HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown This weekend, thousands of Washingtonians in south Pierce County and across the state will go fishing legally without a license during the state apartment of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) Free Fishing Weekend. No license will be required June 11-12 to fish or gather shellfish in any state waters open to fishing during those two days. Also, no Vehicle Access Pass or Discover Pass will be required during that weekend to park at any water-access sites maintained by the WDFW. A Two Pole Endorsement is also not needed to fish with two poles on selected waters where two pole fishing is permitted. A Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement also is not required to fish for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and its tributaries. While no licenses are required during Free Fishing Weekend, other rules such as size, bag limits and closures will still be in effect. Anglers should note they are required to complete a catch record card for any salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut they catch. Catch record cards are available free at hundreds of sporting goods stores and other license dealers throughout the state. Whether bank or boat fishing, Free Fishing Weekend can be an exciting and rewarding venture if safety rules are religiously followed. Probably the most important safety rule that needs to be adhered to is the wearing of Personal Floating Devices (PFDs), also called life jackets and life vests. They are not just for wearing in boats. They should be worn any time around water. This is especially true for small children, and it is also important to be with another person near or on the water. Although Puget Sound is presently closed to salmon fishing, ithe WDFW said anglers can begin making plans to fish for salmon in Puget Sound area waters this summer. Most of those fisheries will target hatchery chinook; however, salmon fisheries throughout the Sound will be constrained to protect coho salmon and other weak salmon stocks. Changes in Puget Sound salmon fisheries since last summer can be found on the department's website. Some of those changes include: " Marine Area 10 will be open from July 16 to Aug. 15, or when the quota of 1,395 fish is met. Marine Area 9 will be open on the same dates as Marine Area 10, but also could close sooner if the quota of 3,056 is met. " The WDFW is closing some rivers and marine areas to all salmon fishing during September and October, traditional peak months for coho to return to Puget Sound. Rivers slated for closures are the Skagit, Stillaquamish and Nisquallly. Washington and Sammamish lakes also will be closed to fishing during those months. " The lower mainstem of the Skokomish River will be closed to all non-tribal fishing this year due to claims by the tribe that the river is part of the Skokomish Reservation and public access is prohibited. The closed area includes the section of the river from the Tacoma Public Utilities power lines near the mouth of the river upstream to the Bonneville Power Administration power lines upstream and west to State Route 101. The department advises anglers to observe this closure of the state's fishery that will be monitored by WDFW police. The department is working to evaluate this claim. Well, good luck on that. What ever happened to cooperation and co-management?
Bob Brown lives in Roy and is a freelance outdoors columnist. He can be reached at robertb1285@centurylink.net.
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