[Lead Dog]

How many of you people buy a fishing licence to fish in the backcountry? I won't ask who doesn't.

[salish]

I do.

[Brian Curtis]

I do. The money goes back to support the fishery.

[Lagerman]

Hmm.... I am a MAJOR big time fisher, and I never knew of backcountry liscence... 90 percent of my fishing aint in backcountry though, but, you get these liscence through a normal retailer as the regular? Or you go through the FS or something? Is this something just Washington does?

[salish]

Loggerman, I think there may be a slight misunderstanding here. You don't need a special "backcountry" fishing license to fish high lakes or the back country, your general Washington State Freshwater fishing license covers this.

[Lagerman]

Ahh, hince why I never heard of it. Thanx for clearing that up Cody

[Damian]

No fishing licence is required in national park backcountry areas. Salmon and steelhead punch cards are, howver.

[Backpacker Joe]

I know some people who dont because they figure that they wont ever see a ranger. If Im gonig to fish, I buy a license. Mostly I dont support laws that when bronken produce no victims, but this one I do. As Mr. Curtis said, it supports the fishery. TB

[Tom]

Damian, you may be correct for the Olympics, but I'm not sure that's true in the NCNP (I think you need a license).

[Lagerman]

Well if I understand it right. The places you just need a regular freshwater liscense to fish, but you can buy and backcountry lisence as more or less a donation to the fisherys, then is up to the person if they want to donate to the fisherys, but if you fish period you always should have a liscense. I find it rather hard to think of a real victimless crime that don't in some way come down to affect someone in some way. PM me if you feel like explaining that to me. I aint saying your wrong, or your beliefs there are wrong. I just dont understand that comment I guess. I think the way they do fishing regulations and liscence in Oregon are much simplar and better if you ask me. I was rather surprised on all the different liscences and stuff you have to have here in Washington.

[Brian Curtis]

We're just talking about the regular fishing license here, Loggerman, not a special license. The premise is that some people figure they can get away without a license because they aren't likely to get caught if they only fish in the backcountry. I have been out in the backcountry with WDFW biologists on many occassions and I have been out there while licenses were being checked so it does happen. There is no license needed in Mt Rainier or Olympic National Parks. You need a regular Washington State fishing license in the North Cascades National Park.

[Damian]

[Dslayer]

The outlaw in me says "don't buy a license, you'll never get checked" I have to beat that bastard off my shoulder all the time, not just over this but about a lot of things-but the good news is that 99.99% of the time I do. The citizen in me pays the license and is happy to do it because it helps supports WDFW which is pretty much entirely supported by licenses and tag fees if I'm not mistaken, plus 100% of all the guys I've met that work for them are good people. I've never been checked off a road either fishing or hunting in WA. I have been checked in the Beartooths in MT. The guy was 8 miles in off a main trail. I was impressed.

[Lead Dog]

I got checked by a warden 2 days into a trip in the Wind Rivers in Wyoming. Big guy chewing on a cigar riding a big horse. After paying 75 dollars for a out of state license I asked to be checked.

[salish]

Dslayer, I got checked for a plug in my 16ga up on Oak Creek WA last November, by WDFW enforcement. I think I may have mentioned it to you. In all my years of hunting and fishing that was the first time I had been checked. Cliff