Washington State fishing

[2tall79]

State just closed all recreational fishing and shellfishing for 2 weeks. I know there are a couple of big  tournament scheduled next month.  Not sure how that will effect them.

[Columbia Craw]

The club I belong to sponsors an open in early May and I texted the President that we need to cancel.  Our club event on the Oregon Coast is scheduled for later April and the ramps there are, to my knowledge, closed.  I anticipate the closure will continue into May.  Ramp closures will be the significant control. 

[AC870]

I think closing lakes in this is BS. I mean you can go fishing and maintain social distancing. Dayum. 

[Tizi]

4 hours ago, AC870 said:

I think closing lakes in this is BS. I mean you can go fishing and maintain social distancing. Dayum. 

Could not agree more.  Went fishing last weekend, 4 guys, 2 boats, always 6 feet apart.  What’s the big deal? Fishing is a stress reliever!

[2tall79]

1 hour ago, Tizi said:

Could not agree more.  Went fishing last weekend, 4 guys, 2 boats, always 6 feet apart.  What’s the big deal? Fishing is a stress reliever!

I can't think of a safer place to be.

[Glenn]

Earlier this week, they shut down public ramps and parks.  Problem is, people then fished shoulder-to-shoulder on the banks.  Ergo, the total shutdown resulted.  Blame the arrogant, defiant, and careless anglers on that one.

 

Potholes open has been cancelled (not rescheduled).  If you were "in" for this year, you're "in" for next year (and already paid). You can opt-out for next year and request refunds.

[Moray]

California has closed most lakes. Those that remain open will most likely be shutdown by tomorrow.  I’m bummed. Best time of year to fish in SoCal.The upside is the bass will have a great spawn with nobody bothering them.

[islandbass]

Wow. The thought to go fishing crossed my mind and I live in WA state. ???

[2tall79]

To make matters worse,   the frogs in the ponds across the street all started croaking last night.  That usually signals to me that it's time get a line wet.  Alas, the governor says not yet, son.  ?

[islandbass]

Right on. I heard them too. I guess we’ll have fish vicariously through our brethren here who can. ?

[zeth]

Have to say I agree with what the WDFW is saying. Every time you leave the house you could be infecting someone or could become infected.  It's not worth the risk. If you disagree fine but actually stop and think about how serious this situation is.  You are either part of the problem or part of the solution. It's that simple. People are dying and we want to go fishing. Put that want on hold for a bit. The WDFW is doing their part and doing the right thing. The thing that is wrong is that the state or whatever hasn't followed through and banned recreational boating as well so it seems unfair and unbalanced but we can all be the bigger person here and go along with it and stop whining like little babies because we cant fish for a bit.  We need to be the bigger better person here and step up and support those at risk of dying from this disease.  We do that by staying home. Spend time with your kids, your partner, your self, read a book, garden, go for a walk, hang with the dog, organize your tackle, organize it again, go online learn something, pick up a skill, learn video editing for youtube videos, learn to knit, take online classes on something, anything. Keep yourself busy and chill out. 

 

 

Temporarily closing fishing and access to wildlife areas and water access sites was a difficult decision for us because we know how important these areas and opportunities are to you. The health and well-being of all Washingtonians is critically important to us, especially in this time of stress and uncertainty.

This closure is crucial to implementing the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order and limit on non-essential travel. Over the last weeks, we’ve seen large crowds at our state’s coastal beaches and riverbanks as people seek an outdoor get away. In fact, in some places, it has been busier than we see in the peak of summer.

Some closures of recreational fishing were also legally necessary, as our staff are not able to conduct adequate fish sampling and monitoring under the Governor's order. Many salmon and steelhead fisheries require regular monitoring under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which includes conducting angler interviews at access sites surrounding the state’s marine waters. The on-site, face-to-face nature of angler interviews puts people at risk of transmitting the coronavirus. Without this monitoring, recreational fisheries need to close, consistent with our ESA permits that allow fisheries.

Fishing, boating, or hiking on public lands generally wouldn’t violate social distancing guidance. But it’s important to consider all the elements that go along with these activities: leaving the house and driving to a boat ramp, stopping on the way to buy ice or gear, helping the angler on the boat ramp in front of you, filling up for gas, and visiting the local grocery store. All of these interactions put you and local communities at risk.

