Author:
Concerned Anglers.
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Date Posted: 14:23:43 04/14/01 Sat
I am still up in the air on this one, but everyone needs to hear both sides.
Regarding the recent proposals for regulation changes on Lake Ontario tributaries, We would like to the opportunity to reiterate our support for specific changes in tackle restrictions aimed at modifying or restricting the illegal and un-ethical taking of our pacific salmon and steelhead resources. Specifically;
I. Restriction of floating lure (plugs) to include:
A. One (1) single hook point having no more than 1/2" gap from
shank to point.
B. Restriction in distance that said hook point may trail
behind any floating lure to 1 1/2".
C. Set specific season: (Sept. 1st to Oct 30th) That these
tackle restrictions shall be in effect.
II. Regulation prohibiting the positioning of weights (lead) below
the hook while angling for pacific salmon or steelhead year-round.
Also, Consider this letter a document or instrument of our support for:
III. A year round tackle restriction limiting the maximum distance between
the hook point and any added weight (lead) to not more than 48" (four
feet) while angling for steelhead or pacific salmon.
We base our support for this tackle restriction on our years of experience angling and/or guiding sportfishermen for both great lakes steelhead and finger lakes rainbow trout.
Prior to the late 1980's, much of the ethical and successful
steelhead angling on the Salmon River was accomplished utilizing egg
sacks, single hook spinners and spoons, or floating lures. (eg. hot
shots) The water flow regimes existing at that time consisted mostly of
peaking flows in the 750 to 1,500 CFS range as a rule. With the onset
of DEC mandated lower water volumes, the tactics of steelhead angling
changed drastically. Where before, fairly heavy test monofilament (8 to
10 lb test) would work suitably in high water and when fish were biting
in those heavier flows, they were easily caught. If fish did not choose
to bite, then they simply were not caught by legitimate and ethical
angling methods. However, the newer lower flow regimes of the 1990's,
convinced many anglers to change tactics and utilize lighter test line
and longer noodle rods to try and up their odds of hooking increasingly
warier and spookier steelhead in the much lower, clearer water flow
conditions.
As time progressed, it became apparent that the use of
increasingly longer leaders and very small flies in black, green, or
brown either weighted or unweighted would HOOK fish when all other
methods failed to produce. Notice we said HOOK, not catch. The vast
majority of these fish were foul hooked and never landed but produced
("action"???) when they would not bite. It is a generally accepted fact
that the vast majority of wintering or pre-spawn steelhead feed very
little, if at all. Egg sacks emitting a "sexual-oriented olfactory
stimulation" scent trail are the sole exception as a proven lure. Having
examined the stomach contents of hundreds of wintering steelhead and
finding only eggs, we can unwaveringly attest to this fact.
When extremely low flows and cold water temperatures curtail the migration
and activity levels of steelheads in december, january, february, and
early march; All angling methods take a serious drop in success levels
yet small flies and extremely long leaders continue to "take" steelhead
that aren't biting. These fish refuse to hit minnows, worms, mousie
grubs, crayfish, spinners, spoons, hotshots, rapalas, larval insects, or
egg sacks but a tiny bit of yarn, fur, feather, or tinsel fished on a
VERY LONG, thin, leader produces hookup after hookup all day long like
magic. But like most magic, it's just an illusion, not reality based
fishing. Most of these steelhead are never landed to expose this fraud to
the light of day but many are landed foul hooked and illegally creeled
due to a distinct lack of law enforcement during the winter or are
released to die after being dragged in tail first for too long.
Many steelhead kept as legitimate catches are actually foul hooked on the
outside of the mouth. And contrary to popular belief, the mouth is not
the mouth unless it is from the inside out. In any case, these
illegally hooked fish are creeled and they were not attracted to bait as
the state's legal standard demands. They are illegally hooked, creeled,
and removed from the fishery under the guise of legitimate angling and
this practice is rampant in the winter fishery to the point where
legitimately caught fish are a vast minority. Illegitimate, unethical
perpetrators are misusing an otherwise legitimate technique and have
succeeded in decimating our winter steelhead fishery.
This is not an isolated situation to be swept under the rug with a who cares attitude. This has become, like the j-plug issue, an epidemic. No wonder
everyone's been asking: where have all the steelhead gone? the last ten
years. They have all been removed one fish at a time, on a consistent
day to day basis, all winter long by a mostly illegitimate, illegal
mechanically efficient technique or method of long line snagging right
under bureau of fisheries (and law enforcement's) noses because little
has been done to protect or manage the resource. The day is long gone
when the QUANTITY of our QUALITY steelhead can sustain the illegal
harvest and removal of vast numbers of our finite steelhead resource.
Steelhead that did not bite, weren't attracted to bait, are being
illegally removed by unscrupulous, unethical snaggers misusing long
leaders.
In all our years of legitimate steelhead angling, we have not ever
found it necessary to use a leader in excess of four feet to
legitimately catch active, BITING steelhead. If we don't catch
steelhead, it's because they aren't biting. (as they are often not) And
Isn't that really the point here? Steelhead that aren't attracted to
bait and are not biting should not be creeled regardless. Case closed.
Please feel free to utilize our comments to advance the case of a maximum
length leader of four feet. WE fully support the implementation of the
above tackle restrictions in the pursuit of legitimate, ethical angling
techniques.
Respectfully, Osewgo County River Guides and concerned anglers.
If you would all please help show support for the 4 foot leader law, email or call all of the below:
Regional Director
Ken Lynch 315-426-7403 kplynch@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Les Wedge 607-753-3095 Ex 212 lrwedge@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Fran Verdoliva 315-298-7605 fjverdol@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Dan Bishop 607-753-3095 Ex 203 dlbishop@gw.dec.state.ny.us
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