Many proposals for ‘06 fishing regs

A net full of proposals is surfacing as the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission prepares for meetings later this year to set new fishing regulations that will take effect in 2006.

Among those that have already surfaced:

“Require landing nets to be knotless. Some commissioners contend that knotless nets, such as those made of synthetic rubber, are more “fish friendly” than nets with knots. So far anglers and angling clubs have generally opposed the proposal.

“Add Dolly Varden/bull trout to the list of fish that cannot be totally removed from fresh water, except in the case where rules allow them to be legally kept.

“Standardize bass rules on the entire Touchet and Snake rivers as follows: daily limit five, no maximum or minimum size, no more than three more than 15 inches may be retained.

“Drop the ventral fin requirement for steelhead in the Hanford area and Ringold bank fishery. Reason: Hatchery steelhead with only an adipose fin clip are headed for waters above Priest Rapids Dam. By Nov. 1, nearly all steelhead have passed the dam.

“Close the Lake Roosevelt San Poil arm to fishing Jan. 1 to May 31. Under current rules, the arm is closed Feb. 1 to May 31. The Colville Federated tribes recently extended the closure and the Washington commission wants to coordinate its rules with the tribes’.

“Require sturgeon fishermen to use only one single-pointed barbless hook in order to reduce mortality rate of catch-and-release angling. Bait would still be allowed.

The commission later this year also will consider several rule changes for coastal waters.

No public meetings are planned to discuss rule-change proposals, said Madonna Luers, Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman in Spokane. “All the comments will be collected on the department Web site and by e-mail,” she said.

Additional proposals are due by May 27. Info: http://wdfw.wa.gov.

In Idaho

The Department of Fish and Game has meetings starting this week to discuss fishing regulation proposals for the 2006-2007 seasons as follows:

Tuesday: Fish and Game regional office, 2750 Kathleen Ave. in Coeur d’Alene; open house meeting, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.

Wednesday: Priest River JHS; open house meeting, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.

May 16: Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave.; public meeting with a presentation, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., will include latest information about lake trout contamination and kokanee population in Lake Pend Oreille.

Potential regulation changes include:

“Allowing up to 10 rods or tip-ups for anglers holding a two-pole validation. Currently, five are permitted.

“Removing limits on walleye and northern pike in all waters except those where they are managed by the state.

“Allowing fishing tournaments for brook trout.

“Adding Antelope Lake and Bull Moose Lake to the Panhandle family fishing waters regulations.

“Closing fishing in the headwaters of East River and selected tributaries to protect bull trout.

Info: (208) 769-1414.