Today, on a Georgian Bay trib, I witnessed the saddest display of FLOATFISHING I have ever seen.
About 50 floaters were there, of every nationality,race & creed.
A fish seemed to be "ON" every-time I looked around.
The strange thing was..NOT ONE OF THOSE FISH WAS RELEASED!!!
not one..
We all know how low our steelhead stocks are now.
This is all directly related to Over-Harvest by anglers..not droughts or low water or cormorants..our Migratory Rainbow Trout are in dire straits due to too many being KILLED for the dinner table or for their ROE!
Local Angling Associations do most of the Egg- collecting for the hatcheries to re-stock the fishery.
The fact is, we are decimating the "WILD " Steelhead that have been establishing themselves (through natural reproduction) for the past 50 years or so.
Believe it or not, those young wild trout that are only 4 years old & on their maiden voyage to the spawning grounds, are the most important year-class to the fisheries future.
These fish are those "Perfect Eating Sized" fish of 3-5 pounds, that everyone decides to keep.
The M.N.R. has yet to change the possesion limit, therefore all these "Anglers" are legally within their rights to harvest.
But let me ask you this..can anyone in today's angling scene NOT be aware of the damages we have already wrought on our precious resource? Do you really think the supply is endless?
Have you ever considered the fishes life & hardships, just to enable us some sport?
"Stock More" is going to be the first reply to this issue. It won't work..unless you want a bunch of "Cookie-cutter" trout that all look the same in size & weight & fight.
Look at New York, they envy our river systems that have such enormous potential to maintain a wild fishery. The premise is that the Sportsman must respect this resource limit their catch & leave plenty of fish to carry on the natural processes to multiply.
As much as I love to catch these most prized sportfish, I believe they deserve the status given to Atlantic Salmon or Muskellunge! They deserve to be protected & looked at as a major sport fish, not a panfish or living "ROE" dispenser.
Please, this year especially, look into your hearts,to decide what you believe is right for our provincial fishery. Look at the man in the mirror's eyes..it's your children's fishing for the future being gambled away now.
Please get involved to assist these Associations & Ministries that protect & provide for tomorrow.
Contact the M.N.R. to voice your opinion for positive changes..or kiss it all good-bye.
Sincerely, Dan Reid
About 50 floaters were there, of every nationality,race & creed.
A fish seemed to be "ON" every-time I looked around.
The strange thing was..NOT ONE OF THOSE FISH WAS RELEASED!!!
not one..
We all know how low our steelhead stocks are now.
This is all directly related to Over-Harvest by anglers..not droughts or low water or cormorants..our Migratory Rainbow Trout are in dire straits due to too many being KILLED for the dinner table or for their ROE!
Local Angling Associations do most of the Egg- collecting for the hatcheries to re-stock the fishery.
The fact is, we are decimating the "WILD " Steelhead that have been establishing themselves (through natural reproduction) for the past 50 years or so.
Believe it or not, those young wild trout that are only 4 years old & on their maiden voyage to the spawning grounds, are the most important year-class to the fisheries future.
These fish are those "Perfect Eating Sized" fish of 3-5 pounds, that everyone decides to keep.
The M.N.R. has yet to change the possesion limit, therefore all these "Anglers" are legally within their rights to harvest.
But let me ask you this..can anyone in today's angling scene NOT be aware of the damages we have already wrought on our precious resource? Do you really think the supply is endless?
Have you ever considered the fishes life & hardships, just to enable us some sport?
"Stock More" is going to be the first reply to this issue. It won't work..unless you want a bunch of "Cookie-cutter" trout that all look the same in size & weight & fight.
Look at New York, they envy our river systems that have such enormous potential to maintain a wild fishery. The premise is that the Sportsman must respect this resource limit their catch & leave plenty of fish to carry on the natural processes to multiply.
As much as I love to catch these most prized sportfish, I believe they deserve the status given to Atlantic Salmon or Muskellunge! They deserve to be protected & looked at as a major sport fish, not a panfish or living "ROE" dispenser.
Please, this year especially, look into your hearts,to decide what you believe is right for our provincial fishery. Look at the man in the mirror's eyes..it's your children's fishing for the future being gambled away now.
Please get involved to assist these Associations & Ministries that protect & provide for tomorrow.
Contact the M.N.R. to voice your opinion for positive changes..or kiss it all good-bye.
Sincerely, Dan Reid