Proposed Bait Bans

[Centerpin]

I am a resident of British Columbia, Canada. In the last 3 years I have witnessed the collapse of the Vancouver Island steelhead fishery. Poor ocean survival and poor returns to the east coast of Vancouver Island have forced steelhead managers to close virtually all streams and the ones that are left open have bait bans imposed on them. West coast Vancouver Island streams are still open although they are also suffering poor returns. Recently angler driven groups have been in conflict due to then notion that a certain group wants the use of bait on these stopped. They state that bait increases an anglers effectiveness therefore increases the incidence of hooking mortality. Other groups state that it is just another step towards fly fishing only for steelhead and if they can't fish the way they want then the whole river should be closed to fishing. I was wondering if you guys down south have experienced similar conflicts over your steelhead fisheries? What were the outcomes? Do you feel the regulation of gear type is an effective management tool? I look forward to your replies.

[smilesforu]

Centerpin
This is the sportsmen groups fighting for private water again. We have it constantly going on in Washington. I fish bait, fly and selective and don't experience a hook mortality problem that normally is accused with bait. We have experienced several of our waterways closed to bait fishing. It is called "selective fishing" in Washington. Barbless single hooks are the allowed hooks without bait or scent. It is also a Catch and Release usually in the Selective Waterway. I think it should be closed if it needs to be protected. I have seen some pretty bad practices on waterways open to selective gear. Its not the gear that does the damage to the fish! People use studies to show it harms the fish, but there are studies recently out that show bait being no worse than selective mortality.

Gear regulation just closes more opportunity to fishing. Pretty sore subject with me since most of the water I use to bank fish has turned selective changing the way I choose to fish. In higher water it becomes impossible to fish local waterways because of the regulations with out a boat. Close it if needs protecting!!! All sport fishing user groups need to be treated equal.
Tight Lines

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Marty M
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)

[Deleted User]

We have debated this in the past on the old discussion board CP. It's a tough one to answer. I agree with Marty that studies indicate that baitfishing and releasing does not have a much higher mortality incidence. The exception is backtrolling diver and bait combos that have a high rate of swallowed eggs or shrimp which cause a higher mortality rate. On depressed native runs of fish I believe bait diver backtrolling (usually with Jet Planers or Hot N Tots) should be curtailed. I also believe in using barbless hooks when appropriate. Beyond that I don't believe in angler user group discrimination, due to the outcome of bait driftfishing/floatfishing release studies (most are hooked near the jaw and not swallowed) and due to the improved angler education on proper C&R procedures for better survival rates. - RT

[Centerpin]

A majority of my favourite holes were closed due to conservation concerns. Govt. deemed the ares were too productive and too many fish were being caught there. The rivers you can now fish are limited in number forcing more people to concentrate on the systems left open. This has had a detrimental effect on the quality of angling experience (crowding) and increasing the hooking mortality due to increased pressure. Closure of these rivers does not sit well with many people.

I agree that anglers should be treated as equal although anglers never see themselves as equal. I beleive there will always be a heirarchical structure. From fly to bait or from panfish to salmon. I have never felt threatened by other fishermen or their methods. I feel everyone should just head out and fish and support each other on the common ground that they share, which is their love of fishing.