David Johnson
12-15-2000, 10:49 AM
Just to let you all know were I am coming from.
I am a fishing guide, been one for seven years in Oregon and Alaska and recently in Washington.
I grew up fishing the Clackamas River, been fishing there 17 years. Fished the coast for 15.
I have a degree in Fisheries, I have worked for the ODFW as a biological aid, limited commercial fished in Alaska, worked for a private hatchery in AK for two seasons, worked in sporting goods retail for six years and done a fair share of writing for outdoor publicatins.
I ahve been around all angles of this industry.
I totaly and strongly support catch and release of all native fish, even if there is a sustainable amount of them (like southern Oregon or places in the Olimpic Paninsula were you can keep native fish). I agree with the idea that wild fish are "better" than hatchery fish. I think that hatchery fish should be taken home. I would rather have some fish (hatchery) than no fish or very few wild fish.
My first steelhead I released because it was native. That was back when you cuold have kept it and after I had spent two entire winters fishing with out one single fish. Even back then I thuoght native fish should be preserved.
I hope you guys don't take me as a meat hungery river *****, I'm not. I do like to see people catch fish. I'm not out there to get every last fish, I'm out there to feed my family and enjoy the best job in the world.
I would love to see the rivers like they used to be, but it will not happen. Man kind has stopped that from happening.
In the next few years we are looking at the best fishing in the last century. The ocean conditions and the habitat in Western Oregon is the best it has been in 80 years. Biologist predictins are looking very good for the next few years. Predictions for the Columbia spring run is 346,000 and next fall columbia coho run is expected at 1 million plus......
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I am a fishing guide, been one for seven years in Oregon and Alaska and recently in Washington.
I grew up fishing the Clackamas River, been fishing there 17 years. Fished the coast for 15.
I have a degree in Fisheries, I have worked for the ODFW as a biological aid, limited commercial fished in Alaska, worked for a private hatchery in AK for two seasons, worked in sporting goods retail for six years and done a fair share of writing for outdoor publicatins.
I ahve been around all angles of this industry.
I totaly and strongly support catch and release of all native fish, even if there is a sustainable amount of them (like southern Oregon or places in the Olimpic Paninsula were you can keep native fish). I agree with the idea that wild fish are "better" than hatchery fish. I think that hatchery fish should be taken home. I would rather have some fish (hatchery) than no fish or very few wild fish.
My first steelhead I released because it was native. That was back when you cuold have kept it and after I had spent two entire winters fishing with out one single fish. Even back then I thuoght native fish should be preserved.
I hope you guys don't take me as a meat hungery river *****, I'm not. I do like to see people catch fish. I'm not out there to get every last fish, I'm out there to feed my family and enjoy the best job in the world.
I would love to see the rivers like they used to be, but it will not happen. Man kind has stopped that from happening.
In the next few years we are looking at the best fishing in the last century. The ocean conditions and the habitat in Western Oregon is the best it has been in 80 years. Biologist predictins are looking very good for the next few years. Predictions for the Columbia spring run is 346,000 and next fall columbia coho run is expected at 1 million plus......
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