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We discuss the fisheries issues facing Washington sport fishermen and what could be addressed at the state and federal levels, including:

• Protecting fishing and hunting rights
• Washington salmon hatchery funding and production
• Bonneville Power Administration hatchery cuts
• Seal and sea lion predation
• Reforming the Marine Mammal Protection Act
• Bipartisan federal legislation addressing pinnipeds
• Alaska trawl-fishery bycatch
• The upcoming Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations
• Transparency and accountability at NOAA
• Why fishermen need to vote and stay politically engaged

Senator Braun also discusses his campaign for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District and explains why the November election could directly affect the future of fishing opportunities in Washington.

Follow Badger Fishing for fisheries advocacy, transparency, accountability, and conversations with the people shaping the future of Washington fishing.

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Are barbless hooks on the Columbia River actually helping fish, or is this a rule that no longer makes sense?

On Episode 9 of the Badger Fishing Show, I sit down with Nello Picinich to talk about the push to change Washington’s barbless hook requirement on the Columbia River.

We break down how the barbless hook requirement came out of the Columbia River reforms around 2012 to 2013, what the research says about barbed vs. barbless hook mortality in freshwater, and why anglers can use barbed hooks in Columbia River tributaries while salmon and steelhead anglers on the mainstem are still required to pinch their barbs.

We also talk about the fall fishery and Buoy 10, where there may be a small conservation benefit to barbless hooks, and why the petition is asking WDFW to actually model the impacts instead of applying the same rule across the board.

CCA has petitioned for change. Now recreational anglers need to make their voices heard.

If the science doesn’t show a conservation benefit, why are we still writing recreational anglers tickets for it?

Share this episode and help get the word out.

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#BadgerFishing #ColumbiaRiver #BarblessHooks #WDFW #SalmonFishing

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Talking about tribal fisheries, treaty fisheries, conservation, and how salmon are managed shouldn’t automatically be labeled racist.

In Episode 8 of the Badger Fishing Show, Phillip Olson and Alex Van Hine tackle one of the most difficult conversations in Washington fisheries.

We discuss treaty rights and why they must be respected, while also asking whether conservation standards, monitoring, fishing methods, and modern fisheries data are being applied consistently across every user group. We also debate gillnets, selective fishing methods, recreational opportunity, commercial fisheries, and what needs to change if salmon conservation is truly the priority.

Alex and Phillip don’t agree on everything, especially when it comes to banning gillnets. That’s the point. Difficult fisheries issues should be discussed openly, even when people disagree.

The conversation also gets directly into the history behind tribal treaty rights, why those rights matter, and why respecting that history does not prevent us from having serious conversations about fisheries management and conservation today.

Talking about fisheries management is not the same thing as attacking a race or a culture. We can respect tribal communities and treaty rights while still asking tough questions about conservation, accountability, monitoring, fishing methods, and the future of Washington salmon.

If our fisheries are in trouble, then no part of fisheries management should be off limits from a respectful, fact-based conversation.

 Real Talk. From Real Anglers.
 Real Fisheries. Real Data.
 Real Solutions. For Our Future.

#BadgerFishing #SalmonFishing #PugetSound #WashingtonFishing #FisheriesManagement

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Puget Sound recreational anglers are watching Chinook opportunities disappear, and the impacts go far beyond a day on the water.

In Episode 6 of the Badger Fishing Show, we break down what happened to this year’s Chinook season, why fishing opportunities continue to shrink, how fisheries are being managed, and what recreational anglers need to know going forward.

We talk about allocation, conservation impacts, management decisions, tribal and non-treaty fisheries, lost recreational opportunity, and the economic consequences for fishing communities and businesses.

If recreational anglers want a different future for Puget Sound salmon fishing, staying informed and getting involved matters.

 Advocacy
 Transparency
 Accountability

#BadgerFishing #PugetSoundFishing #ChinookSalmon #SalmonFishing #WashingtonFishing

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Why does Washington leave thousands of harvestable salmon impacts on the table every year?

In Episode 6 of The Badger Fishing Show, Phillip and Alex take a deep dive into one of the biggest problems facing Washington’s recreational salmon fisheries: fishery managers who fail to maximize opportunity.

Topics include:

• Why Marine Area 5 was projected to leave a significant amount of quota unused.
• Why advisors questioned why a 2 fish limit wasn’t considered sooner.
• How test fishery boats collect data and whether two boats can accurately represent hundreds of anglers.
• Why salmon quotas remain unused despite recreational demand.
• The role of sublegal encounters and wild encounters in season management.
• Whether current management methods accurately reflect what anglers experience on the water.
• The importance of maximizing opportunity while still meeting conservation goals.
• Updates from the WDFW Budget and Policy Advisory Group and what future state budget cuts could mean for recreational fishing.
• Why recreational fishing generates major economic benefits for Washington and why funding decisions matter.

If you care about salmon fishing, hatcheries, fisheries management, transparency, and accountability in Washington State, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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In Episode 5, Phillip Olson and Alex Van Hine take an in depth look at one of the biggest questions facing Washington’s outdoor community:

Is it time for leadership change at WDFW?

We discuss:

• The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and why recreational anglers need to get involved.
• Why public comment matters and what happened at the latest Commission meeting.
• The electronic catch reporting app controversy and why data accuracy matters.
• Budget concerns, accountability, and where license dollars are going.
• The Skokomish River dispute and why recreational fishing remains closed.
• Why transparency and leadership matter for the future of fishing and hunting in Washington.
• What recreational anglers can do to help protect opportunity for future generations.

