the understanding that most people released there wild steelhead. i know that some people will always keep a few but  the numbers i read shocked me. i though that more people were respecting the resource but i was wrong. that is what i get for thinking i guess. i personaly don't know anyone who has bonked a nate in years. hell i speak with alot of people every day and knowbody has even brought up a nice nate that they caught and kept. i really thought only a few knuckle draggers were still bonking them.

30 nates caught on the hoh in 3 days and only eight were released.  WTF!

here is the quote

"Cooper said that during these conditions anglers tend to fish the Hoh River, where a Feb. 13-15 creel check showed that 200 anglers on the lower portion came up with 32 hatchery steelhead and 30 wild (eight released). During the same time period, 33 anglers fishing the Sol Duc caught three hatchery steelhead and 9 wild (two released). "

[dardevle]

I hear you Fishpimp.  I don't know anyone that I fish with that has littered in years, yet I still see tons of crap on the rivers.  Some people just don't get it and never will.  I do think it would be nice to see more guides like Bob Ball who mandate release in their boats.  For those that say it's the anglers choice, I would add:  How many of those fish would have never been hooked by these anglers without assistance?  It also proves my point that "only one won't hurt" adds up really fast with all the fisherman out there.  Heck that take could have been more than the nets.

[Jeff]

You're right on.  Sometimes we surround ourselves with the "right" people and forget what others do.  I, too was appalled at the number of nates kept.  We were on the upper Hoh, way above 101 a couple of weeks ago (where Jonnyhook did the brat bat bonk), and saw sand shrimp upper bodies and claws.  It will take all of us to educate anyone we see disrespecting the resource and the laws to slowly begin turning this thing around.

[dansguidedtrips]

absolute bull shiat sorry but that just angers me how does the state call this management when they don't even stop the nets. let alone the uneducated morons that have no respect for what wild means. hell even on my fliers i advertise all native fish will be photographed and released. what a terrible world 

[Fast- eddy]

Digital pictures are the answer for me....Now I can enjoy that experience(Nate Pict's) over and over.
As for the litter,tough to find anywhere that is truly pristine and void of litter anymore.  

[chum77]

I have seen people keep nates on the green before, very sad thing to see and those numbers are very very shocking to hear ! i cant believe in 3 days 30 nates were caught and kept ! more idiots out there then i thought. its a bunch of if you ask me

[cuttstosteelies]

It happens a lot more than you think......  I have personally witnessed a "c and r" advocate from another board whack a nate hen on the Duc a few years back.  What people say and what people do when no one's watching is a whole different story.  The numbers don't shock me at all.  Unfortunately, with the escapement on these few rivers reaching historic lows, the state continues to allow wild fish retention.  I'm at a loss.  When it does close, my fear is that it will be too late, if it isn't already...... 

[riverwader]

I'm afraid that until we get F&W to take the retention of one native off the punch card this will continue. I think it makes people feel it is ok. The other problem is the low numbers of hatchery fish to catch. It is easy to feel justified in keeping a nate when you have traveled 200 miles. I got a dirty look this year when I asked a guy if he was going to keep a native on the Green. I was quickly informed it was legal. As Forrest Gump said "Stupid is,as stupid does". I will keep asking if they are going to keep that native until someone pulls a gun!!!!

[Rossiman]

It amazes me how WDFW has these rivers open for native retention.
And it REALLY amazes me that there are still anglers that bonk natives..... A picture truly is better.
What a shame, it truly is. 

[Barbless]

I recieved that "Weekender Report" too... not good news when a river that hasn't met escapement in a decade gets that kind of pressure with the whacking.  There is a thread on PP that states, and seems legit, that a 30 lber got the old wood shampoo last week.  WTF.

[queets guy]

I suprisingly know quite a few people that would/do whack their nate when they can, its pretty sad.  I have a lot of friends my age that fish and are into CnR when it comes to native steelhead but I fish also with an older generation (father and his best friends) who are still into keeping their native if they get the chance.  Ive tried to convince my dad on what he is doing and how it will effect future runs but he and others tend to see me as just a 16 yrold w/ a bug rod or some other "goofy" technique other than drift fishing with my "purist" beliefs. 

[hooknose]

It doesn't surprise me, when I go back to work from the weekend I'm asked, "Well, do any good?"  I reply " Yeah, I got  (insert number here) natives" ; their reply to that is something along the lines of... "When's the barbeque?"  "No, no, NO, all native steelhead go back in the river with the utmost care..."  "Really?  Bummer."
So on and so forth.  The main reason I believe these rivers should even be open to fishing (CnR only), is because we are the only ones that care for these fish for their own sake.  To the tribes, state and general public they are a resource to be "managed" (into oblivion).  To us they are an inspiration, a challenge and the unexpected stop on a awe inspiring journey.  We are their only chance, if we take care and remember what it is that we love about what we do and treat the fish and their environs respectively.  We must also do the best we can to lead others who have forgotten what it is to be inspired and to care for that which inspires us.

I told my father that no one I fish with will kill a native steelhead, and I let everyone I fish with know that ahead of time.  Principles and ethics are worth taking a stand on, and most of the time people will respect you for that and even come around to it themselves.

[Juan de Fuca]

I'm surrounded by the killers every time I go to the grocery store, hardware store, work, etc....

There are a lot of "old school" beliefs out here. Not to mention a lot of people out of work who just want meat. (More of an issue this year for sure)

The common method is too not record native fish unless in a highly likely situation to get checked by a warden. If your card remains blank, you can get your "1" nate every weekend.

Oh I almost forgot, a lot of guides leave it up to their clients if they want to bonk or not. There are a ton more "guides" than one would think too.

Well as long as we keep glorifying native steelhead and our rivers, people will be having a negative impact. I suspect that for every 1 educated, best intentioned, internet informed angler there is at least 1 or more willing to bonk a nate.

Not enough law enforcement for the wild wild West either. I personally have been fishing for well over 20+ years and have never ever been approached by a warden/enforcement. 

[MrOlearhy]

I come from a time when bonking nates was the norm. I don't mean just on the OP but everywhere. It was just what was done and nothing was thought of it. Don't get excited and start the lynch mob just yet. As the rules changed and where one could keep a nate changed so did my habits. That along with education and time. Queets Guy, keep working on your dad. Slowly and not with contempt, but with respect and remember that some are more resistant than others. I'm giving this insight because over the last 5 years I've been able to change a real neanderthal(my brother in-law). He was a killer of anything that swam and now will stomp you into a mudhole for doing so. Time and a constant message will win the day.

The other thing that we all can do is get Olympia to change the law/rule about keeping nates.

I would like to ask a simple question for all to at least think about. When your fishing your favorite stream and you know that there is the possibility of nates, do you fish barbless or barbed?

[Rossiman]

Barbless.....
Makes releasing fish SO much easier, much better survival rate, and when you hook yourself/others it's easier to get out.
Plus i haven't noticed any difference in landing ratio, as long as you keep a tight line you will be fine (more often than not)... Some fish aren't meant to get catched 

darnit... Now you got me thinking about a picture on another board of a lure in a dudes eyeballs (Barbs intact..Brutal)