I went fishing on Samamish Saturday and did quite nicely.
Included in the catch was a very nice Smallie that will be in Fishing & Hunting News.

Smitty

Hey Smitty, what did ya catch em on ? I was there saturday but didnt have as much success (zilch!)

Anybody know if the ban has been lifted on Banks?  Or did the WDFW slip this one by again?

#$$%^&*&^@@#^*!!#@!, *#@& , Just a touch on how I feel about it....

Expect more bans as the WDFW now has a foothold on phasing out tournament fishing.... a goal they've had for a very long time.

Western Bass Club.  I mean Western Smallmouth Bass Club, I mean Western Largemouth Bass Club, I mean Western Trout Club, AH Heck!  How 'bout Western Fishy Club?  More fitting, don't you think?

Hey, everyone who's complaining needs to understand why their doing this. I do believe what they say. Yes Largies have been known to find their way or able to adapt if put back in a bay or the right area after being weighted in. Largies like structure. I see tons of lazy fishermen these days just taking their largemouth and releasing them with the smallmouth in the middle of the lake. This puts them into shock. It's kind of like taking a 5 year old and putting them a mile away from home in the city. Their just not going to find their way home and their going to go into panic. This is the logic. Plus from romors this ban has helped Bank Lake largemouth flourish I hear their every where in the bays now. Maybe one or two more years and the lake will be full of largemouth and who know it might take twenty pounds a day to win a tournament. Instead of complaining lets fight it the right way. Right letters if you don't like it or start a pettition. I believe this is helping. Even if it's seems like the tournament angler is getting the snide or smurd with these rules. Politics is politics and theirs nothing we can do. Maybe try raising money for our own lunker plan. I've began to also notice two big differences between the south and the west. The west does less conservation projects through the clubs stating that their helping back their warmwater programs. If you help and make a friend of your enemy or the one your opposed to your more likely to get your way. I believe if we all stuck together and formed a big group and aligned more anglers and started running more events such as conservation projects and including kids in events maybe we could get more hold on our states politics. This means more out of each individual. I believe in the end this will benefit everyone and future generations. You also have to remeber their is a lot salmon anglers in our state. Which means we have to stick up for our species of preference that much more. I believe I made my point now let's hear some of your opinions on how to resolve the problem or problems with our states warm water fisheries. Also I believe we can run these by Jim Rumann and I believe he can take notes to the meetings he goes to and defend us as club. Don't quote me on that though.

Nick,

Unfortunately you live in Washington State and getting the state involved in warm water is like pulling teeth.

Getting kids involved is important but from past experience it was only localized that it made any difference. I started the first Kids fishing club back in the early 90's, that was recognized by the BASS federation and although it was a great club, with lots of participation it did not get any support from the state what so ever.

All we can do is keep trying and support the CAST foundation and its causes. Maybe someday it will help.
Russ