03-25-2010, 05:09 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Hey, hey, hey! Let's not be dissin' the regs or the DWR. They are very progressive...for the 18th century.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Actually, I have a lot of sympathy for the plight of our wildlife management folks. They do TRY to set rules and regulations for the benefit of all. But, they often end up painting us and themselves into corners by overthinking a situation...or trying to outthink the violators. They are not being deliberately punitive in setting some of the statutes. But, no matter what they come up with there will be those who try to find a way to make it not work.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Utah has historically been a troutaholic state. All of the past laws and limits were geared around the stocking, management and harvest of trout. And the fishing populace were mostly trout harvesters. The general mindset was that you took as many members of the family as you could crowd in the pickup and string out along the bank and then everybody fished until the combined allowable limit of fish was caught...usually by one or two anglers in the group. The fish were then taken home, dumped in a tub and shown off to all the family and neighbors, after which most of them were tossed in the freezer to turn into smelly cardboard. Seldom were any ever removed to be eaten. They only ate a few of the fresh ones after each trip and periodically dumped the frozen ones to make room for more.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That scenario has carried over into modern times. The only thing that is different is that there are more of the other species being harvested, frozen and wasted. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The di
vantage to the modern laws is that there are many anglers who sincerely enjoy eating fish, and when they freeze it they take proper care of it...fully intending to rotate it into the menu on a regular basis. But, because of the actions of so many other wasteful anglers the more prudent anglers are "penalized" in how much fish they can accumulate.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I keep quite a bit of fish, of several species. I prefer to eat it fresh but will sometimes freeze a few for future meals...or for a planned family fish fry...but only within limits. That can mean that I have to give away some fish to other family members sometimes, in order to accumulate enough for a fish fry. But, if I stay within the laws it can be done. I just deal with it.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In the final analysis, there are some laws that seem to fit the phrase "No good reason for it. It is just policy." There are other laws that could plainly stand some review and revision. That is why we have the RAC process in Utah. Anglers have the opportunity to attend and be heard on their ideas and recommendations. But, when nobody from the angling community shows up to voice their concerns, DWR has nothing to put into the hopper. Most people would rather not get involved, but are happy to take shots at the people who could be making the changes. We blame DWR for everything but don't give them very much credit. They are not mind readers and there are a lot of limitations with which they must deal whenever a change is to be made. Utah DWR is very political and some of the people in power are so entrenched in their little empires that they would rather make no decisions than make a decision somebody else could find fault with...and jeopardize their next promotion or pay increase. And most of them are vastly underpaid by comparison to similar positions in other states.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When you look at the greater scheme of things, we really have some great fisheries in Utah and they are well managed...for the most part. Anybody who wants to treat our waters as their own private fish market...and then waste the fish they catch...is just not playing fair with the rest of the angling population.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]CRASH. Just fell off my soap box.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Actually, I have a lot of sympathy for the plight of our wildlife management folks. They do TRY to set rules and regulations for the benefit of all. But, they often end up painting us and themselves into corners by overthinking a situation...or trying to outthink the violators. They are not being deliberately punitive in setting some of the statutes. But, no matter what they come up with there will be those who try to find a way to make it not work.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Utah has historically been a troutaholic state. All of the past laws and limits were geared around the stocking, management and harvest of trout. And the fishing populace were mostly trout harvesters. The general mindset was that you took as many members of the family as you could crowd in the pickup and string out along the bank and then everybody fished until the combined allowable limit of fish was caught...usually by one or two anglers in the group. The fish were then taken home, dumped in a tub and shown off to all the family and neighbors, after which most of them were tossed in the freezer to turn into smelly cardboard. Seldom were any ever removed to be eaten. They only ate a few of the fresh ones after each trip and periodically dumped the frozen ones to make room for more.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That scenario has carried over into modern times. The only thing that is different is that there are more of the other species being harvested, frozen and wasted. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The di
vantage to the modern laws is that there are many anglers who sincerely enjoy eating fish, and when they freeze it they take proper care of it...fully intending to rotate it into the menu on a regular basis. But, because of the actions of so many other wasteful anglers the more prudent anglers are "penalized" in how much fish they can accumulate.[/#0000ff][#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I keep quite a bit of fish, of several species. I prefer to eat it fresh but will sometimes freeze a few for future meals...or for a planned family fish fry...but only within limits. That can mean that I have to give away some fish to other family members sometimes, in order to accumulate enough for a fish fry. But, if I stay within the laws it can be done. I just deal with it.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In the final analysis, there are some laws that seem to fit the phrase "No good reason for it. It is just policy." There are other laws that could plainly stand some review and revision. That is why we have the RAC process in Utah. Anglers have the opportunity to attend and be heard on their ideas and recommendations. But, when nobody from the angling community shows up to voice their concerns, DWR has nothing to put into the hopper. Most people would rather not get involved, but are happy to take shots at the people who could be making the changes. We blame DWR for everything but don't give them very much credit. They are not mind readers and there are a lot of limitations with which they must deal whenever a change is to be made. Utah DWR is very political and some of the people in power are so entrenched in their little empires that they would rather make no decisions than make a decision somebody else could find fault with...and jeopardize their next promotion or pay increase. And most of them are vastly underpaid by comparison to similar positions in other states.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When you look at the greater scheme of things, we really have some great fisheries in Utah and they are well managed...for the most part. Anybody who wants to treat our waters as their own private fish market...and then waste the fish they catch...is just not playing fair with the rest of the angling population.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]CRASH. Just fell off my soap box.[/#0000ff]
[signature]