In addition, the influx of use that we witnessed over the weekend of March 21-22 created congested outdoor experiences very unlike what would normally be experienced. We need to protect all Washingtonians, including coastal and rural communities that were being overwhelmed with out-of-area visitors. We are cognizant of the impact of people travelling from highly impacted coronavirus areas to places that have just a handful of cases, and what it would mean to the healthcare system in those rural communities. In addition, the influx of people shopping in local rural markets has a direct impact on seniors trying to buy food as close to home as possible.

So, please stay home and stay healthy. You have a role in saving lives in your community and statewide. We wish for you and your friends and family to stay healthy too, so that you can return to the waterways and lands we all value once we return to normal.

We will revisit the closures to our lands recreational fishing on April 6, 2020. For the latest information around our response to impacts from the spread of COVID-19, please continue to visit https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/covid-19-updates.

[schplurg]

Every day we compromise our own safety and take risks for financial reasons or convenience.

 

Every time I drive my car without a helmet I am at a significantly greater risk of dying should I be involved in a car crash. Every time I drive it is a risk to others as well as myself. How many car fatalities per day? 

 

Lives could be saved if all cars had roll cages and 5 point harnesses too, but they don't. Why? Acceptable risk.

 

There is a point where safety takes a back seat to financial considerations and convenience. We, as a society, are okay with this, otherwise we would wear helmets and drive 15 mph. Driving 70 mph with no helmet is not exactly safe.

 

I read recently that if you want to really be safe from Covid that 6 feet isn't nearly enough distance. But we aren't going to keep 27 feet apart from each other (as per an MIT study), and we aren't walking around in bubble suits.

 

Given all this, I do not feel that it is ridiculous for someone to fish if they can do so safely. Perspective is important. People go to Walmart still - now THAT is worrisome to me.

[king fisher]

On 4/5/2020 at 6:08 PM, schplurg said:

Every day we compromise our own safety and take risks for financial reasons or convenience.

 

Every time I drive my car without a helmet I am at a significantly greater risk of dying should I be involved in a car crash. Every time I drive it is a risk to others as well as myself. How many car fatalities per day? 

 

Lives could be saved if all cars had roll cages and 5 point harnesses too, but they don't. Why? Acceptable risk.

 

There is a point where safety takes a back seat to financial considerations and convenience. We, as a society, are okay with this, otherwise we would wear helmets and drive 15 mph. Driving 70 mph with no helmet is not exactly safe.

 

I read recently that if you want to really be safe from Covid that 6 feet isn't nearly enough distance. But we aren't going to keep 27 feet apart from each other (as per an MIT study), and we aren't walking around in bubble suits.

 

Given all this, I do not feel that it is ridiculous for someone to fish if they can do so safely. Perspective is important. People go to Walmart still - now THAT is worrisome to me.

You do make a good point about car safety, but not exactly a perfect comparison.  You didn't factor in the fact that social distancing will end and life will get back to the same risk level, as before the pandemic.

      If by driving 15 mph and wearing helmets for a couple months would significantly keep automobile fatalities down even after you start driving 70 mph and quite wearing the helmets.  Then it would be an accurate comparison.  Social distancing now might help make life normal in the future.  Auto restrictions ( helmets roll cages etd.) would only save lives as long as the restrictions were in effect.  Once they were lifted and people quit wearing helmets etc. the accident rate would go back to what it was.  I'm not saying you are wrong, that life always has risks and people should be free to ***** those risks , just that there is many ways of looking at the situation.  I do miss fishing, as well as other hobbies I'm not able to do now, but am looking forward to a future where I can.

[redux]

Did any of you Washington state anglers attend the protest on Lake Union in Seattle yesterday?

[Tizi]

No, but I did go to www.governor.wa.gov and sent a note to Inslee about being able to fish and keep social distancing.  Makes no sense I can go boating, but not fish?????

[2tall79]

I want to go fishing as bad as the next guy but thumbing your nose at the need for social distancing by participating in a mass demonstration is not helping the cause.  The videos I've seen of the ramp was certainly not SD. 

[mching]

Sounds like we may be able to fish again soon.

 

https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-easing-of-outdoor-restrictions-8ed2c3d62050