Stream Regulations on Trout

[byebyeducky]

I live in the Mid-Valley near Salem and grew up fishing a small stream on my parents place. As I'm sure most of you know, most streams in the Mid-Valley are now catch and release only. When I used to fish this stream, it opened in April. Now they push it until the end of May.

My question is, if it is catch and release only, can't they open it up to year round fishing or at least make the season during a more realistic time? By the time May comes around, the stream is flowing so little that the trout have headed back down. I haven't fished there in years because of this, but now I want to take my nephew fishing there. It is so close and I have great memories!:help:

BTW the cutthroat were beautiful anywhere from 8-13 inches. The Flood of 96 also brought some big rainbows out of some local ponds. That spring I caught 2 over 15" in that little stream!

[Chris61182]

My understanding for the purpose of the closed season is to protect the salmon smolt on their way out to sea. I could be wrong but that's the way I understand it.

[wind troller]

ByeBye,
I live in Oregon City and we also have limited seasons for rivers/streams and we have an additional regulation that says we can only keep "fin clipped" trout in some of those water bodies. It actually is a good rule because in years past I have watched several folks retaining salmon/steelhead smolt thinking they were trout. This is a good thing for protecting those species but I do understand your frustrations when you want to take a young one fishing. In past years I would take my boys to ponds to fish for warmwater species and they always had a blast, just a thought!
:)

[ODSKid]

I think they do it not only to protect the fish, but so that they don't have to monitor the stream so closely. That way when they drive by during closed season, if they see ANYBODY fishing there... boom. Automatic ticket. During season, they have to stop, check your stuff, make sure you are legally fishing.. etc. Who would want to do that year around! (Sarcastic laugh ensues)

[byebyeducky]

Yeah, OK......

I don't mind the catch and release law, if it has to be, but the season just doesn't make sense to me. If the difficulty of checking people is the problem, that really frustrates me. It is another law then that a few law breakers among the rest of us make nessesary. :frown:

Make people pay to take a fish ID class, and raise the fines. Just let me fish.

As for the Salmon smolts, I used to think it was huey that this stream had salmon, until I was walking along the creek early in the winter, and looked down. I saw at least a 15-20 lb salmon that was starting to rot, just slowly swimming around. I started looking and counted three that day! That was pretty awesome.


As for my nephew, I am planning on taking him to my uncles pond. He's got Bass and Bluegill. But you all know there is NOTHING like easing a spinner into a riffle on a little trout stream on a chilly sunny morning, feeling that nibble (when I used to use a worm), dropping the spinner back a touch until he hits good, and reeling in a beautiful 12 inch cutthroat. THERE IS NOTHING THAT WILL EVER COME CLOSE TO THOSE MEMORIES!

[byebyeducky]

What if we lobbied to require a fish ID class just like you have to take a hunters safety course and a goose ID class? It could bring in more money for the ODFW and also educate people on types of fish, habitat, and environmental issues.

I just want some freedom if I am catching and releasing. I want a reasonable season for stream fishing.

[leadeyedbugger]

The reason is most likely 2 fold. One is to protect salmon and steelhead smolt on there downstream migration. The other would be to protect native trout rainbows that spawn in march/april.

[Two Fister]

The reason is most likely 2 fold. One is to protect salmon and steelhead smolt on there downstream migration. The other would be to protect native trout rainbows that spawn in march/april.

Exactly.

And smolts aren't all that hardy before they are ready to head downstream. They are also way to easy to catch as they are still haven't gotten much of an "education". The rules are set up to protect them.

There are other waters open until the trout opener. Sorry you can't fish the waters you used to hit early in the season, but there's a chance to find some new spots with the little guy!

[byebyeducky]

So what do they figure the survival rate is on catch and release?

I assume not good if they still have seasons, or is it that they believe people will illegally keep fish?

[Two Fister]

So what do they figure the survival rate is on catch and release?

I assume not good if they still have seasons, or is it that they believe people will illegally keep fish?


I think that the survival rate of smolts that are caught and released is probably a lot lower than trout. They are trying to store fat up for the long swim downstream and when you hook them they just go crazy. It feels like you've hooked a live electric wire as they just make your rod vibrate. They tend to be hard to release as they bounce all over the place. They may swim away after you release them, but I'll bet being caught and released a couple of times takes a huge toll on their downstream migration survivability. It would probably make a good research for someone in the OSU Fisheries program.

I also think it's a lot easier to enforce a closure when the Gammie can simply nab somebody that is fishing on a closed river versus having to go check out their gear and stringer.

There's a couple of spots that I really miss fishing as well, but what can you do. I think it's for the best so I've just looked for new places to fish in the spring.

Good luck!
TF
TF

[byebyeducky]

Thanks for the education. I agree, it is for the best.

I'd rather take him somewhere else to catch fish now than for him not be able to fish at all later because of poor planning and

Ah the good old days!

[Chris61182]

I think that the survival rate of smolts that are caught and released is probably a lot lower than trout. They are trying to store fat up for the long swim downstream and when you hook them they just go crazy. It feels like you've hooked a live electric wire as they just make your rod vibrate. They tend to be hard to release as they bounce all over the place. They may swim away after you release them, but I'll bet being caught and released a couple of times takes a huge toll on their downstream migration survivability.

Man I can't believe those smolt, I was out fishing in the Willamette today around Corvallis using a big-ole Daredevil spoon. I figured I'd see if there were any aggressive bass around, or at the very least perhaps cull a few big pikeminnow out of the river. But nope a little salmon no more double my lures size absolutely slams it and got itself hooked pretty bad.

Sadly, I very strongly doubt that the little guy is one that'll make it to the ocean, where as it would have had a better chance had it been caught on more appropriate gear. Worst part is that there wasn't much I could do to avoid it other than not fish, and low and behold that's why the smaller streams are closed. Like someone else pointed out these fish are young, naive, and incredibly aggressive.