Chris Bellows
Steelhead
Haven't seen this posted but thought you might want a break from the floods and listen to some nonsense from New England.
Lawsuit Against Fly Fishing Only Waters
- Thread starter Chris Bellows
- Start date
It will be interesting to see whether or not this lawsuit has any legs. Over the last decade I’ve participated as a TU chapter representative in a few roundtables hosted by Montana Fish and Wildlife fisheries executives on proposed regulations and management regimes for some of Montana’s premier fisheries—mostly about the Big Hole but others as well. There are always three groups of opinion. The group with the most clout and constituency is concerned with the health of the fishery because of its ECONOMIC value to the region. The next group are the pure conservationists who believe the health of the fishery is paramount even if actions to maintain that health harm local economies. The last group and the one with the least clout are as I call them the subsistence anglers. They oppose any management decision that limits their ability to take liberal limits of fish home to eat.
Although I know nothing of Maine’s fisheries management priorities or regimes, I suspect the same groups of constituents are in play in any Maine fishery discussion. I am also confident that the “Fly Fishing Only” designations have merit in the overall scheme of Maine’s fisheries management priorities.
Although I know nothing of Maine’s fisheries management priorities or regimes, I suspect the same groups of constituents are in play in any Maine fishery discussion. I am also confident that the “Fly Fishing Only” designations have merit in the overall scheme of Maine’s fisheries management priorities.
There is ONE thing that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has done well and that is the focus on SELECTIVE fisheries rather than fly fishing regulations.
I suspect when Joe Foster was the Fish Biologist is Ephrata he had a lot to do with the quality lake waters in the basin, simply because nobody wanted fly fishing lakes, but they accepted SELECTIVE fisheries.
Fly fishing is viewed as elite by lots of folks, but once you shift to SELECTIVE fisheries, the cultural fight is over and almost everybody likes to catch large fish.
I suspect when Joe Foster was the Fish Biologist is Ephrata he had a lot to do with the quality lake waters in the basin, simply because nobody wanted fly fishing lakes, but they accepted SELECTIVE fisheries.
Fly fishing is viewed as elite by lots of folks, but once you shift to SELECTIVE fisheries, the cultural fight is over and almost everybody likes to catch large fish.
Seems a bit ridiculous to sue, but that’s just my opinion.
I will say that just because a body of water is fly fishing only, that doesn’t make it super great fishing. Over the years, I’ve found better fishing in general purpose waters versus fly or selective gear only, especially on lakes.
SF
I will say that just because a body of water is fly fishing only, that doesn’t make it super great fishing. Over the years, I’ve found better fishing in general purpose waters versus fly or selective gear only, especially on lakes.
SF
Before I started fly fishing I was really into light tackle spin fishing for trout. I really disliked the idea of fly fishing only lakes.
I went as far as writing a letter to WDFW suggesting they switch the local fly fishing only lake to a selective gear lake. “Elitist” fly fishermen really irked me back then. Flash forward a bunch of years and now I am one
.
If you want to read something really scary to all forms of fishing google Initiative Petition 28 (IP28) in Oregon.
I went as far as writing a letter to WDFW suggesting they switch the local fly fishing only lake to a selective gear lake. “Elitist” fly fishermen really irked me back then. Flash forward a bunch of years and now I am one
.If you want to read something really scary to all forms of fishing google Initiative Petition 28 (IP28) in Oregon.
What the subsistence fishermen don't understand, or don't want to understand, is that for most of the accessible waters the "harvest" train left the station many years ago. Water that is accessible to the masses either has to be very restrictive regarding total fish mortality to achieve conservation goals. In waters with a harvestable surplus of fish in the population, that could mean things like a 1 or 2 day fishing season, and in a lot of cases, a zero day season, meaning permanently closed to fishing. There are just too many people that would like to kill a creel of fish and not enough surplus fish in those waters.
In WA state, in waters open to harvest of fish, that usually means lakes that are stocked with hatchery fish expressly for the purpose of providing harvest. Wild trout waters either have a very low catch limit or are CNR only.
In WA state, in waters open to harvest of fish, that usually means lakes that are stocked with hatchery fish expressly for the purpose of providing harvest. Wild trout waters either have a very low catch limit or are CNR only.
Dustin Chromers
Legend
This is the trans bathroom issue of fishing. Sorry. If you don't have a fly line without an indicator or shot you're not a fly angler. Go to the ladies bathroom. Enough with your victim bullshit. There is only 2 types of fly angler. Not 67. I don't even want to drag God into this but we know where he stands on it safe to say.