Whether you agree with us or not, we hope this episode encourages respectful discussion and greater public involvement in the future of Washington’s fisheries.

If you enjoy these conversations, please:

 Like the video
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 Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

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Advocacy | Transparency | Accountability

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In this episode, Phillip Olson and Alex Van Hine take a deep dive into some of the most controversial topics facing Washington fisheries today.

We discuss the future of salmon fisheries, the role of Voluntary Trip Reports (VTRs), fishery monitoring requirements, and how limited resources and budget challenges may impact data collection and management moving forward.

The conversation also covers strong salmon forecasts in several river systems, how fisheries are modeled, concerns about accountability and data accuracy, and the ongoing debate surrounding tribal and recreational fisheries. Throughout the episode, we examine whether current management practices are providing the transparency, conservation outcomes, and fishing opportunities anglers expect.

Topics include:

• VTRs and angler participation

• Fishery monitoring and budget concerns

• Salmon forecast outlooks

• Recreational fishing opportunity

• Tribal and non-tribal fisheries

• Data collection and fishery modeling

• Conservation, accountability, and transparency

• Washington salmon management

The Badger Fishing Show covers the latest fishing and fisheries news while advocating for recreational anglers across the Pacific Northwest through investigations, transparency, and accountability.

🎣 Follow Badger Fishing for weekly fisheries news, policy discussions, conservation issues, and fishing reports.

#Fishing #SalmonFishing #WashingtonFishing #BadgerFishing #NorthOfFalcon #WDFW #RecreationalFishing #FisheriesManagement #Salmon #PacificNorthwestFishing #Conservation #FishingPodcast #PugetSound #VTR #SalmonSeason

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In Episode 3 of the Badger Fishing Podcast, Phillip & Alex sit down with longtime Puget Sound fishing advocate Art Tatchell to break down the truth behind the North of Falcon process, the Puget Sound Recreational Advisory Group, and why many anglers feel ignored during salmon season negotiations.

Art shares decades of firsthand experience inside the WDFW advisory system, discusses how recreational fisheries continue to shrink, and explains the politics, policy pressure, and behind the scenes negotiations shaping Washington salmon seasons.

Topics include:
• North of Falcon process
• WDFW advisory groups
• Recreational salmon season cuts
• Tribal co-management
• Puget Sound fisheries
• Chinook impacts and quotas
• In-season management
• Salmon enhancement net pens
• Hatchery programs
• Washington salmon fishing politics

This is one of the most detailed public conversations yet about how salmon seasons are really shaped in Washington State.

Subscribe for more fisheries investigations, policy breakdowns, public records deep dives, and Pacific Northwest fishing content.

#northoffalcon #wdfw #salmonfishing #pugetsound #chinook #washingtonfishing #badgerfishing #fishingpodcast #salmon #pnwfishing #sportfishing #nof  

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In this episode of the Badger Fishing Show, Phillip Olson & Alex Van Hin sit down with Nello Picinich, Executive Director of Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Washington, for an in-depth discussion about one of the most controversial fishing issues in the Pacific Northwest: non-tribal commercial gillnetting.

Nello explains how gillnets work, why they are considered non-selective, and what the latest observer data reveals about bycatch and mortality of wild salmon and steelhead. The conversation also explores the history of CCA, the organization’s efforts to reduce non-tribal gillnetting, and the $14.5 million Washington State gillnet buyback program.

Topics covered include:
- How gillnets operate and why they remain controversial
- Release mortality and bycatch impacts on ESA-listed fish
- Observer data and the lack of recent monitoring
- Hatchery fish, selective fisheries, and terminal areas
- The economics of commercial harvest versus recreational fishing
- The Columbia River reforms and Washington's gillnet buyback program
- Why this issue continues to divide anglers, advocates, and policymakers

Whether you're a recreational angler, conservation advocate, or simply interested in how fisheries are managed, this episode offers a detailed look at the science, politics, and economics behind one of the most debated harvest methods still used in Washington State.

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Welcome to Episode 1 of The Badger Fishing Show.

In this first episode, Alex Van Hine and Phillip Olson sit down to discuss a question that recreational anglers across Washington have been asking for years:

Does the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife really listen to fishermen?

We share how we first connected, our involvement in the North of Falcon process, and why we believe anglers need a stronger voice in fisheries management. We also discuss hatchery surplus, public records research, and our goal of breaking down complex fisheries issues into clear and understandable conversations.

In this episode:

• How Phillip and Alex first connected
• North of Falcon explained
• Hatchery surplus and excess fish sales
• Why anglers feel unheard
• The future of this podcast
• Giving fishermen a voice

Our mission is simple: take complex fisheries topics and make them understandable, actionable, and transparent for everyone.

Whether you’re a salmon angler, policy advocate, or someone who simply wants to understand how fishing seasons are decided, this podcast is for you.

Text your gear requests, fishing tips, and videos to the Badger Tip Line: 360-620-1333. Your tip may be featured in a future episode.

Subscribe and join us as we dig into the issues impacting fishing opportunities throughout the Pacific Northwest.

#WDFW #FishingPodcast #BadgerFishing #NorthOfFalcon #SalmonFishing #WashingtonFishing #PNWFishing #AnglerAdvocacy #PublicRecords #FisheriesManagement #HatcherySurplus #TheBadgerFishingShow

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