No Bait, No Barbs, No Kill for Wild OP Steelies

For the last three years, the Wild Steelhead Coalition (WSC) has been pushing for a suite of prudent changes to Washington’s sportfishing regs that would curb bait, ban barbs, and outlaw wild fish retention in order to allow beleaguered steelhead populations on the Olympic Peninsula to rebound. Today, these proposals became a reality.

“Today’s victory for Olympic Peninsula wild steelhead is proof that commonsense conservation can prevail when the sportfishing community comes together and we use the collective power of our voices to empower decision-makers to fight for wild steelhead,” says WSC board member Jonathan Stumpf.

“Make no mistake, much work remains to be done, but this win is evidence that together we’re making progress and will allow us to continue our longstanding steelhead angling tradition and fish through recovery. Thanks to everyone who submitted comments, attended meetings, and helped spread the word—this victory is a credit to your efforts and your passion for wild steelhead conservation.”

Modeled in-part after successful wild steelhead conservation regulations from Oregon, British Columbia and other areas, changes will include the following:

-Prohibit the harvest of all wild steelhead and rainbow trout on select OP rivers such as the Hoh, Bogachiel, and Sol Duc. WSC has championed a zero sportfishing harvest policy for more than ten years, and this adopted proposal is the final piece of a decade-long fight. Harvest by recreational anglers may be limited compared to that of other stakeholders on the OP, but this rule will reduce our impact and set a powerful precedent for others to follow.

-Implement selective gear rules such as barbless hooks and no bait during winter months on select OP rivers in order to protect juvenile steelhead, salmon, and trout.

-Implement “boats for transportation only” rule on a select stretch of the upper Hoh River outside Olympic National Park to protect holding and spawning adult steelhead and salmon. Similar rules have proven to be successful at reducing catch and release angler induced mortality while also preserving quality fishing opportunity on popular rivers such as Oregon’s Deschutes.

These shifts received the support of the North Coast Steelhead Advisory Group (NCSAG), an ad hoc committee comprised of stakeholders from Forks to Seattle that included several WSC board and committee members. NCSAG used a collaborative, consensus-based approach to advance sportfishing rule proposals that chart the best path forward for both wild steelhead and steelheaders.

The new rules are scheduled to go into effect sometime in summer 2016.

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