WDFW Q & A Thread - Questions for Stacie Kelsey, WDFW

[Stacie Kelsey]

Hey guys -

I've got your questions noted and will get to them as soon as I can, been working 12+ hour days recently and am a little backed up for here and other stuff.

Stay tuned!

stace

[Stacie Kelsey]

Okay - if your decals are wearing out - take them to a dealer and get a replacement (may charge small fee). We are aware there are some problems with the thermal paper.

License numbers - go ahead and use the temp plate number then cross out when you get permanent plates and record that.

Salmon retention below Bonneville - 2 hatchery adult Chinook or hatchery adult steelhead. Sockeye adults will count toward your daily adult salmonid limit if you keep one. Salmon min size is 12 inches. Release wild chinook and wild steelhead.

Fish-Bait - I'll work on your question and try to get back to you Friday.

Thanks for your patience guys! Sorry I've been a ghost!

stace

['OL GREY DOG]

YW

['OL GREY DOG]

crayfish in C&R lakes ?

[Stacie Kelsey]

I'm not sure what your question is?

[Anglinarcher]

crayfish in C&R lakes ?

I think he means, can you use bait in C&R lakes (selective gear rules) for, and can you keep .........crayfish.

He has me nervous now. I just assumed you could, and I now wonder if I have messed up in the past.

Come on Dog, you got me double thinking this one.

[G-Man]

crayfish in C&R lakes ?

I think he means, can you use bait in C&R lakes (selective gear rules) for, and can you keep .........crayfish.

He has me nervous now. I just assumed you could, and I now wonder if I have messed up in the past.

Come on Dog, you got me double thinking this one.

I think I can answer this one. Crayfish are dealt with under the Shellfish/Seaweed section of the regulations. Harvesting crayfish is allowed in "all waters" and there is no restriction on the use of bait in these regulations. However, I would see a problem if one were using a baited hook to pull crayfish out of their lairs in C&R waters. Most of us have done this as kids, just lose the hook and tie the line directly to the bait.

[Stacie Kelsey]

If you are in a selective gear rules water you cannot use bait to fish for crayfish. Selective gear waters are exactly that.

stace

[G-Man]

If you are in a selective gear rules water you cannot use bait to fish for crayfish. Selective gear waters are exactly that.

stace

Let me get this straight, you're saying that a person would be committing a violation if they used a baited crayfish trap in waters designated for selective gear rules. I'm not convinced that selective gear rules apply when using crayfish traps. If in fact they do, this leads me to question several other regulations. Such as in fly fishing only waters like Lake Ebey, where fly fishing only applies to "all species", can a person use a crayfish trap or a hand dip net to catch crayfish?

['OL GREY DOG]

WOW !!!



wipes a buncha miles of river off my mudbug list

[G-Man]

WOW !!!



wipes a buncha miles of river off my mudbug list

You could always wade and use a net, knotless of course! I'm going to ping a local enforcement contact and see on which side of the fence they sit.

[Stacie Kelsey]

I thought you guys were talking about fishing above - someone mentioned hooks. So that is what I asked enforcement about - not traps.

[Stacie Kelsey]

I think I can answer this one. Crayfish are dealt with under the Shellfish/Seaweed section of the regulations. Harvesting crayfish is allowed in "all waters" and there is no restriction on the use of bait in these regulations. However, I would see a problem if one were using a baited hook to pull crayfish out of their lairs in C&R waters. Most of us have done this as kids, just lose the hook and tie the line directly to the bait.

This is what I was answering and what I spoke to enforcement about.

[ruthven78]

Any idea on Horseshoe Lake in Spokane County? I havent been there in 3 years. I checked the regulations and it wasnt listed and when I went to the lake and the sign that used to be there stating where people could fish was gone.

There was obvious signs of people having been fishing there (garbage, fishing line, tackle, burnt wood) but I wasnt sure if this lake was still open or not or if was even still being stocked. I saw a couple tops but didnt stay.

The County Plat map shows the land where the public acccess has been as "vacant land - IESBERTS Trust. I am writing a letter to the plot owner to ask for permission to fish there just in case this is no longer public.

[Fish_Bait111397]

Did ya get an answer about the skokomish river stacey?

[Stacie Kelsey]

Fish_bait - I've got word to the person in charge - I'll do a follow up after my training is done today (on lunch break right now).

ruthven - I'll also check on your question and try to get back to you!

stace

[Marc Martyn]

Any idea on Horseshoe Lake in Spokane County? I havent been there in 3 years. I checked the regulations and it wasnt listed and when I went to the lake and the sign that used to be there stating where people could fish was gone.

There was obvious signs of people having been fishing there (garbage, fishing line, tackle, burnt wood) but I wasnt sure if this lake was still open or not or if was even still being stocked. I saw a couple tops but didnt stay.

The County Plat map shows the land where the public acccess has been as "vacant land - IESBERTS Trust. I am writing a letter to the plot owner to ask for permission to fish there just in case this is no longer public.

If I were you, I won't waste the gas driving over to Horseshoe. They did plant it in April, but not many fish.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/weekl ... ate%20DESC


The land around it is all private. If the sign is gone, then maybe the land owner took it down. That is a real party lake and perhaps he is fed up with the hassle and messes.

[flinginpooh]

I was gonna ask about the skok also but fishbait is on it lol. Ty Stacie for all your help in answering ?s for people.

[Fish_Bait111397]

Beat ya to it !
If the Skoke doesnt open on August 1st, Imma start having withdrawls. :pale:

[Stacie Kelsey]

Okay - regarding the Skok - we are still in negotiations which is why there has not been an announcement. We are hoping that will rap up and be able to get an announcement to you guys the first or second week of July - but again, that is not a guarantee.

I'll keep an ear out as I hear info and get it passed on to you. Keeping my fingers crossed for you guys!

stace