Fishing redds and posting pics

[toddro]

I'm not trying to stir up another fishing-ethics debate, but I thought this was pretty funny in light of some previous topics discussed here.  I fish at least once a year in Wash. State, so I keep up with a few web-boards out there. 

This guy got on one of the boards and started talking about all these salmon he was catching in a particular river.  Well, at the time, the river was closed to salmon fishing cuz the salmon were on their redds (imagine that concept...).  Not only was he talking about catching them, but he decided to post a pic as well.  Now, take a close look at this pic near the fish's ventral fin if you can see it (lower right fin & the white stuff dripping out near it).  This fish is in the process of dumping his "load" when this guy rips it off a redd, and he has the brains to post the pic.  I can't tell you the level of scorn, grief, and abuse this guy took on the board.  To the point where people were out looking for him on the river.  they take it serious out there!  Funny stuff...




[attachment deleted by admin]

[stillinscrubs]

Was the criticism more about the fact he was fishing illegally in a closed river or fishing to spawning fish?

From the Pacific coast perspective I can understand both reasons being valid.  The populations have been in free fall for sometime and the hacheries are not helping.

That being said fishing reds is not the end of the world for stable fish populations
and if most of the people catching the fish are releasing them, they continue to spawn successfully.  I would use Michigan and the chinook population in the Pierre Marquette as an example.  The PM has never been stocked with Chinooks and is pretty self sustaining.  I havn't look at the run figures for the last few years but for a long period of time the runs were some of the best in the state.

I would suggest that if the catch and release guys made a conscious effort to fish the spawning areas on the Caney it might add to more protection for the fish than less, this is based upon the current situation we have.  Clearly closing spawning sections to all foot traffic or fishing during the spawning period would have better results.  But we aren't there yet in this state with regulations.

Great post though.  What forum?  I love to read about places I dream of fishing someday, legally fishing of course. 

Scrubs

[toddro]

Was the criticism more about the fact he was fishing illegally in a closed river or fishing to spawning fish?

From the Pacific coast perspective I can understand both reasons being valid.  The populations have been in free fall for sometime and the hacheries are not helping.

----


Scrubs

If you ever fish in Washington State, be prepared to earn a law degree just trying to figure where you can fish, what you can fish for, and when you can fish for them.  Their regs are outrageous!  The major beef they had was that he was a fishing a closed river for a closed species and then had the balls to post a report AND a pic.  But to them, a criticism of fishing a closed area and fishing to a spawning fish are one in the same as most if not all spawning areas for salmon and stealhead are closed for the spawn.  Sadly, it is not helping much, as the Sauk and the Skagit, two of my favorite rivers, will not open for the spring runs this year due to low counts.

Now, for real fun, get into the debate over Native American tribes and their ability to string nets over rivers and fill them with fish while other fisherman are closed out and forced to watch from the sidelines.... 

[stillinscrubs]

Talk with Muskie fisherman in Wisconsin about gigging at night with high powered electric lights.  Now that is a traditional method of harvest.

I hear ya....sad.

[hidden_hatch]

toddro, I know what you are talking about.  I have gotten to fish in Washington state and Idaho.  Washington State was the worst.  They have laws about how many split shot you can use and split shot below hooks and all kinds of craziness.  I was more worried about whether I was doing everything right instead of catching fish.  It was great fishing, really put me to the test.  My mother caught a 16” wild rainbow.  I however only caught about 10 little guys 7-10".  It was still fun.  I cut my teeth on the Big Wood River in Ketchum Idaho.  I did not have a guide but boy I wish I knew what I know now. 

[Mike Hill]

If you ever fish in Washington State, be prepared to earn a law degree just trying to figure where you can fish, what you can fish for, and when you can fish for them.  Their regs are outrageous!  ..........................

Now, for real fun, get into the debate over Native American tribes and their ability to string nets over rivers and fill them with fish while other fisherman are closed out and forced to watch from the sidelines.... 

Amen to those statements.  Last up there about six years ago.  Went up there for a 4 day weekend about - well not really, I was told we were going and was dragged to Sequim for a...a.....a.....a....a...can I really say it, ummmmmm....... a lavender festival.  Since, I was already up there, I thought maybe some fishing would be allowable.  Started looking at the regs, and since I'd have to have a pretty good run to get - at best 2 -3 hours of fishing - I gave up.  Then thought maybe a kayak trip at Victoria Island, but because of the fairy...er ferry schedules, that wasn't going to happen either.  All was not lost though, the golden Mt. Ranier Cherries were ripe and little roadside stands were selling them - talk about good!  Also got to see where John Wayne kept his Yacht "Wild Goose" at Port Angeles, and got to know a couple who farmed oysters and gave us a tasting of their product.  Opened my eyes to Northwest oysters being more than those huge "mud oysters".  I could use a few dozen right now.  Was sorta shocked as was the "Dirty Jobs" guy, at my first look at a gooeyduck (not correct spelling I know) - nuff said!!   The lavender festival wasn't so bad - cheaper than going to France for theirs.  Besides, I got to see a couple of homemade stills working, that put some ideas that are still in the back of my head. 

[toddro]

What's crazy is that in some of the rivers i fish, the regs will change depending on where you are in the river.  barbless above a certain bridge, closed below a certain bridge, closed to steelhead in one section, but open in another.  i suppose someone knows what they are doing, but it seems absurd....