Limits for local lakes

[The Quadfather]

Keep in mind, most stocked hatchery trout aren't not clipped.

stace

I didn't quite understand what that meant Stacie? Sounds like a double negative.

[Matt]

No its just that they do not fin clip trout. Period. So you could never tell the difference between hatchery and wild fish. Clipping trout is just too expensive an endeavor.

[Anonymous]

No its just that they do not fin clip trout. Period. So you could never tell the difference between hatchery and wild fish. Clipping trout is just too expensive an endeavor.

Exactly this - but he said it better!!

Duh, I just realize I wrote aren't not instead of are not in that above post. No wonder it was confusing!

:joker:

[Mike Carey]

No its just that they do not fin clip trout. Period. So you could never tell the difference between hatchery and wild fish. Clipping trout is just too expensive an endeavor.

Exactly this - but he said it better!!

Duh, I just realize I wrote aren't not instead of are not in that above post. No wonder it was confusing!

:joker:

So Stacey, I know lakes Washington and Sammamish aren't your region, but do you know what kind of research WDFW has done regarding the cutthroat populations in the two lakes? I assume you've read this forum thread and can see the concerns being expressed. The two lakes are great fisheries and I think the consensus is we anglers want to make sure they stay that way by not over-harvesting these fish.

What's your take on the fisheries?

[Stacie Kelsey]

Honestly, Lake Washington is a pretty complex fishery. I wouldn't even hazard a guess at where it sits and am just glad it's not in my region (maybe a little too honest there!). But seriously, it is very complex. What I will do is see if I can get some insight on what is going on and report back.

[G-Man]

I think that part of the complexity of Lake Washington is due to the small number of native steelhead and chinook salmon that run up the Cedar River. To complicate things, tribal fisheries are involved as well. I personally think that folks should take as many kokanee as they are legally allowed. Any sockeye that decides to stay in the lake for its entire life cycle is only reducing the amount of available food for those smolts that do what they are supposed to. I've asked that the trout and the kokanee limit be separated and I'll keep asking until a change is made. Also, with any luck the sportsfishermen will make a large enough dent in the cutt population so the smelt can come back a bit stronger and take care of the shrimp. I'm betting that once the shrimp population is under control we will see a rebound in sockeye production and perhaps other species as well.

[Stacie Kelsey]

I've sent out a couple of emails so as soon as I get something I can report back, I'll pass it along.

stace

[Stacie Kelsey]

Cool news! Daniel Garrett is the Bio for the Lake Washington/Sammamish area and is very interested in what you have to say. I just spoke with him on the phone and he would like me to pass on his office phone and email so that you can directly contact him with your ideas and thoughts.

Daniel Garrett
425-775-1311 x101

Daniel.Garrett@dfw.wa.gov


I also sent him the link to this thread so he can catch up on what you have discussed already.

stace

[Matt]

Thanks Stacie, I will have to think up some good points to make and give him a call.

[LittleTrib]

I wanna dig up this thread back to the top.

Its good to know that many of you are conservation-minded anglers, thinking about the future of our local/urban fisheries (LK. WA and SAMM), which we are VERY lucky we still have (and in good shape, too!). With the explosion in popularity of these fisheries in the last few years, I sometimes worry about how the stocks of the NATIVE cutthroat are holding up. A two-fish limit is a great idea.

Matt, how was the phone call to the fish bio?