| Subject: Re: To King Davy |
Author:
King Davy
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Date Posted: 11:18:49 03/01/02 Fri
In reply to:
Undertaker
's message, "To King Davy" on 17:03:37 02/28/02 Thu
>Sorry I haven't been back to continue our
>deliberation, but I had something to take care of. I
>liked your rendition of salmon fishing out on the lake
>and if it was like that in the river then everyone
>would be happy.
>
>Here's how salmon fishing in the river goes......
>The start of a nice day, taking a long, long walk to
>get away from everyone and try to find some fish that
>aren't all wigged out. I see two fish milling around
>in the tail of a small pool and I have them all to
>myself or do I? After ten minutes of working large
>streamers to them I hear several guys coming up behind
>me. They spot the fish and without even the slightest
>thought of consideration, are now splashing into the
>river between me and the fish, making a wild attempt
>to snag the fish. They pursue the fish down the river
>splashing and falling in as they go. I can't stand to
>watch anymore and at that moment my only thought is
>that I wished I was a DEC officer on my day off!! Lake
>fishing to river fishing is like comparing canned tuna
>to prime rib. This type of nonsense goes on all the
>time and this year I'm not even going to fish during
>salmon season. Instead, I'm going to video tape all
>the wonderful snaggers, rippers, roppers, leadslingers
>and highstickers. After one day out I should have
>about 3 hours of tape and I'll send copies to the DEC
>and Albany and they can see first hand how great a
>fishery we have here in upstate NY. I want to thank
>them from the bottom of my heart for all they have
>done for the area. Why, if it weren't for them,
>Pulaski would just be another sleepy little town with
>a crappy little trout river running thru it. Look at
>how much the area has improved, I can't name one fast
>food chain that hasn't been there. And look at all the
>big businesses that have sprouted up overnight, tackle
>shops everywhere with a fish cleaning stations on
>every corner! How about all the big hotels and motels
>too. My god, Oswego county must be the richest in the
>state. Why, if it weren't for that hatchery we would
>all be on welfare or are we already?
>
>We will never have a true fishery because real
>sportsmen won't come to the area and spend top dollar
>for a day on the fabulous Slam'em River in Snaglaski
>NY. Sorry, but that's the truth and until somebody or
>something changes, it will always be a black eye for
>the state and the fishing society.
UT...I hear everything you are saying....and I sadly know it's the whole truth. I've talked to the DEC about your thoughts since we last spoke...but getting rid of king salmon just isn't going to get done. There is nothing to replace them with that hasn't already been tried. More steelhead...is not the answer...I fish the Erie tribs and the party on Walnut creek in PA is just as insane as the salmon river king fishing...same lunacy goes on.
Since you are a local guy...many would think that your ideas about having Pulaski as a sleepy little town where nobody ever goes...is your selfish little dream. (But I understand your reason). If nothing good can from this fishing...then why have it at all. I'm afraid in all reality we are too far down the road to turn back,. I think we have to put our energy into trying to turn the anglers around.
Two things have to happen. First anglers new one's and snagging veterns have to be taught how to catch salmon. Second and maybe this is first....the hammer has to fall on the guys breaking the law. We don't need an army of CO's roaming the woods along the stream. We just need the 7 or 800 tickets they write...end up with $1000 fines, and loss of equipment. The first wave of guys that get hit like that...and you'll see a drastic reduction in this activity.
How do we get such stiff fines...we do JUST what you are proposing to do. Take your video's...and go to the Chamber of Commerce, and the DEC, and most of all your elected officials...and let them know what they are promoting and condoning.
Take it to the judges, and shop owners...and lodge owners. Is this a lot of work...damn right it is. But if it's going to get done, then people have to ban together. It's easy for anybody to type in how much they hate something (not picking on you UT)...and whole groups of people do just that. They crab about how awlful things are...and they aren't wrong...but now if you want it to be better step up and put the time in.
That's why we formed LOSA. We've already made some in roads on some of the problems at different sites. One thing we are weak in is representation from your area. I hear a lot of guys talking....but I don't see many joining. We have a meeting on 3/16 in Fair Haven with the DEC from Altmar to continue our work with them on Salmon river problems. We had the same meeting last year...invited the public...told them how to get there...I even furnished refreshments out of my own pocket...NOBODY showed up from your area or any others for that matter...just our regular members. We even had guys from Canada come all the way to Fairhaven. NOBODY from the salmon river area.
We got directly involved with the new regs proposals...and we sat in on some focus groups. We did a day of learning at the hatchery to educate at the end of Sept. as many anglers up there that would stop by...we plan to do it even on a grander scale this year. I've got guys who hardly fish up there...getting involved with the programs up there. Where are the locals...where are the others on this site that fish the river exclusively...never see them.
The problem is the people...NOT the fish. Until everybody gets on the same page and deals with the ANGLING Problems....this is never going to get better. But if we got a LARGE contingent all moving in the same direction...then the politicians and the Judges...and the merchants would have to start to listen.
20 years guiding on Lake Ontario...and working with a Unified group of men and woman from the whole south shore we got tons of legislation passed, and had many towns line up to offer wonderful experiences to people who wanted to fish the lake. But it took organization. At one point the US Gov't wasn't going to buy TFM anymore. late 80's early 90's. TFM is the chemical that kills lamprey larva....this was a Feds situation....we stormed Washington with hand written letters to not drop the stream treatment programs...other wise there would be NO trout or salmon left in these waters. We'll as you know we won...and we set a president that has lasted another 14 years with out any probelsm. There is strength in numbers and concerned sportsmen who want something done.
In the end the average snagging low life can't afford a $1000 hit to their wallet...and the loss of their fishing gear to boot. Hey they hit weed smokers this hard...for possession...why not poachers...especially when they are stealing tax payers capital investment.
I hear ya my friend...I hear your buddies too...but you got to take it to the next level and get involved.
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