Steelhead Fishing Opens on Skagit, Sauk Rivers

The Washington Division of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) introduced that as of February 3, a leisure fishery would open on the Skagit, and its predominant tributary, the Sauk.

Per a press launch, “Leisure steelhead fishing will open Feb. 3 by April 17 5 days per week Saturdays by Wednesdays solely, closed Thursdays and Fridays, on parts of the Skagit and its main tributary the Sauk beneath catch and launch laws.”

One may assume this implies excellent news. Opening a river to leisure angling signifies that sufficient grownup fish are current within the river that catch-and-release fishing shouldn’t influence them an excessive amount of, proper?

Properly, WDFW and tribal fisheries managers challenge that solely 5,215 wild steelhead will return to the Skagit River and its tributaries this yr.

That’s not many fish, particularly whenever you have a look at the historic knowledge. Per the Wild Steelhead Coalition (WSC), “Traditionally, the Skagit Basin noticed returns of round 150,000 wild steelhead yearly. We noticed runs of roughly 13,000 as lately because the late 80’s and runs of 9000 fish (in 2015).”

The WSC additionally notes that beneath present Endangered Species Act (ESA) pointers established for the Skagit watershed, a “low-impact” fishing season is allowed provided that projected runs are between 4,000 and 6,000 wild returning fish. Needless to say’s projected, not an precise variety of spawning fish. Additionally of be aware is the definition of “low influence” by the ESA – a “fishery that doesn’t exceed a suitable mortality price of ten p.c of the returning fish. These mortality impacts are shared between leisure anglers and tribal fisheries.”

I perceive steelheaders need to chase these fish, however it appears silly to permit for as much as 10% mortality in a inhabitants of endangered fish which can be more likely to disappear in our lifetime until one thing drastic adjustments. I’ve to marvel if it’s higher to go away these fish alone than attempt to catch them.

This identical situation performed out in 2021, when leisure fishing opened with solely 4,297 fish estimated to return to the watershed. On the time, WSC made this assertion:

“For our half, the Wild Steelhead Coalition is deeply involved concerning the Skagit system’s depressed steelhead run counts and the potential influence of this season. As passionate steelheaders, we need to fish these iconic rivers as a lot as anybody, however we additionally acknowledge that steelhead numbers within the Skagit and Sauk are at present on a razor’s edge.”