The story I was told was to protect the Dollys.
I was fishing the White River the last year it was opened (3 years ago?) and
watched in horror as some <Insert explitive here> gutted a 24" female on the
bank... How did I know it was a female? hundreds of eggs floating passed
me in the river. The regs were obviously 'release dollys'.
I walked over and had a "conversation" with him, and showed him the regs,
and explained the treble hook he was using was illegal. To which he said
"but I got my license!".
I believe it was pure ignorance, (Saw the bubble wrap on the bank from his
new rod) which leads me to the "If people dont read the regs, how is
shutting the rivers down helping?"
Been back a couple times since then hiking, and have seen 'weekenders'
wetting a line. Again more explanations and they typically leave but...
Could be a matter of just getting the word out better on the regs. What
type of tackle, what fish are legal, etc...
Anyway, I took the que from some of the list members and began writing
letters for what its worth.
I would love to see these rivers opened on even a restricted basis, but
would also like my kid(s) to be fishing these rivers for the next 100
years... If they need to be closed.. close em, Ill survive. (i.e. Deer
Creek)
Brenden
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 7:28 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Wenatchee River and Tribs.
An easy question, I think,for you all,but I guess I wasn't paying attention.
( something my 9th grade algebra teacher rightly accused me of ). I am
wondering why the Wenatchee River and nearly all of its tributaries
including
Nason Cr., Little Wenatchee R., White R., Chiwawa R. to name just a few,
have
been closed to fishing during the 2000-2001 season ? Some of the Columbia
tribs. like the Entiat R. and The Methow R. were also closed. I'm assuming
that These closures have to do with protecting the low runs of salmon and
steelhead. That's fine, they should be protected, but why not open those
streams to catch and release only with selective rules? That way the salmon
and steelhead would still be protected, but an enormous amount of water
would
be opened to the catch and release angler. Many of them are fine fly fishing
streams. It sure could ease the pressure on the Yakima, Rocky Ford, and
others. I know this sounds too simple, and I've probably missed a key issue
here like directives from the Feds or something, but I'm curious . Bob
Martin
