Those of you who insist on harassing fish on their redds then maybe you should pay attention. There are still fresh steelhead in the lower portions of the river so why not stay down there and leave the upriver areas alone....ya think?
This subject is something I strongly believe in and adhere to so since this is my blog you dear readers will just have to indulge me.
As most of you know I spend a lot of time fishing the rivers near Tillamook, Oregon. I fish for steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout on those rivers and know some of them very well. I know the fish and where they frequent, although you would never guess that by my angling success or lack thereof on the Wilson. This time of year I will stay out of the upper parts of those rivers because I know there are many wild steelhead using the upper rivers and tributaries to spawn.
How did I arrive at this decision? In 2001 I was fishing in the upper portion of a Tillamook area stream and hooked a very large wild female steelhead. I played her out and landed her carefully to avoid any harm coming to her when I saw that she was dropping her eggs. I had probably taken her right off a spawning bed and I felt disgusted with myself for even being in that section of the river.
I vowed from that day on to never fish the upper river in late spring until at least the end of May. I've tried to convince others to do likewise and have managed to convince some but others steadfastly refuse.
The ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) closes the nearby Miami river completely for that two month period and the upper Nestucca river is closed in order to limit access to spawning areas but why not the Wilson or the Trask?
I have seen too many pictures of grinning fishermen holding a wild buck steelhead out of the water for their hero shot while that male fish is dumping it's milt all over the fisherman's waders.
Some might say that why stop at the upper rivers why not close the whole river during that time? Wouldn't bother me in the least but some of those are big revenue rivers for both the ODFW and Tillamook county so with heavy lobbying from a few "good old boys" Tillamook area fishing groups they stays open.
I urge everyone who reads my blog to consider what they can do to further the cause of wild fish in this state and any state. If we don't do it then who will!
The picture below gives you an idea of what to look for.
PLEASE LEAVE SPAWNING or GUARDING FISH ALONE
Hi,
ReplyDeleteAfter checking out your blog, I thought you and your readers might be interested in this piece of news.
Yesterday, Sierra Club launched a new website, Sierra Sportsmen Network, at www.sierrasportsmen.org. The site includes interviews with prominent figures in the outdoor movement such as President Lowell Baier of the Boone & Crockett Club, as well as conservation updates, and opportunities for sportsmen to take action on issues that affect us all. Members of the Sierra Sportsmen Network can stay updated on the latest in outdoor news through Schwedler’s “Greenneck” blog. The networking site will serve as a hub for hunters and anglers, allowing them to reach across state lines, transcend geographical barriers and connect with each other, find out about conservation issues that affect them, help pass on outdoor traditions to the next generation, restore local streams, protect game habitat, and fight global warming.
It might not immediately occur to hunters and anglers that Sierra Club is in fact on their side on many issues, but in fact sportsmen have been involved in our conservation efforts since we were founded more than one hundred years ago. Protecting habitat and clean water is the common ground and common cause of environmentalists and sportsmen.
If you need more incentive to check out the site, we’re trying to get hunters and anglers engaged in the site by celebrating the launch with a photo contest, which will be judged by prominent representatives of Boone & Club, Field & Stream Magazine, National Geographic, Sierra Club, the Orion Institute, the National Wildlife Federation, Save our Wild Salmon, and the Federation of Fly Fishers. The winners will receive $500 gift certificates to Bass Pro Shops or Patagonia.
Check it out and let us know what you think!
Great post! Very informative and eye opening for many.
ReplyDeleteHere in the GL "Great Lakes" guides see no problem raking gravel. The guides look perplexed at why their clients are foul hooking fish like there raking leaves on an autumn day! I will not fish for bedding fish, guarding fish, and actively spawning fish in the GL. We do not have a self sustaining steelhead fishery here in the GL, but some of us do what we can with what we have to work with. Your blog is spot on. I have a friend whom was hired to count steelhead, and salmon in Northern California Rivers. He is amazed at your fishery.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Tom G.