I have just sent this to Bruce Baker......


Bruce....Just saw the website and if I interpret this right...we as a club have to spend $94.00 ($24.00 for the Permit and $70.00 Application Fee) for each permit for a total of 7 per year? I understand budgets are being cut and revenue needs to be generated but we as a club will not be able to continue to participate in this activity if this is the way it shall be. The clubs that apply and recieve permits return valuable data for your annual reports which will be lost when we all drop from this program as we, the Western Bass Club, have seen a loss of 50% of our membership already due to the recession and this will be the final straw as we all will just go to a C.W.P.R. format so we will eliminate retention and fish handling stress and also any cash/prize incentives to continue in the sport we love by just awarding points and recognition plaques. (C-Catch, W-Weigh, P-Photograph, R-Release, this format was introduced by the Major League Fishing series and has been adopted by many groups as a way to protect the fish and reduce the impacts on the fisheries.) I have always been impressed with the involvement of W.D.F.W. and how we manage tournaments in a way no other state does to limit the impacts of tournament fishing on the aqautic life but this, along with the "Discover Pass"in the State Parks are chasing folks away. I also understand we all are just doing our job so if you can direct me to the people who handle and recieve the complaints and make policy that would be great. Hope to hear from you soon.

Larry Sullivan, Secretary/Special Events Coordinator, Western Bass Club.

I would like to leave this thread on the open catagory so lets keep it clean and constructive.

TO:    Senator Steve Conway 
   
FROM:    Mr. Rodney Heupel 
   
STREET ADDRESS:    9020 Yakima Ave 
   Tacoma, WA 98444-4356 
   
EMAIL:    r1wabasser@aol.com 
   
PHONE:    (253) 306 - 7864 
   
SUBJECT:    RCW 77.65.480 
   
MESSAGE:    Dear Senator Steve Conway,
As a voting citizen of your district and the President of Western Bass Club, I am notifying you in protest to RCW 77.65.480.

Fishing Contest Rules and Permits

A fishing contest is defined as any event where six or more licensed anglers (age 15 and older) fish competitively for game fish and determine winners, regardless of the prize value. A fishing contest permit is required by and issued by The Department of Fish and Wildlife. The fee for a fishing contest permit is $24.00 (no more than seven permits will be issued to any one permittee during the calendar year). Effective March 1, 2013, an application fee of $70.00 will be charged for each application submitted (RCW 77.65.480). The $70 application fee will be collected in addition to the fishing contest permit fee and it is non-refundable. Applications for fishing contest permits may be submitted at any time of the year, but they must be received by the department no less than 30 days prior to the start date of the proposed contest. Bass and walleye contest applicants wishing to have their preferred dates considered equally with all other requested dates must have their applications received by the department by July 1 of the year preceding the year in which the contests are planned to be held. These applications will be processed simultaneously so all applicants have an equal opportunity to get preferred dates. Bass and walleye fishing contest applications received after July 1 will be processed on a first come first serve basis. Upon completion of a fishing contest, a final report is required to be submitted within 30 days. Please see the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) that governs fishing events for more detailed information.

As a non-profit bass club that relies solely on low membership dues for funding this RCW 77.65.480 is totally prohibitive for the conduction of club fishing tournaments. I feel this is unfair and targeting the fishing community unfairly. This change will increase our current fees for one year from $168 to $658. This is cost prohibitive for my club. There are many clubs in the state that are affected by this in addition to Western Bass Club.

These club tournaments are just a way for my club members to have some friendly competition amongst ourselves. We as a club make no money off of these tournaments. The tournament anglers who place in the money do not win enough to pay gas expenses for the week end. But to participate in these tournaments we contribute to the economies of local boat and tackle dealers, gas stations, restaurants, camp grounds both private and state. I feel this is unfair and targeting the fishing community unfairly. It is time to end this $70 surcharge per event. Do not let it end my club’s tournaments.

Sincerely,
Rodney Heupel
President, Western Bass Club

I come back from a week of TREMENDOUS fishing in EL Salto to this? Talk about putting a damper on my outlook for the year .  Rest assured my local Senator and Reps will HEAR from me on this before the week is out.

Smitty

AKA Dune Hopper