Northwest Fishing Reports

I read the article by Mike Carey about reading the regulations and I do. Perhaps I do not understand the whole scenario with catch and release. I only release small trout because I like to eat them (far away look…yummy sounds…rubbing tummy) and it supplements my food budget.

I have read many times about trout fisherman on this site catching more fish than they ought to…or maybe I do not understand.

Here is a quote from one of the members of this site:

“i ened the trip c & r ing 13 12-14 inch rainbows in the matter of 2 hrs”

Here is a quote from the WDFW rules pamphlet:

TROUT:
BROWN TROUT CUTTHROAT TROUT
RAINBOW TROUT LAKE TROUT
GOLDEN TROUT KOKANEE
TIGER TROUT LANDLOCKED
GRAYLING ATLANTIC,
CHINOOK,
AND COHO SALMON

In rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2. When fishing with bait, all TROUT (except STEELHEAD) equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released.

In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: No min. size. Daily limit 5. When fishing with bait, all TROUT (except STEELHEAD) equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released

I have been guilty in the past, unknowingly, of breaking this rule…I think?!

When they say "with bait" this does not exclude lures does it? I would not think so.

After I catch five, released or not, do I have to go home or target bass? I think I do…what is your take on this?

It has always been my understanding that "bait" was worms, PB, etc. and that lures, spinners, flys, etc were not considered such. But I went to the regs book and here is what I found....

Under statewide freshater rules it states:
"Where use of bait is prohibited, or where lures or flies are used voluntarily, game fish may be caught and released until the daily limit is retained. If any fish has swallowed the hook or is hooked in the gill, eye, or tongue it should be kept if legal to do so,"

The definition of "bait" is:
Anything that attracts fi sh or shellfish by scent and/or flavor. This includes any device made of feathers, hair, fi ber, wood, metal, glass, cork, leather, rubber, or plastic, which uses scent and/or fl avoring to attract fish or
wildlife.

The definition of a "lure" is:
"A manufactured article, complete with hooks, constructed of feathers, hair, fiber, wood, metal, glass, cork, leather, rubber, or plastic, which does not use scent and/or flavoring to attract fish."

So, from this I believe that if you are using spinners and such and NOT USING SCENT - you are good to catch as many as you want, until you retain the daily limit - and if you catch any that are hooked to bad to survive, they must be retained.

Of course as always, this is only my interperatation - I reserve the right to be completely off base and welcome other to correct me if needed!

I agree with Gringo.
•If your lure isn't scented/flavored (or otherwise yummified), then you can C&R until you retain a limit.
•If you are using something that is scented/flavored then all catches count towards your limit.

them some strange regs.

out here we have the likes of :

barbless
artifitial, lures etc, not flys.
bait.
Flys.
single hook.

sometimes its like Barbless ONLY, or Barbless FLYS only.
nothing about scented. but barbless reg's are very strick out here, and single hooks.

also about limits stuff it depends on the body of water/time of year.

we can C&R as many as we like, no limit, if its done properly.

beresford13861 wrote:
sometimes its like Barbless ONLY, or Barbless FLYS only.
nothing about scented. but barbless reg's are very strick out here, and single hooks.

It's worth it to have these regs. No bait, no barbs, single hook regulations make some of the best producing lakes around. Especially those that don't allow the traditional 5 fish any size limit...

Glad my favorite lake is that way cause I can always count on Cnr'ing dozens of 16 inch trout..

Here is my interpertation of what I read as far as the lakes go.Everyone knows trying to interprate what fish and wildlife says is can be very diffucult sometimes.I think it all comes down to wether you use scented bait/attractor or not here is why I think this I got this out of the regs on page 24 from there website[quoteBAIT
Anything that attracts fi sh or shellfi sh by
scent and/or fl avor. This includes any device
made of feathers, hair, fi ber, wood, metal,
glass, cork, leather, rubber, or plastic, which
uses scent and/or fl avoring to attract fi sh or
wildlife.] [/quote]So as I understand it if you use a fly or lures with no scent and this isn't hurt where it wouldn't live you can catch and release all day wrong.But with alot things in life I could be wrong.But this is how I understand it after I read it.

shawn wrote:Here is my interpertation of what I read as far as the lakes go.

Thanks, Shawn. I appreciate your input. I guess as soon as I catch my limit of trout I have to go home or use lures. I have never had much luck with lures. I did catch my first fish on a moving lure out at Lacamas Saturday the 13th. I submitted a report: http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportCo ... 28&lid=171
It was a lot of fun. I think I will try to catch more fish this way maybe using a rooster tail, etc.
I also have a bunch of plastics I have not tried very much.

I did not want to sound rude...I appreciate the input of all the rest of you who took time to answer also.

