Question?????

[Phission]

If everyone was using two rods it would put more pressure on many of the waters. Bank fishers that use two rods are usually using bait of some kind on the one that is sitting. Which means more harvest or more moralities of small fish that have been gut hooked. Either way an increased pressure on the fishery.

I don't believe the number of poles increases fishing pressure. Isn't that controlled by the harvest limit? The number of fishermen would likely be the increase or decrease on pressure at any location.

I use two poles, and if the fish aren't biting, they still aren't biting. If they are, I just get my limit a little quicker. As far as mortality rates, I really think that is unchanged. The unsportsmanlike conduct of fisherman releasing a fish that obviously isn't going to survive happens regardless of number of poles used. I have been using the circle hooks and I can tell you the release is much easier. So, far, I have not had a gut-hooked fish using them. [sly]
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