Well, old Tom's last name is a very appropriate description of people who make fish decrease! Don't get me wrong, I know fish harvest is an important management tool in many fisheries, I'm talking about those who ignore regulations that are designed to protect fish for important reasons. For example, here in Utah we have a fine high desert fishery called Strawberry Reservoir that consistently produces fish in the 18 to 24 inch range (and their are much larger ones lurking, I am sure). This reservoir benefited from a multi-million dollar effort which killed ALL the fish (mostly a rough fish called a chub) and then was restocked the reservoir with native Bonneville cutthroat, a fish that co-evolved with chub and have kept them under control in their native water, Bear Lake. Also in the mix were sterile rainbows, since studies have show that cutbows don't have the same killer instincts.

Well, the chub are making a comeback and the cause is clearly pressure from fishermen who ignore the regulations (based on Cutthroat population studies). In the end it is a regulation that is impossible to enforce unless the individuals involved chose to do it for the right reasons. Of course these are the same people who will blame the DWR's efforts to manage the fishery when the chubs make their comeback.

Tom Davenport

On Feb 21, 2004, at 7:15 AM, Jimmy D. Moore wrote:

"Fishing, if I a fisher may protest,
Of pleasures is the sweet'st, of sports the best,
Of exercises the most excellent.
Of recreations the most innocent.
But now the sport is marde, and wott ye why
Fishes decrease, and fishers multiply."

Thomas Bastard (1598)

-- JIMMY D. MOORE

Author - "MOON HOLLER MISFITS"
Please click on the URL immediately below for information on my new book how to order it


http://home.earthlink.net/~rayado/rayadoflyfishingflypatternstips/ index.html

Jimmy D. Moore
9409 Mesa Verde Circle
Woodway, TX 76712

"Being able to read trout streams is just as valuable to a fly fisherman as the ability to read a defense is to a Quarterback."








Tom Davenport

Home Page: http://homepage.mac.com/tsmd
Webshots Albums:  http://community.webshots.com/user/tsmdav



Reply via email to