Do you read the fishing regulations?

Jennie@ifish · 08-07-2002, 07:25 AM

Fishing regs

Point-of-Sale Clerk · 08-07-2002, 07:43 AM

Yes but they give me a headache.

Now is the time to ask ODFW to use more simplistic rules and phrases or at least add better qualifiers to the regulations. This Friday is when they will set the rules for 2003. if you want to see changes please send then to Rhine.T.Messmer@state.or.us by Thursday.

Lets make them more "user friendly".

Pete · 08-07-2002, 07:58 AM

I wouldn't want to rely on someone else's interpretation of the regulations. I read them, for the waters I fish, and I keep a copy in my boat. I also print out the in-season changes to bring along. First reading provides a basis for most situations, but something always comes up that requires checking the wording of something. Every well equipped boat should have a copy.

Killertraylor · 08-07-2002, 08:09 AM

YOU BET! Don't ever rely on a game officer for fishing or hunting regulations. In addition, although all of us here have good intentions when sharing what we believe the regulations require, there is no substitute for the written word! I do agree that they could be made easier to understand - and it's tough to have everything in writing when there are special regulations being adopted throughout the year.

TideRunner · 08-07-2002, 08:13 AM

I agree Pete and I do the same.

I too would like to see the rules simplyfied. As much as we all fish it's still confusing to us. Just think what that "new" person must think after going over the rule book

If the rules are written simpler, then you have certain people who read between the lines and find the loop holes. I agree ***, "user friendly" is what we need, but, I think without the technical jargon, it leaves many voids.

Lured In · 08-07-2002, 09:07 AM

I read the hunting and fishing regulations religiously when they come out and then prior to each "fish" season (ex Springers) for the water I am going to fish. I have found that lowering your expectations is best and assume everything has changed from the previous year.

My personal experience is the more I become a student of the 'game' the easier the regs are to understand. Some of the verbage as *** mentions is a little gray. (How gray? Charcoal in some cases.) IMHO most of the confusion stems from the 'in season updates' that are becoming more regular, especially with some of the spectacular runs we have seen in the last two years.

ODFW/WDFW have some real challenges in trying to manage these resources and those that want to use them. The in season updates present a challenge in that first there is the forcast and then there are the updates to the forcast. It seems that the regs are modified to benefit sport anglers (3 steelhead) as often as the opposite.

Generally, I would classifiy most of the waters I fish to be reasonably easy to follow if you read the regs. For instance the Columbia:

At the beginning of the year, you know sturgeon is open all the way to McNary Dam. Springers are right around the corner and depending on the forcast we may or may not have a season. Right there is a flag to keep an eye out on ODFW's website or call them weekly to find out what is going on. Summer Steelhead alway opens in two stages, below I-5 and above a couple weeks later. The last two years sturgeon has been closed for all of August and September, plan on this and realize this could change if the catch guidelines are being approached.

Fall run salmon always opens on August 1. Any legal size Chinook (clipped or not) and clipped Coho below Bonnie.

That's really it. Yes there are other details, but my point is that if you fish the Columbia and make a point of reading and updating yourself regularly it really isn't that complicated.

Just about every river has some sort of seasonal adjustment that takes place. For instance the Willamette salmon and steelhead are open year round, but clipped vs non clipped may change depending on the time of the year.

The key is to stay informed. I believe the in season updates are ultimately beneficial, even though they make staying on top of the regs more difficult. If you are dilligent about staying informed, you shouldn't be confused. I am probably the most informed about the regs out of me and my closest fishin' buddies. It never ceases to amaze me that they don't just call ODFW or look on the website to find out what is going on.

My one recommemdation is the ODFW would post a DYNAMIC fishing regs page by body of water, in alphabetical order. (Similar, but more specific that the fishing report page that is updated every Wednesday) It would look something like this:

ODFW
Fishing Regulations
1. Statewide Regs (applies everywhere)
2. Special Regs...
a. Columbia for week of August 4
Sturgeon - Closed to retention on entire river. Catch and release permitted. Opens October 1, 2002 below Bonneville Dam.
Salmon - Open From Buoy 10 Upstream to McNary Dam. Any Chinook greater than 24" in length. Fin Clipped Coho Only below Bonnieville dam and any Coho from Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam.
Steelhead: Open on entire river from Buoy 10 to McNary Dam. Fin Clipped steelhead only.

________
This is just an example but imagine if you had one place to go look that was updated weekly to reflect the changing regs instead of having to sort through the regs, press releases, phone calls, fishing reports, etc.

Sorry for rambling on...

AngleThis · 08-07-2002, 01:04 PM

The think the biggest problem and the primary reason people don't always read the regs is that they change every time you change your underwear! I know a guy that got a ticket over a reg that had just that day been changed. It wasn't even posted yet, but the cops sure knew it.....and "ignorance of the law is not a defense"...KaChing!

I think it should be illegal to change the regs without some standard amount of time passing first.... a grace period at the very least.

