Northwest Fishing Reports

Apparently they went fishing on Rattlesnake Lake with Rachel Bell, but they were using power nuggets, which is a no-no, as WE all know, with selective gear rules = no bait! I heard the story on ring my bell and noticed the rule breaking, but apparently I wasn't the only one. King County WDFW sent them a letter, and it was really funny. But when they were explaining themselves, they said that they read how to catch the trout on WaLakes.com! We're good at correcting rule breakers here! It's not our fault you didn't read the regs!

Seriously, we got a local radio show mention? That's to cool. What day was it?

Ron and Don, if you're out there, hit us up for an interview and we can talk about the complexities of the WDFW regs pamphlet.

Who's 'Ron and Don'?

Ron and Don are a seattle radio show on 97.3 kiro fm news talk.

It was today on the drive home from the cascade river. And it was pretty neat, and I remember being in that discussion about power bait, which is funny.

Amx wrote:Who's 'Ron and Don'?

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=577&a=9942307&p=&n=

Snowbird2008 wrote:

Amx wrote:Who's 'Ron and Don'?

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=577&a=9942307&p=&n=

Also, NO ONE on "WashingtonLakes.com" would have said that. Just the oposite. This is actually BAD PRESS. I think we should sue...

Also, he said they went out with their 2 HP motor??? Illegal if it was a gas motor. Come on Ron and Don - it's on a BIG SIGN at the BOAT LAUNCH!

thanks, I couldn't find this episode. I'm going to figure a way to embed or save the file somehow.

Wow! That is quite an interview. Rattlesnake lake poachers and bait fishers have always been SUCH a soar spot for me. The far side of the lake by the big rock is littered with power bait jars. Signs are posted everywhere with the selective gear rules. You can't launch your boat without seeing the signs.
I felt very defensive when they said that they read it all over the forum about how to fish the lake.
I must admit that I am on this forum like a bad habit, and I do not recall any thread that talks about Rattlesnake, and how to use bait. I am willing to bet that the reports in the report section on Rattlesnake don't even discuss powerbait, because the Admins. don't publish rule breaking, (knowingly). My belief is that the guys read various info. on here about how to fish trout using power bait, and then chose their lake of choice, and applied those rules there.
Anyway... kind of got my dander all up. They were talking smack about my peeps!

My e-mail response to Ron and Don:

I am the co-owner of WashingtonLakes.com.

I listened with amusement at your exploits on Rattlesnake lake. This lake is a wonderful selective fisheries lake, and I have spent many hours enjoying fishing on it.

On your radio show you specifically commented that “went out in our boat with our two horsepower…” You should know that in addition to breaking the regs for using bait, you also broke the regs for using a gas motor on the lake (assuming it is a gas motor). No gas motors are allowed on this lake.

As to the power bait question, you commented that “I went to WashingtonLakes.com and all the people on the forum said to fish this way on Rattlesnake lake”. Being a regular moderator on the site, I can confidently state that if anyone had said that they would have been immediately corrected as to the selective fisheries rules.

As a fishing web site devoted to promoting and preserving the resource, our focus is to educate anglers on the various fisheries in our state, and the rules pertaining to fishing (which can be quite confusing at times).

Your comment was hardly accurate and reflects poorly on our web site, which has been around for over 15 years, and the members that frequent it. I am requesting that you specifically show the conversation where power bait was promoted for fishing Rattlesnake lake on our forum to me, or, retract your statement and offer an apology online.

By the way, at the Rattlesnake boat launch there are signs clearly indicating the lake is no bait and no gas motors allowed on the lake. So regardless of what information you claim to have heard or read, you are responsible for knowing the regs of the water you’re fishing on.

Sincerely,
Mike Carey, Editor, Owner

http://www.WashingtonLakes.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
206-819-7010

Nail 'em Mike.

I sent them a Facebook comment as well. Not rudely just pointing out the holes in their story.

breathe Q .... breathe

When I made this post, they hadn't put the story up online yet. But yea, when I heard it on the radio I got defensive like Quad did. I'd be happy to volunteer my time to give them free lessons on trout catching and rule reading

natetreat wrote:Ron and Don are a seattle radio show on 97.3 kiro fm news talk.

Thanks. I used to listen to KBSG 97.3 when they played Oldies Music, the REAL MUSIC. But refuse to listen to any talk station.

The Ron and Don talk show, on the radio (Do not feel the need to mention the station, that has been mentioned many times already) is redundant in there tendencies to be overly factual and detail oriented when reporting stories. To the point of being repetitive. Curious why that diligence was not practiced prior to embarking on a fishing expedition to Rattlesnake Lake?.

There radio show is a perfect platform, I think. To discuss the fishing violations that they admitted committing, during a recent fishing trip. And incorrectly stating where they found their information regarding the fishing method that was used by others on that Lake, before embarking on there Illegal, Rattlesnake Lake fishing adventure.

This shows nothing more than a careless, irresponsible, assuming, reckless act by a couple of radio show host's. One of which did not have a valid freshwater fishing license?

How do you not see the posted signs at the only boat ramp, when launching your boat?

Even if they did read what was claimed when on a fishing website. That is no excuse to disregard the fishing laws found in the free, WDFW fishing pamphlet. That every outdoor enthusiast is ethically responsible to use to determine the lawful methods of fishing a freshwater lake, stream, river, reservoir or marine area. If not clear, then a phone call for clarification is that persons responsibility..........period!

Were they let off with a warning because what they admitted to was after the fact, and determined hearsay? As apposed to being caught in the act of performing fishing and boating violations? I certainly hope, not because they are radio personalities, and therefore treated above the laws you and I must abide by.

I wonder if they were using barbless hooks. If not, there is another charge. :-)

I just listened to all 7.5 minutes of it and it's ridiculous. He not only blamed WaLakes once... but TWICE!!! Unacceptable!

I did enjoy the part where the Sgt. told them that the lake has been selective gear rules since there was dirt, and where he told them there was a sign as big as his head stating so.

From their Facebook Page:

The Ron & Don Show: Official ‎Chris Andersen Hey Chris, I love the website (washingtonlakes.com) it's entirely possible that the thread I was reading was not specifically about Rattlesnake Lake. That was the lake that I initially searched for, and I ended up on a video showing the power bait technique. My bad. Keep up the good work. I made the mistake

The Ron and Don Facebook Link is here. Please feel free to give them your feedback. It's really unfortunate that we got that negative on air publicity and I'm hoping the apology they put on their FaceBook page goes out on the airways as well.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ron- ... 1925407371

Thanks Chris and everyone that has weighed in on this.

It always hurts but as they say, “Publicity is always good, even when it's negative.". Most folks will make one stop here and make the right decision.