When can you fish with a clear conscience?
You shouldn’t fish/target them when actively spawning
You shouldn’t fish/target them when done spawning
You shouldn’t fish/target them when water temps are too high
You can’t fish during low flow closures
This can leave a fairly small window of opportunity, especially for those who are not within close proximity of the waters.
Maybe this is good? Enough restrictions will deter a portion of anglers, thus reducing pressure, however I can also see where it might compel some to use less than ethical tactics due to desperation/frustration.
I’m all for doing what’s best for the wildlife, especially when the resource is so scarce. However not all of us share similar beliefs or the degree of concern.
The necessary balance is hard to achieve.
I spent 2 days last week at a NMFS steelhead recovery workshop, and came away with some eye opening observations of this process and the various stakeholders involved.
Unfortunately, out of the 100 or so participants, only 4 of us were from the angling community. Needless to say, lack of participation in such efforts doesn’t help ‘our’ cause much.
I would suggest any of you who have enough concern of such topics, go and participate and gain a deeper perspective of what’s going on. Even if you have to take a day off from work. Collectively we can be a force to be reckoned with.
Steelhead gear = $6287, no of adults caught = 3, amortized cost = $2,095.67, beaching that 30" fish and letting it go = priceless
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