We should be there too, Columbia Fisheries meeting

[Steve L.]

http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=967277&an=0&page=1#96727 7

Time to show some solidarity. We may be the elite :hoboy:, but time to stand shoulder to shoulder with all who fish for sport.

Check out Crabbaits thread on the meeting tomorrow night. Be there or be square

[Stew]

I guess I'll be square because in my opinion this is a battle between two user groups... commercial gillnetters versus sports fishermen and really little else.
It does not address issues like critical habitat, the weakening of the ESA or impacts on ESA protected fish.
I will not attend a meeting to fight over who gets what because in my view the larger issue of conservation is being ignored, at least at this meeting.
If it were an issue to allow harvest of protected coastal cutthroat trout, proposed increase of the commercial by catch of ESA listed steelhead and salmon and the delisting of ESA fish or to discuss the ban of non-selective gillnets then absolutely I would attend and have in the past.
Like I said it's just my opinion so take it for what it is worth :shrug: and if this allocation matter is something that is near and dear to you then by all means attend on Wednesday evening.

[Steve L.]

Fair enough Stew. In my mind the efforts to maintain a viable sports fishery and conservation aren't mutually exclusive, just fought on different fronts. IMHO it is more likely inroads on conservation can be made when addressing citizen users of a resource than business interests. Yes, I do like to fish to Columbia and yes I do belong to conservation orgs as well. There can be a healthy tension as well as support between the orgs and sports fishers. With all the commercial fishing in the Columbia the remaining 2% sports fishers are fighting to keep a share of I doubt there is ANY impact on the commercials or the tribes for that matter.
When there are meetings which directly affect coastal cutts, holler and I'll be there. My State and Federal Reps have all received more than one letter from mein defense of the ESA and decrying GW's assault on it.

Just my .02

Peace

[Stew]

I've read posts in other threads by some of the folks who are promoting this meeting who then flame conservation organizations,wild fish advocates and their efforts....I find that troubling.
It shows me that some people really care nothing about the enviroment and maintaining healthy wild fish runs but only want to get their share! I chalk it up to ignorance and greed :hoboy:
I've posted as much at the risk of alienating some of those people :shrug:
I have no problem with commercial fishermen getting their share of the harvestable hatchery fish.I do however have a major problem with their antiquated and non-selective method of harvesting those fish namely gillnets.
If there were ever an effort to ban gill nets altogether then I would be all over it!

[Steve L.]

Well Stew you haven't alienated me ! I'm proud to have met you. The whole point here is to be able to voice opinions and debate and learn different perspectives. Even if they are voiced by knuckleheads :wink:

I know we have folks on this site who are afraid conservation groups are out to take something away from them. They just haven't figured out it's not theirs. We're caretakers of the environment and (hopefully) teachers passing the traditions of our sport down to the next generation.

I do feel compelled to go to this meeting and try to slow down the commercial guys. I doubt that sport fishers do 1/100 the damage the netters do annually to our fishery.

I'm surprised no one else has jumped in on this thread. Just us two crotchety old guys :cheers:

[Stew]

Thanks for the kind words Steve :cheers:
I have been involved in various fishing clubs and sports fishing advocacy groups for many years and they are so fragmented. They each seem to have their own agenda and are unwilling to work together for the common good.
The gill netters, on the other hand, set aside what personal differences they might have and stand united and basically kick the sports fishermans's a$$es. Having a few well placed allies (Jon Englund) on the ODFW commission does not hurt either.
I've decided my money and efforts are best spent with groups like Native Fish Society, Trout Unlimited and Oregon Trout. Their common agenda is the preservation of native salmonids and enhancing their habitat for future generations.
It is good to finally see a grassroots effort to get their voices heard! Hope we can have this kind of united front next year when the commercial petition the ODFW and WDFW to allow more killing of ESA protected wild steelhead in order to get more of their quota of spring chinook.