I had the opportunity to fish Rocky Ford Thursday (an hour just before
dusk), Friday and Saturday of this last weekend. The temperature never went
above freezing and the sky always had a low overcast. Wind was nil most of
the time. Fishing was fine and the catching was great on Friday and a
little slower on Sat. Thursday crowds were marginal, Friday and Saturday it
was busy. Most of the summer weed growth has died out which made it easier
to fish the fast water below the lower hatchery. I normally fish heavily
weighted scuds, but this weekend small pheasant tails and brassies were the
best producers.
So much for the fishing report, now I want to get on my soapbox. First, I
am not trying to point my finger at others. I am just trying to make my
point with examples. Why? We have a scarce resource that is going to get
loved to death over the next few months and we need to take care of it. The
tough driving conditions this past weekend and the number of anglers fishing
Rocky Ford tells the story. The Ford offers the best public fly-fishing for
trout during Washington�s winter months. With the steelhead closures, this
place is gonna get even busier. In other words, only so many fish and lots
of anglers.
People are still taking fish home even though the Ford is strictly catch and
release. One fellow I spoke with told me about someone taking a fish on
Thursday and proclaiming it as his Thanksgiving dinner. If you see someone
take a fish and can get a license plate number, report it.
Also, people need to practice better fish releasing technique. I watched an
experienced Rocky Ford angler (I gathered he had fished the Ford frequently
in the way he was talking to his buds) catch a nice fish in the middle
riffle. He took the fish out of the water, carried it over to the path
several feet away and laid it on the ground. Fortunately the path was snow
covered, he then shoved his fingers under the fish�s gill plate to get a
better grip on the fish�s head and proceeded to forcibly disgorge the hook.
I can only guess that it must have been the last of a very special fly.
Offering the benefit of the doubt, I really don�t thing he was trying to
hurt the fish, I can only guess that he just didn't know any better.
I am not advocating accosting poachers nor telling other anglers that their
catch and release technique stinks. Tempers can flare and now days that can
be dangerous. I am advocating that we all re-educate ourselves in how to
release a fish. Please take the time to review page 25 of Washington�s
2000/2001 Sport Fishing pamphlet. It gives good basic guidelines on
releasing a fish safely. Also, the Ford has its peculiarities. To safely
release a fish, it shouldn�t be taken out of the water and using a landing
net removes the protective slim from the fish�s body. That doesn�t leave
much slim on a fish that may be caught several times in a week. Ever wonder
why you see so many fish with body infections. At Rocky Ford, you can�t get
into the water with the fish since wading isn�t allowed. You need to squat
down at the waters edge and use forceps or a hook disgorger to get the hook
out of the fishes mouth. With a tiny fly that doesn�t always do the trick.
Cutting the leader does. In other words, once you hook a fish, play it hard
and get it in fast and release it quickly without taking it out of the
water. If fly is lost, so what! Is it worth endangering a fish that so
many others can get pleasure from? Besides, gullible fish in Rock Ford are
hard to come by.
As far as poachers, Ephrata�s cell phone service (AT&T) reaches Rocky Ford
well. Call the poaching hotline at (800) 477 6224 or the State Patrol in
Wenatchee (509) 663-9721. The rules pamphlet states that the State Patrol
has direct contact with Fish and Wildlife Officers. While the odds are
long, maybe a couple of these poachers can be caught.
Oh well, thanx for bearing with me.
Regards,
Mike Santangelo
