Palmer Lake limit reduced

[Bogey]

I have just heard that the limit for Palmer Lake has been reduced to TWO fish. That's a long ways to drive for 2 fish, especially after the size, or lack of, I saw last year.

 

[eenakoK]

I heard that it might be reduced by 2 fish to 3 fish. Anyways, it is because everyone was catching too many. Would still be a good tine

 

[Bogey]

It's now a 2-fish limit. Ya, it got fished hard the last two years and it caught up with it...it was hard to buy a fish by July last year. The problem I see with that two fish limit, especially since they're such good eaters, is people are going to want to toss the smaller ones back and try for two bigger ones and we all know how that's going to end... :0(

 

[eenakoK]

Management at its best. I guess at least they are trying something. I can see your point that people will throw the smaller fish away for the larger ones, which will affect the smaller fish.

 

[Smalma]

Bogey -
Where did you find that regulation change?

I can not find it in either the 2012-2013 WDFW regs or the emergency regulation changes.

Tight lines
Curt

 

[eenakoK]

Smalma-
I am trying to verify that as well

 

[Bogey]

Sorry, been away for a couple of days and just saw this. I took the info as "it's in stone" when I was first told, but after your questions, I called my "source" back and he said that when the new regs come out May 1st, it will show the change. I do find this kind of strange, because we're already in to 2012, but he is quite certain of his info??? SO, until we see it in print, I assume it's the same!!

Sorry if I triggered panic. If it does come to be, I really have mixed feelings about it, but I do know that last year SUCKED,, so something has to happen.

Bogey

 

[Smalma]

Bogey-
The regulation changes for 2012-2013 (going into effect 5/1) can be found at:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/2012-2013/2012-13_rule_proposals_2012feb07.pdf

All the changes that were considered and past by WDFW commission is found there. I usually follow the regulations pretty closely; in fact was at the commission meeting where public testimony was taken regarding changes for the next season. Palmer lake was not discussed.

Any such change did not go through the proper channels and changes for the coming season would not be legal. Folks may submit ideas for upcoming seasons though the State has not take public proposals for several years.

Would be very interested to see documentation of the kokanee bag limit change for Palmer.

Thanks
Curt

 

[eenakoK]

Thank you for the information! It is sad, but hopefully with the change we can get it back to where it was.

 

[Bogey]

I guess as far as changes we'll wait and see, but yes, no matter what I'd like to see this lake be productive.

Thanks for the link!

 

[Torres]

From what i've read and heard about the fishery at Palmer Lake is that it could possibly hold the next state record, which of course, will bring the masses out to make thier attempt at it, and the word of this out is making the locals around the lake very nervous because they fear that the fishing quality in the lake will go bad with the current limit.

The lake also has an excellent smallmouth fishery that at one time took a nosedive a few years back from anglers doing what the locals are hoping doesn't happen to the kokanee fishery, keeping more than the catch limit and keeping the larger fish.

 

[Kingchinook]

The reason it got hit hard is because too many people have big mouths if you tell people the Kokanee are big and easy to get limits like the fishin magician did in his articles and Darrel and dads guide service did while guiding on a small body of water which he should be ashamed that he did this a lake that small can't hold up to that kind of pressure or publicity that's what happened to Billy clapp too I wish people would talk about bodies of water that can handle the pressure but glory hogs can't handle not bragging about what they catch no matter if it hurts the fishery or not everyone last year told me I was too harsh on Darrel and dads guide service but guess what I was right on I wish they would shut it down totally for at least a year for kokes give them a chance so the big fish can spawn without taking any more big fish out of the lake so again thanks fishin magician and Darrel and dads for ruining a fishery thanks you guys so from now on keep your lips zipped

 

[Kingchinook]

And to bogey about the size I caught kokes in the 18 to 20 inch class but maybe you just catch the tiny babies

 

[Smalma]

I see that Palmer is planted annually with approximately 100,000 kokanee fry every year. Does any know whether there is also some natural reproduction contributing to the numbers of kokanee in the lake?

A plant of 100K kokanee for a lake the size of Palmer is a pretty light plant (5o fish/acre). That likely contributes to the large size of the fish. The majority of the kokanee in this State (and much of the West) are of Lake Whatcom stock and the size of the fish in the various fisheries is typically a function of the density of the kokanee and the productivity of the lake - fewer fish equals larger fish. On most of our lakes it is common to see planting levels of several hundred fish/acre so it is no mystery why Palmer has nice size kokanee. The flip side of course of the lower density fish in the lake making the fishery more fragile (that is increased pressure means that relatively few fish has to be spread out between more anglers).

