New Or/Wa rules

[dogrobber]

ODF&W, WDF&W Columbia River spring chinook season News Release Feb. 5, 04

A. From theRocky Point/Tongue Point line in the Columbia River estuary upstream to I-5, anglers are prohibited from totally removing from the water any salmon or steelhead required to be released from Monday, Feb 16, through the end of the fishery.
B. For the mainstem Columbia River (basically I-5 to McNary Dam) March 16 till closure "Anglers are prohibited from totally removing from the water any salmon or steelhead required to be released.

[Time Off]

This doesn't pose a problem for me since I can't catch fish. But it would seem like it could be an issue if you had a native hooked deep. For those of you who catch fish could this be a problem trying to lean out of the boat to unhook a stubborn one?

[Fast Water]

If the fish is hooked deep....

I would use the world "totally" in the rule and net the fish leaving a bit of the tail in the water while dealing with the hook(s).

I know that is not the jist of the rule but there is no sense in any extra "leaning over the side"

:smile:

[Gus Orviston]

I think a siwash requirement should come along with this rule.

For a deeply hooked nate, I would donate the kwickfish I think?

gus

[slabhunter]

Most of the fish caught on lures like kwikfish will look like they are trying to use it as a telephone. Herring and prawnspinners might get taken a little deeper. In that case just cut the leader. :smile:

[Bounty Hunter]

Donate a proven kwikfish with lots of teethmarks on it?

I know lots of people that wouldnt even consider it (including some guides). Plus what's the chance of that fish living with an entire kwikfish hanging out of it's mouth?

Might be better to somehow cut the hook or split ring with a heavy set of pliers.

It's not going to be pretty no matter what you do. Luckily the 10 or so springers I have caught on kwickys were all hooked in the lips and that seems to be more common.