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

[BentRod]

Okay - got the answers and further clarification on the gold fish.

1. live bait - you can use live bait in the salt which will include your herring type fish etc. And you can use gold fish. Those fish cannot be used in freshwater however.

2. You cannot continue to fish for non-trout species once you have reached your trout daily limit. If you catch 5 trout and you want to fish for other warmwater fish, you will need to change your gear.

3. On page 26 under 'Special Rules Instructions' the information regarding motors is listed. If the water is a 'motors prohibited' water, then you cannot have any motor including electric motors. If the water is an internal combustion motors prohibited you cannot have a motor attached and tilted.

Hope this helps!! Let me know if you do need further clarification.

stace

Thanks Stacie.
Very interesting about the goldfish in the salt.

As for your 2nd rule clarification, I take it you can continue to fish for other warmwater fish species, granted the method of targeting that species is different (i.e. crankbait for bass vs. small spinners for trout)? This seems like it would be hard rule to enforce unless one is plunking with powerbait. I fish for both bass and trout with lures and have inadvertently picked up non-targeted species when doing so (trout on Senko and bass on Rapala).

[Amx]

What happens if I catch 5 trout while fishing for Bass on a crankbait and all the trout die because they get hooked in the gills or tongue? Do I have to go home, change to a plastic worm that the bass might not be hitting if they are out off the shoreline suspending, and only eating crankbaits. Or sit there and fish with a bare hook?

Oh ya, I don't like eating most trout, so I'd have to give them away with the proper note/info to the person I give them too.

BUT, I also have to quit fishing so I don't catch any more inadvertant trout.

[Anglinarcher]

Stacie, you had to know that this one was going to raise some issues. People seem think that trout take trout lures and Bass take bass lures. NOT TRUE.

Personally, I defy an officer to ticket me for fishing after a "limit" of trout has been caught if I am fishing for Bass. On the other hand, I defy an officer to find me with a "limit" of trout with me.:bball:

Did you know Stacie that a predator will take a lure 1/3 the length of their own body. Sure, trout are not high end predators, but they take that attitude when they start to get some shoulders on them.

[Stacie Kelsey]

Bait is the key. I didn't add it because I was answering the original question with regard to bait.

If you are fishing with bait, and you catch your five trout, you cannot fish for warmwater fish with bait, because if you catch a trout, you are now over your limit.

Exact words from the Officer. I'd abide by them because they can ticket you for it.

Now if you want to change gear and fish for warmwter fish, that's fine. No bait though. Or you risk incidentally catching a trout.

[yooper_fisher]

Thank you for finding that out for me Stacie! I figured that was going to be the answer since it would be quite the legal loophole if you could keep fishing for other fish with bait.

[Stacie Kelsey]

No problem! Glad to be of service!

stace

[Marc Martyn]

The governor has signed Discover Pass into law. Stace, can you explain how this is going to effect the people who already have a fishing license and parking permit?

OLYMPIA - Flanked by recreation enthusiasts, Governor Chris Gregoire today signed legislation that will keep state park and recreation lands open with revenue from a vehicle access pass known as the Discover Pass.

"It is essential that we keep our recreation areas open to the public," said Governor Gregoire. "I applaud the Legislature for coming together with a solution that allows us to help keep our state recreation lands open and accessible during the worst budget crisis in the state’s history."

The Discover Pass will be required as of July 1 for vehicle access to recreation lands and water-access sites managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The pass—which will be available for sale in mid-June—will cost $30 a year per vehicle or $10 for a day-use pass. State recreation lands include state parks, boat launches, campgrounds, heritage sites, wildlife and natural areas, trails and trailheads.

[h]Holders of certain types of fishing and hunting licenses, registered campers in state parks and other users are exempt from some Discover Pass requirements. For details, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov .
[/h]
Once available, the Discover Pass can be purchased at one of nearly 600 sporting goods or other retail stores that sell hunting and fishing licenses. It will also be available for purchase online or by calling toll free 1-866-320-9933. Beginning next fall, the public will be able to purchase a pass when renewing a vehicle license through the Washington State Department of Licensing. The Discover Pass or day-use pass must be visibly displayed in the front windshield of any motor vehicle.

Revenue from the Discover Pass will fill budget gaps created by the loss of State General Fund support for parks and recreation on state lands. Revenue will be split among the three state agencies that provide recreational access to state lands in proportion to their need for general fund replacement: 84 percent to State Parks; 8 percent to WDFW; and 8 percent to DNR.

State Parks, WDFW, and DNR jointly requested legislation that led to the creation of the Discover Pass, intended to provide revenue to maintain recreation access to state lands and meet the increasing demand for outdoor recreation. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Islands, who conducted stakeholder work and coordinated with other legislators. In addition to providing a stable source of revenue, the legislation provides reciprocal authority for law enforcement staff from each agency, which will improve public safety and help protect state resources.

