Northwest Fishing Reports

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

August 10, 2009

Contact: Jim Uehara, (360) 902-2738

Two-pole fishing option starts Aug. 15 on most state lakes

OLYMPIA - Recreational anglers will soon have the option of using two poles while fishing in most Washington lakes under a new law passed by the state Legislature.

Effective Aug. 15, the two-pole endorsement option will apply to the majority of the 8,000 fishing lakes, ponds and reservoirs in Washington state. Endorsements will be available Aug. 13 from authorized license dealers, listed at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lic/vendors/vendors.htm , or from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ .

Anglers wishing to take advantage of the new opportunity will be required to pay a $20 fee ($5 for resident seniors) for the endorsement, which is in addition to the recreational fishing license issued by WDFW. A surcharge and transaction fee will also apply.

Revenue generated from the new fees will go toward hatchery fish production.

Because approximately 145 lakes and ponds will be excluded from the two-pole endorsement program, anglers should check the regulations carefully before they go fishing, said Phil Anderson, WDFW interim director. The list of excluded lakes and ponds is available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/twopole/ . Saltwater fisheries and fisheries on rivers and streams will also be excluded.

"Our department priority is to protect and conserve Washington’s fish populations, while providing fishing opportunities for anglers," Anderson said. "The new legislation will help us achieve both by improving prospects for catching hatchery trout and warm-water fish in the state’s lakes, while excluding areas where populations are more vulnerable," Anderson said.

Excluded waters are those with conservation issues, such as waters containing threatened or endangered species, or lakes designated for specific management objectives, such as juvenile-only fishing lakes.

Anderson said the department will also evaluate additional areas and situations where two-pole fishing may be allowed in the future. He encouraged the public to provide comments on the new law during WDFW’s 2010-11 sportfishing rule-making process in early September.

When the new endorsement option goes into effect Aug. 15, all fishing regulations, such as size, species and daily limits, will still apply.

"Having a second pole may help anglers catch their daily limit of fish faster, but the limit and other regulations will remain the same," Anderson said.

For more information, visit WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/ , or call WDFW’s licensing department at (360) 902-2464.

Thank you for the info-

Well now....... That's about usless. Leave up to the State to turn a good idea into a waste of time and money. They won't be getting another $20 from me. I wonder how much money was wasted adding this usless addition to the F&G rules.

Not for 20 bucks. 5 or MAYBE 10 dollors.

It looks like the $20 will go to a good cause..... I see it as a way to support our (well now your) fisheries. The $20 is supposed to go toward hatcheries and they need the $ because of all the cuts they have been receiving.. If I was still in WA I would pay the $20 even if I didn't fish 2 poles all the time:-"

Bodofish wrote:Well now....... That's about usless. Leave up to the State to turn a good idea into a waste of time and money. They won't be getting another $20 from me. I wonder how much money was wasted adding this usless addition to the F&G rules.

I don't know.. Useless to many, but not all. I forsee a lot of suburban lakes (Greenlake comes to mind) where there will be more two pole fishing than one pole. Now weather they pay the $20, or WDFW gets out and starts checking them on a regular basis, who knows.

That being said, I doubt that I will pay the extra $20 either - I don't do enough still fishing to make it worthwhile.

Gringo Pescador wrote: I don't do enough still fishing to make it worthwhile.

Trolling is where this is MOST effective you can now run lures at different depths making it easier to locate fish:-"

With out the saltwater areas and major lakes included I won't be purchasing that endorsement. A good portion of us are just trying to figure out what the fish want, an extra rod in the water cuts the time in half. Once your dialed in, one rod is plenty, especially when you're by yourself. All this is going to lead to is a bunch of gut hooked fish.

there is no lakes i fish on the list except lake wenatchee

The only lake I would use it is in Lake Washington for perch. Thats too bad for the guys trolling for cuts in that lake.
I could see why they would put that lake on the list to protect sea-run fish though.

So, the best use of this that I see is throwing out something really stinky for catfish, let it sit while you target pan fish or trout.

But Gringo has a good point, will they actually check? Didn't a bunch of guys get laid off from the WDFW?

Sweet! I am assuming the is active as of August 15, 2009 not 2010 correct? I'am on my way out to buy the license:bounce:

Toni wrote:My question is why $20 if we only have 2 months to fish? Or are they going to make it due in Aug every year.

They will make an option to buy with your regular license every year - originally they were going to put it into effect next season. Must have gotten it drawnup faster than they thought and decided to make a few extra $$ this year.

I'm in. Very few lakes I fish or plan to fish were on "the list".

this works well for how i fish (shore mostly) and would like to fish. there are many lakes and ponds that i would benifit using two set ups. one for bottom fishing and one for fishing other lures. now i am able to set up for catfish and still cast for panfish. or the same for trout fishing. both bottomand top can be fished. boat fishing i can troll two differnt types of offerings for differnt fish. walleye and perch are one example. maybe a good way to catch your limit of koke's when you run thru a school. so for me it would be worth the $20 to be able to use my time to fish the slow action along with the fast action. of coarse this does not work well when all you do is cast as for bass/muskie etc.

panfisher wrote: maybe a good way to catch your limit of koke's when you run thru a school.

Thats exactley what Im thinking.

on my trip to Conconully last weekend my fishing hours were limited. Usually in 2hr increments or so, then i'd swap with my wife so she could go out and fish or sunbathe while I watched the little guy. I actually probably would have paid the $20 to contribute to the fund and it would have allowed me to pitch powerbait off the bottom over on the deep side of the boat while i casted lures towards the shoreline working bass on the other side of the boat.

im mixed about this....i like fishing two in my tub puposely to dial in faster, so i would like it, but on the other hand 20bucks, for 10 i would..