Fish & Game Proposing New Winter Regs for Sierra
By Tom Chandler on Dec 28, 2006 in Fly Fishing, News
Several years ago - when Chris Raine led the fight to open the Upper Sacramento River to catch & release fishing in the winter - there was a surprising amount of resistance.
Most of it was due to fears about damage to the resource (e.g. anglers trampling the spawing beds), some fish and game promised to monitor.
The Underground loves winter fishing.
It seems like that those fears haven’t been realized, and I just noticed an article about Fish & Game proposing a Catch & Release season on a few Sierra waters. From the North County Times Article:
Early this month, the new winter regulations were adopted, allowing trout fishing in such prime places as Hot Creek, the East Walker River, the upper Owens River and Carson Creek. If allowed to go into effect in March, the regulations would allow for Sierra fishing all year, though winter regulations would be catch-and-release only.
I believe that - on many waters - the concept of a trout “season” is an obsolete one, and I’d like to see the implementation of winter catch-and-release regulations on the trout streams that can handle it.
Winter fishing is a unique, technical, and (still) largely solitary aspect of the sport that I’ve always enjoyed.
See you in the snow, Tom Chandler.
Technorati Tags: hot creek, east walker, owens river, carson creek, sierra, fly fishing, regulations, catch and release
hawgdaddy | Dec 28, 2006 | Reply
I agree about trout seasons being an obsolete concept. In very specific cases, I could see it. For example, an endangered or threatened species during spawning season or on a stream that sees a ton of meat fishermen or especially ridiculous fishing pressure. But in areas with moderate fishing pressure, mostly catch-and-release angling, and good numbers of fish why would you have a season? Of course, maybe I just want to be able to go fishing whenever the urge hits me. But an equally important consideration is, “Why shouldn’t I be able to?” Unless there’s a really good reason why I shouldn’t, then there shouldn’t be a season, IMHO. Take care,
hawgdaddy
Tom Chandler | Dec 28, 2006 | Reply
I think the beauty of a winter catch-and-release only season is that winter C&R mortality rates always fall below the baseline mortality rate (the number of trout who basically *have* to die each year to allow for recruitment of new fish).
In such a situation, the only danger to fish populations comes during the spawn, and frankly, flows on most rivers render that problem moot.
It’s about time the management of trout fishers caught up with the reality - going to a C&R reg during the “off” season isn’t going to harm populations.
michael rich | Dec 31, 2006 | Reply
i’m all for fishing the winter season on the east walker (california). but only if fish and game can pry loose some extra water from the farmers. the farmers control the flows. last year they jacked up the flows on opening day! in the winter the flows are only 30cfs, which in my opinion, fishing would be harmful to the fish. if we can get a minimum of 90 cfs in the winter (a huge if) this would be a great fishery.
Tom Chandler | Jan 1, 2007 | Reply
Michael;
Clearly, if a fishery can’t handle winter fishing, then it shouldn’t be opened. Sounds like a bummer.
Still, the potential for winter fishing does provide an economic incentive for more water. Dunsmuir’s city council fell behind the winter fishing resolution in the hopes it would provide an economic boost.
Maybe the locals could pry a little more water out of the irrigation district by looking for an economic boost to other communities.
The downside is that Western water law is a mess; I doubt fish and game has much control over winter flows in the East Walker. Good luck!
trout are weak | Jan 16, 2007 | Reply
Why bother, trout are a weak species that will eventually be gone from our waters. Try fishing for something that fights back like a Tarpon or Bonefish or even a Carp!