New Washington rules effective May 1

On May 1 – just two days after the opening of Washington’s general trout season – a new set of rules will take effect. Read the new regulations pamphlet carefully for the waters you intend to fish.

One rule change involving fish landing nets will require some anglers to make a trip to the tackle shop.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved more than 80 changes to the state’s 2006-2007 sportfishing rules during a February meeting.

Here’s a sampling of the changes affecting anglers in this region.

Knotless nets will be required in all waters managed as “selective fisheries.” These nets have been found to be more gentle and less damaging to the protective slime on fish, an important consideration on these special fisheries geared more to catch-and-release fishing for quality trout.

Electric motors will be allowed in all “selective fisheries” unless specifically prohibited.

Setlines will no longer be allowed for burbot.

Brook trout daily limit will be raised from 5 to 10 fish (along with two trout of other species) in about 10 tributaries to the Pend Oreille River to help restore native bull trout.

Trout daily limits in several lakes stocked with jumbo trout in Walla Walla, Columbia and Asotin Counties, including the Tucannon impoundments, have been changed to five fish, no more than two over 13 inches to spread these large fish among more anglers.

Coffeepot Lake daily catch limit will be reduced to one trout over 18 inches. The closing date will be extended to Sept. 30. The bass limit will change to the general statewide daily limit of five fish that must be less than 12 inches or longer than 17, but no more than one bass can be longer than 17 inches.

Spokane River fishing in the catch-and-release section upstream from Upriver Dam will be extended, running June 1-March 15. Anglers will be allowed to use powerboats from Seven Mile Bridge upstream to Plese Flats.

Methow River catch-and-release fishery has been extended downstream to the 1535 (Burma Road) bridge.

Bass and walleye daily limits have been liberalized in Banks, Moses and Sprague lakes and Potholes Reservoir.

Steelhead daily limit has been increased to three fish during limited times and areas on the Hoh, Quillayute, Bogachiel, Calawah and Sol Duc Rivers.