Upper NF by Jim Ericson

[Jennie@ifish]

Dear Commissioners;

A few years ago I approached the commission to close the upper North Fork to angling during the spawning season of Chinook Salmon which you wisely did.
The early results which we have observed are the large amount of fry along the edges of the river are further testimony to the success of this decision.
However,-- I now here of some wicked rumors falling upon my sensitive ears that some people are going to try to get this section of the river
reopened to fishing during the spawning season.
This absolutely makes no sense.
The fish that make it this far up the river to their spawning beds are of absolutely no value for human consumption. They should be left strictly
alone.
I live here on the river, and I can see what has gone on in the past, alongside of the deep holes on the rock ledges, it used to be red with
eggs that had fallen out of ripe hens that were pulled up on the rocks.
Since the closure, we don't see the anymore. It only makes sense that we must protect the spawning beds.
I feel very strongly that this program has been very successful for us here on the North Fork Nehalem, and should be looked into on all rivers along the coast, if I remember right [which I usually do] the commission gave the department a directive to look into this, has anything happened about that program?

Jim Ericson

[David Johnson]

Sounds good [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[fishbait]

Good Job Jim..........

I absolutely agree, these areas of our rivers should be closed to fishing to protect the spawning populations.

[Fishin Magician]

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[rebell]

This is a first, I just agreed with Jim Erickson :whazzup: .

Of course Jim's letter is with his usuall sarcastic blunder.

[Jennie@ifish]

If I remember correctly, Jim has a degree in sarcastic blunder.

[garyk]

Here, here! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

We've got to start treating these spawning reaches like the hatcheries that they are.

I'll even go a step further and say that ODFW should be more willing - and hopefully have the the support of true sportsman - to enact emergency closures on coastal rivers above tidewater in low water years. Like the this year and last.

I firmly believe the early spawning chinook in these conditions are being over-harvested, and over-harassed (look how rampant the snagging reports were). We'll be eliminating these early returning strains and pushing the chinook run timing later and later in the year, like we've already done with steelhead, and to an extent coho.

[cully]

Years ago when i started to fish the Siletz you could venture way up the river. Now the upper river above the trap is closed to fishing so the wild ones can be left alone and unhassled to do their thing. There are so many rivers that would benifit from the same type of closure. There are so many choices for us fisherman to fish why not give up some space to the ones who really provide the adventure, the fish. It can only help the long run. It's in my mind to stop and see the closed area again soon. Just to see how the closure is benifiting the fish and see the beauty of that old growth.

[rebell]

Im sure anyone could call Jim and get a degree in no time. But why?? :smile: :smile:

I would love to see the upper parts of many rivers closed to angling to protect spawning fish. I don't understand why it's ever been an issue.

[Barviewrocks]

So where does one go to get a degree in sarcastic blunder?? I think it would be a huge benefit to stopping the fishing for fall nooks in many other rivers as well when they get up river.