Catch the new rule changes

A rule prohibiting fishing from a boat with a motor at Medical Lake is among 37 changes to Washington’s sport fishing rules adopted last weekend by the state Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The new rules approved by the nine-member commission will be detailed in the 2007-2008 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet, which will be available this spring.

Last year, anglers were allowed to use electric motors on their boats while fishing Medical Lake. The city of Medical Lake requested the ban on all motors to reduce the stirring of bottom vegetation to protect water quality, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said.

Other changes that affect Eastern Washington waters include:

Deer Lake – The new season will open March 1 instead of late April. Smallmouth bass will have a separate daily limit of 10 fish, no minimum size but no more than one over 14 inches can be kept. Trout limit will be five fish a day; no more than two trout over 30 inches may be kept.

Crab Creek – Fishing in the creek around the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge will open a month later than in the past, with the season to run April 1-Sept. 30.

Fly fishing-only waters – Anglers with disability permits will be allowed to use electric motors on most lakes designated for fly-fishing only. Also, only knotless landing nets will be allowed on fly-fishing-only waters.

Snake River – A boundary will be defined for regulating seasons between the Snake and Columbia rivers at their confluence in Pasco. The new boundary provides additional protection for endangered Snake River steelhead and salmon.

Catch record cards must be on the angler’s person to be valid.

The commission turned down a proposal that would have prohibited the use of lead sinkers weighing a half-ounce or less at Ferry and Swan lakes in Ferry County and Pierre and Bonaparte lakes in Okanogan County.

In other business, the commission approved a measure that will allow more flexibility for hunters with a disability to hunt near the roadway.