dead natives

twags · 02-20-2002, 06:56 AM

I urge everyone to be more careful catching and releasing native fish this spring. Sunday between Donaldson's and Sollie's I saw three natives on the bottom DEAD! How many more were in the bottom of the deeper pools? The methods we use from now through April should change and bait should be avoided. Instead of nets, row to shore to land your fish and keep them in the water. I view fishing during the predominately "native steelhead season" as a priviledge....and everyone knows what can happen to priviledges...

Fishing freak · 02-20-2002, 07:01 AM

Twags,

I witnessed the same thing sunday. Was it you that I was talking to about this? I had the red and tan drift boat! I don't think that bait is the problem when you are drift fishing, more so when it is being used behind a diver. Coincidentally, I saw a number of peope using bait with divers sunday.

Tanner · 02-20-2002, 07:12 AM

I saw some guide in a White Wild Hare driftboat on the Nestucca on Saturday pulling diver and bait. :blush:

BigSpinner · 02-20-2002, 09:15 AM

It makes me sad when i see a dead native, i stop and wonder how it died. Then you look across the river were a fishermen has a chrom native and he pulls it up onto the bank, and is floping around on the rocks, they drop it trying to take a pic. Makes me sick to see that. Well that is one dead fish i dont care what anyone says. They said it swam off but not far i bet. So please be nice to our native fish.

Jeremy,

rags · 02-20-2002, 10:19 AM

I have been Jig fishing the last few years for natives and I think this is the way to go. Every fish I have caught has been clean hooked in the lip which makes an easy release. It is easy to get the pliers around the jig and remove the single hook. Better than a treble on a plug and safer than bait. I know my success rate has more than doubled. What a thrill to see the bobber get buried by a big native Steelhead!!

twags · 02-20-2002, 12:00 PM

f. freak, i think you were anchored when i went by, we were in maravia inflatable - it's virgin voyage - other than the oregon duck colors it is a great boat and will have to do until the cancer is repaired in her older sister....
btw, there was another fish around the corner on the bottom right that i definitely id as native, the third was on the bottom in too deep of water to clearly see. diver and bait are great for catch and take, but because they allow the fish to swallow too deep, should be LIMITED in use during the spring.

tw