WA 2010-2011 Sport Fishing Regulation Pamphlet available when?

WDFW still has only the 2009-2010 version on their website. 

Are the seasons listed somewhere else prior to the release of the pamphlet?

2010 Lowland Lakes season?
2010 Halibut season?
2010 Shrimp season?
2010 Crab season?
2010 Salmon seasons?

The current regulation is good through April 30, and lists the westside lakes opening the last Saturday in April (for those that are not open year round)

I have no input on the other seasons 

It should be available May 1 like Lee was getting to. Any regulations for upcoming seasons that are changing will be on their site somewhere. That site is a tough one to navigate. Be sure to always check emergency regs too. They are the trickiest of all.

Z

Still nothing for the new regulation, BUT, official word that the 24th is the lakes opener

http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=apr0510a

Here is what I emailed to [email protected]:

When will the 2010-2011 fishing regulations and seasons be published?  We are getting close to the traditional start of the fishing season and I still do not see any information on the WDFW Website on the 2010 season starts for fresh nor salt waters.

Here is the response:

Thank you for your email correspondence to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Fish Program.

Your best source for information on licenses, daily limits, season, restrictions, etc. would be the 2009/2010 Fishing In Washington Sport Fishing Rules regulation pamphlet. This pamphlet is full of a lot of useful information, such as license fees & requirements for both
resident and non-resident on page 18. This publication is formatted with the regulations for Westside Rivers first, followed by Westside Lakes, Eastside Rivers, Eastside Lakes, Marine Area Rules and finally Shellfish/Seaweed Rules. There is also a list of the six WDFW Regionaloffices, complete with addresses & phone numbers, on page 11.

The WDFW regulation pamphlet cycle is in effect from May 1 through April 30 of the following year, while the fishing license cycle runs from April 1 through March 31 of the following year. This means that as of May 1, 2009, we have been in the 2009/2010 pamphlet season, and the 2010/2011 pamphlet does not go into effect until May 1, 2010.

The 2010/2011 rule books come out a month after the license cycle begins
on April 1 because of a process known as North Of Falcon (NOF). This is
where Federal (U.S.), International (Canada), State (Washington, Oregon,
Idaho), Recreational, Commercial, and Tribal representatives all meet to
discuss quotas and set seasons based on projected run sizes for the
different stocks and species of salmon. The process usually starts
towards the end of February and lasts until mid- April. Once completed,
these set seasons are incorporated into the pamphlet draft, checked for
accuracy, and sent off to the state printer. When this is done they are
sent out for distribution from the printer and the WDFW Licensing
division. We always hope to have the newest regulations available to the
public, both online and at license vendor locations, by May 1st at the
latest. WDFW has a very short turn-around time to get the new pamphlet
ready for printing and distribution after the NOF process is completed -
which will not be until April 15.

The general lowland lake fishing season opener is always on the last
Saturday in April, not the last weekend in April, which will be April 24
for 2010. A seasonal lake would generally be open from the last Saturday
in April through October 31, but some lakes may open and/or close
earlier while some may open later. You will need to check the regulation
pamphlet for the particular body of water you are interested in fishing.
Washington State also has many year-round open lakes. Most high altitude
lakes are open year round, but the weather plays a big part as to
whether they are accessible, especially during the winter.

That being said, there are approximately 7,938 named lakes and over
4,000 named rivers & streams in Washington State, so Lakes and Rivers
that are not listed in the regulation pamphlet, and are neither on
Tribal Land nor located within a Federal Military Installation or a
National Park (WDFW regulates National Forest lands), would be regulated
by the Statewide Freshwater Rules and Statewide Freshwater Species Rules
as given on pages 30 & 31 of the regulation pamphlet. Page 30 states
under the title 'Seasons' that: LAKES, PONDS, AND RESERVOIRS are open to
fishing for game fish (except DOLLY VARDEN/BULL TROUT and GRASS CARP)
year-round, and that RIVERS, STREAMS, AND BEAVER PONDS are open to
fishing for game fish (except DOLLY VARDEN/BULL TROUT and GRASS CARP)
from the first Saturday in JUNE - OCTOBER 31.

Statewide minimum sizes and daily limits apply, as given on page 31.
Unless otherwise listed under either Westside or Eastside Lakes, for
trout in lakes, ponds and reservoirs there is no minimum size and the
daily limit is 5 trout.  When fishing with bait, all trout (except
Steelhead) equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part
of the daily limit whether kept or released.  This is as listed on page
31 of the regulation pamphlet under Statewide Freshwater Species Rules.
Please be sure to check the special rules for the body of water you plan
to fish before you go.

However, if a lake were owned by a municipality such as a city or
county, they could implement such restrictions as Electric Motors Only,
No Motors Allowed, Night Closure, etc., that would supersede any WDFW
rules. These restrictions would likely be posted in plain view right at
an access site. For more information regarding any of these possible
restrictions, you may want to contact that County's Department of Parks
& Recreation or Sheriff's office.

If you do not have a copy of the current regulation pamphlet, you can
respond with your surface mailing address and we would be happy to send
one to you, or with your internet capability, you may view/download the
WDFW online pamphlet at the following web address:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/2009/2009sportregs.pdf.

Please make sure you check for emergency rule changes before you harvest
as follows:

Fishing Rule Change Hotline at (360) 902-2500 Shellfish Rule Change
Hotline at 1-866-880-5431 Or, try our new searchable emergency rule link
off our website at:
https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/index.jsp

Additionally, for shellfish, make sure to call the Dept. of Health
Marine Toxins PSP Hotline at 1-800-562-5632.

If you have further questions, please email again or call (360)
902-2700. Our Customer Service hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday.

We hope this information helps.

Sincerely,

Fish Program