Originally posted by Salmo g.:
[QB] Pat, Todd, & Parker,
No bait and no barbs are standard parts of the selective fishery regulations, so I presume that's why they're included in this regulation proposal. Most of us are aware that bait and barbs are not much of an issue with adult steelhead.
I have a hard time understanding why this particular bait and barb restriction is so irritating to you.
If I read that correctly, my understanding is that the state wants to put the recently moritoriamized (is that even a word???
) rivers under a selective fishery regulation. Why just those rivers? Seeing how the entire rest of the state is wild steelhead release, why not put a selective restriction on *all* the state waters where there is likely to be a wild steelhead? Why stop there? Better include the fall and winter months, as I've caught native steelhead right along side the brats.
Heck, why not just put a selective fishery on the Bogie during the winter brat run? You never know - you just might hook a native fish.
Oh sure, let's start with the OP rivers now....but who can say what restriction will come next?
As a state resident who annually's pays a lot of money for a fishing license, I don't like to see unecessary regulations that further restrict my (or any) fishing opportunity. Maybe "opportunity" isn't the correct word (as you pointed out), but I am totally against restricting the one thing I really love to do - and that is to fish.
Hell, in 5 years, we will all be lucky to "just fish" at this rate.
Saving the fish is one thing, but it shoudn't be at the total expense of the sportsman.
As others have often pointed out, there are other ways to save the wild steelhead than to restrict the living crap out of the paying state angler.
Regardless of what others think, I'm putting my foot down and will voice my opinion against this rule. I don't see the need for it. It is pointless.
I like to fly fish for steelhead, and I do catch them, even doing quite well under good conditions. So the regulation isn't likely to reduce my catch. However, my reading of this BB suggests that you guys normally catch steelhead in circles around me, suggesting you're pretty good anglers. If so, is a bait and barb restriction really going to affect your fishing success much, if at all?
On those OP rivers? Probably not. Across the state? Sure, you bet it will effect my fishing success.
It's not about my success, but my anger at seeing the state reducing my fishing opportunities. I guess I use the word opportunity because if it comes down to me spending more of my $$$ to go fishing, where do I chose to go? Selective gear rules on the OP, or fishing with bait on a SW river? Odds are, bait will do better than no bait, so screw the OP, I'll go down to the SW river. In my eyes, that reduced my fishing opportunity.
I won't even bother talking about the Duc. That would become a zoo - more so than it is now.
I mean, isn't the proposed regulation more of a restriction of your preference for bait than a restriction of your prospective fishing success?
Directly, yes. Indirectly, no.
I like to chuck bait. It is no more lethal than pulling plugs, or using spoons.
Many drift fishermen have told me that artificial lures are just as effective as bait for steelhead most of the time. Are they wrong?
Uh, yes. They are wrong. "Most of the time" bait will outfish artificials. As one who has been on both sides of the fence, but has been a solid egg whore the last 3 years, I have hooked way more steelhead with bait than artificials. Not even close in the comparison.
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