PORT TOWNSEND — The days of wild steelhead and wild rainbow trout retention are numbered on the North Olympic Peninsula, potentially signaling the end of the North Olympic Peninsula’s reputation as a haven for steelhead and trout anglers.
Members of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved adoption of numerous changes to sport fishing regulations during a public meeting in Port Townsend on Friday.
The commission approved outlawing retention of wild steelhead and rainbow trout in 10 North Olympic Peninsula rivers including the Quillayute River system (Quillayute, Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah and Dickey rivers) and the Hoh River.
Barbed hooks, which can difficult to remove and cause more serious wounds in fish, will be prohibited.
Use of bait will be restricted to times when hatchery steelhead are found in rivers. Another change prohibits fishing from floating devices on the Hoh River above Morgan’s Crossing.
These proposals were offered by the North Coast Steelhead Advisory Group, a 13-member panel comprised of gear and fly anglers and guides from around Western Washington.
The adopted changes will take effect July 1 for the 2016-17 fishing season.
Public comment was sought by the state over the past few months in meetings around the state, online and via mail.
Written comments overwhelmingly supported prohibiting wild steelhead retention by more than a 9-to-1 ratio.
After the vote, Commissioner Miranda Wecker took a moment to reflect “for the record” on the steps the commission had taken.
She recounted her first fish story — landing a wild steelhead as a child — before offering her approach to the vote.
“The North Olympic rivers represent our last remaining stable stocks of wild steelhead,” Wecker said.
“I do not want to be part of running these stocks into the ground.”
Conservancy groups such as Trout Unlimited, support the decision.
“The commissioners have done both wild steelhead and steelhead anglers a great service today,” said Rob Masonis, Trout Unlimited’s vice president for western conservation.
“The new rules will help rebuild wild steelhead populations while providing — and protecting — a world-class fishery.”
The state will now attempt to bring tribal co-managers to the table to support the rule change.
Steve Thiesfeld, regional fish program manager for the state was less optimistic about that step.
Thiesfeld said he was working with co-managers to limit the impact of gillnetting on these river systems.
“I’ll be speaking with the Hoh tribe tomorrow [Saturday], Thiesfeld said.
“The current proposal does not get us where we want to be [in terms of protecting wild steelhead stock].”
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Sports/outdoors reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