[ 08-07-2002, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: ********* ]

WheresMyBobber · 08-07-2002, 01:16 PM

Anybody remember the days when the fishing regs were simple to understand and the hunting regs were the hard ones to decipher? [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

crabbait · 08-07-2002, 01:28 PM

So, lets say they wanted to increase the chinook limit above the Astoria bridge to 6 fish. Should they let us know a week in advance or just put it out and let us keep the fish? Or should they keep it simple and leave it at two fish so that everyone will know what the limit is?

When we lose flexibility in regulations, we lose. For example, the regs could say ten trout at lake "A" and five trout at lake "B", but let's keep it simple = five trout at lakes "A" and "B". Or, we could have an extended season or additional fish at certain times but if we insist that it is simple then we will get only the opportunities that the state can gaurantee will be available.

I'll take the increased complexity of changing regulations over fewer opportunities and simple regs anytime!

[ 08-07-2002, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: crabbait ]

Phish_on · 08-07-2002, 01:32 PM

It only took a few minutes of reading the WA regs to appreciate how simple the OR regs are.

They really don't change that much, and certainly not without warning - if you're paying attention.

They've actually gotten simpler, with rules that cover whole zones - with only the exceptions listed, rather than specifying every body of water.

Salmon rules are another matter - yes they change as the wind changes.

More people + fewer fish = more detailed rules

Skipper · 08-07-2002, 03:03 PM

I have found that you need to read the regs like a lawyer, and again before you venture out fishing. Then get on line and check for updates. . .

No wonder people get $300. tickets. :shocked:

kampy · 08-07-2002, 03:03 PM

Would'nt leave home without it. Since I often change my mind after dropping in to a fishing hole that is not producing, I carry the regs to be clear should I do the quick pull-over and check out that new water. :grin:

kampy · 08-07-2002, 03:08 PM

Hey crabbait;
I wonder what would happen if they simplfied the regs in your line of work so it was easier to understand.........May make for international news.......like........crash......huh???????

ampersat · 08-07-2002, 06:31 PM

i grab a copy of the new year's regs as soon as i can get my hands on it. i check it for the rivers i fish (it's a pretty short list) and look for changes (like no native springers on the sandy this year). i'm on the mailing list for the odfw news releases. overall, they're pretty easy to read once you get used to their jargon. if they're your home waters, you're probably are pretty clear on what they're talking about.

guys that go everywhere and after everything get the shaft. if you find yourself on the coast some weekend because of a family reunion, you're just about at the mercy of the local tackle shop for regs clarification. what about clamming with some of the relatives on short notice? how about taking the little one's out for trout?

oo, oo! here's an idea! in addition to the regular channels of notification, we have "official regulation stations" near the fishable bodies of water. these would be the same local tackle shops we already talk to but they would be official. if they can sell tags, they can be current on the regs. they get a complete synopsis of the most current regulations governing the local fishable waters and have to post them where the public can read them. also, a standardized "lead time" on regulation implementation is a must. they just can't expect you to know regs that came out the same day.

frankly, i might be a little more inclined to fish other waters if i didn't have to spend an evening catching up on the regs.

08-07-2002, 06:34 PM

I learned the hard way once to make sure to know what the regs say. Nice guy that state trooper was and it could've been a lot worse. If in doubt at all ALWAYS read the regs.
SS

BigBeanCounter · 08-07-2002, 10:15 PM

Regs???

There are rules about fishing?? Just kidding.

Pretty frustrating though, when we have to play by the various (not to mention complicated) rules & you see the "incidental" catches from the commercial boats!

M W Sheller · 08-08-2002, 05:09 PM

If you're going to play, you need to play nice, and by the rules. would anyone out there buy a monopoly game, and not read the rules, and play by them?........... oh yeah, some folks would, but those are the degenerates that would cheat at any game. If you're gonna play, you gotta know the rules, duh!
I have a copy of the synopsis in my boat, in my truck, and in my home. So, to make along answer even longer, yes, I do read the regs.
With out ethics, there is no sport.

Pilar · 08-08-2002, 05:23 PM

Nope, never .....

My lawyer reads them and then explains them to me.

The salmon rules need help the most. There has to be a sane way of updating the rules so everyone can know they have changed.

The rest of it changes a little from year to year. You just have to study for the spot you are fishing. The test is when the man wants to write the ticket but can't because you are legit. Or not and $300 out of pocket.

fishpatrol · 08-08-2002, 06:05 PM

The regs suck!

The problem is they were written by a biologist, changed by a politician and interpreted by cops! My advice is read them, try your best and ask the fishcop if you have a question. ALWAYS get a name and badge # when you ask the question. It may not save you from a ticket, but it might help. You always hear the excuse,"the other cop told me it was legal". GET THE NAME!

NEW regs will generally have an "unofficial" grace period, so getting a ticket for a reg made the week(or month, or whatever) before is highly unlikely.