Field reports: New record form for Washington
FISHING – Anglers who catch the big one won’t go unrecognized in Washington.
The state’s sportfish records program – declared dead in the water because of Department of Fish and Wildlife budget cuts last fall – has been revived and improved.
Fisheries staffers stepped up to restore the program this winter after near-record walleyes had been caught in the Columbia.
It dawned then on anglers and biologists that the next record sportfish would not be recognized unless something was done.
“The application we’d been using was way out of date with obsolete procedures,” said John Easterbrooks, regional fisheries manager in Yakima.
Updates include adding tiger trout to the sport species on the application and deleting threatened rockfish species that no longer can be harvested.
“We created a new rainbow trout category just for Lake Rufus Woods triploids,” he said, noting the trout are genetically altered to be sterile and grow larger than normal. They also beef up with the help of feed from commercial net pens.
Eligibility requirements have been changed. Fish must be verified within seven days of being caught. Frozen fish don’t qualify.
“It used to be 30 days, and the fish could be frozen: that encouraged fraud,” Easterbrooks said. “A frozen fish could come in from anywhere.”
The new record fish applications, which can be downloaded from the agency’s website, include a map showing the location and contact information for the nearest WDFW fish staffers who can verify a record catch.
Rich Landers
Palouse camps to open early
FORESTS – The mild winter is allowing fee campgrounds on the Palouse Ranger District to open earlier than normal.
Clearwater National Forest officials say Elk Creek, Little Boulder, Giant White Pine and Laird Park will open Friday. Updates: (208) 875-1131.
Rich Landers
Camera bags bear poachers
HUNTING – Two Oregon men last week each were fined about $10,000 in penalties and lost their hunting privileges for nearly a decade after being convicted of poaching in Idaho.
The main evidence: photos from a camera they left at a bear-baiting site.
Staff reports