I certainly wish that the regulations were more concise. If you compare the
North Fork regulations with, say, the regulations governing the main stem,
you'll see that there are no provisions made for a salmon season of any
kind. I take this to mean that salmon are not to be targeted. Per the old
definitions that were in place before the unification of the Fish and
Wildlife and Fisheries Departments, salmon are not considered to be game
fish. I feel the regulations covering the North Fork of the Stilly allow
angling for (targeting) "All Game Fish", which would include Dolly
Varden/bull trout, sea-run cutthroat, steelhead (wild and hatchery),
resident cutthroat and rainbows and whitefish, of which only two hatchery
steelhead may be retained (at least during the normal March 1-November 30
fly-fishing-only season; apparently all steelhead, sea-run cutthroat, and
any resident cutt or rainbow over 14 inches as well as whitefish, may be
retained from December 1 through February 28) and not salmon. I may be
guilty of interpreting the regulations, but I think the logic is consistent.
I have been told that targeting coho (and Stillaguamish coho are threatened)
on the main stem is good for a $1050 fine. Now, admittedly, determining
whether or not someone is fishing the main stem and targeting coho (which is
illegal) or humpies (which is legal) would call for something approaching
the wisdom of Solomon, but I think that the intent of the regulations is
clear. In light of all the snagging I've witnessed this year, I doubt if
anyone would be ticketed for legally catching (and releasing) pinks on the
North Fork. It becomes then, I think, an ethical rather than a legal
question. The purpose of these regulations is to preserve, to the greatest
degree possible, the salmon. I know that it seems unlikely this year that
pink salmon are in any danger at all, but I have seen years with incredibly
huge returns that, due to scouring floods the following winter, resulted in
extremely depressed returns for many years after (1975 is a particularly
good example). I just went to the Fish and Shellfish Definitions section of
the current regulations and find that game fish are defined as including:
bass, burbot (freshwater ling) catfish, crappie, grayling, northern
pikeminnow, peamouth chub, yellow perch, northern pike, tiger muskie,
sucker, sunfish, trout (including steelhead and kokanee) landlocked chinook,
coho, Atlantic salmon, walleye and whitefish. Foodfish: includes forage
fish, halibut, bottomfish, common carp, shad, tuna, mackerel, salmon and
sturgeon. I hope this clarifies things a bit and that my rant hasn't been
too tedious
