New, Notes & Fishy Quotes
Washington Offers Discounted Licenses to Veterans
Starting Feb. 1, disabled veterans who are not state residents can apply for reduced fees on their next Washington State hunting or combination fishing license.
The Washington Department Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is now accepting applications for the new discounted rates, which were extended to non-residents by the state Legislature under House Bill 1192 last year.
While resident disabled veterans can qualify for even deeper discounts, the new law allows those from out of state to pay standard resident license fees, said Frank Hawley, a WDFW licensing manager.
“The law was designed to make it more affordable for all United States veterans with disabilities to hunt and fish in our state,” Hawley said.
For example, those who qualify can purchase a combination fishing license (saltwater, freshwater, and shellfish) at the residents’ rate of $54.25, compared to $123.55 for the standard, non-resident license. A deer-hunting license would cost $66.90, rather than the non-resident price of $531.10.
To qualify for the reduced rates, non-resident veterans must: Be honorably discharged from military service, and have a service-related disability rating of 30 percent or more, verified by a letter from the Veterans Affairs Administration (VA); or be 65 years of age or older with a service-related disability verified by a VA letter. Submit an application requesting reduced fees.
Applications and additional information about the Veterans Reduced Fee program are available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requirements_veterans.html
JD: This is a long overdue idea. Good for the State of Washington to be giving some respect where respect is due. Now if the state would use our money to actually plant a few more steelhead in the river, we’d be all set.
Drought Causing California River Closures The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has closed some waters to fishing in order to protect native salmon and steelhead from low water flows in California streams and rivers that have been significantly impacted by drought. CDFW is also recommending that the Fish and Game Commission adopt emergency regulations on other rivers.
“We fully understand the impact these closures will have on California anglers and the businesses related to fishing in California, and we really feel for them,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “However the science is clear. Two-thirds of the wettest part of winter is now behind us and conditions are looking increasingly grim. Under these extreme drought conditions, it is prudent to conserve and protect as many adult fish as possible to help ensure the future of fishing in California.”
CDFW has the authority under Title 14, Article 4, Section 8.00(c) to close south central coast streams to fishing from December 1 through March 7 when it determines that stream flows are inadequate to provide fish passage for migrating steelhead trout and salmon. As a result, the following streams are closed to all fishing until stream flows are sufficient to allow fish passage for returning adult steelhead and salmon (CDFW will announce any lifting of the closures):
•Pescadero Creek and all anadromous reaches of San Mateo County coastal streams, from Elliot Creek through •Milagro Creek.
•The San Lorenzo River and all its tributaries
•Aptos and Soquel Creeks (Santa Cruz County).
•Pajaro River and Uvas, Llagas and Corralitos Creeks The Carmel River
•Big Sur River and those Big Sur area streams from Granite Creek to Salmon Creek west of Highway 1.
•The main stem of the Salinas River below its confluence with the Arroyo Seco River and the Arroyo Seco River.
In addition, CDFW has the authority under Title 14, Article 4, Section 8.00(a) to close north coast streams to fishing from September 1 (Mad River) and October 1 (all others) through January 31 when it determines that the flow at any of the designated gauging stations is less than minimum flows stated in regulation. As a result, the following streams are subject to low-flow closures through January 31 (however, CDFW is requesting this be extended to April 30 as noted in the recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission below, recommendation #3):
•The main stem Eel River from the paved junction of Fulmor Road with the Eel River to the South Fork Eel River.
•South Fork of the Eel River downstream from Rattlesnake Creek and the Middle Fork Eel River downstream from the Bar Creek.
•The main stem Van Duzen River from its junction with the Eel River to the end of Golden Gate Drive near Bridgeville.
•The main stem Mad River from the Hammond Trail Railroad Trestle to Cowan Creek.
•The main stem of the Mattole River from the mouth to Honeydew Creek.
•The main stem of Redwood Creek from the mouth to its confluence with Bond Creek.
•The main stem Smith River from the mouth of Rowdy Creek to the mouth of Patrick Creek (tributary of the Middle Fork Smith River); the South Fork Smith River from the mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tyron) bridge and Craig’s Creek to its confluence with Jones Creek; and the North Fork Smith River from the mouth to its confluence with Stony Creek.
JD: It’s a bummer that the water hasn’t fallen from the sky for the California rivers, but let’s be honest, it doesnt rain often in California. If the water they did have wasn’t sucked out of the rivers, I have a feeling these closures would be unnecessary.