364,600

[finclipped]

Thats the estimated return of spring chinook above Bonneville. This does not include Willamette or any other lower river springers. As reported in the Vancouver paper, this would be the largest return of springers since they started counting with the completion of Bonneville in 1938. They report the Columbia below Bonneville season may be finclipped only. Remember only 30% of upper river chinook are marked, while most lower river hatchery fish are finclipped. Its likely the Tribes will have their first commercial springer season since 1977.(ya great http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif) They still don't know what sports anglers will get.

I hope everyone wrote or e-mailed their representatives.

Also the Cowlitz had a record return for sea run Cutthroat trout this year.

[Deleted User]

I appreciate your post Finclipped, but I hope you aren't represenative that people haven't read my many posts on this pet peave subject of mine. A couple corrections; the Col. Indians had their first commercial season in 25 years last spring while we sat on the sidelines. They seem to have the NMFS in their pocket in getting the same for next spring's record run. The states of Oregon and Wash. are trying to negotiate a better deal for sportfishers but aren't getting anywhere. This is why it's so important that we all write letters to our Congressmen and Rep.'s soon as the final decisions are within weeks, not next spring just prior to the fishing . The letters will help us get a bigger season on the over 50% of these fish that will be adipose finclipped. 95% of them are of hatchery origin. ... For what and where to write see my 2 posts "WE NEED TO WRITE LETTERS NOW!"and "Requested; My Sample Letter to Congressmen", which has been both altered and condensed recently for a better example. Thanks to those who have read and reacted to them. - RT

[newt]

Fisherman apathy is a re-occuring theme. It's one thing to take the energy to write or go to a meeting(which obviously seems to be asking to much of us lazy-asses) to protest unfair allocations but it's another to be able to protest while fishing.
RT, have you or anyone else considered a multi-state "fish-in" as a protest instead of a rally?

Think about it.

1) Some will immediately say it's illegal but is it? They have one interpretation of seasons and allocations......we have another.

2)We're talking 300,000 primarily hatchery springers. A massive fish-in over 1-3 days won't make a huge dent in the season's run; much less the wild fish.

3) It will give drooling, normally apathetic fishermen a reason to fish and protest at the same time.

4) Enforcement? Who's going to write tickets to thousands of WA-OR-IA boats at once?

5) You think the media will ignore this? Yeah..right!

How's the saying go?

"desperate times call for desperate measures"

[Deleted User]

I definately have thought about that Newt. It would be a last resort event(s) if all other channels and efforts, including the important letter campaign (which would have better and longer term results) fail to get us our fair share of a huge excess of springers coming. We could publisize a big protest fish-in on a good place(s) on the Columbia after we have been ordered off the springers, and alert all the media. I forsee big banners on our boats saying such things as "WE DESERVE OUR FAIR SHARE OF THE SPRINGERS", "WE PAID FOR THESE FISH", "TREATIES CALL FOR A 50/50 SPLIT", "WE CAN RELEASE NATIVE ESA FISH - NETS CAN'T", and others. We can fish Wiggle Warts and other lures which are legal for walleyes in case the enforce guys got gungho. But I have a hunch that they are with their state managers that we are getting screwed by the NMFS and Columbia Tribes and would issue warnings with a thumbs up attitude. Really! This would be more effective, better attended, and FUN than a sign waving rally? Let's keep this one in mind for April and May. - RT

[finclipped]

Hey RT, I'm not sure I follow your drift regarding people who have not read your "WE NEED TO WRITE LETTERS NOW" post. If there is any confussion, I apoligize, but I fully support all sports anglers to write to their respective representatives, congressman, governers and who ever else seems appropriate and ask for an equal 4 1/2% split for sportsanglers. I am aware of the involment of NMFS, ODFW, WDFW and the tribes.

I appreciate this board giving the mail and email adresses of whom to send our letters to. I personally have gotten several "apathetic" fisherman to get off their duffs and compose a letter. I am new to politics, but I truly hope the letters make a difference.

Also it was my understanding the tribal commercial season was very limited last year as it started late and only dip nets were allowed. It appears this years tribal fishery will be a full blown gillnet fishery. Thus the tribes will be responsible for killing the vast majority of the ESA endangered fish.