Discover Pass

Discover Pass logo

The Discover Pass logo was jointly developed in-house by the three state agencies.

[Stacie Kelsey]

We were having some discussion about this today and honestly not quite sure how it really pans out. I'll do some more checking on Monday and get you an answer!

[Marc Martyn]

Thanks Stace

[tnj8222]

Bait is the key. I didn't add it because I was answering the original question with regard to bait.

If you are fishing with bait, and you catch your five trout, you cannot fish for warmwater fish with bait, because if you catch a trout, you are now over your limit.

Exact words from the Officer. I'd abide by them because they can ticket you for it.

Now if you want to change gear and fish for warmwter fish, that's fine. No bait though. Or you risk incidentally catching a trout.

Thats ridicoulas. If im perch fishing and getting trout mixed in thats just a bycatch.

Why can you limit out on salmon and keep using the same gear but say you are going for steelhead and keep catching salmon but release them. Do they also have to change?

[Stacie Kelsey]

I see why it is that way. You don't want to incidentally catch trout that if you have to release (while using bait) have a high likelihood of dying because of that release. I don't really see it as ridiculous.

The salmon/steelhead issue we ran into problems with so I'm not all that familiar how it turned out with the having to change gear. I will check though.

[natetreat]

I see why it is that way. You don't want to incidentally catch trout that if you have to release (while using bait) have a high likelihood of dying because of that release. I don't really see it as ridiculous.

The salmon/steelhead issue we ran into problems with so I'm not all that familiar how it turned out with the having to change gear. I will check though.

You're the coolest Stacie! This thread is really awesome.

[MarkFromSea]

I know bait is bait, but, power bait or eggs sitting just off of the bottom is frequently ingested(gut) by trout. Closely monitored worm, suspended jigs or jig hooks, is possibly 90% or better lip or mouth caught resulting in few fatalities of incidental trout or small panfish CnRd. Not arguing the law, just pointing out technique difference in pan fishing, at least, how I panfish. It's all good!

[Stacie Kelsey]

The key in your post is closely monitored. The fact is most of the fish caught on bait and released do not survive. Technique is certainly a factor.

[Stacie Kelsey]

Well, we got Merwin stocked today with the tigers. It was a really fun day and I got to meet some cool new people.

Big thanks to the following people:

Tammy Gish and Josh Rider for driving the fish six hours one way! Jim Byrne and Ross Reed for operating one of the boats. Michael Haw, Garvin March and Derek Fisher for operating the second boat. And Dianne McCracken and Peter Dutra for helping get them out to their new homes in the reservoir.

Many, many thanks!!!

Here are some pics from the day:

Bucket O' Musky

[img=http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/46053 ... 500Q85.jpg]Bucket O Musky[/img]

Garvin on the Job!

[img=http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/28041 ... 500Q85.jpg]Garvin on the Job![/img]

Michael and Derek

[img=http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/46584 ... 500Q85.jpg]Michael and Derek[/img]

Josh pulling fish out of the tanker.

[img=http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/4151/ ... 500Q85.jpg]Josh[/img]

Tammy passing fish over.

[img=http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/42104 ... 500Q85.jpg]Tammy[/img]

Happy fish!

[img=http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/46068 ... 500Q85.jpg]Happy Fish![/img]

Ready to go!

[img=http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/48228 ... 500Q85.jpg]Ready to Go![/img]

Left to right: Peter Dutra, Dianne McCracken, Ross Reed, Jim Byrne.

[img=http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/47760 ... 500Q85.jpg]Group 1[/img]

Left to right: Derek Fisher, Garvin March and Michael Haw.

[img=http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/45292 ... 500Q85.jpg]Group 2[/img]

Again, thank you to everyone!

[Mike Smith]

Stacie,
What is a tiger? A dumb question, i know. Why do you stock them?

[natetreat]

A tiger is a tiger muskie, a sterile hybrid of musky and pike http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskellung ... nd_hybrids They are stocked for their sport value and they also eat unwanted fish for dinner.

[kenimes]

Tiger Muskie I am guessing. Because they get big! Fun to reel in.

[Stacie Kelsey]

They are in there for squawfish control and are a big reason why the Kokanee fishery is so hot on Merwin this year. They will eat any fish though, so it's not that they don't eat any kokanee - but they do eat a big chunk of the squawfish. We've used them in high lakes also for stunted eastern brook control.

The side benefit is the fishery itself, but not the main reason for stocking!

[ResQ]

Do people eat Tigers or are they C and R?