DFWL News...

[Grumpy]

WDFWL INFORMATION RELEASE

Solution announced to cure combat fishing conditions on Skykomish River

OLYMPIA – A plan to reduce the causes of combat fishing conditions presently found at Reiter Ponds, on the Skykomish River was announced today by the Department of Fishes and Wild Life.

This area of the river, scheduled to close in February, will be the site of a bold new approach to easing overcrowded conditions. Since there are too many fishermen and too few rocks, the Department has come up with a novel solution. Helicopters will be used to transport over 300 large rocks from the railroad siding in Gold Bar, WA, to the river bank near the rearing ponds. No rocks will be added to the highway side of the river since it is private property.

Usage Rights for each individual rock will be sold beginning March 1, 2012. Fishermen and women with a Good To Go Pass will be able to use a specific rock on the river, based on their experience level, chosen method of fishing, and favorite color. Users must purchase a pass, which will be scanned as users leave the parking area. The cost of the pass will be $500, which will defray some of the $1,468,000.02 costs for the helicopter rock drop. Rocks may not be accessed for fishing until completion of the project, "sometime in 2014."

Fishermen not possessing a current pass may pay a per hour fee to use a given rock. Said rock must be surrendered if bonafide pass holders require access, thus giving new meaning to the term “combat fishing.” No refunds will be offered.

Enforcement will be overseen by armed, off-duty guards from the Monroe Reformatory, stationed strategically in the area.

Fees will range according to time of day and day of the week as follows.

Monday thru Friday
0-dark:30 to 9:00   $50/hr. without pass      $49.95 with pass
9:00 – noon      $40/hr. without pass      $39.50 with pass
noon – 3:00      $35/hr. without pass      $29.95 with pass
3:00-dark      all you can fish for $25/hr. (Businessman’s special rate), with or without pass
Saturday, Sunday and Holidays
All fees double.

•   All fishermen pay the appropriate fee, regardless of age, experience level, physical condition, or years they’ve fished at Reiter.
•   Early limits of two hooked fish (whether brought to hand or not) will cause immediate removal from the site.
•   Non-payment of fees will result in confiscation of all fishing gear, nets, snagging rigs, hip waders, and vehicle keys and title from the offender. There is no appeal allowed in this process.

Rocks ranging in size from that of a Volkswagen Beetle to a SmartCar will be lifted from a railroad siding in Gold Bar and dropped by helicopter on the river bank. Rocks will be placed 1500 feet above the hatchery outlet to 1000 feet below the outlet. Those convicted of past fishing regulation offenses will then paint the rocks in various tones ranging from pretty pastel pink, baby blue, pale yellow, mist green, to lavender as dictated by user demand.

Experienced fisherpersons may claim a pink rock, while novice users will use lavender boulders. Drift fishermen will be given priority for their choice of pink rocks, followed by float fishermen, then hardware flingers, and lastly, bug tossers.

Fees and hours of operation are not subject to public approval. No meetings will be held to discuss the plan’s acceptance except for a late night Q&A at The Harmon Brewery in Tacoma; however, regulations, review of fees, and timing of implementation are finalized already.

Further information is available at http://www.rentarock.wa.gov or by calling Burt Bonkabrat at (800) 555-1212.

[BigCohoTom]

What a great idea !  Why didn't I think of this ? ?

[RB]

Simply amazing

[Fast- eddy]

Not Funny!

[wild rivers]

are you f*****g kidding me lmao what a bunch of morons

[Chum Man]

 

[hooknose]

Me thinks Grumpy needs to wet a line - somewhere other than Reiter... 

Burt Bonkabrat 

[fozzie]

   You solved the state's budget problem in one rant, Grumpy.

[Salt Island Steel]

...and lastly bug tossers.

[SR paca]

I should have read this before I hit post............   looks like I need to bring back a gallon of pastel pink to mark my spot.   Now all I have to do is find a way to get the other side of the river privatized!

Nice post

[jerevicious]

Last time I went to Tokul Creek it was worse then Reiter, though I must admit that was a very long time ago....the Bogy hatchery was and is, just as bad. Even over at my favorite eastern Washington river its become combat fishing....fishing for steelhead these days seems like the movie "far and away" when they race to claim there piece of land. You just may get shot if your fishing on there favorite rock.

My last trip to Reiter was just like my first....get in a line of cars....by the time it hits 6am there are a minimum of 50 vehicles in line....its then a quick drive to the parking lot then everyone hurries out of there vehicle and race walks to there spot....some even sit on the tail-gate of there truck and just jump off before parking.



....anyway this guy walks in like ten minutes after the big rush and says to the guy next to me....I've been fishing this rock for over 20 years but now I'm too old to walk fast to my fishing spot because I have bad legs. Could you let me have this spot....the guy tries to ignore him which now has him getting angry and talking louder to see if anyone cares. So this guy is having a fit and now swearing at the guy....and he leaves bitching about having to walk up or down river on his bad legs.

One of the things I hate most about Reiter are all the fisherman who start throwing lighted bobbers in the winter at 6am when its still dark....so by the time its light enough for everyone else to start fishing most of the fish have all ready been spooked....and the thing is I've never seen any of them ever catch a steelhead with there lighted bobbers.

[fshrmon]

In an effort to be more green and sustainable, would anyone like to 'rock-pool' with me? 

[BigEars]

I'm so glad I live in SW Washington! 

[rvrfshr]

Long live the original...BDR.  (bigdickrock!)