Which Springer Option is BEST for SPORTSANGLERS??

finclipped · 11-20-2001, 05:44 AM

Looking at the release I would assume option 3 for the Columbia would be the best option for sportsanglers. I am sure there are a few SPORTSANGLERS who know more than I and could help me out so I know which option to support in my letter. I don't care about which option is best for netters.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/public/Ne...111901news.htm

Pete · 11-20-2001, 07:53 AM

The ODFW is considering two issues.

The first issue is allocation of Willamette river fish between sports and commercials. The allocation shifts based on the number of hatchery fish returning. I'm confused about this since it seems to me that protection of the wild fish is what's important. I guess I don't understand the calculation for determining the impact on the wild run.

The second issue is allocation of the impact on Columbia River up river wild fish. There are three options under consideration: One - a matrix allocation based on the estimated Willamette wild and hatchery run size and the Columbia wild run size, Two - a 50/50 split between sport and commercial of the harvestable Columbia river fish, and Three - sports could have up to a 1% impact on the Columbia river wild run and commercials would not be given access to their Willamette allocation in years of low Columbia wild returns.

It isn't clear to me what time period these options cover, whether it is for one season or for several seasons. Option three sounds like it is for more than one season.

Another point of concern is the method for estimating the numbers of wild and hatchery fish returning to the Willamette. In the Columbia it's easy to count fish as they pass through the counting station ... I have no idea how it can be done accurately in the Willamette. I know ODFW puts a large effort into ramp counts and boat counts. But I don't understand how that can translate into an estimate of the total run size.

Bounty Hunter · 11-20-2001, 08:00 AM

Pete,

There is a fish counter at the fish ladder at Willamette Falls. There should be a link to the Willamette Falls counts on the ifish home page.

As far as the options go I'm confused too. I need to spend more time reading up on this, but I could care less about the Willamette fishery, I just want to keep the Columbia Spring Chinook fishery open longer.

Lured In · 11-20-2001, 08:29 AM

I may not be an expert, but I can add. This seems to be a problem with some of the "estimating" that takes place. The Willamette run was forcast to reach 61000 fish in 2001. When they ended the springer counts it was in the low 40K range. This was at the falls and does not include fish that went up the Clackamas. The "sportfishing catch" showed a total of about 7000 chinook that were kept on the Willamette. Where does the 80K number of Willamette springers in the press release come from. Are you trying to tell me that 30K salmon went up the Clackamas? :shocked:

Unlike the Columbia srpinger forcast which was adjusted several times during the season, I don't recall any such adjustments on the Willamette forcast. So will someone please tell me where the other 30000 salmon that supposedly went up the Willamette came from? Was this the result of commercial fishing or fishing on the Columbia below the Willamette?

I realize that ODFW and WDFW have some serious challenges in trying to keep everyone happy, but I honestly believe that there is some seriously faulty "science" going into how the fisheries are managed. Any matrix that is set up will be based on this "science". As we learned this year on the Columbia, that science is not very consistent in predicting run size and ultimately season dates and harvest quotas.

Jim · 11-20-2001, 01:13 PM

Springer Season always raises my hackles.

First I'll will voice my major disapprovals:

allocation:
Treaty 13% impact, NonTreaty 2% impact

This is such a grossly unfair split...why?? First of all it isn't even, thats obvious. Secondly the NonTreaty is split between sportsfishers and commercial fishers.

Third and my biggest gripe of them all!! The only way there is a fishery on these fish, the only way to determine whether or not they are wild is how?? Is the dang thing clipped or not?? Did the Treaty folks want fin clipping?? NO!! Did the Non Treaty commercials want fin clipping?? NO!! We, the sportsman are the only ones that wanted this done...and now since it is done (all be it partially) everyone gets to fish on "our" fish. We created this fishery by some very effective lobbying which is usually an oxymoron in the sportfishing world.

Ok enough of the rant!

Here is what I think should be done, what do you think??

Only dealing with the 2% here. Let the gillnetters have a .5 season early, late Feb/early March. Then the river opens permanently to sportfishing for say 1%, that leaves .5 on the table to protect the possibililty of a poor return. If we have an abundance (and I don't expect a year like this past year). Then the commercials get another crack at em while we continue to fish. But if the run doesn't pan out we have done our job in protecting some fish.

As for the tribes.........grrrr.......no co managing to be expected.

Jim

Barnyard · 11-20-2001, 07:06 PM

I hear ya Jim....Ouch...Another thing that bothers me is WDFW calls during the season last year and asks what kind of stress are we (the sport fisher) putting on therun...There's 20,000 fis a day going over the dam for ###@@#sake...But if we ca fish through April it'll all be worth while....13% V 2% It ain't fair....

onstep · 11-21-2001, 07:59 AM

The 2% we have to split up is reality and unfortunetly will not change. No amount of lobbying will ever change that. Now the 2% is the worth the fight. Jim you have a point, we (sportfishers) have done what was asked of us and created a selective harvest fishery with a low impact on wild stocks. Have the commercials stepped up to this? For the most part no. They have continued to use the same high impact selection method. If I had a crystal ball and could look in the future my guess is the gillnetters will become like the buffalo hunter and fade away. The sportfishers should be getting 1.5% The commercials should split the .25 between a early Feb/Mar and late May season. The sportfishers should have an uninterupted season through Labor day. The economic impact is far superior with sportfishing than a prolonged commericail take. The estamites of 20 million dollars being pumped into the economies of Oregon and Washington, for this fishery alone, are worth far more than springer for 2.99 a pound. Thats just my take for what its worth....