TO SAM K>>>> SAY WHAT!!! You C&R dozens of 16" trout at you favorite lake???

PLEASE PLEASE just a little hint, What, Where, When, I promise I wont tell anyone!!!!

I didnt catch dozens of trout all year!! Help an ole guy out!

Kokonuts wrote:TO SAM K>>>> SAY WHAT!!! You C&R dozens of 16" trout at you favorite lake???

PLEASE PLEASE just a little hint, What, Where, When, I promise I wont tell anyone!!!!

I didnt catch dozens of trout all year!! Help an ole guy out!

you should hit up the eastern sierras in Northern cali, i catch 60 a day!

Beresford,

I moved form Riverside about 20 years ago!

I have a picture of my Dad in 1951 at Convict Lake in early May.
Hes standing next to his Ford pickup at the front tire with a stringer in each hand & his partner is standing at the rear tire
holding the other end of the stringers. Never did try to count the # of fish though.

I hope the fires arent too close to you!

lskiles wrote:

shawn wrote:Here is my interpertation of what I read as far as the lakes go.

Thanks, Shawn. I appreciate your input. I guess as soon as I catch my limit of trout I have to go home or use lures. I have never had much luck with lures. I did catch my first fish on a moving lure out at Lacamas Saturday the 13th. I submitted a report: http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportCo ... 28&lid=171
It was a lot of fun. I think I will try to catch more fish this way maybe using a rooster tail, etc.
I also have a bunch of plastics I have not tried very much.

I did not want to sound rude...I appreciate the input of all the rest of you who took time to answer also.

shawn wrote:

lskiles wrote:

shawn wrote:Here is my interpertation of what I read as far as the lakes go.

Thanks, Shawn. I appreciate your input. I guess as soon as I catch my limit of trout I have to go home or use lures. I have never had much luck with lures. I did catch my first fish on a moving lure out at Lacamas Saturday the 13th. I submitted a report: http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportCo ... 28&lid=171
It was a lot of fun. I think I will try to catch more fish this way maybe using a rooster tail, etc.
I also have a bunch of plastics I have not tried very much.

I did not want to sound rude...I appreciate the input of all the rest of you who took time to answer also.

Don't worry about you didn't sound rude to me.These rules and regs are very confusing.Glad to be of help.It's not a fish until it's in the boat.Irish Proverb

Kokonuts wrote:Beresford,

I moved form Riverside about 20 years ago!

I have a picture of my Dad in 1951 at Convict Lake in early May.
Hes standing next to his Ford pickup at the front tire with a stringer in each hand & his partner is standing at the rear tire
holding the other end of the stringers. Never did try to count the # of fish though.

I hope the fires arent too close to you!

theres alot of fish up there!!! thats for sure.

anyways the fires are everywhere, but nothing near my house.
thanks for the concern!

Mark.

Kokonuts wrote:TO SAM K>>>> SAY WHAT!!! You C&R dozens of 16" trout at you favorite lake???

PLEASE PLEASE just a little hint, What, Where, When, I promise I wont tell anyone!!!!

I didnt catch dozens of trout all year!! Help an ole guy out!

It's a bit far away for you coming from Portland... Your looking at 4.5 hours of driving...

Best day was 52 trout in 4 hours of fishing. Most of the time spent fighting fish. avg. fish 16 inches though...

Little hint for you: Put and take lakes provide opportunities for trout fishing, but if you do some digging around in the reg books, stocking plants, and are willing to fish selective gear lakes, your going to find much better fishing for trout then the standard stocker lakes...

OK Sam, That is a little hint, but Ive got the map out & will be looking at the regs this weekend!

I am going up to my place at Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway Fri. morning so I plan on fishing there for Trout.

Lets see what else, barbless hooks, 4 1/2 hours driving, & you live Whidbey Island. That still leaves several lakes.

Guess I need more research or another little hint!!!

If you are not sure what the regs mean or what is legal and you don't want to take a chance on a game ticket, just call the local field office for clarification. In Oregon, I just call the OSP sergeant who works my area and ask. In Washington, call the enforcement division.

Nope I live on mainland just east of Seattle...

Sam..... No bait , no barbs, single hooks, just east of Seattle......Gotta get my copy of the regs. this weekend !!!

Am I getting closer?

Kokonuts wrote:Gotta get my copy of the regs. this weekend !!!

The regs are available online

A lot of people forget (or don't know) that kokanee are classified as "trout" in WA state. So, the koke fishermen often post on the bulletin boards about catching and releasing dozens of them, until they retain their limit. Usually, they are using some sort of lure with a piece of corn or covered in some scent. It's all "bait" under the rules, and so legally, they should stop fishing for the kokes after they've caught (whether kept or released) their first 5 kokes (in lakes where the limit is 5 for trout/kokes).