While guides do provide a public serve (gets people on the water that might no otherwise have the opportunity and teach methods) that can come with a downside. The impact from their fishing (catch) can result in change in who is catching the fish but often the larger impact happens when a guide excessively hypes the fishery to drum up business. I understand the need for them to generate business (afterall at least a portion of their living comes from that business). At the same time they need to recognize that not everyone welcomes the resulting negative impact on the "free lance" anglers' fishing.

This Palmer Lake question touches on the larger issue -"what sort of kokanee fishing do we as anglers want?". On most lakes the bulk of the fishery is carried by hatchery fish so there is little resource concern. Rather it is about what sort of fishery we want (size versus number or balance of the two) and how the available catch should be distributed. Historically varios kokanee fishing opportunities were found across the State in a more or less randomly and anglers were left to sort out the kind of kokanee opportunity we enjoyed. With increasing interest/pressure it may soon be the time for the managers to look more closely at angler desires and how to best address that interest.

It will be interesting to see how things play out. I do know that the increased interested on my home lake has resulted in lower catch rates for the average lake as well as a shift in the timing of the fishing pressure (more in the early portion of the "season".

Tight lines
Curt

 

[Kingchinook]

I think most of us on the eastside would rather have quality fish not quanity we as anglers just have to make sure that certain people need to understand that they need to keep there mouth shut and stop publicizing lakes that can't handle the pressure Joe heinlin of darrel and dads guide service should be more stewards of the land than glory hogs that dont care if a lake gets fished out I hope the true fisherman give these people a call and let them know what they have done Dave graybiel is just as guilty for what has happened so let's give them the fame they have earned maybe next time they'll think twice

 

[Torres]

I think most of us on the eastside would rather have quality fish not quanity

I believe the misunderstanding here is that it's not an "eastside" issue or the actions from a guide, in fact, I believe guides are quite the opposite otherwise they wouldn't have a business to run if they were letting their clients catch more than thier limits. Remember, someone is paying this person good money to catch some fish and learn how to be a better fisherman.

The real problem and i'm sure others will back me up, are your fellow anglers that blatantly break the rules by going over thier legal limit and catching and keeping fish when they are on thier spawning beds thus leaving the nest to predation. When you are on the lake and notice it happening, those are the ones you should be calling the warden on..tooexcited

 

[Kingchinook]

There are poachers but putting too much pressure on a lake by over publicizing it especially Palmer is one guides fault and another idiot named the fishin magician who put way too many people on a small lake ask the locals up near Palmer about those two people if I were them I'd stay away they are very disliked due to them ruining the lake

 

[NW Wild Country]

It's my understanding that Palmer Lake saw roughly 30 to 40 percent of its historical number of mating pairs this past fall, which is due cause for concern. I've heard whispers of this reduced bag limit, too, but as Curt points out, we'll have to see how vaild that chatter is.

JS/NWWC

 

[Kingchinook]

No whispers April 1st two fish limit and the reason is over fishing due to peoples fat mouths

 

[MackPrince]

This Palmer Lake question touches on the larger issue -"what sort of kokanee fishing do we as anglers want?". On most lakes the bulk of the fishery is carried by hatchery fish so there is little resource concern. Rather it is about what sort of fishery we want (size versus number or balance of the two) and how the available catch should be distributed. Historically varios kokanee fishing opportunities were found across the State in a more or less randomly and anglers were left to sort out the kind of kokanee opportunity we enjoyed. With increasing interest/pressure it may soon be the time for the managers to look more closely at angler desires and how to best address that interest.

Smalama - Thank you for including this question. This was one of the aims from our Kokanee Power of Washington effort. As sportsmen and women it is our responsibility to manage the resources, promote ethical choices, and instill stewardship and camradare with our youth. Overfishing a lake is a systems issue, and if the balance is off we need to work with the wildlife agancies collaboratively, even if the short-term solution is not benefiting our ego or freezer count.

Overfishing is separate from poaching. Poachers need to be reported when we see it happen. Otherwise, by not calling in or not stepping up and saying something we are supporting the behavior in our own choice to not take action.