Anonymous
12/19/2016 12:16:00 PMWild Fish. I remember when everyone killed Wild Steehead too. How did that work out?
wafisherman20
12/19/2016 1:16:00 PMi appreciate the comment. it is important to be careful about what you keep, however it is ok to harvest sometimes. I practice catch and release often on this lake in hopes that the fishery will last for years to come.
the trout fishery on lake Sammamish has a lot less pressure than steelhead fishing. the lake is also closed to fishing september and october to help the trout. it also receives no pressure during the summer and fall due to the amount of recreational boaters.
it is indeed sad what happened to the Steelhead. in the lake you cannot keep rainbows over 20" because they are considered steelhead.
as long as all anglers are mindful and don't harvest more than they eat (i won't be harvesting these fish until what i have kept...which is 5 total because i share with my friends.. is gone) and we respect the wdfw's rules, we should ok.
the trout fishery on lake Sammamish has a lot less pressure than steelhead fishing. the lake is also closed to fishing september and october to help the trout. it also receives no pressure during the summer and fall due to the amount of recreational boaters.
it is indeed sad what happened to the Steelhead. in the lake you cannot keep rainbows over 20" because they are considered steelhead.
as long as all anglers are mindful and don't harvest more than they eat (i won't be harvesting these fish until what i have kept...which is 5 total because i share with my friends.. is gone) and we respect the wdfw's rules, we should ok.
flyfisherguy
12/19/2016 2:30:00 PMWell said wafisherman! Nothing wrong with keeping fish that you plan to eat, that's why God gave them to us! Merry Christmas my friend.
Anonymous
12/19/2016 3:01:00 PMIf the lake closes during the fall its to protect Salmon. not Trout. Last Summer the Cutthroat fishing was fantastic on the Lake, and it does receive lots of pressure during the Summer. Keeping a few to eat once in a while is good. A 5 fish limit is too generous. I also remember when everyone kept Kokanee on Sammamish. Didn't work out that well either. It's a nice fishery to have around a urban area, I hope it stays that way.
Anonymous
12/19/2016 5:28:00 PMreally, 15 wild (and little) fish going into a smoker instead of the stream... once they are gone, they are gone.
Mike Carey
12/19/2016 5:32:00 PMCorrect me if I'm wrong, but the steelhead got decimated long before anglers had a chance at them at the Ballard Locks, thanks to Hershel and his sea lion friends. I remember the carnage on the steelhead and the inept measures that were taken to try to control said sea lions. Anyway, it's not my intention to hijack this comment thread. I will try to contact the regional fisheries manager and see what that person has to say about the lake's cutthroat health. I never had the opportunity to fish the kokanee but what I was able to find as contributing factors to the kokanee decline included "Causes of this decline are currently understood to include altered stormwater flows, past hatchery practices, predation, fishing, passage barriers, and lake temperature and dissolved oxygen levels." There's King County web page devoted
Mike Carey
12/19/2016 5:33:00 PMto the kokanee topic here: http://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/salmon-and-trout/kokanee.aspx
riverhunter
12/19/2016 5:45:00 PMAs long as he is not breaking any regulations there should be no one policing him. If you think 5 wild trout is to much to keep in lake sammamish maybe you should ask wdfw to change the limit but you shouldn't be persecuting this guy for taking what is permitted. I agree that we need to protect our fish if we want a fishery in the futur but talking smack to an angler who didn't break any regulations is not the way to save these fish. Sealark those are not little as trout in concerned. They are average size and have reached maturity by the way those skeins look
Mike Carey
12/19/2016 6:35:00 PMagreed, riverhunter. In my profession we have a saying - "nurses eat their own young". It seems like sportsmen are that way too sometimes to their fellow angler. BTW, here is another good read on lake Sammamish kokanee: https://www.bellevuewa.gov/pdf/Development%20Services/Lake_Sam_Kokanee_Report_1_21_09_Final.pdf
Anonymous
12/19/2016 7:59:00 PMNot beating on anyone. I have been fishing this lake and our rivers since the early 60s. I have been lucky enough to have caught Steelhead from the Sammamish slough. I have caught and killed plenty of Kokanee from the lake. Lots of native Steelhead from the Skykomish and Snoqualmie river aswell. I didn't know any better at the time. We see how the state manages things. We need to make good choices as anglers. If it's going to sit in the freezer or more than can be consumed in a reasonable amount of time let it swim.
Dave M
12/19/2016 9:00:00 PMPredator I suggest you read wafishermans previous report where I believe he talks of using as much of each fish as possible towards food, including the tails and heads, he gives to a friend to make a soup out of and the eggs as well. It does not sound like he is wasting anything he keeps. I am all for protecting our resources, but there is no need to criticize someone that is following the regulations.
Hunter757
12/20/2016 5:03:00 AMGreat report, thank you for sharing your experience on the water with us all. I am sure that little buddy of yours and his father are very thankful for a great time on the water and some great memory's that will surely last a life time and got that young man our future hooked on fishing!! You and your family have wonderful holiday season!!! Hope to see you on the water.
Mike Carey
12/20/2016 6:35:00 AMI think out of respect for wafisherman20's report we should not make this thread a platform for other agendas. It would be considerate to take this discussion over to the forum. Thanks